ST. THOMAS – Members of the Committee on Rules and Judiciary, chaired by Senator Milton E. Potter convened in a meeting at the Capitol Building and voted in the affirmative for all the measures regarding the Fiscal Year 2022 Executive Budget for the Government of the Virgin Islands of the United States. All approved items will be forwarded to the Full Body for further consideration.

“The bills were previously vetted and voted on in the Committee on Finance. Presently in this committee hearing, we will further consider and vote on these measures which will then be forwarded to the Full Body,” Sen. Potter said.  “The goal is to pass a balanced FY 2022 budget that commences on October 1, 2021, and concludes on September 30, 2022.”

Lawmakers voted favorably for the following bills under the closed rule:

• Bill 34-0110: An Act providing an appropriation for the operation of the Judicial Branch of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0111: An Act providing an appropriation for the operation of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands during fiscal year October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0112: An Act providing an appropriation for salaries and expenses of the Board of Elections and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections during the fiscal year October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0113: An Act providing an appropriation from the Anti-Litter and Beautification Fund to the Waste Management Authority and the Department of Public Works for operating expenses during the fiscal year October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0114: An Act providing an appropriation for the salaries and expenses of the University of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0115: An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Board of Education from the General Fund during the fiscal year October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0116: An Act providing an appropriation from the Business and Commercial Properties Revolving Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands to the Department of Property and Procurement for operating expenses during the fiscal year October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0117: An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Career and Technical Education Board from the General Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0118: An Act providing an appropriation from the Caribbean Basin Initiative Fund for the year October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0119: An Act providing an appropriation from the government Insurance Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands to the Department of Labor and the Department of Finance for operating expenses during fiscal year October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0120: An Act providing an appropriation from the Health Revolving Fund for fiscal year October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0121: An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Hospital and Health Facilities Corporation from the General Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 221 to September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0122: An Act providing for the lump sum appropriation from the Indirect Cost Fund for salaries, operating expenses, and other purposes of the Office of Management and Budget, the Division of Personnel, the Department of Property and Procurement, and the Department of Finance for the fiscal year October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0123: An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Office of the Inspector General from the General Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0124: An Act providing an appropriation from the Internal Revenue Matching Fund for the fiscal year October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0125: An act providing an appropriation in the sum of $900,000 from the Virgin Islands Lottery as a contribution to the General Fund for the fiscal year October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0126: An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Public Employees Relations Board and the Labor Management Committee for the fiscal year October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0127: An Act providing an appropriation for operating expenses of the Waste Management Authority from the Sewer System Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0128: An Act providing an appropriation to the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission for the fiscal year October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0129: An act providing an appropriation from the Tourism Advertising Revolving Fund to the Office of Management and Budget, the Virgin Islands Police Department, the Department of Public Works, the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority, and the Department of Tourism during the fiscal year October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0130: An Act providing an appropriation for the sum of $11,000,000 from the Transportation Trust Fund as a contribution to the General Fund for the fiscal year October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0131: An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority from the General Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0132: An Act providing an appropriation to the Public Services Commission for the fiscal year October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022, for operating expenses, as amended (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0133: An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Board of Nurse Licensure from the General Fund during the fiscal year October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0136: An Act providing an appropriation for the sum of $16,300,000 from the Virgin Islands Insurance Guaranty Fund as a contribution to the General Fund for the fiscal year October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0137: An Act amending Virgin Islands Code, Title 22, Chapter 10, Section 237(A)(3)(A) and Title 33, Chapter 111, Section 3061 relating to the balance in the Insurance Guaranty Fund to amend the currently required $30,000,000 amount which is set to increase to $50,000,000 on September 30, 2022, to $40,000,000 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0132: An Act providing an appropriation to the Public Services Commission for the fiscal year October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022, for operating expenses (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0106: FY21 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET- An Act amending Act No. 8365, as amended by Act No. 8411; and Act No. 8451; amending Act No. 8451, Section 2(A); amending Act No. 8347, Section 1, relating to the fiscal year 2021 operating budget for the Government of the Virgin Islands, to appropriate $24,423,321 to several departments and agencies to pay outstanding obligations; and providing for other related purposes, as amended (Sponsored by: Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory by request of the Governor)
• Bill 34-0109: An act providing an appropriation from the General Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the operation of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022, as amended (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)

However, the following measure was removed from the agenda:

• Bill 34-0135: An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022 (Sponsored by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet by request of the Governor)

Senators attending the meeting: Milton E. Potter, Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Genevieve R. Whitaker, Kurt A. Vialet, Franklin D. Johnson, Samuel Carrión, Steven D. Payne, Sr., Kenneth L. Gittens, Carla J. Joseph.

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