TITLE 2: NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION 4: LAND RESOURCES
§ 4314. Future Relief. The Department of Lands and Natural Resources and the Department of Public Lands shall develop and institute a regulatory mechanism to automatically provide development time relief to homesteaders who in the future shall suffer similar destruction of their homestead improvements due to the adverse effects of natural disasters or wildfire prior to the completion of their homestead development obligations. Source: PL 9-64 § 3; global amendment by PL 15-2, § 4. Commission Comment: PL 9-64 took effect October 17, 1995. According to PL 9-64, §§ 1 and 2: Section 1. Findings. The Legislature finds that several people, many of them with young families[,] are developing homestead lots in the CNMI, and that failure of these homestead recipients to complete necessary improvements to their property within their allotted time will result in the property’s recovery by the government. Since the damage caused by the recent typhoons Wilda and Zelda [in 1995] destroyed the improvements made by many of these homestead recipients, the Legislature finds that it would be unjust to hold these homesteaders to the exact letter of their agreements, and that an extension of their homestead improvement time requirements is in order. Section 2. Extension. The Department of Lands and Natural Resources and the Division of Public Lands shall extend a two year grace period for homesteaders to complete the required improvements to their land whose existing improvements were destroyed or severely damaged by typhoons Wilda and Zelda. With respect to the reference to the “Department of Lands and Natural Resources and the Division of Public Lands” in 2 CMC § 4314, see Executive Order 94-3 (effective August 23, 1994), reorganizing the executive branch, changing agency names and official titles, and effecting other changes, set forth in the Commission comment to 1 CMC § 2001. PL 15-2, which was enacted on February 22, 2006, abolished the Marianas Public Lands Authority and created a Department of Public Lands in its place. PL 15-2 contained short title, legislative findings and declaration of policy, repealer, global amendment, transition, severability, and savings clauses. See 1 CMC § 2801 for detailed information regarding PL 15-2.