House Bill 16-30 would have amended Public 15-81, which sets the ceiling for salaries paid to licensed professionals who work for the governor.
The bill was passed early this year in order to retain the U.S.-licensed pharmacist whose contract was not renewed by the administration because he was being paid beyond the salary cap.
The House wanted to override the governor’s veto following the 30-day extension given to the pharmacist by the governor’s emergency declaration.
However, in a telephone interview yesterday, Rep. Ralph DLG Torres, R-Saipan and chairman of House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare, said instead of overriding Fitial’s veto, they will re-introduce an amended version of the same bill.
The new bill will set a salary cap of $80,000 for professionals working for the executive and judicial branches of the government.
The original bill provides that licensed attorneys, together with licensed medical professionals, may receive an annual salary in excess of $50,000.
It also allowed professionals working in the legislative and judicial branches to receive an annual salary of up to $60,000.
