TITLE 3: HUMAN RESOURCES
DIVISION 1: EDUCATION
§ 1341. Short Title. [Repealed] [Repealed by PL 18-40 § 3(a) (Mar. 21, 2014)] Source: PL 7-32, § 1; repealed and reenacted by PL 14-37, § 3 (1341); repealed by PL 18-40 § 3(a) (Mar. 21, 2014). Commission Comment: PL 7-32 took effect June 20, 1991. According to PL 7-32, § 2: Section 2. Purpose. It is the purpose of this Act to provide scholarships for two graduating high school students with the highest scholastic standing in their class to attend any accredited college or university in the Commonwealth or the United States or its territories. Executive Order 94-3, the “Second Re-organization Plan of 1994” (effective August 23, 1994), reorganized the Commonwealth government executive branch, changed agency names and official titles and effected numerous other revisions. According to Executive Order 94-3, § 211: Section 211. Scholarships. (a) All functions of the Northern Marianas College Board of Regents relating to student scholarships, except those donated, bequeathed, or granted to the College by parties outside the Commonwealth Government, are transferred to the Office of the Governor. (b) There is hereby established in the Office of the Governor a Scholarship Advisory Board consisting of nine members who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. At least two of the members shall be from Tinian, and at least two from Rota. Not more than five of the board members shall be associated with a single political party. The Board shall review applications for scholarships and make recommendations to the Governor with respect thereto. The Board shall also recommend objective standards for the award of scholarships. The provisions of [PL 8-41] shall not apply to the Board. (c) As used in this section, the term “scholarships” includes student grants, student loans, and other programs of student financial assistance. The full text of Executive Order 94-3 is set forth in the Commission comment to 1 CMC § 2001. PL 14-37 was enacted on October 22, 2004, and contained, short title, findings and purpose, authorization, severability, and savings clause provisions. PL 14-37 stated in pertinent part: Section 2. Findings and Purpose. (a) The Legislature finds that Public Law 7-32 known as the “Postsecondary Education Scholarship of 1990” awards scholarships to graduating high school students who are the valedictorian and salutatorian in each graduating class of the Rota and Tinian high schools, in addition to
TITLE 3: HUMAN RESOURCES
DIVISION 1: EDUCATION four recipients who have the highest scholastic standing from all high schools in Saipan, and three recipients who had graduated as one of the top students of an off-island high school. It is the intent of this Act to award all such future scholarships to students with the highest overall scholastic achievement on each island. The Legislature also intends to clarify the requirements for the two off-island high school scholarship recipients. (b) The Legislature further finds that Public Law 7-32 does not require applicants to take the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) and/or American College Testing (ACT). Therefore, it is the intent of this Act to require applicants to take the SAT and/or ACT prior to applying for the scholarship. The highest overall scholastic achievement is to be determined by combining the student’s cumulative Grade Point Averages (GPA) from grades 9 to 12 and the student’s highest Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) and/or American College Testing score. The Scholarship Board shall determine what percentage values to assign to both GPA and SAT and/or ACT score when deciding to whom the scholarships should be awarded. (c) The Legislature further finds that Public Law 7-32 requires recipients of the scholarships to be bonafide residents of the CNMI for a period of at least two years immediately preceding the date of the award. It is the intent of this Act to maintain the two year residency requirement in some instances but further require the recipient to have attended any CNMI school for a total period of six years (including the two years preceding the application). (d) The Legislature further finds that 7-32 does not contain an enforcement clause to hold students who fail to meet the requirements and terms of the scholarship accountable to the obligations under their agreement. It is the intent of this Act to grant the Scholarship Board the power to enforce the terms of the agreement between the recipient and the CNMI government. … Section 4. Authorization. The Legislature shall appropriate funds to carry out the purposes of this Act. PL 18-40 (Mar. 21, 2014) contained, in addition to savings and severability clauses, the following Short Title, Findings and Purpose, and Transition sections: Section 1. Short Title. This Act may be referred to as the “CNMI Scholarship Office Act of 2013.” Section 2. Findings and Purpose. The Commonwealth Legislature finds that the current CNMI Scholarship Office is headed by an administrator within the Governor’s Office. At times, this structure subjects the Scholarship Board must be free from political influence and any other influence that is contrary to the purpose of the scholarship program. Accordingly, the purpose of this legislation is to establish the CNMI Scholarship Office as an autonomous agency governed by a board of directors
TITLE 3: HUMAN RESOURCES
DIVISION 1: EDUCATION authorized to make policy decisions regarding the scholarship program and promulgate rules and regulations to implement the program. Section 5. Transition. As used in this section, “Scholarship Office” refers to the Scholarship Office within the Office of the Governor abolished by Section 3 of this Act and “CNMI Scholarship Office” refers to the CNMI Scholarship Office created by Section 4 of this Act. (a) All records and property (including office equipment and contract rights) of the Scholarship Office, and all records and property used primarily in the administration of any function of the Scholarship Office are hereby transferred to the CNMI Scholarship Office. (b) All the personnel used in the administration of the Scholarship Office are hereby transferred to the CNMI Scholarship Office. Employment contracts in effect on the effective date of this Act [March 21, 2014] shall continue in effect as obligations of the CNMI Scholarship Office, and upon their expiration, the employees shall be placed in the appropriate civil service position of excepted service position without reduction in salary and benefits. (c) The policies, rules and regulations of the Scholarship Office shall continue as policies, rules and regulations of the CNMI Scholarship Office until amended or repealed by the CNMI Scholarship Board of Directors. (d) The unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, allotments, or other funds available for the use of the Scholarship Office shall be transferred to the CNMI Scholarship Office for use in connection with the exercise of its functions. In the transfer of such funds, an amount may be included for the liquidation of obligations incurred by the Scholarship Office prior to the effective date of this Act [March 21, 2014].