However, legislation that will create a separate higher education commission remains pending in the House of Representatives.
Authored by Rep. Justo S. Quituigua, D-Saipan, House Bill 16-58 was introduced in March and was referred to the House Health, Education and Welfare Committee for review.
The committee, chaired by Rep. Ralph DLG. Torres, R-Saipan, has yet to issue a report on the bill.
Without a licensing board, all inquiries from post-secondary institutions interested in opening a branch here are being referred to the Attorney General’s Office.
Quitugua, in an interview, said he has asked the House committee to take immediate action on the bill.
“This is very important now that NMC is not functioning as the licensing authority,” he said. “There’s a need to take immediate action…because we have institutions that are up for renewal and we may have some who are applying or inquiring on the details of the requirements.”
The bill will create a commission whose five members will get no compensation.
Each member must have at least a master’s degree and five years of related work experience.
The commission will establish application and licensing procedures by regulation for those interested in establishing post-secondary educational institutions in the CNMI.
It will collect fees that will be used for the operating expenses of the commission and conduct a study to assess the post-secondary educational needs of the CNMI to avoid duplication of courses of study with NMC.
The commission will also hire an executive director.
Citing lack of funding, the Fitial administration earlier opposed the creation of a new commission.
