Bill gives reprieve on payback for scholars

Senators yesterday passed a bill seeking to relieve financial liability from government scholars who could not meet their obligations to the CNMI following failure to find employment in the public sector due to ongoing austerity measures of the Tenorio administration, including hiring freeze.

Senate Floor leader Pete P. Reyes said the measure should be put in place to absolve returning college students from the required government service as set forth in the conditions for receiving local grants, loans or scholarships.

He said he had met with three students recently graduated who could not get employed as teachers for the Public School System, but were concerned about meeting their obligations to the CNMI government.

“Students are required to work in the CNMI for a certain number of years in return for the scholarship they received while in school,” he said in his letter to Finance Secretary Lucy DLG Nielsen.

“However, due to the economic crisis we are facing, they are unable to get a teaching job,” Reyes added, noting that a legislation is needed to address the problem.

In SB 11-109 which he sponsored and passed by the Senate yesterday, the government will ease the requirement, provided that a student presents necessary credentials for service, but who is not hired by the CNMI government.

“(T)he recipient shall be forever relieved of any liability for the entire amount of financial assistance received from the Commonwealth,” the bill said. It now heads to the House of Representatives for action.

Meanwhile, the Senate voted 7-0 to pass a House measure that will set a ceiling on the scholarship awards given to off-island students at $15,000 per academic year to bail out the government financial aid program from potential deficit this fiscal year.

HB 11-375, which goes to the governor for consideration, aims to spread out the dwindling scholarship funds among students attending U.S. universities and the Northern Marianas College.

The program has drawn controversy after NMC students protested against their diminishing monetary awards while their counterparts continue to receive generous financial aid package amid the tight budget situation of the government.

The Senate also passed several bills and resolutions during the session held in the absence of Senate President Paul A. Manglona who is in Washington D.C. for a meeting with key U.S. legislators.

Among these were:

•SB 11-105, requiring male resident of the CNMI between 18-25 years old to sign up for the Selective Service System. The Senate approved the House amendment on the bill which heads to the governor for action;

•SB 11-100, inspecting calibration of poker machines on the island and imposing penalty for violations (House action);

•SB 11-104, reprogramming authority for Rota mayor (House action);

•SB 11-112, seeking to prevent conflict of interest in the operation of Outer Cove Marina (House action);

•SB 11-116, removing the Commonwealth Ports of Authority and the Coastal Resources Management under the Executive Order 94-3 from the previous administration. Reyes re-filed the bill and addressed administration concerns following disapproval by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio on the initial bill (House action);

•HB 11-360, appropriating funds for the completion of the bus shelter in San Vicente (for governor’s approval); and

•HB 11-338, reiterating the Fair Compensation Act for resident workers in the CNMI (for governor’s approval).