ST. THOMAS – The 35th Legislature of the Virgin Islands, led by Senate President Novelle E. Francis, Jr. convened in regular legislative session at the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall. Lawmakers approved nominees to the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Board of Directors, and the Government Employees Retirement System. Additionally, Senators approved lease agreements on the island of St. Thomas, rezonings on the island of St. Croix, various legislative measures, and budget bills for the Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget for the Government of the Virgin Islands of the United States.
In Block one, the nominations of Lionel E. Selwood to the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Board of Directors and Angel E. Dawson Jr, as the Administrator of the Government Employees Retirement System. Both nominations were voted upon favorably.
In Block two, the following leases and rezonings were considered, all of which were voted upon favorably:
• Bill No. 35-0095, An Act approving the lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands, acting through its Commissioner of the Department of Property and Procurement, and Dave Jeffers d/b/a Dave Trucking Service for Parcel No. 142-B Estate Anna’s Retreat, No. 1 New Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, consisting of approximately 6,627.393 U.S. sq. ft. or 0.144 U.S. acre zoned “P†as shown on O.L.G. File No. D9-8646-T012 to be used for the purpose of operating the general offices of the trucking company and for other related purposes.
• Bill No. 35-0124, An Act approving the lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands, acting through its Commissioner of the Department of Property and Procurement and Demah, Inc. d/b/a Moe’s Fresh Market, Revised Parcel No. 17-3 Remainder Estate Nisky, No. 6, Southside Quarter, St. Thomas and Unimproved Parcel No. 17-4 Estate Nisky, No. 6, Southside Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, for operating a gourmet retail food market and store, butchery, importer of goods, restaurant, tobacco retailer, storage warehouse, and executive offices, executive and workforce suites, and for other related purposes.
• Bill No. 35-0126, An Act approving the lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands of Property and Procurement and Petrus Properties, LLC for Parcel No. 47D-1 Kronprindsens Gade, Kronprindsens Quarter St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.
• Bill No. 35-0134, An Act granting a use variance from the B-1 (Business-Central Business District) zoning designation to Plot No. 7-a, 7-b and 8-b Hospital Street, Christiansted Town, St. Croix to allow for a marina.
• Bill No. 35-0136, An Act amending Official Zoning Map No. SCZ-11 for the island of St. Croix to change the zoning designation of Parcel No. 4 Estate Paradise, Prince Quarter, St. Croix, Virgin Islands from R-2 (Residential-Low Density-One and Two Family) to C (Commercial).
• Bill No. 35-0138, An Act granting a zoning use variance for Plot Nos. 19 and 20 Prince Street, Frederiksted Town, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, to allow for a building contractor’s office, shops, and yards.
In Block three the following bills were considered, all of which were voted upon favorably:
• Bill No. 35-0073, An Act amending title 32 of the Virgin Islands Code to establish powers and duties for the horse racing commissions for each district and relating to antidoping of racehorses to provide for regulation by district and joint horse racing commissions.
• Bill No. 35-0082, An Act amending title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 9, Subchapter I, section 91 to limit the expulsion and suspension of students in pre-kindergarten through third grade and amending title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 11, by adding a section to make a course in mitigating behavioral issues and misconduct in the classroom for school-based professionals a requirement.
• Bill No. 35-0083, An Act amending title 32 of the Virgin Islands Code, chapter 11, subchapter I, section 201 to establish separate horse racing commissions for each district.
• Bill No. 35-0140, An Act approving the Agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands and Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company for Group Medical Health Insurance; the Agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands and Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company for Group Dental Insurance; the Agreement for Group Medical Health Insurance between the Government of the Virgin Islands and United Healthcare Insurance Company; the Agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands and Standard Insurance Company for Group Vision Insurance; the Agreement for Group Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance between the Government of the Virgin Islands and Standard Insurance Company; and the Agreement for Voluntary (Employee-Paid) Critical Illness, Accidental Injury and Hospital Care Insurance between the Government of the Virgin Islands and Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company of North America.
