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House OKs HNP revolving fund account
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Posted on Jun 21 2023
The House of Representatives unanimously passed yesterday a bill that seeks to establish a revolving fund account for the Health Network Program, or the former Medical Referral Program.
Under House Bill 23-57, money collected from certain tax penalties and liens will go into the HNP revolving fund account for use by the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.
All 17 House members present yesterday voted “yes” to a motion to pass the bill. Reps. Edwin K. Propst (D-Saipan), Diego Vincent F. Camacho (D-Saipan), and Julie Marie A. Ogo (Ind-Rota) were absent but excused from the session.
Rep. Blas Jonathan T. Attao (Ind-Saipan) introduced the legislation yesterday. Several other House members co-sponsored the bill.
Before the voting, Attao said the legislation will not touch anything in the general fund as these are monies that are owed the central government.
For legislative intent, Attao said, he wants to make sure that should the HNP ever change its name in the future, this legislation will also adopt to the change of the name of HNP.
Under the legislation, the HNP revolving fund account is established within the Department of Finance for the purpose of funding travel and housing costs for the HNP.
The chief executive officer of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. shall be the expenditure authority for all disbursements associated with the HNP fund account.
These fund accounts shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year. The account shall be audited annually.
