THE House of Representatives on Thursday last week passed House Bill 24-2, which would make the process or conduct of the State of the Commonwealth Address a statutory but flexible requirement.
Co-authored by Rep. Ralph N. Yumul, Rep. Joel Camacho and House Floor Leader Marissa Flores, H.B. 24-2 is now with the Senate.
Noting that the CNMI Constitution “leaves undecided the details of how, when, and where the annual SOCA shall be delivered to the Legislature,” H.B. 24-2 aims to “set out some of the basic steps” for scheduling the SOCA by establishing a statutory yet flexible process — particularly for instances when the SOCA is delivered live.
The bill would require the governor to deliver the SOCA no later than March of any calendar year, and may present the SOCA live, recorded or in writing. It would further require the governor to transmit his written SOCA to the Senate president and House speaker.
If the governor opts to deliver the SOCA live, he must give written notice of a proposed date and time to the Legislature’s presiding officers no later than 45 days in advance in order for the Legislature to consider a joint resolution setting out the time and place for the SOCA.
If, for instance, a joint resolution fails to pass in both houses of the Legislature, the governor shall submit only a written or recorded SOCA.
The House passed similar bills in the 22nd and 23rd Legislatures but both measures died in the Senate.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, who was sworn in over two years ago, will deliver his first SOCA at 10 a.m., Thursday, May 29, at the Governor Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe.