Title 1, Government

Review by Mayor. (a) No local bill or local appropriation or revenue bill may be enacted by a legislative delegation until the mayor from the respective senatorial district has had an opportunity to review and comment on it. The mayor or his designee shall have 30 days in which t…

Format of Local Bill. Each local bill shall contain the information required to be contained in a bill pursuant to the official rules of that house of the Commonwealth Legislature in which the local bill was introduced, except that it shall contain the words, “a local bill for an…

Format of Local Appropriation or Revenue Bills. Appropriation or revenue bills shall be introduced in the House of Representatives and shall contain the information required pursuant to the official rules of the House, except that it shall contain the words “a local appropriation…

Revenues Derived From Local Revenue Laws. (a) There is hereby established the following local fund accounts for each of the Senatorial Districts: (1) Rota Local Funds, (2) Tinian Local Funds, and (3) Saipan Local funds. (b) All revenues derived from local revenue laws shall be de…

Amendment of Local Laws. Local laws, whether enacted by the Delegation or by initiative, may be amended, altered repealed, superceded or altered in any fashion by the enactment of a subsequent local law enacted by the Delegation. Source: PL 16-04, § 3, modified. Commission Commen…

Office of Public Defender. There is in the Commonwealth government an office of the Public Defender, to be headed by a Public Defender. Source: PL 1-8, tit. 1, ch. 4, § 1, modified.

Public Defender: Appointment. The Public Defender shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. No person may be appointed as Public Defender unless the person has: (a) Graduated from an English-speaking accredited law school, and who, at the time …

Public Defender: Duties. The Public Defender shall have the following powers and duties: (a) To defend indigent defendants in criminal cases before the courts of the Commonwealth or before courts having appellate jurisdiction over cases before the courts of the Commonwealth; (b) …

Public Defender: Eligibility. The Public Defender shall establish eligibility criteria and may promulgate rules and regulations regarding eligibility criteria, to take effect upon their approval by the Governor. The determination as to whether a defendant be indigent or whether a…

Public Defender: Staff. The Public Defender may employ staff, including one or more assistant public defenders, as required to assist in performing the duties of the Public Defender, subject to budgetary appropriation. No person may be appointed as assistant public defender unles…

Court Administration. (a) Administrative responsibility for the Commonwealth judiciary is vested in the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth, under the direction of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. (b) All employees of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by and serve under t…

Budget Responsibilities. (a) The Chief Justice, in consultation with the Commonwealth judiciary, shall be responsible for preparing estimates of the budget requirements of the Commonwealth judiciary and presenting those estimates to the legislature annually. (b) The expenditure a…

Rule-Making Authority. (a) The Chief Justice may propose rules governing appeals from the Superior Court, judicial ethics, admission to practice before the Commonwealth judiciary and governance of the members of the bar of the Commonwealth, fees, and other proper matters of judic…

Written Opinions. Decisions of the Supreme Court and of the Superior Court which determine a case and decisions which determine a substantial question of procedure or substantive law shall be set forth in written opinions, with the reasons for the decision stated, within one year…

Justice Center Fund. (a) There is hereby established a revolving fund within the Department of Finance that shall be known and designated as the Justice Center Fund Revolving Account. This revolving account shall be accounted for separately from the General Fund. Commencing on th…

Probation Services Fund. (a) There is hereby established a special fund within the Department of Finance which shall be known and designated as the Probation Services Fund. (b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, all probation service fees received under 6 CMC § 4113(g) shal…

Drug Court Revolving Fund. (a) There is hereby established a special fund within the Department of Finance, which shall be known and designated as the Drug Court Revolving Fund. The fund shall be accounted for separately from the General Fund and is non-lapsing. The Presiding Jud…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 411. Legislative Finding. In the emergence of the Northern Marianas as a viable community, there were exemplary achievements, acts and deeds by men and women, young and old, indigenous and nonindigenous, which contributed to making what the Commonwealth is to…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 412. Commonwealth Hall of Fame Commission: Established. (a) There is hereby established a Commonwealth Hall of Fame Commission, an independent agency of the Commonwealth government. (b) The commission is comprised of nine voting members, to be appointed as fo…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 413. Commonwealth Hall of Fame Commission: Procedures. (a) The meetings of the commission shall be open to the public and shall be held at least once every three months. Special meetings may be called by the chairman or upon the affirmative vote of six member…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 414. Commonwealth Hall of Fame: Nomination Categories. The commission shall accept nominations of persons for induction into the “Commonwealth Hall of Fame” who have excelled or made extraordinary and meritorious contributions to the Commonwealth in their fie…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 415. Commonwealth Hall of Fame: Nominations. Nominations for any of the categories of endeavor stated in 1 CMC § 414 shall be governed by the following rules: (a) Except as provided in 1 CMC § 418, nominations shall be made by petition by no less than 100 per…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 416. Commonwealth Hall of Fame: Screening and Induction. (a) Screening. The commission shall screen the nominating petition and its accompanying data and select not more than three finalists from each category for consideration. It may require the finalists, …

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 417. Staffing: Subject to Budget Limitations. The commission is authorized to use or employ such staff as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of this chapter. The employees may be employees on loan from the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs o…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 418. Select Committee. The commission may empower a select committee on nominations composed of five members of the commission which may nominate eligible persons to supplement nominations by petition under 1 CMC § 415 for induction into the Commonwealth Hall…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 419. Special Provisions. In addition to 1 CMC § 414, the commission may recognize those persons whose achievements, acts and deeds have contributed to the overall development of the Commonwealth and shall befittingly bestow public honor in the Commonwealth Ha…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 420. Inscription: Commonwealth Hall of Fame. The name of each inductee shall be inscribed on a bronze or similarly appropriate plaque to be publicly displayed in the Commonwealth Hall of Fame. Each person inducted shall receive a medal commemorative of the oc…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 421. Saipan: Hospital: Dr. Torres Memorial Hospital. The hospital on Saipan shall be known as “Dr. Torres Memorial Hospital.” Source: DL 5-31, § 1.

