Public Law
26-76
MINA'BENTE
SAIS NA LIHESLATURAN GUÅHAN
2001
(FIRST) Regular Session
Bill No. 241 (LS)
As substituted on the Floor
and
amended.
Introduced by: Committee
on Rules, General
Governmental Operations,
Reorganization and Reform, and Federal,
Mark
Forbes
J.
F. Ada
T. C. Ada
F. B. Aguon, Jr.
J. M.S. Brown
E. B. Calvo
F. P. Camacho
M. C. Charfauros
L. F. Kasperbauer
L. A. Leon Guerrero
K. S. Moylan
V. C. Pangelinan
A. L.G. Santos
A. R. Unpingco
J. T. Won Pat
AN ACT TO CREATE THE CONSOLIDATED COMMISSION ON UTILITIES,
TO REORGANIZE AND CONSOLIDATE SEVERAL GOVERNMENT OF GUAM AGENCIES AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF GUAM:
Section 1. Legislative Findings. I Liheslaturan Guåhan finds that it is
in the public interest to create an elected Consolidated Commission on
Utilities to exercise authority over the Guam Waterworks Authority (“GWA”) and
the Guam Power Authority (“GPA”) and to vest said commission with such powers
as have heretofore been exercised by the respective boards of directors of said
authorities.
It is the intent of I Liheslaturan Guåhan that this Act shall not relieve said authorities of or modify in any way other than as
expressly set forth herein any of the respective existing rights, duties or
obligations of the authorities and that such respective rights, duties and
obligations shall continue uninterrupted, inclusive of, but not limited to, any financial
obligations of said authorities, including payment of debt service on and
conditions imposed by bonds. It is the
further intent of I Liheslaturan Guåhan that
such respective rights, duties and obligations of each authority shall remain
the rights, duties and obligations only of such authority and shall not in any way become rights, duties or
obligations of the other.
Section 2. Section 14102 of Article 1, Chapter 14 of Title 12 of the Guam Code
Annotated is hereby repealed and
reenacted to read as follows:
“Section 14102. Definitions. As used in this Chapter, unless otherwise indicated:
(a) ‘Authority‘
means the Guam Waterworks Authority.
(b) ‘Board‘
means the Consolidated Commission on Utilities established in Chapter 79 of
Title 12 of the Guam Code Annotated.
(c) ‘Director‘
means a Commissioner of the Consolidated Commission on Utilities.”
Section 3. Section 14103 of Article 1, Chapter 14 of Title 12 of the Guam Code
Annotated is hereby repealed and
reenacted to read as follows:
“Section 14103. Continuation
of Existence. Guam Waterworks Authority is continued in existence
as a public corporation.”
Section 4. Section 14105 of Chapter 14 of Title 12 of the Guam Code Annotated is
hereby repealed and reenacted to read
as follows:
“Section 14105. Governance
of Authority. All powers vested in the Authority, except as
provided herein, shall be exercised by the Consolidated Commission on
Utilities, as established in Chapter 79 of Title 12 of the Guam Code
Annotated.”
Section 5. Section 8102 of
Article 1, Chapter 8 of Title 12 of the Guam Code Annotated is hereby repealed and reenacted to read as
follows:
“Section 8102. Definitions. As
used in this Chapter, unless otherwise
indicated:
(a) ‘Authority‘
means the Guam Power Authority.
(b) ‘Board‘
means the Consolidated Commission on Utilities established in Chapter 79 of
Title 12 of the Guam Code Annotated.
(c) ‘Director‘
means a Commissioner of the Consolidated Commission on Utilities.”
Section 6. Section 8103 of
Article 1, Chapter 8 of Title 12 of the Guam Code Annotated is hereby repealed and reenacted to read as
follows:
“Section 8103. Continuation
of Existence. Guam Power Authority is continued in existence as a
public corporation.”
Section 7. Section 8107 of Article 1, Chapter 8 of Title 12 of the Guam Code
Annotated is hereby repealed and
reenacted to read as follows:
“Section 8107. Governance of Authority. All
powers vested in the Authority, except
as provided herein, shall be exercised by the Consolidated Commission on
Utilities, as established in Chapter 79 of Title 12 of the Guam Code
Annotated.”
Section 8. Chapter 79 is hereby added to
Division 2 of Title 12 of the Guam Code Annotated to read as follows:
Consolidated
Commission on Utilities.
Section 79100. Creation
of Commission.
Section 79101. Commissioners.
Section 79102. Non-partisan Office.
Section 79103. Terms of Office.
Section 79104. Reporting Requirements.
Section 79105. Vacancies.
Section 79106. Compensation.
Section 79100. Creation
of Commission. There is established an elected Consolidated
Commission on Utilities whose purpose is to exercise powers vested in them by
the laws establishing the Guam Power Authority (‘GPA’) and the Guam Waterworks
Authority (‘GWA’). The Consolidated
Commission on Utilities, hereinafter referred to as ‘Commission’ shall be elected by the registered voters of Guam.
