COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS Benigno R. Fitial Governor Eloy S. Inos Lieutenant Governor OCT 252010 Honorable Froilan C. Tenorio Speaker, House of Representatives Seventeenth Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature Saipan, MP 96950 The Honorable Paul A. Mang/ona Senate President Seventeenth Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature Saipan, MP 96950 Dear Mr. Speaker and Mr. President: This is to inform you that I have signed into law House Bill 17-37, HDI, SSI entitled, "To amend 4 CMC, Division 3, Chapter 3, Article 2 by adding a new 3327 to require certain CNMI offces to provide notary public services; and for other purposes," which was passed by the Seventeenth Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature. I understand the intent of the Legislature in passing this measure so as to assist residents of the CNMI with expeditious and effcient notary services primarily for scholarship matters and medical matters. However, while I approve this measure, I take note that the Offce of the CNMI Delegate in Washington, D.C. is not within the local governent's jurisdiction. 'Therefore, while 3327 (g) is not enforceable, the Delegate's office is hereby requested to provide for a notary public both in the D.C. offce and the local office, This bill becomes Public Law No, 17-24. I urge the legislature to revisit this measure and take remedial action with respect to 3327(g). Caller Box 10007 Saipan. MP 96950 Telephone: (670) 664-2200 12300 Facsimile: (670) 664 221112311
Copies bearing my signature are forwarded for your reference. cerely, +-W- cc: Lt. Governor omce of the Attorney Gener-dl Press Secretary. Offce of the Governor Special Assistant to the Administration Special Assistant for Programs & Legislative Review All Depanments and Agencies Caller Box 10007 Saipan, MP %950 Telephone: (670) 664-2200 12300 Facsimile: (670) 664-2211/2311
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEVETEENTH NORTHERN MARIANAS COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATURE P.O. BOX 500586 SAlPAN,MP 96950 September 16,2010 The Honorable Benigno R. Fitial Governor Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Capitol Hill Saipan, MP 96950 Dear Governor Fitial: I have the honor of transmitting herewith for your action H.B. 17-37, HDl, SS1, entitled: "To amend 4 CMC, Division 3, Chapter3, Aricle 2 by adding a new 3327 to require certain CNMI offices to provide notar public services; and for other purposes,", which was passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Seventeenth Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature. Sincerely yours, Attachment
Sevteent6,egfatut oftli Cmn:i of t6e NQn!Mar lsfantf IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 6th Day, First Regular Session March 11,2010 PUBLIC LAW NO. 17-24 RepreeDtative George N. Camacho, of Saipan, Precinct 4 (for himself Representative Teresita A. Santos) in an open and public meeting with an opportunity for the public to comment, intruced the following Bill: R. B. 17-37 AN ACT TO AMID 4 CIIC, DmSION 3, CII 3, ARnCL 1 BY ADDING A NEW 13317 TO BIQUI.8 ClBTAIN CNI OPFICIS TO PBOVIDI NOTARY PUBUC SIBYlCIS; AN FOB OTBIB PUBPOIS. The Bill was referred to the House Committee on Judiciary, Governmental, and Operations, which submitted Standing Committee Report 17-6. THE BILL WAS PASSED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON FIRST AND FINAL READING, MARCH 25, 2010; with amendments in the form ofh B. 17-37, HD1 and transmitted to the THE SENATE. The Bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Goverment, and Law, which submitted Standing Committee Report 17-16. THE BILL WAS PASSED BY THE SENATE ON FIRST AND FINAL READING, ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2010; with amendments in the/orm o/h. B. 17-37, HDI, SSl. H. B. 17-37, HD 1, SS I WAS RETURNED TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON SEPTEMBER 7, 201 O. The House of Representatives accepted the Senate amendments and passed H. B. 17-37, HOI, SSI during its Sixth Day, Second Regular Session on September 9, 20 I 0 J. ' EveIYD C. Fleming, HQuse Clerk
