Without lengthy discussions and by an 18 to 0 vote, the House approved House Bill 17-193 which imposes heavier penalties on sex crimes; H.B. 17-14, which transfers the administration of the workers compensation law to the Department of Commerce; H.B. 17-185, authorizing the Marianas Visitors Authority to regulate tour agencies; H.B. 17-209, to change the composition of the MVA board by reducing the number of the governor’s nominees from five to four; and Senate Bill 17-69, proposing the release of scholarship awards on a pro-rata basis.
Vice Speaker Felicidad T. Ogumoro, Covenant-Saipan, expressed concern about the government’s cash flow issue and how it affects the scholarship program.
House Minority Leader Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero, R-Saipan, said the monthly payment of gross revenue taxes as mandated by a measure passed by the Legislature recently will address the cash flow problems for scholarship checks.
Reps. Edmund S. Villagomez, Covenant-Saipan, and Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, were absent.
