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2021 Guam Statutes
Title 5 - Government Operations
Division 8 - Cultural Affairs
Chapter 88 - The Commission on Chamoru Language and the Teaching of the History and Culture of the Indigenous People of Guam

Universal Citation:
5 Guam Code §§ 88101 - 88108 (2021)
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5 GCA GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS CH. 88. THE COMMISSION ON CHAMORU LANGUAGE AND THE TEACHING OF THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF GUAM CHAPTER 88 THE COMMISSION ON CHAMORU LANGUAGE AND THE TEACHING OF THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF GUAM SOURCE: Entire chapter added by P.L. 33-236 (Jan. 9, 2017). 2017 NOTE: The typography of the word “CHamoru” in this chapter reflects the typography as enacted by P.L. 33-236. § 88101. § 88102. § 88103. § 88104. § 88105. § 88106. § 88107. § 88108. Short Title. Establishment. Composition. Governance and Organization. Duties and Purpose. Support Services. Appropriation. Severability. § 88101. Short Title. This Chapter may be cited as the “CHamoru Heritage Commission Act of 2016.” § 88102. Establishment. There is within the government of Guam the Commission on CHamoru Language and the Teaching of the History and Culture of the Indigenous People of Guam, which shall perform the duties and purposes set forth in this Act. § 88103. Composition. The Commission shall consist of: (a) the President of I Dipåttamenton I Kaohao Guinahan CHamoru (the Department of Chamoru Affairs) or a representative who is fluent and proficient in the CHamoru language and actively engaged in its promotion and preservation; (b) two (2) members from I Unibetsedåt Guåhan (the University of Guam) and two (2) members from the Guam Department of Education Dibision Inestudion yan I CHamoru Espisiåt na Prugråma Siha (CHamoru Studies and Special Projects Division) who are fluent and proficient in the CHamoru language, and active in its cultivation and COL5/19/2021 1 5 GCA GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS CH. 88. THE COMMISSION ON CHAMORU LANGUAGE AND THE TEACHING OF THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF GUAM preservation through either education or through involvement in their institutions’ respective CHamoru language programs; (c) two (2) members, appointed by the Legislative chairperson with oversight over culture/cultural affairs, who are fluent and proficient in the CHamoru language, and have been actively engaged in its promotion and preservation; and (d) two (2) members appointed by I Maga’låhen Guåhan (the Governor of Guam) who are fluent and proficient in the CHamoru language, and actively engaged in its promotion and preservation. § 88104. Governance and Organization. (a) The President of I Dipåttamenton I Kaohao Guinahan CHamoru shall serve as the Acting Chairperson of the Commission until one (1) among the Commission’s composition is voted upon by its members to serve as the Commission’s Chairperson. (b) The Commission, from the date it first convenes, shall have one hundred eighty (180) days to establish rules of conduct and propose an organizational structure and budget to the Guam Legislature for approval. (c) Commission members shall serve for a term of four (4) years, commencing with the date of appointment and until their successors are appointed and qualified; and members may serve multiple terms. (d) Members shall meet in regular session at least once a month and in special session as the Chairperson may deem necessary. The Chairperson shall be counted for a quorum. Five (5) members shall constitute a quorum, and five (5) affirmative votes are required for the transaction of all business. All meetings of the Commission shall be open to the public as provided by law. (e) The Commission shall annually elect from among its members a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings, act as spokesperson, and perform other duties as the Commission shall direct. The Vice Chairperson shall succeed to the duties of the Chairperson in the COL5/19/2021 2 5 GCA GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS CH. 88. THE COMMISSION ON CHAMORU LANGUAGE AND THE TEACHING OF THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF GUAM absence or inability of the Chairperson. From among its members, the Commission may select a secretary and any other officers, which it may deem necessary, to serve on an annual basis. (f) Each member shall receive Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for attendance at any meeting of the Commission, but this stipend shall not apply to more than two (2) meetings in any one (1) calendar month. No members shall receive any other compensation, but shall be reimbursed for actual travel, subsistence, and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the discharge of responsibilities, including authorized attendance at meetings held off-island, subject to the prior approval of the Commission. (g) The Commission may hire employees and contract services as approved in its annual appropriation and in accordance with its organizational rules and regulations. § 88105. Duties and Purpose. The duties and purpose of the Commission are to: (a) continually study and update the orthographic rules of the CHamoru language; and to provide notification to public and private institutions of updates to the CHamoru orthography; (b) consult with government leaders and others