Committee on Finance

The Committee on Finance will consider fiscal year 2022 transfer requests and other amendments as well as the proposed fiscal year 2023 budget enabling legislation for the Government of the Virgin Islands of the United States.

BLOCK I                                              Fiscal Year 2022 Transfer Requests and other amendments

001-22 Virgin Islands Department of Education Appropriation Transfer, “To provide equipment for the IT Department and the School Food Authority. It will also provide supplies for students and staff as well as allow for school enhancements. Further, the Virgin Islands Department of Education will meet the mandatory regulation that requires uniforms be provided to cooks, monitors, athletes, and custodians to promote a better learning environment for the children of the Virgin Islands

Invited Testifiers:

Jenifer C. O’Neal, Director, Office of Management & Budget

Dr. Dionne Wells-Hendrington, Commissioner Nominee, Department of Education

002-22 Department of Health Appropriation Transfer, to lease four buildings for Behavioral Health due to mold in the current building

Invited Testifiers:

Jenifer C. O’Neal, Director, Office of Management & Budget

Honorable Justa E. Encarnación, Commissioner, Department of Health

003-22 Department of Human Services Appropriation Transfer, to utilize savings from salaries and fringe benefits for repairs, maintenance, fixtures, and equipment. Additionally, funds will also be utilized to build a needed generator housing unit to allow Knud Hansen to remain fully functional during intermittent power outages. Funds will also be channeled to badly needed repairs at the St. John Multi-purpose Center

Invited Testifiers:

Jenifer C. O’Neal, Director, Office of Management & Budget

Honorable Kimberly Causey-Gomez, Commissioner, Department of Human Services

004-22 Department of Labor Appropriation Transfer, To maximize resources by repairing deficient A/C ducts, installing fire suppression systems in both districts, and modernizing workstations to improve the quality of work for the VIDOL Team. Additionally, a mobile unit will be purchased to improve outreach and accessibility

Invited Testifiers:

Jenifer C. O’Neal, Director, Office of Management & Budget

Honorable Gary Molloy, Commissioner, Department of Labor

005-22 Department of Public Works Appropriation Transfer, To fund critical items such as cemetery walls, pickups, outstanding payments, and supplies

Invited Testifiers:

Jenifer C. O’Neal, Director, Office of Management & Budget

Honorable Derek A. Gabriel, Commissioner, Department of Public Work

BLOCK II                                             Fiscal Year 2023 Enabling Legislation

Bill No. 34-0302 – An Act providing an appropriation from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the operation of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0303 – An Act providing an appropriation for the operation of the judicial branch of the Government of the Virgin Islands, the Judicial Council and the Office of the Territorial Public Defender during the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0304 – An Act providing an appropriation for the Legislature of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0305 – An Act providing an appropriation for salaries and expenses of the Virgin Islands Board of Elections and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections for the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0306 – An Act providing an appropriation from the Anti-Litter and Beautification Fund to the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority and the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works for operating expenses during the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0307 – An Act providing an appropriation for the salaries and expenses of the University of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0308 – An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Board of Education from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0309 – An Act providing an appropriation from the Business and Commercial Properties Revolving Fund to the Virgin Islands Department of Property and Procurement for operating expenses for the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0310 – An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Career and Technical Education Board from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0311 – An Act providing an appropriation from the Caribbean Basin Initiative Fund as a contribution to the General Fund of the Treasury of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0312 – An Act providing an appropriation from the Government Insurance Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands to the Department of Labor and the Department of Finance for operating expenses during the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0313 – An Act providing for the lump-sum appropriation from the Health Revolving Fund to the Virgin Islands Department of Health for fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0314 – An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Hospital and Health Facilities Corporation from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 202

Bill No. 34-0315 – An Act providing for a lump-sum appropriation from the Indirect Cost Fund for operating expenses to the Office of Management and Budget, the Virgin Islands Division of Personnel, the Virgin Islands Department of Property and Procurement and the Virgin Islands Department of Finance for the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

BLOCK III                                            Fiscal Year 2023 Enabling Legislation

Bill No. 34-0316 – An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Office of the Inspector General from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0318 – An Act providing an appropriation from the Virgin Islands Lottery as a contribution to the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0319 – An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Public Employees Relations Board and the Virgin Islands Labor Management Committee for the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0320 – An Act providing an appropriation for operating expenses of the Waste Management Authority from the Sewer Wastewater Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0321 – An Act providing an appropriation to the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission for the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0322 – An Act providing an appropriation from the Tourism Advertising Revolving Fund to the Office of the Governor, Virgin Islands Police Department, the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works, the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority, the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture and the Virgin Islands Department of Tourism for the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0323 – An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0324 – An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Public Services Commission for the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0325 – An Act providing an appropriation from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Board of Nurse Licensure for the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0326 – An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Motor Vehicles from the Transportation Trust Fund during the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0327 – An Act providing an appropriation for the sum of $6,000,000 from the Virgin Islands Insurance Guaranty Fund as a contribution to the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Bill No. 34-0328 – An Act amending title 22 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 10, section 237(a)(3)(A) and title 33, chapter 111, section 3061 relating to the balance in the Virgin Islands Insurance Guaranty Fund to amend the currently required $40,000,000 amount which is set to increase to $50,000,000 on September 30, 2022

Bill No. 34-0329 – An Act providing an appropriation from the Crisis Intervention Fund for the fiscal year October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

BLOCK IV                                            Consideration of Committee Bills

Bill No. 34-0330 An Act appropriating funds for the adoption of various portions of the Virgin Islands Agricultural Plan, submitted by the Agricultural Plan Task Force on December 29, 2021, as the official Agricultural Plan for the Territory (Removed from agenda)

Bill No. 34-0332 An Act appropriating $570,000 from the St. John Capital Improvement Fund to the Virgin Islands Port Authority to complete repairs and construction at the Loredon Lorence Boynes, Sr. Dock on the island of St. John

Bill No. 34-0333 An Act appropriating funds from the Virgin Islands Lottery in fiscal year 2022 to the Government Employees Retirement System for bonus pay shortfalls from fiscal years 2021 and 2022

Bill No. 34-0334 An Act appropriating funds from the General Fund in Fiscal Year 2022 to the University of the Virgin Islands for the purpose of paying retroactive merit increases to employees who separated from the University during the period of January 1, 1992 through December 31, 1998

Bill No. 34-0335 An Act reconciling Acts No. 8474 and 8590 and making various appropriations available until September 30, 2023; making a correction to Act No. 8578; and amending Act No. 8496 appropriating additional funds to the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority

Bill No. 34-0336 An Act amending title 18 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 7, section 158 to increase the compensation of election officers and clerks

Bill No. 34-0337 An Act appropriating the sum of $679,250 from the St. Croix Capital Improvement Fund to the Virgin Islands Port Authority to be used for the resurfacing of the Gordon Finch Molasses Pier Facility

Bill No. 34-0339 An Act authorizing the Department of Property and Procurement to set aside a portion of Parcel F Submarine Base No. 6 Southside Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands for the Office of Veterans Affairs for the construction of a veterans complex and appropriating a total of 3,000,000 for construction completion

Bill No. 34-0294 An Act amending Act 8474 to adjust the fiscal year 2022 budget to appropriate funds to U.S.V.I. Soccer, Inc. as a grant for additional improvements to the professional soccer field at Plot 23-I Estate Bethlehem St. Croix, Virgin Islands, to add coverings for the bleachers and a new parking lot