Gov. Benigno R. Fitial vetoed an earlier version of the bill.
H.B. 16-81, which would have allowed government retirees with disabilities to be certified by only two physicians, was rejected by the governor who cited concerns over possible abuses.
Rep. Joseph C. Reyes, R-Saipan, who sponsored the measure, introduced on Tuesday House Bill 16-118 which is a similar proposal, but this time it requires that one of the physicians should be a specialist for the disability that the retiree is claiming.
All 16 House members present voted in favor of passing H.B. 16-118 during their session yesterday afternoon.
Vice Speaker Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero, R-Saipan, Reps. Victor B. Hocog, Ind.-Rota, Justo S. Quitugua, D-Saipan, and Stanley T. Torres, R-Saipan, were excused.
Retirement Fund Administrator Mark Aguon said they support the latest version of the bill.
“It streamlines the application process,” he told Variety.
In a separate interview, Reyes said the Senate version of H.B. 16-81 “watered down” his proposal.
“This Senate deleted the requirement of a ‘physician who is a specialist in the area of disability.’ In the governor’s veto message, he mentioned that this ‘would have assisted the [Retirement Fund] in decreasing the number of claimants who may potentially abuse claims for disability and protect the assets of the Fund. If individuals have been initially certified disabled and entitle to receive benefits which is allowed by law, they have gone through the process, certified and accepted by the Fund,” said Reyes.
“On the issue of specialists, do we really have a pool of them on island? If the board doubts a disability, they can always hire one and bring them to Saipan for the evaluation. [The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation] currently does not have one and OVR is supposed to rehabilitate individuals back to the workforce and not to certify disabilities. Maybe the governor wants to hire somebody. My bill was supported by OVR and the Retirement Fund,” he added.
The lawmaker said more than 100 people rely on their retirement disability benefits to survive and the passage of his bill is crucial to their survival.
“To my findings, there are about 125 individuals on record now and about 25 currently on hand, new and for re-certifications pending. One had died and I believe another just passed away a few days ago. Times are hard for these individuals as it is and they need not further suffer because of oversight of the Legislature in enacting laws or trying to save money because of the government’s failure to pay what it owes,” said Reyes.
