An Act to amend 2 CMC $5 5106(b) and 5107, as amended by Public Law (P.L. 14-14)

COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS Juan N. Babauta Governor T. Benavente Lieutenant Governor The Honorable Benigno R. Speaker, House of Representatives Fourteenth Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature Saipan, MP 96950 The Honorable G. Senate President, The Senate Fourteenth Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature Saipan, 96950 Dear Mr. Speaker and Mr. President: This is to inform you that I have signed into law House Bill No. 14-170, entitled “TO amend 2 CMC and 5107, as amended by Public Law No. which was passed by the Fourteenth Northern Marinas Commonwealth Legislature. The Administration notes that the Department of Lands and Natural Resources (DLNR) has received over Two Million Dollars annually for the past twenty-five (25) years the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for projects that directly benefit both the environment and the people of the CNMI. The Administration notes, however, that this historically steady source of federal will no longer be available to DLNR unless the Fish, Game and Endangered Species Act is amended to mandate that all fishing and hunting license fees collected by the Division of Fish and Wildlife are deposited in the Fish and Game Conservation Revolving Fund and are not diverted to the General Fund. Federal laws relating to the provision of funds for environmental programs and projects require such amendments as a prerequisite to the continued release of the aforementioned to DLNR. This legislation makes the requisite amendments to the Act, thereby assuring the continued receipt of a significant amount of annual federal funding that will be used to Caller Box 10007 MI’ 96950 Telephone: (670) 664-2200 Facsimile: (670) 664-2211 ... Diego Fitial Joaquin Adriano MP §§ 5106(b) from Saioan, JUN 1 7 2004 ($2,000,000.00) funds /2300 , "'e""'' I"\ l!RK "' * FIL~ HSl, 13-8," funds /2311 develop and implement future projects and programs that benefit the and the people of the CNMI. I commend the authors of this legislation and other members of the Legislature that worked to pass this legislation ensure that the provision of these vital federal not be jeopardized. I commend the Secretary of DLNR for his extensive work and decisive action on this issue, both at DLNR and in cooperation with the distinguished members of the Legislature. This bill becomes Public Law No. 14-14. Copies bearing my signature are forwarded for your reference. cc: Secretary, Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary, Department of Finance Special Assistant for Management and Budget Special Assistant for Programs and Legislative Review environment all funds will also S~rely, !I ;J ~+ House NORTHERN MARIANAS COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATURE P.O. Box 500586 Saipan, MP 96950 May 11,2004 The Honorable Juan N. Babauta Governor Commonwealth of the Northern Islands Capitol Hill Saipan, 96950 PUBLIC LAW NO. 14-14 Dear Governor Babauta: I have the honor of transmitting herewith H. B. NO. 14-170, entitled, “To amend 2 CMC and 5107, as amended by Public Law No. The Bill was passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Fourteenth Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature. Sincerely yours, Clerk Attachment Mariana MP §§ 5106(b) C.Fl~ ) of <.R,presentatives HSl, 13-8." SPECIAL 2004 PUBLIC LAW NO. 14-14 H. B. NO. 14-170, HSI ACT To amend 2 CMC and 5107, as amended by Public Law No. 13-8. Introduced by Representatives: Arnold I. Palacios, Martin B. Ada, David M. Apatang, Jesus T. Attao, Joseph P. Guerrero, Heinz S. Hofschneider, Benjamin B. Seman, and Ramon A. Tebuteb Date: April 15,2004 Referred to: Committee on Natural Resources Public Hearing: None Standing Committee Report: 14-51 Passed First and Final Reading on 28, 2004 Referred to: None Public Hearing: None Standing Committee Report: None Passed Final Reading on May 5, 2005 velyn . Clerk ROUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOt'R'l.EEN'IH NORTHERN MARIAN.AS WEALTH LEGISLATURE SECOND SESSION, AN §§ 5106(b) Deleon 11 1: 1: FOURTEENTH NORTHERN MARIANAS SPECIAL SESSION, 2004 PUBLIC LAW NO. 14-14 H. B. NO. 14-170, ACT To amend 2 CMC and 5107, as amended by Public Law NO. 13-8. BE IT ENACTED BY THE FOURTEENTH NORTHERN MARIANAS COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATURE: Section 1. Statement of Purpose and The Legislature finds that the Department of Lands and Natural Resources has received over $2 million dollars annually for the past twenty-five years from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for projects that directly benefit the people of the Commonwealth. These projects include, but are not limited to, construction of the Smiling Cove Marina, construction of West Harbor Marina Project in Rota, construction of boat launching ramps, assembly and deployment of Fish Aggregation Devices (FADS), conducting marine surveys, and fish stock studies. The Legislature further finds that this constant source of federal funds will no longer be made available to the CNMI unless a technical amendment is made to the enabling legislation thereby assuring the federal government that any fish and hunting license fees raised by the DFW is not diverted to the General Fund but remains in the Fish and Game Conservation Revolving Fund. This Act makes the appropriate amendments to pertinent sections of the Fish, Game and Endangered Species Act, 2 CMC 5 10 1 et seq. Section 2. Amendment. Subsection (b) of 2 CMC 5 106 and the last sentence of 2 CMC 5 107, as amended by Public Law No. 13-8, are hereby deleted. 1( §§ § HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CclMMONWEALTH LEGISLATURE SECQND AN §§ 5106(b) Findimis. § HS1 0 . PUBLIC LAW NO. 14-14 HOUSE BILL NO. 14-170, Section 3. Effective Date. This Act shall take effect upon its approval by the Governor or upon becoming law without such approval. CERTIFIED BY: V R. FITIAL EAKER OF THE HOUSE ATTESTED TO BY: HOUSE GOVERNOR OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS Page 2 HS1 NIGNO ~/j-+-7..,. .#/J~lo~wrf- on this J 7 f,day or l J U f1 €.- ~, 2004