Section 79101. Commissioners. The Commission shall be comprised of
five (5) Commissioners elected at-large by the voters of Guam in a General
Election. To be eligible to be a
Commissioner, a person must be a registered voter of Guam and a minimum of twenty-five (25) years of age,
and shall have been a resident of Guam for at
least five (5) years prior to the
date of the Commissioner’s election. A
person may not simultaneously serve
as a Commissioner and an employee of the government of Guam.
Persons retired from the
government of Guam may serve as Commissioners.
At their first official meeting, the Commissioners shall elect from
among the Commissioners a chairperson, who shall preside over meetings of the
Commission. A majority of the
Commissioners holding office shall constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of the Commissioners
holding office shall constitute the decision of the Commission. The Commission may adopt rules and
regulations governing the conduct of its affairs.
Section 79102. Non-partisan Office. The
Office of Commissioner is a non-partisan office. Candidates for the Office of Commissioner shall not identify themselves as members of
any political party on Guam for the purpose of their campaign, nor shall they
receive any endorsement or material support from any political party on Guam
during the course of their campaigns.
No Primary Election is required for candidates for this office. No nominating petitions shall be required of
any candidate for this Office. Any
qualified person applying to the Guam Election Commission, or its successor,
for candidacy to this office shall be placed on the General Election
ballot. In each election, the
candidates receiving the highest numbers of votes shall be the elected
Commissioners, without regard to the actual number of votes cast or received,
and no runoff elections shall be required.
Section 79103. Terms
of Office.
(a) Except
as provided in § 79105 and in Subsection (b) of this Section, each
Commissioner shall be elected to serve a term of four (4) years, commencing on
the First (1st) day of January following their election.
(b) The first election for members of the
Commission shall occur during the General Election in November, 2002. The three (3) candidates receiving the
highest numbers of votes shall each be elected to serve a four (4) year term,
and the two (2) candidates receiving the next highest numbers of votes shall
each be elected to serve a two (2) year term.
Section 79104. Reporting Requirements. Commissioners
and candidates for the Office of Commissioner shall be subject to the same reporting requirements pertaining to their
campaigns and to their personal finances as apply to candidates and members of I Liheslaturan Guåhan.
Section 79105. Vacancies. A
permanent vacancy in the Office of a Commissioner shall result in a Special
Election to fill that vacancy, to be held on the date of the next General
Election following the date that the permanent vacancy occurred, or at a
Special Election called by I Liheslaturan
Guåhan. The person elected to fill
a permanent vacancy shall serve for the balance of the term of the member whose
position is being filled.
Section 79106. Compensation. Commissioners
shall be compensated at the rate of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per month
for their services. All funds required
for the operation of the Commission shall be obtained by subscription from the
Authorities administered by the Commission, pursuant to such formula as the
Commission shall devise. Commissioners
shall not be eligible for government
of Guam retirement or insurance benefits, or other benefits associated with
government of Guam employment.
Commissioners who are government of Guam retirees may serve on the
Commission without giving up their retirement benefits.”
Section 9. Guam Waterworks Authority General
Manager. Section 14106(a) of Article 1, Chapter 14 of Title 12
of the Guam Code Annotated is hereby repealed
and reenacted to read as follows:
“(a) The Board shall appoint a general manager
who shall be its chief executive officer and shall serve at its pleasure. The general manager shall, at a minimum, possess the following
qualifications:
a combined minimum of ten (10) years of documented
experience successfully managing a public or private utility, or business
activity similar to or greater in scope and size to the Authority; and either:
(1) graduation from an accredited
institution of higher education with a bachelor’s degree in business or public
sector management or closely related field or discipline, or
(2) graduation from an accredited institution
of higher education with a bachelor’s degree in engineering or engineering
technology.
The Board shall fix the general manager’s compensation, notwithstanding
any other provision of law. The general
manager shall have full charge and control of the construction of the works of
the Authority and their maintenance and operation, and also of the
administration of the business affairs of the Authority.
The Board may contract with a corporation to perform any or all of the
duties, and to exercise any or all of the powers of the general manager as
provided in this Section, and the general manager, subject to the approval of the Board, may contract with a
corporation to perform some of the duties or to render expert and technical
assistance in the operation of the Authority.
Such a management contract shall be for no longer than three (3) years duration. A corporation contracted pursuant to this Section must have a minimum of seven (7) years experience in
the operation of a water or wastewater utility of similar or greater scope than
the Authority.”
Section 10.
Guam Waterworks Authority Chief Financial Officer.
Section 14108 of Article 1, Chapter 14 of Title 12 of
the Guam Code Annotated is hereby repealed
and reenacted to read as follows:
“Section 14108. Chief
Financial Officer. The Board shall appoint a chief financial officer who
shall serve at its pleasure. The chief
financial officer shall be a Certified Public Accountant.
