Chapter 30.2. TITLE 110: NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS RETIREMENT FUND
TITLE 110: NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS RETIREMENT FUND SUBCHAPTER 110-30.2 GROUP LIFE INSURANCE PROGRAM RULES AND REGULATIONS Subchapter Authority: 1 CMC § 8424. Subchapter History: Amdts Adopted 24 Com. Reg. 19633 (Oct. 30, 2002); Amdts Emergency and Proposed 24 Com. Reg. 19256 (June 17, 2002) (effective for 120 days from June 7, 2002); Amdts Proposed 23 Com. Reg. 18648 (Nov. 23, 2001); Amdts Adopted 19 Com. Reg. 15735 (Oct. 15, 1997) (repealing and re-promulgating the Group Health Insurance Program provisions of the May 1997 regulations); Amdts Proposed 19 Com. Reg. 15573 (Aug. 15, 1997); Adopted 19 Com. Reg. 15387 (May 15, 1997); Proposed 19 Com. Reg. 15106 (Feb. 15, 1997); Emergency 18 Com. Reg. 14326 (Sept. 15, 1996) (effective for 120 days from Sept. 9, 1996). Commission Comment: PL 1-43 (effective Jan. 18, 1980), formerly codified at 1 CMC §§ 8301, et seq., originally created the Northern Mariana Islands Retirement Fund. PL 6-17 (effective May 7, 1989), the “Northern Mariana Islands Retirement Fund Act of 1988,” codified as amended at 1 CMC §§ 8301-8394, repealed and reenacted PL 1- 43, as amended. See PL 6-17, ch. 1 § 8312; see also the commission comment to 1 CMC § 8301. PL 13-60 (effective Dec. 5, 2003), the “Retirement Integrity Assurance Act,” amended numerous provisions of the 1988 NMI Retirement Fund Act. 1 CMC § 8312 creates the Northern Mariana Islands Retirement Fund (NMIRF) as an autonomous agency and public corporation of the government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. NMIRF, through a Board of Trustees, is empowered to establish, maintain and operate a retirement fund program for the public employees of the Commonwealth. 1 CMC § 8315(a). 1 CMC § 8315(g) (renumbered by PL 13-60) authorizes NMIRF to adopt rules and regulations as necessary for the exercise of the funds powers, performance of its duties and administration of its operations. The group life and health insurance programs were originally administered by the Personnel Office. Executive Order 94-3 § 307(c) (effective Aug. 23, 1994) transferred the administration of the programs to the Department of Finance. See Executive Order 94-3, reprinted in the commission comment to 1 CMC § 2001; see also PL 10-19 § 1, reprinted in the commission comment to 1 CMC § 8421. PL 10-19 (effective June 21, 1996), codified at 1 CMC §§ 8421- 8427, transferred the administration of the government life and health insurance programs to the NMIRF. See 1 CMC § 8421. NMIRF first promulgated Group Health and Life Insurance Program Rules and Regulations in May 1997. Part VII of the May 1997 regulations, entitled “Group Life Insurance Program Description,” governed the CNMI government group life insurance program. See 19 Com. Reg. at 15116 (Feb. 15, 1997). In October 1997, NMIRF repealed the Group Health Insurance Program provisions of the May 1997 regulations, but not part VII, regarding the life insurance program: Article 1 - Introduction … These Rules and Regulations govern the Program and repeal Parts I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VIII and IX of the Rules and Regulations published in the Commonwealth Register, Volume 19, Number 2, on February 15, 1997, and adopted by the Notice and Certification of Adoption appearing in the Commonwealth Register, Volume 19, Number 5, on May 15, 1997. … 19 Com. Reg. at 15576 (Aug. 15, 1997). The 2002 Group Health Insurance Program (GHIP) Rules and Regulations, codified in NMIAC, title 110, subchapter 30.1, readopted and republished the October 1997 GHIP Regulations in their entirety, with extensive amendments. © 2016 by The Commonwealth Law Revision Commission (August 30, 2016) Page 1 of 2
TITLE 110: NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS RETIREMENT FUND The 2002 amendments changed article 1 so that it repealed part VII of the May 1997 amendments instead of part VIII: Article 1 - Introduction … These Rules and Regulations govern the Program and repeal Parts I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII and IX of the Rules and Regulations published in the Commonwealth Register, Volume 19, Number 2, on February 15, 1997, and adopted by the Notice and Certification of Adoption appearing in the Commonwealth Register, Volume 19, Number 5, on May 15, 1997. … 24 Com. Reg. at 19369 (Oct. 30, 2002). This change was probably an error. However, the error is significant, as it repeals the only regulations promulgated regarding the Group Life Insurance Program administered by NMIRF. [Reserved for future Group Life Insurance Program Rules and Regulations.] © 2016 by The Commonwealth Law Revision Commission (August 30, 2016) Page 2 of 2
Source: CNMI Law Revision Commission