House Bill 17-229, which Torres calls, “The CNMI Retiree Return to Government Work as Independent Contractor Act of 2011,” will help retirees survive the demise of the Retirement Fund.
In an interview yesterday, Torres, Ind.-Saipan, said there could be retirees who have not received in full the entire amount they have contributed when they were still with the government.
According to the bill, the retirees “deserve a break in this government fiasco and they should be allowed to return to CNMI government work without restrictions or loss of benefits.”
Current law restricts the reemployment of retirees.
However, Torres said they can be contracted for “unlimited services” and paid as independent contractors.
H.B. 17-229 seeks to amend the definition of double dipping by exempting retirees from re-employment as contractors.
These retirees-turned-independent contractors “shall not be subject to pay any retirement contributions,” the bill stated.