The Board
shall fix the chief financial officer’s compensation. The chief financial officer shall have full charge and control of
the fiscal, business and accounting operations of the Authority, subject to the supervision of the
Board.”
Section 11. Guam Waterworks Authority Employees. Section 14109.5 is hereby added to Article 1, Chapter 14 of Title 12 of the Guam Code
Annotated to read as follows:
“Section 14109.5. Employees. All employees of the Authority shall be eligible for all
insurance, retirement, workmen’s compensation and other benefits as extended to
employees of the government of Guam, and shall be employees of the government
of Guam for the purposes of the application of all civil service laws and
personnel rules and regulations that apply to government of Guam employees,
inclusive of all scales, tables and schedules for compensation.
With respect
to compensation, this Section shall not apply
to the compensation of the general manager or the chief financial officer.”
Section 12. Guam Power Authority General
Manager. Section 8108(a) of Article 1, Chapter 8 of Title 12
of the Guam Code Annotated is hereby repealed
and reenacted to read as follows:
“(a) The Board shall appoint a general manager
who shall be its chief executive officer and shall serve at its pleasure. The general manager shall, at a minimum, possess the following
qualifications:
a combined minimum of ten (10) years of documented
experience successfully managing a public or private utility or business
activity similar, or greater, in scope and size to the Authority, and either:
(1) graduation from an accredited
institution of higher education with a bachelor’s degree in business or public
sector management, or closely related field or discipline, or
(2) graduation from an accredited
institution of higher learning with a bachelor’s degree in engineering or
engineering technology.
The Board shall fix the general manager’s compensation, notwithstanding
any other provision of law. The general
manager shall have full charge and control of the construction of the works of
the Authority and their maintenance and operation, and also of the
administration of the business affairs of the Authority.
The Board may contract with a corporation to perform any or all of the
duties, and to exercise any or all of the powers of the general manager as
provided in this Section; and the general manager, subject to the approval of the Board, may contract with a
corporation to perform some of the duties, or to render expert and technical
assistance, in the operation of the Authority.
Such a management contract shall be for no longer than three (3) years duration. A corporation contracted pursuant to this Section must have a minimum of seven (7) years experience in
the operation of an electrical power utility of similar, or greater, scope than
the Authority.”
Section 13.
Guam Power Authority Chief Financial Officer. Section 8110 of
Article 1, Chapter 8 of Title 12 of the Guam Code Annotated is hereby repealed and reenacted to read as
follows:
“Section 8110. Chief
Financial Officer. The Board shall appoint a chief financial officer who
shall serve at its pleasure. The chief
financial officer shall be a Certified Public Accountant and should have
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (‘FERC’) knowledge and experience.
The Board shall fix the chief
financial officer’s compensation. The
chief financial officer shall have full charge and control of the fiscal,
business and accounting operations of the Authority, subject to the supervision of the Board.”
Section 14. Guam Power Authority Employees. Section
8110.5 is hereby added to Article 1,
Chapter 8 of Title 12 of the Guam Code Annotated to read as follows:
“Section 8110.5. Employees. All
employees of the Authority shall be eligible for all insurance, retirement,
workmen’s compensation and other benefits as extended to employees of the
government of Guam, and shall be employees of the government of Guam for the
purposes of the application of all civil service laws and personnel rules and
regulations that apply to government of Guam employees, inclusive of all
scales, tables and schedules for compensation.
With respect to compensation,
this Section shall not apply to the
compensation of the general manager or the chief financial officer.”
Section 15.
Guam Waterworks Authority Contracts.
Section 14104.1 is hereby added to Article 1, Chapter 14 of Title
12 of the Guam Code Annotated to read as follows:
“Section 14104.1. Contractual Restrictions. Any contract by the Authority to contract maintenance services relative
to sewage pumps, booster pumps, and all pumps and other facilities directly
associated with water wells shall be subject
to the following provisions:
(a) any procurement of service or goods,
shall be entirely subject to the
Procurement Laws of Guam, and all related rules and regulations;
(b) all successful bidders must have a minimum of three (3) years of
demonstrated expertise in the maintenance of electro-mechanical pump devices; and
(c) no contract for service awarded shall be
for a duration of more than two (2)
years, and must include provisions for periodic and timely inspections of all
facilities whose maintenance is contracted, with provisions for the revocation
of contracts, without penalty to the Authority, for any breach of contract or
failure to provide adequate service, as contracted.
No other contract, beyond the
maintenance contracts specifically detailed in this Section, may be entered
into by the Authority for a duration in excess of one (1) year, except as permitted under the terms of
the build, operate and transfer program (‘BOT’) specifically authorized in Guam law or as otherwise permitted
herein.”
Section 16. Section 8109 of Article 1, Chapter 8 of Title 12 of
the Guam Code Annotated is hereby repealed.
Section 17. Section 14107 of Article 1, Chapter 14 of Title 12 of
the Guam Code Annotated is hereby repealed.
