Introduced by House Floor Leader George N. Camacho, House Bill 17-72, now Public Law 17-64, “clarifies” the definition of taxable commodities that come into the islands.
Camacho, Ind.-Saipan, said he was told by the Division of Customs that there is no clear definition of taxable imported items.
Current law, for example, defined cigarettes as any finely cut tobacco or other “smoke-able” substance, material, or product rolled in paper, enclosed and packed so that is held together for smoking.
But this definition does not include cigars.
The new law defines soft drinks as “any readily drinkable carbonated or non-carbonated, non-alcoholic other than water, milk and 100 percent juice.”
Fitial also signed H.B. 17-77 which gives Retirement Fund’s annuitants the option to continue their government life insurance coverage under the same group terms and conditions offered to government employees, “provided that the annuitants coverage shall not be reduced by more than 30 percent.”
Now P.L. 17-66, the measure was introduced by Speaker Eli D. Cabrera, R-Saipan.
Likewise signed by the governor was H.B. 17-178 which renames the Head Start Center in Chinatown after Joaquina Mareham Rabauliman.
Introduced by Rep. Joseph M. Palacios, the measure is now P.L. 17-63.
The fourth bill signed by the governor was Palacios’ H.B.17-36 which raises the penalties for parking in a space reserved for persons with disabilities.
The bill is now P.L. 17-65.
