[{"_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",6709579,"mediaKeyId","5362522-e7120e1d9943d963433155d2b69b694d","parentId",5362522,"title","Commerce seeks funding for five positions and plans to rely on revolving accounts if needed","audioSeconds",2501,"startMs",866000,"endMs",3367000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5362522-e7120e1d9943d963433155d2b69b694d&start=866&end=3367","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5362522-e7120e1d9943d963433155d2b69b694d/thumbnail_866000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6709579/Commerce-seeks-funding-for-five-positions-and-plans-to-rely-on-revolving-accounts-if-needed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6709579-0050bea98f313c60f020cf6051c16af1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775269670&Signature=lObSwhplloRMXnQe91hWImbAFOfPDMZl6IPYuZrIuV2cNGA3oao1BSoon1hYO3BB-O-sv7TaVPyM7LB2mwoFFpt4G7a98ruMcbb0XW4Ad4X6biCIcbHnFX1T8dkLWGyadlFHPaUJzgPlk8KX3~eXRUOis~Vhqw~7y6uEAHYZ-EExkCtvz-Up5TJF3zZtu9B0sUtYgAZ7NqNN~sCO1vYq9pqqHs6bSUm6L2tjj6om8YffIHnn2VaXgeBAOOpVZdefq7m1v1Kbl10LVUuIy6fMyN~uR~thaHW6msTkScMGATWC9Ha3e1UPc1h04cPL4roI4opvxU9SVWB44e4GOislaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","House - Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature","date","2025-07-11T02:45:44.427Z","article","Department of Commerce officials told the House Committee on Ways and Means that their FY 2026 submittal asks the legislature to fund five positions currently financed from the department's revolving accounts and outlined account balances and staffing gaps.

\"Your continued support empowers the Department of Commerce to safeguard consumers and foster a resilient, transparent, and growth oriented business environment across the Commonwealth,\" the secretary said in an opening statement. The department requested general-fund appropriations for five positions now financed through revolving accounts: a banking administrator, an insurance administrator (recently filled), and three ABTC (Alcohol, Beverage and Tobacco Control) enforcement Officer I positions.

Why it matters: the department uses several revolving funds — registrar, ABTC, workers' compensation and an insurance revolving account — to pay operations and some salaries. Committee members pressed officials for up-to-date balances and the status of hiring for vacant positions.

Officials gave these figures during questioning: the registrar's revolving account balance was reported as $2.7 million; ABTC's balance was reported at about $318,000; the workers' compensation special fund balance of roughly $1.5 million was characterized as largely from private-insurance collections; and an insurance revolving balance was said to hold about $45,000. Department staff said the registrar's office accrues roughly $429,000 annually to its revolving account after the standard 25% deposit to finance.

Staffing and vacancies: testimony described persistent difficulty filling two central statistics positions (GIS specialist and statistical specialist) for more than a year. The department said it had reclassified roles and repeatedly posted them but had not found qualified candidates; the statistics division said it is proceeding with open-until-filled recruitment. ABTC enforcement vacancies were characterized as more recent — roughly three to four months.

Services and programs: committee members questioned the department about multiple federal grants and contracts it administers, including STEP (Small Business Trade Export Program), prevailing wage studies, the labor force survey (near report publication), and an FDA contract that reimburses ABTC officers for inspection hours. The department said the STEP program is about $100,000 annually and that the labor force survey work would be published within a month.

Utilities and operations: officials said the department uses revolving accounts to pay utilities and that the department's annual utilities run roughly $50,000.

Committee follow-up: lawmakers asked OMB and the department to confirm exact balances and fringe-cost calculations for positions the administration routed through special funds. Members also urged the department to prioritize using in-house staff for training and professional services where possible and to coordinate more closely with SEDA, SBDC and other investment partners.

Ending: the committee thanked the department for the presentation and agreed to follow up in budget drafting, including clarifying the 10% threshold for use of revolving funds and the fund-source for requested FTEs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","250711 24th NMCL HoR W&M [9:30am]","oneSentenceSummary","Department of Commerce officials told the House Committee on Ways and Means that their FY 2026 submittal asks the legislature to fund five positions now financed from revolving accounts and outlined account balances and staffing gaps.","taxTitle","House, Northern Mariana Legislative Sessions, Northern Mariana Islands","taxId",20281,"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},6709585,"Workers' compensation commission urges recurring funding or $100,000 bridge to avoid insolvency",534,6069000,6603000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5362522-e7120e1d9943d963433155d2b69b694d&start=6069&end=6603","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5362522-e7120e1d9943d963433155d2b69b694d/thumbnail_6069000.jpg","/articles/6709585/Workers-compensation-commission-urges-recurring-funding-or-100000-bridge-to-avoid-insolvency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6709585-b97384fae10c77df760eec457088b468/orig.mp4?Expires=1775269670&Signature=KsnqZB3~77h3QwtunKkOQ1bD8KqJVV-hMKti2cK0bjFV73frK6vgsHsNUzV7UDVCJjksRip6uXhWltRgNEZXbf69BCF1kYo8IiHWqCcbzIF-cKUzoBJe48XKwDN1TOaXpsIZf-WXswKqrPhxlYQvQ3uFiqb2mMu78-8yN6lD4O9BRSTCwzbdjs~cSNtAGzF04XeqaD5umkr-2g~KqmIVl9gJ-GEXNSOuweuJ50Z1F5FHuMyvxoFZWeltVWtLs92ez2k3Ex5TOnwpOrfcMeipuziesJBiAgYoADmuG7u6mmrWiP08CcD9RLuVNobcwwLRDhxVfnOlHaFGjLPT3aqbuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The director of the Commonwealth's Workers' Compensation Commission told the House Committee on Ways and Means that the commission's operating balance is low and asked the legislature for a recurring funding mechanism or a short-term allocation.