Section 18. Transition. The appointed Boards of Directors for the Guam
Waterworks Authority (“GWA”) and the Guam Power Authority (“GPA”) shall
continue to exercise authority over their respective Authorities until January 1, 2003 at which time the
elected Consolidated Commission on Utilities established by this Act shall take
office. At such time the appointed
Boards of Directors for GWA and GPA shall cease to exist.
The qualifications for the respective general
managers and chief financial officers of the Authorities detailed herein are
effective upon the date of enactment of this Act, except that the incumbent general managers and chief financial
officers may continue to perform their duties until their successors, if
any are required, are appointed; provided,
that if qualified successors have not yet been appointed by January 1,
2003, the Consolidated Commission on Utilities must appoint new general
managers and chief financial officers for the respective Authorities within
thirty (30) days thereof if the
incumbent general managers and chief financial officers do not meet their respective qualifications detailed in this Act. The contractual restrictions detailed herein
in § 15 of this Act are effective upon the date of enactment of this Act.
Section
19. Liberal Interpretation. Should
any section of this Act be seen as conflicting with any portion of the enabling
laws establishing the Guam Power Authority (“GPA”) or the Guam Waterworks
Authority (“GWA”) that are not
amended by this Act, or any law of Guam previously enacted, the conflict is to
be interpreted in favor of this Act.
Section
20. As-built Requirement. The
Guam Waterworks Authority (“GWA”) shall submit to I Liheslaturan Guåhan within sixty (60) days of the effective date
of this Act, a report detailing the location and working condition of every
portion of the water and wastewater infrastructure under the purview of the
Authority, including, but not limited
to, all sewage lines, sewage treatment plants, sewage pumps and stations, all
water lines, booster pumps, wells, reservoirs and all related facilities.
If the Authority is unable to comply with this request,
the Authority shall contract at the soonest possible moment with a contractor
experientially competent to analyze and study the existing water and wastewater
infrastructure, and complete the report mandated by this Section. Any contract entered into pursuant to this
Section shall only be awarded in full
compliance with the procurement laws and regulations of the government of Guam.
Section 21.
PUC to Continue to Regulate Rates. The Public Utilities Commission
(“PUC”) shall continue to have jurisdiction in regulating and setting rates for
both the Guam Waterworks Authority
(“GWA”) and the Guam Power Authority (“GPA”).
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as impairing the powers, duties
or effectiveness of the PUC in relation to GWA or GPA.
Section 22. Repeal of GPC. All the powers, duties, responsibilities and
jurisdiction of the former Guam Planning Council (“GPC”) are hereby transferred
to the Bureau of Statistics and Plans.
All records, equipment, documents and otherwise any physical property in
the possession of the GPC shall be transferred to the custody of the Bureau of
Statistics and Plans. Any funds of any
nature under the control of the GPC shall be transferred to the control of the
Bureau of Statistics and Plans.
Section
23. DOA and GMTA Consolidation.
(a) Legislative
Findings. I Liheslaturan Guåhan finds that in reality, the Guam Mass Transit
Authority (“GMTA”) has outsourced all of its duties, including the bus
operations, bus washing and dispatch services.
As such, GMTA simply administers contracts. The function of contract administration can easily be performed
by an alternative government agency.
(b) GMTA
Abolished. The Guam Mass Transit Authority (“GMTA”) is hereby
abolished. Chapter 6 of Title 12 of the
Guam Code Annotated is hereby repealed. All the powers, duties, responsibilities and
jurisdiction of the former GMTA are hereby transferred to the Department of
Administration (“DOA”).
Section 24. Section
3101 of Article 1, Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Guam Code
Annotated is hereby repealed and
reenacted to read as follows:
“Section 3101. Department
of Administration. There is within the Executive Branch of the
government of Guam a Department of Administration (‘DOA’). The Director of DOA is the head of DOA. The Director of DOA is appointed by I Maga’lahen Guåhan with the advice and
consent of I Liheslaturan Guåhan.
DOA shall have the exclusive franchise for the furnishing
of public transportation within Guam and on its roads and highways. Except
for private parking facilities, and for parking facilities maintained and
operated by the A. B. Won Pat Guam International Airport Authority, DOA shall
have the exclusive franchise within
the government of Guam for the collection of fees for the furnishing of public
parking within Guam.”
Section
25. (a) Transfer of GMTA
Personnel to DOA. All classified employees filling positions with the
Guam Mass Transit Authority (“GMTA”) prior
to August 1, 2001 shall be transferred to the Department of Administration
(“DOA”). The classified employees shall
be transferred with all duties, responsibilities and compensation intact, and
with no lapses in service to the government of Guam. The position of GMTA general manager and assistant general
manager are hereby abolished.
The Director of DOA shall
have the power to reorganize and realign positions in conformance with the
rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission (“CSC”) and all other
applicable laws of Guam. Employees
transferred from the former GMTA shall be entitled to the same retirement,
workmen's compensation and hospital insurance benefits as those to which
government of Guam employees are entitled.
