Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

Public Laws passed from First Regular Session of 13th FSM Congress

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): July 7, 2003 - The First Regular Session of the FSM Congress approved and forwarded to the President the congressional acts and on the 25th of June, 2003, the last of ten congressional acts was signed into law by President Joseph J. Urusmal and are listed below as follows:

Public Law 13-1 grants the reprogramming authority back to the President to reprogram funds within the Executive Branch budget of fiscal year 2003 to pay for the FSM's participation in the South Pacific Games, the celebration ceremony for newly installed leadership of the FSM National Government, and the Congressional special election which was held yesterday, July 1, 2003.

This reprogramming authority of funds in previous fiscal year budgets was taken away during the administration of the then president, the Honorable Leo A. Falcam.

Public Law 13-2 changes the allottee of funds appropriated by previous law for projects in the Mortlock. These funds were the subject of concerns raised by the previous administration and this amendment makes it possible for these funds to be expended. The Chuuk State Commission on Improvement Projects is named the new allottee.

This law also establishes new procedures on how funds for Faichuk would be allocated among projects in the Faichuk region. Prior to this amendment, project funds for Faichuk in Public Law 11-59 could not be implemented because of the injunction issued by the FSM Supreme Court in the Udot Municipality v. Federated States of Micronesia, Civil Case No. 2000-1018 requiring that funds not be used.

Public Law 13-3 changes the allottee of funds in Public Law 9-027 for the Mortlock islands from the Mortlock Development Commission to the Chuuk State Commission on Improvement Projects. These funds were subjects of concerns of the previous administration which made it impossible for implementation of projects in the Mortlock but with this amendment, the people of the Mortlock will now be able to expend the funds.

Public Law 13-4 changes the allottees of funds previously appropriated for projects in the Mortlock but were not implemented because of concerns raised by the previous administration regarding the allottee. With the new allottee, the Chuuuk State Commission on Improvement Projects, the projects will be implemented.

Public Law 13-5 changes the allottee of funds previously appropriated under Public Law 8-100 for projects in the Mortlock. These projects were not implemented because of concerns raised by the previous administration regarding the allottee. The new allottee of these funds is the Chuuk State Commission on Improvement Projects.

Public Law 13-6 provides new procedures on how funds be expended in the Faichuk region. These funds were previously appropriated for Faichuk but were affected by the permanent injunction issued by the FSM Supreme Court case, Udot v. the Federated States of Micronesia.

Public Law 13-7 provides new procedures on fund expenditures in the Faichuk region which were affected by injunction issued by the FSM Supreme Court.

Public Law 13-8 amends existing law to make the position of the secretary to the Speaker an exempt position.

Public Law 13-9 changes the allottee of fund for the Mortlock which was the subject of concerns by the previous administration. Now with the change of allottee from, the Mortlock Development Commission to Chuuk State Commission on Improvement Projects, the people of Mortlock will be able to expend the funds.

Public Law No. 13-10 requires that all funds appropriated for projects and programs prior to May 11, 1999 will lapse as of September 30, 2003. The law also requires the Department of Finance and Administration to provide Congress with a report indicating how much money is left in each public project account, the designated allottee for each project and the date that such funds were appropriated, and to notify every allottee affected by this bill of the change in lapse date. It is the view of Congress that by closing out old accounts having insufficient balances will enable the Department of Finance to produce a clearer picture of the financial status of the nation.

For more details on any of the laws may be obtained by contacting the Public Information Office at telephone number 320-2548.