TITLE 1: GOVERNMENT
DIVISION 8: PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
§ 8502. Findings and Purposes. (a) It is declared by the people of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands that the purposes of this part are: (1) To assure that public officials in their official acts are free of the influence of undisclosed private or business interests; (2) To develop public confidence in persons seeking or holding public office, enhance the dignity of the offices and make them attractive to citizens who are motivated to public service; (3) To develop accountability in government by permitting public access to information necessary to judge the credentials and performance of those who seek and hold public office. (b) The people of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands declare that: (1) Public office is a public trust that should be free from the danger of conflict of interest; (2) The public has the right to know of the financial and business interests of persons who hold or seek public office; (3) Reasonable disclosure requirements do not violate an individual’s right to privacy when the individual seeks or holds public office, and a compelling public interest in the disclosure exists; and (4) Reasonable disclosure requirements do not have the effect of restraining the right of a qualified person to seek or hold public office. Source: PL 8-11, § 1 (§ 8402), modified.