(b) No money shall be expended or transferred to pay for the
transfer or hiring of the GMTA director, general manager, deputy director or
assistant general manager.
(c) Transfer
of Duties. Except as otherwise specifically provided, DOA shall hereby
assume all the powers, duties and responsibilities of GMTA as set out in this
Act, and any other section of law. Any
regulation or other action adopted, prescribed, taken or performed by the
former GMTA or by any of its officers in the administration of a program, the
performance of a power, duty or responsibility, or the exercise of any function
transferred by this Act shall remain in effect and shall be deemed to be a
regulation or action of DOA or of any of its officers to whom the program,
power, duty, responsibility or function is transferred.
(d) Transfer
of Records and Equipment. Upon the transfer of functions as provided in this
Act, DOA shall have possession and control of all books, records, papers, maps,
plans, documents, offices, equipment, supplies, money, funds, appropriations,
licenses, permits, agreements, contracts, claims, judgments, land, and other
property, real or personal, connected with the administration of, or held for
the benefit or use of, the former GMTA.
(e) Public
Transportation Funds. All revenue generated by DOA resulting from the
operation of Guam’s mass transit system, including fares and fees collected
from riders, shall be deposited into the Public Transit Fund (“Fund”), which is
hereby created. The funds shall be used
by DOA for the operations of the mass transit system. The funds shall be audited annually by an independent certified
public accountant or by the Public Auditor.
(f) Transportation
Contracts. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, all contracts
to be entered into that deal with the operations of the mass transit system
shall be approved through I Liheslaturan
Guåhan.
(g) Designation
as State Agency. DOA is hereby designated as the “state agency” for
purposes of receiving Federal funding for mass transit operations.
(h) Transport
Care Attendants. A
Transport Care Attendant shall be made available when services are required
during transporting individuals with disabilities, as defined hereafter in
accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”).
The CSC shall establish the
position descriptions, duties and responsibilities, and compensation of such
positions. The Transport Care Attendant
shall only provide services while
stationed in the vehicle while in motion, and may assist the driver with
individuals with disabilities when entering and exiting the vehicle, when
needed. The Transport Care Attendant
shall be required to be certified in First Aid and Cardio Pulmonary
Resuscitation (“CPR”) and proficient in properly assisting individuals with
disabilities to maintain a safe environment in the vehicle.
An individual with
disabilities determined by GMTA to require a Transport Care Attendant shall not be grounds for exclusion from use of
the transportation system. No
individual with disabilities may be excluded from the use of transportation
services, unless there is clear and
convincing evidence that the individual is a direct threat to oneself and
others, even with the presence of a Transport Care Attendant.
GMTA shall conduct a fair
hearing within five (5) working days upon receipt of notice to the
individual. Notice to the individual
shall be served within twenty-four (24) hours of the complaint. No service may be withheld until the
determination of the fair hearing has been issued. The government contract for transportation of persons with
disabilities shall allow for an increase
to cover the cost of the Transport Care Attendant.
Section
26. Creation of the Guam
Transportation Commission. A new commission, called the Guam Transportation
Commission (“GTC”), is hereby formed.
The GTC shall consist of five
(5) directors appointed by I Maga’lahen
Guåhan with the advice and consent of I
Liheslaturan Guåhan. I Maga’lahen Guåhan will designate, from
among the members of the Commission thus appointed, the president and
vice-president of the Commission . I Maga’lahen Guåhan shall select one (1)
each: a person with disabilities who
rides the Paratransit System, a member of GSTAT, DISID, Guam Developmental
Disabilities Council and a member of the public to fill the positions on the
GTC.
The Directors and officers thus appointed and
designated shall hold office for terms of three (3) years, unless sooner removed by I
Maga’lahen Guåhan, and shall be paid at the rate of Fifty Dollars ($50.00)
per day, for each day on which the Commission meets; provided, however, that such compensation shall not exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00)
per month. They may be reimbursed for
reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out their responsibilities.
Section
27. References to GMTA. Unless otherwise provided in this Act, any reference in any
law to the Guam Mass Transit Authority (“GMTA”) shall hereafter mean and be
read as the Department of Administration (“DOA”), and all references therein to
the Director or General Manager of GMTA shall hereafter mean and be read as the
Director of DOA. All references in any
contract, Executive Order, rule, regulation or document to GMTA or Director, or
General Manager of GMTA shall mean and be read as DOA and Director of DOA,
respectively. All references to GMTA or
Director or General Manager of GMTA in any contract, Executive Order, rule,
regulation or document dealing with the functions herein transferred shall mean
and be read as DOA and Director of DOA, respectively.
Section
28. Transition Team Created.
(a) Transition
Team. There is hereby created a Transition Team to help
ensure a smooth conversion from the Guam Mass Transit Authority (“GMTA”) to the
Department of Administration (“DOA”).
