THE Senate and the House of Representatives yesterday conducted back to back sessions and passed two vital measures.
Passed were H.B. 13-1 introduced by House Floor Leader Jesus T. Attao, R-Saipan, and H.B. 13-138, an administration bill introduced by House Speaker Heinz S. Hofschneider, R-Saipan.
H.B. 13-1 would compensate hundreds of citizens whose lands were acquired by the government for public use. The measure would authorize the Marianas Public Lands Authority to borrow $40 million through the Commonwealth Development Authority to promptly compensate landowners whose properties were acquired to build roads, ponding basins and other public infrastructure.
The fund would come from a portion of the liquid fuel tax and the entire aviation fuel tax revenues.
The Senate included two amendments in the measure. One is to ensure that the claims be determined by MPLA before compensation payment is disbursed. The other is to provide an option to landowners for a speedy public land exchange by not requiring them to undergo a lengthy and contentious appraisal process, provided that public land exchanged should not exceed twice the area of the private land.
H.B. 13-138 seeks to appropriate $2.6 million for the Marianas Visitors Authority so that it could launch an aggressive promotional campaign aimed at reversing the declining trend in the number of tourist arrivals to the CNMI. Acting Gov. Diego T. Benavente signed the bill yesterday.
.The House also passed three other measures:
• H.B. 13-111, introduced by Rep. Daniel O. Quitugua, R-Rota, seeks to appropriate funds for dialysis treatment facilities on Tinian and Rota.
• H.B. 13-1146, introduced by Rep. Gloria DLC. Cabrera, R-Saipan, proposes to establish a Commonwealth Bureau of Investigation within the Attorney General’s Office.
• H.B. 13-148, introduced by Rep. Ramon A. Tebuteb, R-Saipan, seeks to create a Workforce Investment Agency within the Office of the Governor to promote employment training and services.