In Block Four, the following budget bills were considered, all of which were voted upon favorably:
• Bill No. 35-0141, 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, 2023, through September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0142, An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expense of the Virgin Islands Board of Education from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0143, 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 during the Fiscal Year October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0144, 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, 2023, through September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0145, 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 during the fiscal year October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0146, 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, 2023, to September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0147, An Act providing an appropriation for the Legislature of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0148, An Act providing an appropriation for the operation of the Judicial Branch of the Virgin Islands, the Judicial Council, and the Office of the Territorial Public Defender during the fiscal year October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024, and amending title 5, chapter 302 of the Virgin Islands Code regarding the name of the Office of the Territorial Public Defender. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0149, 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, 2023, through September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0150, 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, 2023, to September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0151, An Act providing an appropriation for the salaries and expenses of the University of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0152, 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, 2023, through September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0153, An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Public Services Commission for the Fiscal Year October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0154, 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, 2023, through September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0155, 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, 2023, through September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0156, An Act providing an appropriation from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands to the Virgin Islands Department of Labor and the Virgin Islands Department of Finance for operating expenses during the fiscal year October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0157, An Act providing for a lump-sum appropriation from the Health Revolving Fund to the Virgin Islands Department of Health and a contribution to the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0158, An Act providing a lump-sum appropriation from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands to the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services for the fiscal year October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0160, 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, 2023, to September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0161, An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority from the Sewer Wastewater Fund, established within the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority for the fiscal year October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0162, An Act providing an appropriation to the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission for the Fiscal Year October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0163, An Act providing an appropriation from the Tourism Advertising Revolving Fund to the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority, Office of the Governor, the Virgin Islands Department of Education, the Virgin Islands Police Department, the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works, the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture, the Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation, and the Virgin Islands Department of Tourism during the fiscal year October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0164, 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, 2023, through September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0165, An Act providing an appropriation 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, 2023, through September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0166, An Act providing an appropriation for the operation of the Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance during the fiscal year October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0167, An Act providing an appropriation from the District Public Road Fund to the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works for the repairs of the government road in Estate Crown and Hawk, St. Thomas. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0168, An Act providing an appropriation of $300,000 from the St. Thomas Capital Improvement Fund in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, to the University of the Virgin Islands for the construction of two sheds at John Brewers Beach on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. (Closed Rule)
• Bill No. 35-0169, An Act providing an appropriation of $500,000 from the Education Initiative Fund in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, to the Department of Education, Division of Curriculum, and Instruction, for final editing and proofing of customized Virgin Islands History Textbooks, printing hardcover editions of customized Virgin Islands History Textbooks, and completion of the kindergarten through eighth grade Social Studies Curriculum. (Closed Rule)
In Block five, the following bills were considered, all of which were voted upon favorably:
• Bill No. 35-0170, A Resolution honoring and commemorating the Virgin Islands National Guard on the commemoration of its 50th Anniversary.
• Bill No. 35-0171, An Act authorizing the reprogramming of $4,901,266.24 from capital projects at the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority to various other projects, amending Act No. 8617 relating to the fiscal year 2023 operating budget for the Government of the Virgin Islands to pay outstanding liabilities, amending Act No. 8640 in the Fiscal Year 2023 to allow for road maintenance, and amending Act No. 8448 to reprogram funds previously appropriated to the Pier at the King’s Alley Hotel in Christiansted, St. Croix. This bill also contained non-germane amendments.
Senators present at today’s legislative session included Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Marvin A. Blyden, Diane T. Capehart, Dwayne M. Degraff, Ray Fonseca, Alma Francis Heyliger, Donna A. Frett-Gregory, Kenneth L. Gittens, Marise C. James, Javan E. James, Sr., Franklin D. Johnson, Carla J. Joseph, and Milton E. Potter.
The Division of Public Affairs is committed to providing the community with accurate information on legislative proceedings and other events at the Legislature of the Virgin Islands.
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