The Transition Team shall include the following:
(1) the Director, or a designee of GMTA; and
(2) the Director, or a designee of DOA.
(b) Authority. The
Transition Team shall have ninety (90) days from the enactment of this Act to
do the following:
(1) ensure the smooth transition of the
operations of GMTA to DOA;
(2) ensure that there is no lapse of mass
transit services provided by the government of Guam; and
(3) examine and recommend any other facts or
data as may be necessary to ensure the smooth transition from the consolidation
of GMTA and DOA.
(c) Effective
Date. Sections 18-22 and Sections 24-25 of this Act shall be effective
ninety (90) days after the enactment of this Act.
Section
29. Section 26503(c) of Article 5, Chapter 26, Division 2
of Title 11 of the Guam Code Annotated is hereby repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
“(c) A portion of the
revenues in the Public Transit Fund shall be used for the operation of the mass
transit system by the Department of Administration.”
Section
30. Transfer of Appropriations and
Other Funds. The Bureau of Budget and Management Research (“BBMR”)
may direct the transfer of unexpended balances of appropriations and other
funds available for use in connection with any function affected by the
reorganization prescribed by this Act that the Director of BBMR determines to
be necessary to facilitate the reorganization, or for use in connection with
the functions affected by the reorganization; provided, that any unexpended balances of appropriations and other
funds so transferred shall be used only
for purposes that were authorized. All
funds currently contained in Guam Mass Transit Authority (“GMTA”) bank
accounts, savings accounts and Time Certificates of Deposits shall be
transferred into the Public Transit Fund for DOA to use in operating the mass
transit system.
Section
31. Consolidation of DOC and GEDA with
the Bureau of Statistics and Plans.
(a) Bureau
of Statistics and Plans Established. All references to the Bureau of Planning in Article
2, Chapter 1 of Title 5 of the Guam Code Annotated, and elsewhere in Guam law
shall be replaced by Bureau of Statistics and Plans.
(b) Section 1209(i) is hereby added
to Article 2, Chapter 1 of Title 5 of the Guam Code Annotated to read as
follows:
“(i) Statistics. To
conduct research and to disseminate statistical findings relative to producing
data needed for economic and social planning on Guam.”
(c) Abolition
of Department of Commerce. The Guam Economic Development and
Commerce Authority (“Authority”) succeeds to, and is vested with, all the
powers, duties, responsibilities and jurisdiction of the former Department of
Commerce (“DOC”).
Section
32. Section 3110 of Article 1, Chapter 3 of
Title 5 of the Guam Code Annotated is hereby repealed.
Section
33. Chapter 70 of Division 7 of Title 5 of the
Guam Code Annotated is hereby repealed.
Section
34. Section 50101 of Chapter 50, Division 2 of
Title 12 of the Guam Code Annotated is hereby repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
"Section 50101. Guam Economic Development and
Commerce Authority. There is hereby created a public
corporation to be known as the Guam Economic Development and Commerce Authority
(‘Authority’) with functions, powers and responsibilities as hereinafter
provided. Any reference in any law to
the Guam Economic Development Authority (‘GEDA’) shall mean and be read as the
Guam Economic Development and Commerce Authority, and all references therein to
the Administrator of GEDA shall mean and be read as the Administrator of the
Guam Economic Development and Commerce Authority. All references in any contract, Executive Order, rule, regulation
or document to GEDA, or to the Administrator of GEDA, shall mean and be read as
the Guam Economic Development and Commerce Authority, and the Administrator of
the Guam Economic Development and Commerce Authority, respectively.
All references to
GEDA or to the Administrator of GEDA in any contract, Executive Order, rule,
regulation or document dealing with the functions herein transferred shall mean
and be read as the Guam Economic Development and Commerce Authority and the
Administrator of the Guam Economic Development and Commerce Authority,
respectively.”
Section 35. Section 50103(n) is hereby added
to Chapter 50, Division 2 of Title 12 of the Guam Code Annotated to read as
follows:
“(n) The Authority shall promote and encourage the expansion and
development of markets for the products of Guam.”
Section 36. Section 50103(o) is hereby added to Chapter 50, Division 2 of Title 12 of the Guam Code
Annotated to read as follows:
“(o) The Authority shall promote and encourage the location and
development of new businesses on Guam, as well as the retention and expansion
of existing businesses, with particular emphasis upon encouraging the tourist
and the large-scale fisheries industries.”
Section 37. Section 50103(p) is hereby added to Chapter 50, Division 2 of Title 12 of the Guam Code
Annotated to read as follows:
“(p) The Authority shall have authority
over and supervise the Chamorro Village (‘I
Sengsong Chamorro’).”
Section
38. Article 2 is hereby added
to Chapter 50, Division 2 of Title 12 of the Guam Code Annotated to read as
follows:
Guam
Product Seal.
Section 50201. Seal Created.
Section 50202. Administration.
