HOUSE Bill 23-6, which would include Joeten-Kiyu Public Library in the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s net metering system for renewable energy capacity, now goes to the desk of Gov. Arnold I. Palacios.
In a session on Thursday, the Senate unanimously passed H.B. 23-6. Authored by Rep. John Paul Sablan, the bill proposes to include libraries, as education entities, in net metering, and prioritize their interconnection with net metering. It would also allow public libraries to qualify and apply for federal grants that support the CNMI government’s priorities for clean energy.
H.B. 23-6 defines net metering as a system in which solar panels or other renewable energy generators are connected to a public utility power grid, and the surplus power is transferred onto the grid, allowing customers to offset the cost of power drawn from the utility.
JKPL Director Erlinda C. Naputi expressed strong support for H.B. 23-6 in a Senate session last month. She urged the senators to pass the bill so that the public library can save money which they can use for other essential needs of the community.
Also on their way to the governor’s desk are H.B. 23-1 and H.B. 23-10.
Authored by Rep. Marissa Flores, H.B.23-1 would lower the interest rate of civil money judgments from 9% to 3%. The bill aims to provide financial relief for those who are struggling to pay money judgments without violating the integrity of such judgments. Flores said the bill would also allow individuals to efficiently fulfill their court-ordered obligation.
H.B. 23-10, authored by Rep. John Paul Sablan, would amend Public Law 22-25 to create an exemption to the requirement that a marriage certificate include “places of residence.”
According to the bill, the inability of a person to file an otherwise valid marriage certificate can prevent a government agency from confirming the marital status of the person.
For example, a person seeking to initiate survivor retirement benefits might not be able to complete the administrative process if the Commonwealth Recorder is unable to file a marriage certificate.
The bill states that exemption is necessary if the certificate was executed when the NMI was still under the Trust Territory government.
Women power. Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero, center, poses for a photo with Senate Floor Leader Corina Magofna, right, and Sen. Celina Babauta following a Senate session on Thursday.