PUBLIC LAW NO. 17-24 Seuttli efatu e ojtlie Commt'Waftli oj tli!nqrtlier 94ari'M lsfand IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 6th Day, Second Regular Session September 9,2010 B. B.. 11.37.. BDI.. SSI AN ACT TO AID " CJlC. DmSIOll 3, CIUl 3, ARTICLE Z BY ADDIlIG A NEW I 3327 TO RHamRE CHBTAIlI CNlI OFJCHS TO PROVIDH liotary PUBUC SHRVICHS; AN FOR OTHR PUBPHS. Be it enacted by the Seventeenth Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature: 1 Section 1. Findings and Purpose. The Legislature finds that there are instances 2 where CNMI residents abroad ar burdened with seeking out notary publics and the financial 3 expenses associated with notarizing their documents for schools and other matters. With the 4 established offce of The United States House of Representative for the CNMI in Washington, 5 D.C., liaison offices in Hawaii and Guam, it is reasonable to require that such offces have an 6 employee certified as a notary public to defray such hardships. The Legislature further finds 7 it reasonable to require that the Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance Board, the 8 CNMI Scholarship Offce, the Rota Municipal Scholarship Foundation Offce, and the Offce 9 of the Tinian and Aguiguan Municipal Scholarship Board have an employee certified as a
PUBLIC LAW NO. 17-24 HOUSE BILL t7-37,hdl, SSt I notary public for the effcient processing of scholarship documentation. It is therefore the 2 purpose of this Act to require the United States House of Representative for the CNMI in 3 Washington, D.C., liaison offices in Hawaii and Guam, the Saipan Higher Education 4 Financial Assistance Board, the Scholarship Offce, the Rota Municipal Scholarship 5 Foundation Office, and the Office of the Tinian and Aguiguan Municipal Scholarship Board 6 to have an employee certified as a notary public. 7 Section 2. Amendment. 4 CMC, Division 3, Chapter 3, Article 2 is hereby amended 8 by adding a new 3327 to read as follows: 9 " 3327. Mandatory Notary Services. The following offces shall ensure 1 0 that at least one of their employees is a certified notary public to provide such notary II services free of charge to residents of the CNMI: 12 (a) Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance Board; 13 (b) CNMI Scholarship Office; 14 (c) Marianas Hawaii Liaison Office; 15 (d) CNMI Liaison Offce, Guam; 16 (e) Rota Municipal Scholarship Foundation Office; 17 (1) Offce of the Tinian and Aguiguan Municipal Scholarship 18 Board; and 19 ( g ) United States House of Representative for the CNMI III 20 Washington, D.C. 21 2
PUBLIC LAW NO. 17-24 HOUSE BILL 17-37,HDl, SSI 1 Section 3. Severability. If any provisions of this Act or the application of any such 2 provision to any person or circumstance should be held invalid by a court of competent 3 jurisdiction, the remainder of this Act or the application of its provisions to persons or 4 circumstaces other than those to which it is held invalid shall not be affected thereby. 5 Section 4. Savings Clause. This Act and any repealer contained herein shall not be 6 construed as affecting any existing right acquired under contract or acquired under statutes 7 repealed or under any rule, regulation or order adopted under the statutes. Repealers 8 contained in this Act shal not affect any proceeding instituted under or pursuant to prior law. 9 The enactment of the Act shall not have the effect of terminating, or in any way modifying, 10 any liability, civil or criminal, which shall already be in existence on the date this Act II becomes effective. 3
PUBLIC LAW NO. 17-24 HOUSE BILL 17-37, HD1, SSt Section 5. Effective Date. This Act shall take effect upon its approval by the 2 Governor, or its becoming law without such approval. by;% (-'-,--J>r. ' Attested to t y" Evelyn C. Fleming, House Clerk Certified by: ---=Z):...<::. ro =--P R-, 2010 Governor Commonwealth o/the Northern Mariana Islands 4