Section 50203. Guam Product Seal Fund.
Section 50204. Responsibilities.
Section 50205. Definitions.
Section 50206. Eligibility.
Section 50207. Violations.
Section 50208. Fines.
Section 50209. Recovery of Merchandise.
Section 50210. Penalty.
Section 50211. Collection.
Section 50201. Seal Created. There is created a Guam Product Seal to
identify products manufactured on Guam.
Section 50202. Administration. The Guam Economic
Development and Commerce Authority (‘Authority’) shall administer the
provisions of this Chapter and shall promulgate rules and regulations, in
accordance with the Administrative Adjudication Law, to carry out the purposes
of this Chapter.
Section 50203. Guam Product Seal Fund. There is established a
fund to be known as the Guam Product Seal Fund, which shall be maintained
separate and apart from any other funds of the government of Guam. Independent records and accounts shall be
maintained in connection therewith.
Funds of the Guam Product Seal Fund shall be used exclusively for the administration and operations of the Guam Product
Seal Program. All funds collected from
fees, charges or fines levied pursuant to this Chapter shall be deposited into
the Guam Product Seal Fund.
Section 50204. Responsibilities. The Authority shall: (a) develop, or have developed, a design for
the Guam Product Seal;
(b) assess the local value added in the
production processes of manufacturers applying for permission to place the seal
upon their products;
(c) issue permits for use of the seal to
eligible applicants;
(d) ensure ongoing compliance with the
eligibility requirements by all manufacturers who have been issued permits;
(e) conduct field investigations of products
bearing the seal, both on its own
initiative and in response to information and complaints received from the
public;
(f) levy fines on manufacturers, importers,
distributors and retailers found to be in violation of this Chapter;
(g) transmit information regarding the levy
of fines to the Department of Revenue and Taxation; and
(h) take appropriate steps to notify
businesses about the requirements of this Chapter.
Section 50205. Definitions. For purposes of this Chapter:
(a) ‘Value
added’ shall be the difference between the wholesale price of the product, if sold at wholesale, or the retail
price of the product, if sold
directly by the manufacturer, and the sum of both the total landed cost of all
material components of the product that have been brought into Guam and the
total landed cost of materials, excluding
machinery used in the production process that have been brought into Guam.
(b) ‘Substantial
transformation’ shall mean the conversion of commodities into products of a
different and distinguishable commercial use or character.
Section 50206. Eligibility. The Guam Product Seal may be used only on a product manufactured on Guam that results from a
substantial transformation of the materials used in the creation of the product
and for which a minimum of fifty
percent (50%) of the value of the product has been added on Guam. To obtain a permit to use the seal, a
manufacturer must apply to the Authority.
A permit to use the Guam Product Seal shall be effective for one (1)
year.
Section 50207. Violations.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any business to
place a Guam Product Seal on a product if
the business does not have a
current permit allowing the product to have such a seal.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any business
establishment to state or imply in an advertisement or display of any type,
including packaging, that a manufactured product is made on Guam if the product does not have a Guam Product Seal on it.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any business
establishment to sell a product that has the word 'Guam' or 'Chamorro,' or a
derivation of such words on the product if
such product was not manufactured
on Guam, unless the place where the
product was manufactured is clearly labeled on the product.
Section 50208. Fines. For each violation of Subsection (a) of §
50207 of this Chapter, the Authority shall levy a fine against the firm in an
amount equal to or greater than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00),
but not to exceed Five Thousand
Dollars ($5,000.00) per type of product.
For each violation of §§ 50207(b) or (c) of this Chapter, the Authority
shall levy a fine against the firm in an amount equal to or greater than Five Hundred
Dollars ($500.00), but not to exceed
Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) per type of product. Separate fines shall be levied each separate time a business is
found to have violated § 50207 of this Chapter. Such fines shall be payable to the Department of Revenue and
Taxation and shall be credited to the Guam Product Seal Fund.
Section 50209. Recovery of Merchandise. In the case of any violation of §
50207(a) of this Chapter, the Authority shall order the firm to recover from
wholesalers and retailers and to take off the market all products sold with a
Guam Product Seal for which the firm did not
have a permit when the seal was placed upon the product.
Section 50210. Penalty. (a) The Department of
Revenue and Taxation shall revoke the business license of any firm if, after a hearing, it determines that
the firm:
(1) failed to pay a fine levied pursuant to
§ 50208 of this Chapter within ninety (90) days after the fine was levied; or
(2) failed to recover merchandise in
accordance with an order issued pursuant to § 50209 of this Chapter within
ninety (90) days after the order was issued.
(b) The Department of Revenue and Taxation
shall not renew the business license
of any business if the business has not paid a fine levied pursuant to this
Chapter.
Section 50211. Collection. The Department of Revenue and Taxation is
responsible for the collection of all fines levied by the Authority pursuant to
§ 50208 of this Chapter.”
Section
39.
