Torres signs various measures into law

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres signed three measures into law, the most significant of which is Senate Bill 19-68 regarding copper wire theft. SB 19-68 becomes Public Law 19-57, while Saipan Local Law 19-30 appropriating $1 million to various projects is now known as SLL 19-19 and House Local Bill 19-50 is now SLL 19-20.

PL 19-57 added a new subsection where there would be a 10-day waiting period for the payment of copper wires in order to prevent copper wire thefts on the island.

Copper wire theft became a serious problem in the CNMI especially the recent incident that happened at the Froilan C. Tenorio Beach Road Pathway. The Marianas Visitors Authority, during that time, was in the process of re-lighting the pathway with RNV Construction as project contractor.

On May 28, RNV personnel found out that copper wire at the bridge near the Atkins Kroll-Microl San Jose intersection where pulled out and missing.

“Copper wire theft causes business owners and residents financial loss and disrupts electrical service to homes, stores, and other structures when the wires are stolen and sold at recycling centers,” as stated in PL 19-57.

With PL 19-57, there is now a 10-day waiting period for owners of recycling shops to pay the person who is selling the copper wire. The recycler is also required to give the Department of Public Safety copies of its sale transactions in three days.

“The waiting period provides time for DPS to investigate the sale, most especially those who frequently sell copper wire,” according to the newly signed law.

Violating payment withholding or failure to provide the sale receipt will cost the recycler a $500 fine or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both.

HLB 19-30, meanwhile, appropriates $1 million from the Exclusive Gaming Annual License Fees under PL 18-56. The money was spread out to fund various projects in the CNMI’s third senatorial district.

SLL 19-19 has allocated the following amount: $75,000 for a feasibility of a Northern Marianas Cultural Center; $50,000 for the Refaluwasch in the Marianas Celebration; $73,000 for the repair of facilities at the Northern Marianas Trades Institute damaged by Typhoon Soudelor last year; $50,000 for the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation’s operations; and $19,750 for the Office of the Governor as reimbursement for the CNMI All Star Senior baseball team that competed in this year’s Asia Pacific Little League Regional Tournament in the Philippines.

Also earmarked were $22,600 for the Saipan Mayor’s Office to pay their balance to IT&E; $26,625 for the CNMI boys’ U17 national teams that competed in the Micronesian Basketball Federation and Western Division Basketball tournaments; $106,241for drainage repairs of Precinct I’s Tuturam Road; $106,241 for drainage, pathway, sidewalk, social halls, basketball court, rehabilitation of Pacho Park, Sugar Dock, construction and installation of stop signs in the villages of Precinct II; and $106,241 for Precinct II’s As Falape Road water booster pumps.

Another $40,000 for installation of water pumps, water lines, and additional materials needed for Precinct IV; $56,266 for road repairs at Precinct IV; 9,975 to renovate Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School’s entrance walkway; $45,000 to repair and upgrade the Kagman Elementary School baseball field in Precinct V; $71,241 for the Saipan Mayor’s Office to buy heavy truck; and $15,000 for Inetnon Kutturan Natibu Mwiischil Safey Me Kkor Aramasal Faluw in editing and revising Chamorro-English dictionary were also appropriated by the new law.

The inaugural Marianas Trench Fish and Seafood Festival also got $5,000; $47,000 for the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council building repairs; $20,000 for the Northern Islands’ Too Beautiful to Bomb film project; $55,000 for the Division of Parks and Recreation to buy a 4×4 pickup truck ($40,000), riding mower parts and accessories used for park maintenance ($10,000), and trash receptacles for Saipan beaches ($5,000) were funded under the new law.

SLL 19-20, HLB 19-50, re-appropriates $12,128.73 and $10,000 each from BU3398K and BU3400Y to be used to construct roof cover for student educational activities at Koblerville Elementary School and the procurement of student desks and chairs at the San Antonio Middle School. Both schools are in Precinct 1.