[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6626646,"mediaKeyId","2751272-cba684ba14189c99711fa6b794875f30","parentId",2751272,"title","Lawmakers back fines, timelines to speed delivery of agency audits; floor adopts extension process","audioSeconds",438,"startMs",11672000,"endMs",12110000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2751272-cba684ba14189c99711fa6b794875f30&start=11672&end=12110","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2751272-cba684ba14189c99711fa6b794875f30/thumbnail_11672000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6626646/Lawmakers-back-fines-timelines-to-speed-delivery-of-agency-audits-floor-adopts-extension-process","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6626646-cff59409c6ac23c09a17556b07583484/orig.mp4?Expires=1776150302&Signature=g836nj6Rq7iBMFBGsvMljQiCHfnws7Q6Gsq0C1WC6kw8yER48Zb9Z4paB5ZRoqhH5vwGp2cDaqQ0RKE6wDyKzWLXJ89qmS7ZHy-vOnwW4n2pWbwlhFRbHCDKvwGGJqun-nR9Q2KnSAMI8BdBYe4vqdvKy7MD~SVAY5aJIjhFIRSltdxDlFaOONBJWzGcG2oMBmtg5e4pWcxRbQoqRot1quII0~U3xFgFijgdcxeBYop317ortCPXwPsOy7NYcMtWgkpTCcLjO0RO8SomCgWsmIUrTEBKsv1tmd2twuMeTc~2HtORZTnr~Hgh2nJZdu6QY~ASmEkQkMSBnxiIvFmhHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Guam Legislature","date","2025-03-24T07:54:50.673Z","article","The Guam Legislature on Monday debated and amended Bill 14‑38 COR, a measure intended to strengthen timeliness and accountability for audited fiscal reports across government agencies.

The bill would impose a $250 penalty on department or agency heads who fail to submit required audit reports by statutory deadlines and direct collected fines to the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority operations fund. The sponsor said the measure is intended to address chronic delays in the Guam Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, which the sponsor said has missed its statutory deadline multiple times and impairs legislative oversight and budgeting.

Floor debate focused on balancing enforcement with practical capacity concerns. Senator Park (proffering an amendment) told colleagues that an agency director who cannot meet the deadline should be permitted to request an extension in writing to the Office of Public Accountability (OPA). The amendment — later edited on the floor following colleague input — requires agencies to submit a written request for an extension at least five days before the deadline; OPA must issue a written decision within three business days. If OPA denies the extension, the decision must be transmitted to the governor and the speaker within 48 hours.

Supporters said the extension mechanism gives agencies a clear, documented process to explain delays while preserving the public auditor’s authority to adjudicate requests. Senator Perris, who supported the amendment, said many delays stem from capacity constraints in agencies and from interagency information dependencies, such as late actuarial reports or problems with financial management systems.

“Financial accountability is not an option,” one senator said on the floor while urging colleagues to back the measure. Another member said the bill strikes an appropriate balance between requiring timeliness and allowing reasonable exceptions when factors are genuinely beyond an agency’s control.

Several senators also noted the bill’s policy choice to direct fines to Guam Memorial Hospital Authority funds, describing it as a way to convert enforcement into a community benefit. The measure received multiple floor endorsements and the amended extension language was carried without recorded objection.

