The Senate has amended the administration bill to increase salaries of lawmakers.
At the suggestion of Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean, the bill has been amended to change the compensation bill from an increase in salaries to and increase in expense allowances.
Tuaolo said the law provides that any salary increase for the Fono will be effective in 2025, when a new Legislature takes office. He said only Fono members who return in 2025 will receive the salary increase, if they pass the bill as is.
But if they change the bill to increase office expense allowances, they would receive the increases next month.
The administration bill says the increases would go into effect 60 days after the bill is signed by the Governor.
Senators approved the amendment and passed the bill in second reading today.
According to the bill, the Fono leaders, senators, and representatives would receive an increase of $20,000.
The current expense allowances of the Fono leaders is $60,000, while Senators and Representatives are currently receiving expense allowances of $45,000.
The House has not voted on its version of the bill and may wait to act on the amended Senate bill, after its passed in final reading.
