By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

A BILL making government employees and officials personally liable if they use public funds illegally now awaits the governor’s signature to become law.
By vote of 8-0, the Senate yesterday passed House Bill 15-108 offered by Speaker Oscar M. Babauta, Covenant-Saipan.
The bill states that “any person who reprograms government funds or knowingly receives reprogrammed funds in contravention of this subsection shall be held personally liable for the amount of the reprogrammed account.”
The House Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee, which recommended the passage of the bill, said the legislation will help deter illegal reprogramming of funds.
In a report, Rep. Cinta M. Kaipat, Covenant-Saipan and chairwoman of the committee, stated that the bill should “improve” the way officials and employees handle public funds.