Rep. Stanley T. Torres, the bill’s author, said the delegation will still hold public hearings in six different areas before acting on it.
In an interview, Torres, Ind.-Saipan, said he is confident that the delegation will pass the Saipan and Northern Islands Casino Control Act, or H.L.B. 17-44.
Last year, the House passed the Saipan casino bill, H.B. 17-55, but the Senate rejected it in a session held on Tinian.
The Senate is dominated by members from Rota and Tinian, which have legalized casinos.
Saipan casino proponents have been drafting new casino bills but they say the Senate continues to indicate opposition to such legislation.
Torres said of the 21 members of the Saipan delegation, at least 13 support his bill.
But the Saipan lawmaker said, “We don’t want to push it hard. We have to give it 20 days so we can hear from the public that is why we are holding six public hearings,” Torres said.
Afterward, he added, the delegation’s Ways and Means Committee will have to make a report stating its recommendations.
He said he will volunteer to work with the said committee.
Torres said the administration favors his casino proposal.
It may have its own version, but Torres said they can always incorporate the administration’s suggestions.
He said he will send a copy of the final draft of the bill to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos.
H.L.B. 17-44 is entirely different from the previous Saipan casino proposals as it only benefits the island, Torres said.
“We have been introducing casino bills but they always die upon reaching the Senate,” he added.
His bill sets the investment cap for casino operation at $100 million and imposes a license fee of up to $200,000.
It will also establish a commission with five members — four from Saipan and one from the Northern Islands — all appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the delegation.
Article 21 of the CNMI Constitution prohibits gambling in the Northern Marianas “except as provided by commonwealth law or established through initiative in the commonwealth or in any senatorial district.”
But Torres said a local law is also a commonwealth law.
