SENATE Floor Leader Corina L. Magofna on Thursday prefiled Senate Bill 23-51, which would require investors to provide more public benefits and contributions when leasing public lands.
S.B. 23-51 would require that a “leased property shall be proportional and in accordance with the concept of public benefit, health, safety, and welfare of the CNMI guests and residents alike.”
The bill would require not just the construction of public facilities, as provided by current law, but also improvements, maintenance, environmental aesthetics and/or new construction or renovations of public parks, facilities, pathways, and roadway within the immediate area of leased premises.
S.B. 23-51 would likewise require an investor to “provide appropriate and relevant on-the-job training, continued professional support, and job placement for CNMI permanent residents and U.S. citizens, and produce sufficient and effective marketing or advertising scheme for workforce training recruitment and placement.”
In addition, an investor must “provide, promote, and implement plans targeted to alleviate and lessen traffic, parking congestion, installation of adequate lighting for safety throughout the perimeter of leased premise, construct, improve and maintain proper drainage at or near leased property as necessary.”
For quarry public land leases, an investor, with the prior consent of the Department of Public Lands, would exempt CNMI government agencies from paying any charges for at least 200 cubic yards of quarry materials extracted from the quarry site operated by a permittee.
S.B. 23-51 states that public lands used for economic development purposes should include provisions that provide maximum public benefits for the Commonwealth people, including health, safety, and welfare benefits as well as job training and infrastructure improvements for the community.
“I’m always trying to see how I could help improve the quality of life for our people,” Magofna told Variety on Monday.
