A bill granting spending powers to Public School System’s Commissioner Rita H. Inos over some $30 million in capital improvement projects in the education sector hurdled the Senate yesterday.<\/p>\n
But the legislation will still need approval by the House of Representatives as senators reinstated provisions altered from the original version to suit conditions over use of the funding.<\/p>\n
“I hope the amendment does not jeopardize funding,” said Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez in voting in favor of the measure. “We need to get this bill rolling.”<\/p>\n
House Bill 11-455 will amend a new law that set aside a total of $29.96 million for various PSS projects on Saipan, Rota and Tinian to grant the expenditure authority to Inos.<\/p>\n
This amendment is intended to comply with the conditions set out when PSS floated bonds worth $15.6 million to be able to raise funds to match federal construction grants.<\/p>\n
To ease worries that an alteration in the amount would also violate the bond agreement, senators reinstated the $600,000 taken out by the House from the $1.8 million $1.8 million allotted for the completion of Sinapalu Elementary School.<\/p>\n
This money would have been used to increase funding for construction of new public school libraries on the island.<\/p>\n
Rota Rep. Alejo M. Mendiola had sought changes in the distribution of the $3.74 million share for his island, giving at least $1 million for a public library in Tatachog and $100,000 for a library in the public school.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Senate also passed a revised measure seeking to improve the administration of CIP-funded infrastructure plans of the government. Senate Bill 11-154, offered by Senate President Paul A. Manglona, deleted a key provision that would have allowed the Department of Public Works to exceed its employment ceiling to be able to speed up these projects.<\/p>\n
This was a major concern that prompted Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio to veto the initial proposal early this month. The new measure now heads to the House for action.<\/p>\n
Others bills passed by the Senate included:<\/p>\n
SB 11-152, to include diabetes as one of the diseases covered by a prepaid health insurance in the CNMI;<\/p>\n
HB 11-321, the Assistive Technology Warranty Act which seeks to safeguard consumer rights of disabled persons (for governor’s signature);<\/p>\n
HB 11-328, amending the Professional Licensing Act (governor’s); and<\/p>\n
HB 11-424, requiring beach launching permits (governor’s).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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