Article 3 is hereby added to
Chapter 50, Division 2 of Title 12 of the Guam Code Annotated to read as
follows:
Public
Market.
Section 50301. Purpose.
Section 50302. Public Market Revolving Fund.
Section 50301. Purpose. The Guam Economic Development and
Commerce Authority shall maintain and operate under its control a public
market, or markets, for Guam products at such place or places as the
Administrator may deem proper. Any such
market shall be maintained and operated at all times in a sanitary and orderly
manner, beneficial to both producers and patrons alike. Producers and sellers desiring to use space
within such market to display or sell their produce shall be levied a uniform
fee based upon the amount of space used and period of such use.
Section 50302. Public Market Revolving
Fund. (a) There is established a fund to be known as the ‘Public Market Revolving Fund,’ which
shall be maintained separate and apart from any other funds of the government
of Guam. Independent records and
accounts shall be maintained in connection therewith.
(b) Funds of the Public Market Revolving
Fund shall be used exclusively for
the administration, operation and maintenance of the Public Market.
(c) All funds collected from fees levied
pursuant to § 50301
shall be deposited in the Public Market Revolving Fund.”
Section
40. Section
1401 of Article 4, Chapter 1, Division 1 of Title 5 of the Guam Code Annotated
is hereby amended to read as follows:
“Section 1401. Economic Planning Council. There is within the Office of I Maga’lahen
Guåhan an Economic
Planning Council to be comprised of nine (9) members. Of the nine (9) members, four (4) members shall be selected by I Maga’lahen
Guåhan from among those
who head the following agencies: the
Department of Agriculture (‘DOA’), the Guam Economic Development and Commerce
Authority, the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority (‘GHURA’), the Guam
Housing Corporation (‘GHC’), the Department of Labor (‘DOL’), the Agency for
Human Resources Development (‘AHRD’), the Bureau of Budget and Management
Research (‘BBMR’), the Department of Revenue and Taxation (‘DRT’), the A. B.
Won Pat Guam International Airport Authority (‘GIAA’), the Port Authority of
Guam (‘PAG’), the Guam Community College (‘GCC’), the University of Guam
(‘UOG’), the Guam Advisory Council of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Bureau of
Statistics and Plans, and the Guam Visitors Bureau (‘GVB’).
In addition to
the agency members, there shall be four (4) members from the business community
and community-at-large chosen by I Maga’lahen Guåhan with the advice and consent of I Liheslaturan
Guåhan. The ninth (9th) member of the
Council shall be chosen by the other eight (8) members. The non-agency members shall receive the sum
of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for each attendance at a meeting of the Council, not to exceed One Hundred Dollars
($100.00) per month.”
Section
41. Section 76102 of Chapter 76,
Division 2 of Title 12 of the Guam Code Annotated is hereby amended to read as follows:
“Section 76102. Board of Trustees.
(a) All functions and powers of GTAF shall
be vested in and be exercised by and under the direction of a Board of Trustees
(‘Board’), which is hereby created. The
Board shall be composed of eleven (11) voting members and three (3) ex officio members. The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of
the Authority shall concurrently serve as Chairperson of the Board, whose
voting members shall be:
(1) the Director, or a designee of the
Marine Laboratory of the University of Guam (‘UOG’);
(2) the Mayor, or a designee of the
Municipality of Yona;
(3) the President, or a designee of the Guam
Mayors' Council;
(4) two (2) at-large from the community
appointed by I Maga’lahen Guåhan;
(5) two (2) representatives from the Guam
Chamber of Commerce, selected by its Board of Directors;
(6) the Chairperson, or a designee of the
Board of Directors of the Guam Visitors Bureau (‘GVB’);
(7) the Chairperson, or a designee of the
Board of Directors of the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association; and
(8) the Director, or a designee of the
Department of Education (‘DOE’).
(b) Members selected by I Maga’lahen
Guåhan and the Chamber
of Commerce shall serve four (4) year terms.
Non-voting, ex officio members
shall include the following:
(1) the Director, or a designee of the Guam
Environmental Protection Agency (‘GEPA’);
(2) a representative of the Department of
Agriculture's (‘DOA’s’) Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources, to be
selected by the Director of DOA; and
(3) the Administrator, or a designee of the
Authority.”
Section
42. Section 68605 of Article 6,
Chapter 68, Division 2 of Title 21 of the Guam Code Annotated is hereby amended to read as follows:
“Section 68605. Task Force Membership. The Director of the Bureau of Statistics and Plans shall serve as the Chairperson of the Task Force. In addition, the Task Force will include the Director of the Department of Land Management (‘DLM’), the Administrator of the Guam Environmental Protection Agency (‘GEPA’), the Administrator of the Guam Economic Development and Commerce Authority, the General Manager of Guam Visitors Bureau (‘GVB’), all Mayors from the Villages specified in § 68601, hereinabove, a representative of the Chamber of Commerce and a member of the public at-large to be chosen by <