in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands who are interested in the standardization of the CHamoru language orthography and seek to recognize and establish agreement relevant to the orthography, as well as existing regional differences; (c) advise public and private institutions, broadcast and written media, to include magazines and individuals, on issues related to the alignment of both spoken and written media, publications, signage and manuscripts with the grammatical and orthographic rules established by the Commission; (d) provide requisite updates to the CHamoru-English Dictionary; COL5/19/2021 3 5 GCA GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS CH. 88. THE COMMISSION ON CHAMORU LANGUAGE AND THE TEACHING OF THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF GUAM (e) establish a CHamoru translation service for public and private entities and individuals, broadcast and written media, with an appropriate fee structure for such services; (f) develop standardized, culturally relevant curricula for mandated courses in Guam’s schools and institutions of higher learning related to Guam’s history, language, and culture; (g) conduct research, publish, and produce multimedia and print materials relating to the CHamoru language, history and culture; (h) coordinate with the Department of Education, charter schools and other educational institutions, including private schools and businesses, on Guam to ensure the appropriate use of the adopted standardized CHamoru orthography and grammar; (i) provide training to promote understanding of the CHamoru heritage; increased (j) function as a clearinghouse to provide advice for accurate representations and interpretations of CHamoru language, history and culture; (k) work with I Sagan Plånu Siha yan Emfotmasion (the Bureau of Statistics and Plans) to plan and conduct a survey, which may seek to determine the existing number of CHamoru speakers, and/or the existing number of children learning CHamoru and the occurrence of intergenerational transmission, which may be used to direct CHamoru revitalization programs efforts; (l) serve as the Kumision I Nå’an Lugåt (Guam Place Name Commission) to develop, implement, and advise interested parties on a coherent, culturally sound and historically accurate set of criteria for selecting place names, and coordinate with the Guam Land Use Commission, the CHamoru Land Trust Commission, the Department of Education, the University of Guam, the Guam Community College, the village Mayors, Dipåttamenton I Kaohao Guinahan CHamoru, and with other civil and religious organizations interested in providing appropriate place names for Guam and consistency in signage. The Guam Land Use Commission, COL5/19/2021 4 5 GCA GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS CH. 88. THE COMMISSION ON CHAMORU LANGUAGE AND THE TEACHING OF THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF GUAM the CHamoru Land Trust Commission, the Department of Education, the University of Guam, the Guam Community College, the village Mayors, and Dipåttamenton I Kaohao Guinahan CHamoru shall seek advice from Kumision I Nå’an Lugåt (Guam Place Name Commission) and shall keep records thereof; (m) study ancient CHamoru terminology and pronunciation of place names, and restore aforementioned pronunciation with the current CHamoru orthography; and (n) perform general reviews and evaluations as imposed by the government of Guam. (o) is hereby authorized to apply for and receive grants, charge fees for translation services, and publication of products. (p) is hereby authorized to establish a public not for profit corporation that shall be separate and apart from the government of Guam and the Commission for the purpose of being able to accept private gifts, donations, endowments, grants, and other monies which may be offered to the Commission. Such gifts, donations, endowments, or grants, supra, shall be in accordance with the laws of Guam and subject to reasonable conditions. Such funds received shall be deposited into a fund controlled by the corporation, supra, and shall be known as the Kumision I Fino CHamoru Foundation. SOURCE: Subsection (o) added by P.L. 35-099:XII:40 (Sep. 15, 2020). Subsection (p) added by P.L. 35-099:XII:32 (Sep. 15, 2020). § 88106. Support Services. The Commission is hereby authorized to use, and the Department of Education, University of Guam and Department of CHamoru Affairs are hereby directed to make available, their facilities. The Department of Education, University of Guam and Department of CHamoru Affairs shall also make available personnel and logistical assistance as the Commission may require in carrying out its functions. § 88107. Appropriation. The Commission shall report annually to the Legislature the results of its work and shall submit an annual operating budget COL5/19/2021 5 5 GCA GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS CH. 88. THE COMMISSION ON CHAMORU LANGUAGE AND THE TEACHING OF THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF GUAM to carry out the Commission’s tasks as mandated by law. The Commission is hereby authorized to request such appropriation from the Legislature. § 88108. Severability. If any of the provisions of this Act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision or application of this Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable. --------- COL5/19/2021 6
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