Election bill, alcohol warning passes House

The House of Representatives passed Friday legislation that would allow the CNMI Commission on Election to hold educational awareness campaigns to educate the community on issues that need to be approved on the ballot.

The measure, which amends Public Law 12-18 and augments the commission’s responsibilities in the conduct of public education on amendments to the Constitution, initiatives, recall and referenda, passed the House with 17 “yes” votes.

House Bill 14-175, which now goes to the Senate for similar approval, allows the commission to conduct all public education activities and events on all initiatives for local or general law, all proposed amendments to the NMI Constitution, and all referenda and recalls in the CNMI.

“Subject to the availability of funds, the commission may conduct any, part or all public education using newspapers with wide circulation, in the CNMI, television, and radio stations that broadcast widely in the CNMI, meeting within the individual election district in each senatorial district, and the use of the commission website,” reads the bill.

The House also passed House Bill 14-156 that amends an existing law to ensure that alcoholic beverages bottled or imported for sale in the CNMI contain health warnings on their containers in compliance with federal laws and regulations.

The bill also ensures that the Commerce Department’s Alcohol Beverage and Tobacco Control Division has the power to enforce such labeling requirement.

It is a requirement in the United States that all alcoholic beverage containers should carry a warning label but that is not the case for beverages entering the CNMI.

“The committee finds that not having such requirement on beverages bottled or imported into the CNMI could be detrimental and dangerous to the health of the residents. The warning labels serve as preventive measures from potentially dangerous encounters,” reads the House standing committee report.

Also, it is the purpose of the labels to ensure that pregnant women or those who are sensitive to alcohol do not consume alcohol. The warning labels would also serve as deterrent that inform individuals of the hazards of alcohol consumption.

Anyone found in violation of this proposed law would be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000. The bill passed the House with majority votes.