What happens next: The bill as amended will be placed on the Legislature’s calendar for further action. If enacted, it will create a defined extension procedure administered by OPA and impose monetary penalties for missed audit deadlines, with collected fines earmarked for the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","38th Guam Legislature Regular Session - March 24, 2025 - 9am PT.2","oneSentenceSummary","Senators broadly supported Bill 14‑38 COR, which would fine agency heads $250 for late audited financial reports and direct fines to the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority; the floor adopted an amendment establishing an administrative extension process and a five‑day advance notice requirement.","taxTitle","General Government Operations and Appropriations\t, Legislative, Guam, International","taxId",18139,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6626651,"Legislature places line‑of‑duty death benefit bill on e‑voting file after unanimous floor support",4070,7516000,11586000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2751272-cba684ba14189c99711fa6b794875f30&start=7516&end=11586","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2751272-cba684ba14189c99711fa6b794875f30/thumbnail_7516000.jpg","/articles/6626651/Legislature-places-lineofduty-death-benefit-bill-on-evoting-file-after-unanimous-floor-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6626651-ff47d4aa201c8f687c9eabcef2e47a9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1776150302&Signature=DphoOydZG6v-BD4u8RavCgYcrhNDUHXNK7F~w2BrZ47tlW0l5vrItCDBMRRHpdHMfbWFGBQ5dn6Gk0~K02UWiE2i4R3O96tMwZHkC6-M9N3ZbFX05BwpDtrRuHfJ21fGlh~g2NDf2NHMBqdB0Nvv0geSZbEHcWAkF1JfL1TnytaZxCYexov0F~gXD3-hf2dLOm0wQx17wz692J3lebz-Y1IVtOfcEZriFvC5ADGkNJFoopX0uQq6KG5ubxmZ0W3RSIsDvrCg70c533JWTk0Mvzh8PhtvLhKqIzZw4sKHitm-FeXyvf6VKqwcaxV2qcxbAG0-YKKeeoE4J3XfnC4Kmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Guam Legislature placed Bill 10‑38 COR, as amended by the committee, on the e‑voting calendar after several senators on Monday voiced support for a new one‑time death benefit for public safety and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

The measure, as amended, would create a government of Guam “Public Safety and Law Enforcement Officers Line of Duty Benefit” and an associated fund. If an officer’s death qualifies for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program, the officer’s survivor would be entitled to a one‑time $100,000 payment from the government of Guam payable from the fund established by the bill. The bill states the local payment would not reduce other benefits available under Guam law or federal programs.

“Offering this new benefit can potentially attract and keep job candidates to Guam’s public safety and law enforcement agencies,” the bill sponsor said on the floor, citing testimony received at the committee markup and public hearing. The sponsor also asked colleagues to be added as cosponsors; a list of lawmakers was added on the floor.

Witnesses and agency representatives who testified to the committee were cited on the floor during debate. Testimony recorded earlier and referenced by the sponsor included remarks from the Guam Fire Department chief, the Guam Police Department chief, the Department of Corrections and the elected attorney general, who said the benefit would provide financial security for families and acknowledge the risks officers face.

Several senators spoke in support of the bill on the floor, highlighting recruitment and retention benefits and the need to provide surviving families financial assistance. Some speakers urged the author to consider refining definitions of what constitutes a death “in the line of duty” and to ensure alignment with the federal PSOB criteria; the sponsor said the bill ties eligibility to the federal program and that the committee’s amended language mirrors federal definitions.

The bill also requires the Department of Administration to develop rules within 90 days of enactment for administering the benefit and authorizes an increase in general‑fund appropriations for the remainder of the current fiscal year if a qualifying death occurs before the fund is established.

On the floor the sponsor asked to add colleagues as cosponsors; the record shows the sponsor added several members to the bill and later moved the measure to the e‑voting file. No floor objections to moving the bill to e‑voting were recorded.

What happens next: The bill is on the Legislature’s e‑voting file, which typically means it will be considered in electronic voting ahead of final passage. If enacted, the local benefit would be payable only to survivors of officers whose deaths qualify under the federal PSOB program or its successor; the transcript indicates the sponsor intended local definitions to mirror the federal framework.

