GOVERNOR Ralph DLG Torres on Friday signed into law Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan’s Senate Bill 22-29 which allows government agencies, boards and commissions to promulgate rules in utilizing electronic means to participate in official meetings.
Public Law 22-05 requires government agencies, board and commissions to adopt regulations for virtual meetings, allowing appearances via internet or online video conference, teleconference or other electronic means of communication, in the event that a member is in the CNMI but unable to attend a meeting in person at the meeting place.
According to the new law, the complications brought by the Covid-19 pandemic “have made business as usual pertaining to meeting quorum a struggle for government agencies, boards, and commissions.”
Due to the directives regarding social distancing and the limited availability of inter-island flights, government entities need to allow meeting appearances by electronic means, such as online videoconferencing or teleconferencing, the new law stated.
It allows electronic appearances in government meetings, only when a member or members of a board, agency, or commission are physically present in the CNMI, but are unable to attend a meeting in person at the meeting place.