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 422. Saipan: Court Building: Ignacio V. Benavente Building. The court building located within the civic center complex shall be known as the “Ignacio V. Benavente Building.” Source: PL 1-41, § 1.

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 423. Saipan: Highways. (a) The highway previously known as “W-2 Highway” which extends from the war monument at Chalan Laulau to Marpi is hereby renamed “Chalan Pale Arnold.” (b) The highway which extends from the American memorial monument at San Jose villag…

GENERAL PROVISION § 424. Saipan: Schools. (a) The Chalan Kanoa Elementary School shall be known as the “William S. Reyes Elementary School.” (b) The San Roque Elementary School shall be known as the “Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School.” (c) The San Antonio Middle School shall …

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 425. Saipan: Other Public Facilities. (a) The Garapan Community Hall shall be known as the “Mariano G. Cabrera Memorial Hall.” (b) The municipal building located within the municipal building complex in Chalan Kanoa is named the “Tun Gregorio Sablan (Kilili) …

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 426. House of Representatives Building: Vice Speaker Jesus P. Mafnas Memorial Building. (a) The House of Representatives Building shall be named “Vice Speaker Jesus P. Mafnas Memorial Building” in honor and memory of the first member of the House of Represent…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 427. Justice Building; Guma’ Hustisia, Iimwal Aweewe, House of Justice. The new Justice Building on Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, shall be henceforth known as the “Guma’ Hustisia, Iimwal Aweewe, House Of Justice” which means “House of…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 428. Administration Building; Honorable Juan Atalig Sablan Memorial Building. (a) Naming. The former Trust Territory Central Government of the Pacific Island Headquarters now the seat of the CNMI Governor and Lt. Governor is hereby renamed the “Honorable Juan…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 429. Saipan: Airport: Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport. The Saipan International Airport is hereby named the “Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport.” Source: Saipan LL 13-10, § 2. Commission Comment: Saipan LL 13-10 became effective Octob…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 430. NMI Retirement Building; Governor Lorenzo I. De Leon Guerrero Retirement Fund Building. The Northern Mariana Islands Retirement Building at Capitol Hill, Saipan is hereby renamed the “Governor Lorenzo I. De Leon Guerrero Retirement Fund Building,” in hon…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 430.01. Lydia D. Igitol Center for Living Independently in the CNMI. The structure for the Center for Living Independently in the CNMI is hereby renamed “The Lydia D. lgitol Center for Living Independently in the CNMI”. Source: PL 22-09, § 2 (Oct. 25, 2021), …

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 430.02. Route 30 and Route 33: Governor Arnold I. Palacios Memorial Highway. Part of Route 30 from the Chalan Piao Intersection that runs north to the Bank of Guam Intersection in Garapan and Route 33 that starts after the Bank of Guam Intersection and ends a…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 430.03. Diego T. Benavente Smiling Cove Marina. The designated harbor/marina located between the “American Memorial Park” and the “Eloy S. Inos Peace Park” in Puerto Rico on Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, shall be henceforth known as th…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 431. Rota: Municipal Plaza. The Rota Municipal Plaza located in Songsong village shall be known as “Melchor Songsong Mendiola Memorial Plaza.” Source: PL 2-49, § 1.

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 432. Rota: Library. The Rota Public Library Building and Annex shall be known as “Antonio Camacho Atalig Memorial Library.” Source: PL 2-50, § 1; amended by PL 17-25 § 3 (December 16, 2010). Commission Comment: Public Law 17-25 (effective December 16, 2010) i…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 433. Rota: Highway. (a) The primary arterial highway on the island of Rota, described in subsection (b) of this section, shall be known as the Chalan San Francisco de Borja, in honor of the patron saint of Rota. (b) The Chalan San Francisco de Borja consists …

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 434. Rota: Schools. (a) The number five classroom building at the Rota Elementary School campus is named the “Misael Hocog Ogo Building.” (b) Renaming of the Rota Junior/Senior High School. The Rota Junior/Senior High School located in Songsong Village, Rota …

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 435. Rota: West Harbor Seaport. The Rota West Harbor Seaport is hereby renamed as “Thomas C. Mendiola Commercial Seaport.” Source: PL 15-112, § 2. Commission Comment: Public Law 15-112 took effect November 23, 2007, and contained the following findings and pu…

GENERAL PROVISIONS § 436. Rota: Public Parks, Fields and Other Facilities. (a) The baseball field in Sinapalo, Rota is hereby named “Joaquin Mesngon Ogo Baseball Field.” (b) The Rota Veteran Memorial Park is hereby renamed “the Corporal Joe G. Charfauros Jr. Rota Veteran Memorial…