","Bill 10‑38 COR would create a government of Guam one‑time death benefit of $100,000 for survivors of public safety and law enforcement officers if their death qualifies under the federal Public Safety Officers' Benefits program. The Legislature placed the measure on the e‑voting file after floor discussion and added multiple cosponsors.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6626655,"Legislature trims proposed 30‑year commercial lease cap to 15 years and advances bill to third reading",7260,254000,7514000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2751272-cba684ba14189c99711fa6b794875f30&start=254&end=7514","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2751272-cba684ba14189c99711fa6b794875f30/thumbnail_254000.jpg","/articles/6626655/Legislature-trims-proposed-30year-commercial-lease-cap-to-15-years-and-advances-bill-to-third-reading","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6626655-b273b1c15c7b875356173c87f0c1c058/orig.mp4?Expires=1776150302&Signature=MOFP8jkX95oqlfcXAuwbVaePNb1LRo-av35o~WYHoR~53mZ0iLoYLdCaJzPRFMR41vmdMQeZw0k6wh59MJ8dDxWXWqpV22K5OrI-fJUyal3Qd2fPk8elLf2CAlfOtRbn9twHwmxsHqpyhNiL1rJ9xpbpOHlUvJ4PEpOb2URs7cEfiNJ9rfZjlDFhKlz1A~4hds1iycXAvB3t~COBEz~Eao7WYbDtRyTN2ewiZyM2nD0q27EWQb553WPftimwkc7Vj9W9VYLFAnkOnrMnwNJoqvY9nv6EkakrvQmDM8svqA8E1DJMVhDP4x04sxh4nKiUOsC3m5E4AIZh~ttPAikz1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Guam Legislature on Monday amended Bill 8‑38 COR to change a proposed maximum for commercial leases of government property from 30 years to 15 years, then moved the measure to third reading after a roll‑call vote to end debate.

Supporters said the change is intended to encourage long‑term private investment on Guam by giving tenants a longer horizon than the current five‑year limit. Opponents argued that extending terms too far away from legislative review would reduce transparency and risk locking public land into poor deals.

The bill, originally offered to amend provisions in what the author described as section 5‑1‑27 (Article 2, Chapter 5, Title 5 of the Guam Code), would increase the maximum commercial lease term for government property. The author framed the bill as a response to testimony that five years is too short for investors to recover major infrastructure investments and said agencies often face difficulty securing long‑term commitments under the present law.

“By the time most businesses recover their initial investment, their lease expires,” Senator Tydigwu said on the floor while urging a more moderate change. “A 15‑year lease strikes a fair balance between sustainability and accountability.”

During debate, several senators warned that removing or reducing legislative review for leases longer than the statutory maximum could create a procedural loophole. Senator Barnett offered an amendment intended to restore the Legislature’s final approval for “exceptional‑term” contracts that exceed the new limit, but the presiding officer ruled the Barnett amendment non‑germane and it was set aside after consultation with legal counsel. Barnett then proffered a separate amendment to reinstate the review language; that amendment failed on the floor.

Opponents of the measure repeatedly pointed to past lease arrangements that, they said, had undervalued public assets or lacked transparency. “This is a protection for [the people], against corruption, against a risk,” said a senator objecting to the blanket authority that would allow boards to approve long leases without legislative oversight.

Supporters countered that some public entities — including the Guam International Airport Authority, which testified in hearings — told lawmakers that prospective investors seek long terms, sometimes 20 to 30 years, to justify large capital investments. Senator Mamuto Tumayri, who offered a separate amendment proposing renewal rights for long‑standing tenants, said his aim was to reward businesses that have been “responsible tenants” and created local jobs.

Floor action on the measure included the author’s acceptance of an amendment to reduce the maximum from 30 to 15 years; the body adopted that amendment without objection. A motion to end debate (call the question) passed on a roll call of eight ayes and seven nays. The presiding officer then recognized the motion to move Bill 8‑38 COR to third reading; the motion carried and the bill was placed on the third‑reading calendar.

What happens next: the bill will appear on the Legislature’s third‑reading list where final debate and a vote for passage will occur. If enacted, the change would alter which agency approvals and legislative reviews apply to government commercial leases and could affect future procurement and negotiation processes.

","After hours of debate on bipartisan concerns about public oversight and investment certainty, the Guam Legislature amended Bill 8‑38 COR to lower a proposed maximum commercial lease term from 30 years to 15 years, rejected an amendment that would have grandfathered renewals for long‑term tenants, and moved the measure to third reading.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lawmakers back fines, timelines to speed delivery of agency audits; floor adopts extension process

Legislature places line‑of‑duty death benefit bill on e‑voting file after unanimous floor support

Legislature trims proposed 30‑year commercial lease cap to 15 years and advances bill to third reading