New laws help Fund, increase fine for parking in handicapped space

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial signed four laws yesterday, including one that seeks to prolong the life of the NMI Retirement Fund by providing annuitants an option to continue their CNMI government life insurance coverage under the same group terms and conditions as that offered to government employees, provided that annuitants’ coverage is not reduced by more than 30 percent.

Under Public Law 17-66, the premium cost will be divided between the Fund and the annuitant in the same manner as the premium is divided between the CNMI government and government employees.

The bill that became Public Law 17-66 was House Bill 17-77, House Draft 1, Senate Draft 2, authored by House Speaker Eli Cabrera (R-Saipan).

The measure says the Retirement Fund needs fiscal reforms to ensure its long-term fiscal solvency in order to meet its mandate of providing pension for all members.

“This amendment will be just one of many cost-saving measures that will provide the necessary step to save the CNMI’s pension program,” Cabrera said in his bill.

The governor also signed three other bills into laws.

Public Law 17-65 increases the penalties for parking in a space reserved for persons with disabilities. Fitial said members of the community having physical disabilities face significant challenges.

“The Legislature has wisely addressed an avoidable challenge-persons taking a parking space reserved for persons with disabilities,” the governor said.

Fitial also said increasing fines is both a revenue enhancement and a statement of sound public policy affirming the protection afforded these community members.

Rep. Joseph Palacios (R-Saipan) was the author of the legislation, HB 17-36, that became Public Law 17-65.

Any business or privately owned facility that does not have a designated accessible parking spaces within 90 days of the law’s effective date faces a civil fine of $100 per day until the required parking spaces are designated.

The penalty for parking in a space reserved for people with disabilities is $150 for the first violation and $300 for the second violation. For subsequent violations, the penalty is $300 to $1,000.

Under the new law, a special account for the Department of Public Safety will be established. Twenty-five percent of the fines collected will be deposited in this account, to be used for the celebration of the annual Police Week, honoring fallen police officers and firefighters.

Another account shall also be established for the Northern Marianas Protection and Advocacy Systems Inc. Twenty-five percent of the fines collected will be deposited into this account solely for public education and outreach.

The remaining 50 percent of funds collected from fines will be deposited into the general fund.

The governor also signed Public Law 17-63, renaming the Garapan/Chinatown Head Start Center the “Joaquina M. Rabauliman Head Start Center” in recognition of Rabauliman’s services to the CNMI Head Start Program and her contributions to the community. A dedication ceremony was held a few months ago. Palacios also authored the bill, HB 17-178 that became Public Law 17-63.

Fitial also signed House floor leader George Camacho’s (Ind-Saipan) HB 17-72 into Public Law 17-64, clarifying the definition of certain taxable commodities. These include the definition of “cigarette,” “soft drink,” and “tobacco, tobacco substitute or chewable tobacco product.”