Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean is the sponsor of a Senate bill, which seeks to establish the American Samoa Law Revision Commission, whose objective is to “promote and encourage the clarification and simplification of the laws of American Samoa to secure the better administration of justice.”

According to the proposed law, introduced in the Senate this past week, the commission shall review all of the statutes and recommend statutory revisions that improve the law. Additionally, some recommendations shall address purely technical revisions such as error corrections and restatement of the law.

The nine-member commission is attached to the Legislative Reference Bureau for administrative purposes only, according to the bill, which spells out in details — which among other things — delineates responsibilities and duties of the commission, and requires reports as well as recommendations for submission to Fono leaders and the governor.

The commission shall consist of a member of the Senate, appointed by the Senate President; a member of the House, appointed by the House Speaker; Senate counsel; House counsel; two members of the Executive Branch, appointed by the governor; a judge or an attorney appointed by the Chief Justice; and two attorneys admitted to practice in the territory, appointed by the American Samoa Bar Association.

A provision of the bill states that there is appropriated out of general revenues of ASG the sum of $100,000 or so much as thereof as may be necessary, for each fiscal year, for the purpose of this Act, to be expended by the Commission’s chair — who is a member of the commission.

The bill’s preamble points out that despite being considered “unorganized” because the U.S. Congress has not passed an Organic Act for the territory, American Samoa continues to be self-governing under a constitution that became effective July 1, 1967.

Further, it’s under the guidance of the American Samoa Constitution that “our government and laws have grown.”

Since then, “we have relied solely on the American Samoa Legislature to continue to introduce bills and laws that guide and protect our country,” according to the preamble.

Since the “inception of our government, we have not had a body who’s job it is to strive to improve the fairness and efficiency of the laws of American Samoa and to reflect, enhance, promote and safeguard the Samoan customs and traditions while balancing them with the economic and commercial developments needed to meet the needs of American Samoa,” it says.

Therefore, “it is time for us to create” the commission, the preamble states.

The bill has since been assigned to the appropriate committee for future hearings.