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New Public Law on Revolving Fund for Fisheries Observers and Port Samplers

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): October 22, 2009 - President Mori signed Congressional Act No. 16-14 into Public Law No. 16-14 on October 13, 2009, and with this law, under title 55 of the code of the FSM, the FSM National Government amended section 630, 631, and 632 of the subchapter VI in order to modify the purpose of the Fisheries Observer and Port Sampler Revolving Fund and to increase the threshold amount of the fund.

President Mori pointed out in his transmittal letter to Speaker Figir that this law does two things. First, under section 630 of title 55 of the FSM Code, the law expands the scope of the Fisheries Observer Revolving Fund to include Port Samplers and renames the fund as "Fisheries Observer and Port Sampler Revolving Fund". The purpose of this fund is to provide an ongoing revolving fund for the receipt and disbursement of funds associated with the fisheries observer and port sampler programs. The need for this law arose from the fact that the FSM does not have enough Port Samplers to handle the volume of unloading that has been going on in Pohnpei for the past several years. Meanwhile, with the cross training of many new Fisheries Observers, they can now be used to handle these duties, which are less technical than those that they perform as Fisheries Observers, and be paid out of this fund for port sampling duties.

Second, the new law increases the fund amount from $75,000 to $200,000. Fees paid for port sampling services go into this fund. Any excess amount over $200,000 will be paid into the general fund; however, any unexpended moneys in this fund shall not revert to the General Fund or lapse at the end of the fiscal year.