This is to announce the following meetings this week:

 

1)  Forum on Federal Immigration Transition Program -- today, Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at Fiesta Filipino by Juvy Restaurant in Susupe (across Grand Hotel) from 6pm-8pm.  Sponsored by the United Workers Movement.  DHS and USCIS officials will provide an overview of U.S. immigration law and answer questions concerning the new federal regulations and the orderly transition from the CNMI permit system to the U.S. federal immigration system.  Leaders from various religious, worker, and ethnic groups are expected to participate.  For more information and to reserve a seat, call 285-3306, 287-0191, or 285-9255. 

 

2)  House Session -- tomorrow, Thursday, December 3, 2009 in the House Chamber, starting at 9:30am.  The draft agenda is attached.  Not on the agenda yet, but expected to be prefiled today is a resolution to amend the House rules to comply with the Open Government Act.  The application of the Open Government Act to the Legislature will go into effect on December 7, 2009, in accordance with the CNMI Constitution which provides that popular initiatives to enact general laws go into effect 30 days from the date of the election.  Like the Senate rules which were adopted recently, the proposed changes to the House rules will primarily cover public notice, public comment, and public records requirements.

 

3)  Senate Session -- tomorrow, Thursday, December 3, 2009 at the Tinian Courthouse, starting at 10am.  The draft agenda is attached.  One major item on the Senate agenda is House Bill 16-254, HD1, which proposes to require that at least one member of the Retirement Fund Board of Trustees be nominated by a chartered or incorporated organization representing CNMI retirees.  This bill was passed by the House during the session held on November 16, 2009.