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To mandate the instruction of written Palauan Language, Bureau of Land & Survey Responsibilities, RPPL 8-55 2012

AN ACT

To mandate the instruction of written Palauan language at every school in the Republic, and for other related purposes.

THE PEOPLE OF PALAU REPRESENTED IN THE OLBIIL ERA KELULAU DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

Section l. Legislative Findings. Currently, only public schools in Palau are required to offer Palauan language instruction. As a result, the many students at nonpublic schools in Palau may never learn to read or write Palauan, undermining the preservation of the Palauan language and its important role in Palauan society and culture. To support the use and vibrancy of the Palauan language, all children must be given basic instruction in written Palauan, as well as spoken Palauan and Palauan history and culture. Requiring early formal education in Palauan achieves several goals: 1) it allows children to better understand their Palauan background and identity, 2) it provides a universal experience for children in Palau, promoting a society-wide sense of community, and 3) it ensures that the language will serve as a foundation for the Republic=s children throughout their education, staying with them as they master history, English and science. To maximize the effectiveness of this requirement, there must be some standardization of the Palauan language instruction; all instruction must be based on the Palauan Orthography advanced by the Palauan Language Commission and Ministry of Education and comply with the curriculum framework and tools created by the Ministry of Education.

Section 2. Applicability. Every school chartered in the Republic or funded by public funds must offer instruction in reading and writing the Palauan language, consistent with the Palauan Orthography, as advanced by the Palauan Language Commission and Ministry of Education.

Section 3. Mandatory Palauan courses. Written Palauan Language shall be a mandatory part of the core curriculum for first through twelfth grade for every school chartered in the Republic or funded by public funds.

Section 4. Amendment. Section 1305 of Title 35 of the Palau National Code, as amended by RPPL No. 8-33 is hereby further amended to read as follows:

A' 1305. Bureau of Lands and Surveys responsibilities; land registration employees.

(a) The Bureau of Lands and Surveys within a reasonable time period not to extend beyond September 30, 2013, shall proceed on a systematic basis to ensure the designation of areas and survey of all lands and the monumentation of all land within the Republic. . . .

. . .

(d) The Bureau shall complete the survey required under this section within a reasonable time not to extend beyond September 30, 2013.

. . .@

Section 5. Amendment. Section 4 of RPPL No. 8-50 is hereby amended by adding a new subsection (c) thereto, that reads as follows:

ASection 4. Continuing Budget Authority.

. . . .

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing sections, the sum of $1,300,000 is authorized for appropriation and is hereby appropriated for expenditure for Fiscal Year 2013 for the purpose of paying, until the enactment of the Fiscal Year 2013 (National Unified Budget), a $20 bi-weekly cost of living allowance to every full-time employee of the state and national governments, except those employees who earn $25,000 or more per year, said sum to be appropriated and paid at the direction of the Minister of Finance. Notwithstanding any other laws to the contrary, this cost-of-living allowance shall be exempt from deductions for wage and salary taxes, Palau Pension Plan contributions, Social Security taxes, and the National Medical Savings Fund contributions. Payments shall be retroactive to October 01, 2012. The entire amount authorized to be appropriated and is appropriated in this section shall come from local revenues.@

Section 6. Effective Date. This Act shall take effect upon its approval by the President of the Republic of Palau or upon its becoming law without such approval, except as otherwise provided by law.

PASSED: December 6, 2012

Approved this 7th day of December , 2012.

  /s/
Johnson Toribiong
President
Republic of Palau