The Senate likewise passed Vice Speaker Lorenzo Deleon Guerrero’s House Bill 21-31 to regulate internet gaming in the CNMI.
Those who voted yes to the bill, as amended, were Senate President Victor B. Hocog, Senate Vice President Jude Hofschneider, Sens. Vinnie Sablan, Frank Cruz, Frank Borja and Sixto Igisomar.
Sen. Paul A. Manglona voted no while Sen. Teresita Santos abstained.
H.B. 21-31, which now goes back to the House, states that “only the holder of a casino license is eligible to apply for the internet gambling license in each respective senatorial district.”
On Saipan, Imperial Pacific International holds the exclusive casino license.
The bill would task the following government entities to regulate internet gaming: the Commonwealth Casino Commission for Saipan, the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission for Tinian, and the Rota Casino Gaming Commission for Rota.
New, higher fees
The vote to pass the fee hike bill or H.B. 21-19 was 7 to 1. Sen. Paul A. Manglona cast the lone dissenting vote while Senate Floor Leader Justo Quitugua was excused.
Authored by Rep. Joseph Leepan Guerrero, the bill — the passage of which is supported by the Department of Commerce — proposes to impose penalties and new fees, and make the following changes to existing fees:
(1) Articles of organization $150 (new fee).
(2) Articles of incorporation from $100 to $150.
(3) Application for reinstatement following administrative dissolution, from $100 to $250.
(4) Application for certificate of authority for foreign corporation, $250 (new fee).
(5) Application for amended certificate of authority for foreign corporation, $50 (new).
(6) Non-profit corporation petition, charter & bylaws, $30 (new).
(7) Registration of partnership, $100 (new).
(8) Amended articles of organization, $100 (new).
(9) Amended articles of incorporation, from $50 to $100.
(10) Restated articles of incorporation, from $50 to $100.
(11) Articles of dissolution, still $50.
(12) Articles of merger or share exchange, from $50 to $100.
(13) Articles of revocation of dissolution, still $50.
(14) Annual and initial corporation report for domestic, and foreign partnership, $100. (new)
(15) Application for certificate of withdrawal from $25 to $50.
(16) Articles of correction, still $25.
(17) Service of process (Registrar of Corporations), $200. (new)
(18) Any other document required or permitted to be filed such as bylaws affidavit, minutes, resolution, amended annual report and amendment, bylaws, operating agreement, stocks, resignation as director/president/vice-president/secretary/treasurer, etc., $50.
(19) Non-profit corporation report, initial, $10. (new)
(20) Application for certificate of existence or authorization for good standing, from $10 to $50.
(21) Registered agent form, $50. (new)
(22) Agent’s statement of change in registered office or resignation, still $10.
(23) Application for reservation of name, notice of transfer of reserved name, from $10 to $50.
(24) Application for registered name, application for renewal of registered name, from $10 to $50.
(25) Corporation’s statement of change of registered agent or registered office or both, from $10 to $25.
(26) Certificate or certification of document, $20 (new); $1 for additional page for copying.
(27) Annual subscription to the Commonwealth Register, $100 (new).
(28) Postage fee for Commonwealth Register, $30 (new).
(29) Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, annual reports, $5 per document (new); $1 per copy of each additional attachment.
(30) Expedited service fee, business organization document filing, $150 (new).
(31) Expedited service fee, certified research request, i.e., certification request of documents, $150 (new).
(32) Penalty for documents received after March 1, i.e. initial reports, annual reports, $150 (new).
(33) Penalty for annual reports received after March 2 (in addition to $150), $10 per day (new).
(34) Penalty for late filing on non-profit corporation report, annual and minutes, $25 (new).
(35) Penalty for non-profit annual reports received after March 2 (in addition to $25) $5 per day (new).
Commerce Secretary Mark Rabauliman earlier told the Senate that the proposed new and increased fees “are fair and reasonable considering all the factors that influence increases in cost of goods and services locally and elsewhere.”
Because it was amended by the Senate, the bill now returns to the House of Representatives.
