This was the concern the Department of Public Safety officials had been raising with members of the House of Representatives since the bill was introduced several months ago.
DPS sexual offender registry coordinator PO2 Jason Tarkong in a telephone interview said they support House Bill 17-111.
Tarkong and chief parole officer Joseph T. Guerrero had been attending House sessions over the last few weeks to lobby for the bill’s passage.
Introduced by Rep. Joe M. Palacios, R-Saipan, H.B. 17-111, or the Sex Offenders Registration Act, complies with the U.S. Sex Offenders Registration and Notification Act unlike the current local law.
The House unanimously passed the bill on July 14 but it was not transmitted to the Senate until late last week.
Tarkong and Guerrero in separate interviews said meeting the federal law’s minimum mandates means the CNMI will continue to receive the Justice Assistance Grant each year.
The annual grant amount is $370,000.
Guerrero said they have already submitted an application but the CNMI has until July 29 to have a sex offender registration law in compliance with the federal statute.
