Torres signs several bills into law

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres signs four bills into law, joined by House Speaker Rafael S. Demapan, Rep. Joseph Guerrero, and Rep. Angel Demapan. (Contributed Photo)

On Oct. 5, 2018, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres signed into law the following bills:

Senate Local Bill, 20-7, to establish an honor scholarship for the valedictorian and salutatorian of the Tinian High School.

To promote and support educational excellence, the Tinian and Aguiguan Legislative Delegation find that the top two highest grade point averages of the Tinian High School should be awarded with an honor scholarship from the Municipality of Tinian in the amount of $5,000 and $2,500, respectively.

The amount shall be a one-time scholarship each year to be used towards pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university in the Commonwealth, United States or its territories for education needs not limited to tuition, textbooks, school supplies, transportation and housing.

Unanimously passed by the Tinian and Aguiguan Legislative Delegation, this bill becomes Tinian Local Law 20-16.

House Bill 20-124, HD1, to authorize and establish expedited partner therapy for certain sexually transmitted infections.

The Legislature finds that allowing healthcare providers to treat both patients and their partners through Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) has many long-term public health benefits in managing sexually transmitted diseases. Although EPT is an effective treatment, the lack of explicit allowance for this practice in the law may prevent providers and pharmacies from using EPT as an option, therefore, it is necessary to create a statute for clinical practice.

Authored by Rep. Jose I. Itibus, this bill becomes Public Law 20-69.

House Bill 20-133, HD1, to rename Building P of the Northern Marianas College in As Terlaje Hill, Saipan as the Agnes Manglona McPhetres Administrative Building in recognition of her untiring and outstanding contributions to the development of higher education in the Commonwealth.

From 1983 to 1999, McPhetres served as the first President of the Northern Marianas College. Through her leadership, McPhetres and her team were able to get the newly founded college accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in June of 1985.

Authored by House Speaker Rafael S. Demapan, this bill becomes Public Law 20-70.

Senate Bill 20-111, SD1, to establish an advisory commission on the compensation of Commonwealth executive, legislative, and judicial officers.

The purpose of this bill is to comply with the CNMI Superior Court ruling that salary increases for the legislature must be calculated based off a specific accepted Composite Price Index (CPI), within the percentage change of the accepted CPI for the period since the last salary increase, and no greater than the maximum salary recommended by the advisory commission.

Within 15 days of the effective date of this Act, an advisory commission on the compensation of Commonwealth executive, legislative, and judicial officers shall consist of seven members as follows:

• Three members shall be appointed by the governor;
• Two members shall be appointed by the president of the Senate;
• Two members shall be appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.

Offered unanimously by the Senate, this bill becomes Public Law 20-71. (PR)