Senate OKs spending authority for Inos

A bill granting spending powers to Public School System’s Commissioner Rita H. Inos over some $30 million in capital improvement projects in the education sector hurdled the Senate yesterday.

But the legislation will still need approval by the House of Representatives as senators reinstated provisions altered from the original version to suit conditions over use of the funding.

“I hope the amendment does not jeopardize funding,” said Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez in voting in favor of the measure. “We need to get this bill rolling.”

House Bill 11-455 will amend a new law that set aside a total of $29.96 million for various PSS projects on Saipan, Rota and Tinian to grant the expenditure authority to Inos.

This amendment is intended to comply with the conditions set out when PSS floated bonds worth $15.6 million to be able to raise funds to match federal construction grants.

To ease worries that an alteration in the amount would also violate the bond agreement, senators reinstated the $600,000 taken out by the House from the $1.8 million $1.8 million allotted for the completion of Sinapalu Elementary School.

This money would have been used to increase funding for construction of new public school libraries on the island.

Rota Rep. Alejo M. Mendiola had sought changes in the distribution of the $3.74 million share for his island, giving at least $1 million for a public library in Tatachog and $100,000 for a library in the public school.

Meanwhile, the Senate also passed a revised measure seeking to improve the administration of CIP-funded infrastructure plans of the government. Senate Bill 11-154, offered by Senate President Paul A. Manglona, deleted a key provision that would have allowed the Department of Public Works to exceed its employment ceiling to be able to speed up these projects.

This was a major concern that prompted Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio to veto the initial proposal early this month. The new measure now heads to the House for action.

Others bills passed by the Senate included:

SB 11-152, to include diabetes as one of the diseases covered by a prepaid health insurance in the CNMI;

HB 11-321, the Assistive Technology Warranty Act which seeks to safeguard consumer rights of disabled persons (for governor’s signature);

HB 11-328, amending the Professional Licensing Act (governor’s); and

HB 11-424, requiring beach launching permits (governor’s).