Previous Story
Data for SHEFA beneficiaries sought
House floor leader George Camacho (R-Saipan) and other lawmakers want the Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance to provide data on how many of its beneficiaries have actually reported back to the CNMI after receiving financial assistance.
Lawmakers of the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation’s Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operations held a hearing on SHEFA’s newly appointed board members on Wednesday.
Camacho is a member of the SNILD JGO committee.
He brought up the question on the returning student-beneficiaries at the nomination hearing.
According to Camacho, SHEFA has an earmarked budget of “$3.1 million to $3.2 million” each year.
It was brought up that most of the appropriations should go to awards, rather than the operations of the SHEFA, Camacho said.
He said related to this, SHEFA was asked how many beneficiaries have actually returned to the CNMI after securing work.
“It is hard to check. When you’re done with school, then you look for work. But they [beneficiaries] still need to report and say that they are back and are paying taxes now,” Camacho said.
Beneficiaries of SHEFA are mandated to report on their status. Should the beneficiary decide to work and stay in the United States, they should pay the money back to SHEFA, Camacho said.
“That is the concern, tracking the students, either they quit or started work somewhere,” Camacho said, adding that when SHEFA sends out letters, most often the letters are ignored.
The lawmaker said he will be working on “strengthening the provision compelling students to report back to SHEFA” through legislation.
Camacho stressed that lawmakers are “not trying to put anyone in jail,” but if someone receives a court summons, instead of just a letter, “they would surely report back.”
The SHEFA board appointees include Juan K. Tenorio, Jose C. Mafnas, Ursula A. Lifoifoi, Raymond M. Muna, and Oscar Babauta.
Camacho said the appointees are likely to be confirmed during the next SNILD JGO hearing.
