11 initiatives propose amendments to NMI charter

The following are the 11 House Legislative Initiatives that are currently pending in the CNMI House of Representatives.

A House legislative initiative is a bill introduced in the House of Representatives that is intended to create an initiative to amend the CNMI Constitution.

For a full copy of the pending initiatives, visit www.camachocnmi.com.

To amend Article ill, Section 9(a), of the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands to prohibit the withdrawal of any funds from the General Fund except by appropriations made by law.
—Authored by: Rep. Diego T. Benavente, and others

To amend Article IV, Section 5 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to authorize the election of the chief justice and presiding judge by a majority of the justices and judges, respectively.
—Authored by: Rep. Ray N. Yumul

To amend Article XV, section 1(c) and (e) of the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands. [I](Editor’s Note: This relates to the selection of a teacher representative to the Board of Education. Under the proposal, the teacher representative shall be selected by all teachers within the Public School System and the selection process will be established by law.)[/I] —Authored by: Rep. Justo S. Quitugua

To amend Article XII of the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands by adding a new Section 7 to allow each senatorial district to amend or repeal the restrictions on alienation of land with respect to its senatorial district.
—Authored by: Rep. Victor B. Hocog

To improve the efficiency and accountability in the Legislative Branch of government.
—Authored by: Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider

To amend Article III Section 9 of the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands to require the adoption of an annual budget. [I](Editor’s Note: The bill prioritizes funding for the Public School System, Public Health, and Public Safety, and sets deadlines for action on the budget bill, as well as corresponding penalties if the deadlines are not met.)[/I] —Authored by: Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider

To amend Section 4 of Article X of CNMI Constitution. [I](Editor’s Note: This initiative proposes to authorize the CNMI government to borrow money for operating expenses during extreme situations and upon approval of the people through an initiative.)[/I] —Authored by: Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider

To change the term permitted for transfer of a leasehold interest in private lands. [I](Editor’s Note: This proposes to extend private land leases from the 55 years currently allowed by the CNMI Constitution to 75 years.)[/I] —Authored by: Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider

To amend sections 3,4,5,6 of Article XI of CNMI Constitution. [I](Editor’s Note: This initiative updates the Constitution to reflect the dissolution of the Marianas Public Lands Authority and the creation of the Department of Public Lands. It also seeks to lift constitutional restrictions on the use of revenues generated from public land leases and user fees to allow the CNMI government to reserve a portion of those revenues to fund the operation and improvement of the CNMI’s public utilities. Also, it would allow the government to use part of the interest from MPLT investments.)[/I] —Authored by: Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider

To authorize the election of an Attorney General.
—Authored by: Rep. Francisco S. Dela Cruz

To amend Article IV to establish a commission on the judiciary and to establish that written opinions and decisions of the CNMI Superior Court and Supreme Court be issued within one year of submission of the case for opinion or decision.
—Authored by: Rep. Stanley T. McGinnis Torres

Source: www.camachocnmi.com