\"We have approximately $174,000 in the bank strictly for operation and payment of claims,\" Director Francisco Cabrera told the committee, adding that the balance was $148,000 \"as of today.\" Cabrera said the commission is not tapping a separate $1.5 million balance that largely comes from private-sector collections and is reserved for a second-injury fund.

Why it matters: the workers' compensation statute assigns responsibility for covering workplace injuries, and Cabrera said the program lacks a reliable, recurring local revenue stream for public employees. Without action, the commission could be unable to cover claims for government workers who are not otherwise insured.

Cabrera told lawmakers the commission's appeal is for a permanent funding source and proposed a specific figure: \"half of 1% of the personnel cost,\" which he estimates would yield $315,976 annually. He added, \"I'll take 50% of that. If not, give me $100,000,\" as a stopgap to keep the fund solvent.

The director also provided operational data: the commission received about 200 claims in 2024; of 36 government claims 27 have been resolved, and the private sector shows roughly 70–74% closure. Cabrera said payouts to date have been relatively small, “maybe about $11,000” in a recent tally, but warned the program's solvency depends on steady funding.

Lawmakers pressed on process and coverage. Cabrera described how the commission enforces declarations and penalties for noncompliance with mandatory insurance and explained that employers and insurers are expected to respond to injury notices within 14 days with final payments completed within 90 days for routine cases.

Discussion also touched on who currently pays for government-worker claims: Cabrera said the commission pays claims from penalties, fines and the small operating balance when agencies lack their own coverage. He noted many government agencies are not covered by private policies and that past attempts to create a funding mechanism have not been implemented by the legislature.

What comes next: Committee members and the director discussed options, including dedicating a fixed percentage of payroll or establishing quarterly department contributions to rebuild a reserve. Cabrera asked the committee to include fund language in the FY 2026 budget or provide a multiyear $100,000 allocation to maintain solvency.

Ending: Directors and committee members agreed to follow up; the committee recorded the request in its budget review but did not take a formal vote on funding during the hearing.","The director of the CNMI Workers' Compensation Commission told the House Ways and Means committee the fund that covers public-sector claims has a low cash balance and asked the legislature to commit either half of 1% of payroll (about $315,976 annually) or a $100,000 temporary allocation to keep the program solvent.",{"_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},6709574,"Commerce says proposed \"Made in CNMI\" product seal is ready for publication after SAA review",263,7892000,8155000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5362522-e7120e1d9943d963433155d2b69b694d&start=7892&end=8155","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5362522-e7120e1d9943d963433155d2b69b694d/thumbnail_7892000.jpg","/articles/6709574/Commerce-says-proposed-Made-in-CNMI-product-seal-is-ready-for-publication-after-SAA-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6709574-68eb5e923c6d7e33cd01fee57e4234c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775269671&Signature=Paok3kcGg0QMddNTIJ0M-eikciqeD8vniJvj6eVW4Fqhd1TKDvSx4lkuugH-zWclLYK1tpbJk0y-VNrjibQj5jS1gqFSifJprC2FNwNRLTlmOfq2JIJBekXcHk0mZpTUsySmJ~7tbQ3Hd~-7dhZQuizcag1Pv8oc7heBzR0xMygZXrycTvbl25uHw6Bj7tEgRbDkQDQu94ZEKszfgjfj4cqm-sFtXagLNDmTEM6Dn-HYjgfTHNGm3hCi-myDSLjJvyfj61AOx7yxBeM82BICpkv1BZi4mLVi0ARaN5336OBa0TMkz3DwLxjUao7xBjNc-rFuYxI2cYON~WWeFYS1Og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Department of Commerce officials told the House Committee on Ways and Means that a proposed CNMI product seal — a mark to promote and distinguish locally produced goods — has completed the department's internal drafting stage and is now with oversight authorities for publication.

Commerce staff described a four-tier seal system in draft regulations: a gold-star designation for products \"100% made in the CNMI (U.S.A.) excluding packaging,\" a silver-star mark for products with at least 51% value added locally, a transparent-packaging mark and a fresh-produce designation for agricultural goods grown in the CNMI. The department said it has also proposed modest program fees intended not to burden small producers.

\"We have the sample draft of the product seal,\" a Commerce official said, and the regulations were routed to the Standards and Accreditation Authority (SAA) for review and translation so the department can publish notice in the Commonwealth Register. The department told lawmakers it will circulate the draft and product images to committee members on request.

Why it matters: the seal aims to promote local producers, support exports and provide a visible signal for consumers and buyers that a product meets CNMI-origin criteria. Commerce said the initiative aligns with Public Law 20-89 and includes procedures for permits and issuance of the seal.

Next steps: department staff said they are awaiting translation and publication in the Commonwealth Register and will make the draft available to lawmakers. They also said they are exploring trademark or patent protections for the seal, but that formal federal trademark registration would be a separate process.

Ending: committee members welcomed the program and asked the department to circulate the draft regulations and product images; Commerce said it will provide the materials to committee members and proceed with publication steps.","Department of Commerce officials told the House Ways and Means committee a proposed CNMI product seal program and accompanying regulations have been drafted, routed to the Standards and Accreditation Authority for review and are awaiting translation and Commonwealth Register publication.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commerce seeks funding for five positions and plans to rely on revolving accounts if needed

Workers' compensation commission urges recurring funding or $100,000 bridge to avoid insolvency

Commerce says proposed "Made in CNMI" product seal is ready for publication after SAA review