Flores asks why House JGO Committee is sitting on his bill

Rep. Joseph A. Flores (Ind-Saipan) asked during the House of Representatives’ session last week why the House’s Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee chaired by Rep. Celina R. Babauta is sitting on his bill that he introduced last February.

During the miscellaneous business portion of the session, Flores asked for an update on the status of his House Bill 22-3 that he introduced during the House’s first session. The bill seeks to amend the Commonwealth Code by requiring the motor vehicle liability insurance expiration to be consistent with the vehicle registration expiration.

Flores complained that up to this day there’s no action from the JGO Committee and that he wants an explanation as to its status.

Flores said he is wondering if there is any controversy regarding this bill, which is, according to him, a recycled legislation that was passed by the previous House. He said he does not know the reason why the JGO is holding up this bill. He requested floor leader Ralph N. Yumul (R-Saipan) to schedule it for bill calendar for the next session.

Babauta said they are proceeding cautiously in the JGO Committee as they are still waiting for comments. Babauta said she has spoken with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and that she was told it does not support this bill.

She said there’s no research conducted and that even the Office of the Attorney General has not commented on it.

“There’s nothing that this bill proposes to fix. There’s nothing broken with the current system. We are prioritizing certain bills. Even my bills are in my committee,” Babauta said.

She said it’s not like they are picking sides or picking bills that they want to pass.

At this time, Babauta said, the stakeholder most affected by that bill does not support it, saying they do not have the supplies to support that legislation at this point.

“That’s what they have told me. And I’m trying to get their written comments and I don’t know what’s the hold up. They haven’t provided written comments but I have spoken with them,” she said.

Flores said this bill intends to have vehicle registration expirations coincide with the expiration of vehicle liability insurance. “It’s…to make it easy for everybody,” Flores said.

He believes that, by mirroring the two expirations of such necessary requirements in operating a vehicle, all motorists will be protected and covered from any unforeseeable circumstances that may cause serious financial and/or physical strains.

Flores, who is a former police officer, said he does not understand why the Bureau of Motor Vehicles does not support the bill. He said it’s been a practice for some to register their cars and renew their car insurance, and as soon as they register their vehicles, they go and terminate their insurance because the cars are registered already.

“This will actually give the BMV benefit to hire personnel to…catch those motor vehicles that are unregistered,” he said.

Flores said motor vehicles nowadays are registered for one year but the insurance is registered for six months. “This bill will make it [expiration] coincide for the whole year,” he said.

Flores said this bill will provide options to motorists and allow them to choose whether they are in favor of paying a one-time fee and changing the renewal registrations dates on their other vehicles.

“I don’t see why we keep waiting for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Let’s just move on and let’s put this on the table. If it fails, it fails. We’ll not be waiting until Christmas,” Flores said.

Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) then called for a quick recess.

Rep. Christina E. Sablan (D-Saipan) noted that JGO is still waiting for written comments from BMV and other things. “It’s not like that the committee hasn’t done anything,” Rep. Christina Sablan said.

Rep. John Paul Sablan (R-Saipan) said the committee’s normal practice is that they solicit comments and give a deadline. “ And if we don’t receive, then it’s a policy call for us,” he pointed out.

Rep. Celina Babauta asked what’s the urgency about this bill. “What is to stop a motorist from registering the car insurance in two months because it expires in two months. It doesn’t fix anything!” Rep. Celina Babauta said.

Rep. John Paul Sablan cited the bill’s importance to those with more than two vehicles. “Let’s say you have five vehicles. On one time a year, who does not like that? You want to go February, March, April and keep registering your five vehicles?” Rep. John Paul Sablan said.

Villagomez said Flores made it clear he wants to see action on his bill, whether it passes the House or not. He said Flores asked to put it on calendar for action for the next session.

“We don’t have to place it on calendar in this session for next session. We can do that even after we adjourn. We can place that on the next agenda,” said the speaker as he asked Flores and JGO members to discuss the matter.

Rep. John Paul Sablan said it’s fair enough.

Villagomez asked Flores to discuss the matter with JGO and then put it on calendar for the next session.

After the session resumed, Villagomez announced that during the recess they settled the issue that Flores raised and that this will be further discussed after that session.