Committee Government Operations & Consumer Protection

REVISED

The Committee Government Operations & Consumer Protection has scheduled a meeting to receive testimony and consider the following bills:

BLOCK I             11:30 AM–1:00 PM

Bill No. 34-0096-An Act amending title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 7 by designating the existing sections as subchapter I and adding a subchapter II establishing the Virgin Islands Virtual Information System

Sponsored by Senators Janelle K. Sarauw and Donna Frett-Gregory

Invited Testifiers:

Honorable Racquel Berry Benjamin, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Education

 Honorable Justa E. Encarnación, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Health

 Honorable Kimberley Causey-Gomez, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Human Services

 Dr. Noreen Michael, Research Director, Caribbean Exploratory Research Center, University of the Virgin Islands

 Denise N. George Esq., Attorney General, Virgin Islands Department of Justice

 Honorable Gary A. Molloy, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Labor

 Rupert O. Ross, Director, Bureau of Information Technology

David Hall, SJD, President, University of the Virgin Islands

BLOCK II            1:00 PM-2:30 PM

Bill No. 34-0103-An Act amending title 23 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 10, section 1004 by adding a definition for essential businesses and essential employees or workers

Sponsored by Senator Alma Francis Heyliger

Invited Testifiers:

Bishop Samuel Weekes, Head Pastor, Paradise Covenant Ministries International

 Lisa Hamilton, President, Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association

 Andrea Shillingford, Director, Catholic Charities

Charlotte K. Perrell, President, Virgin Islands Bar Association

Daryl D. Jaschen, Director, Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency, (VITEMA)

Junia John, Chief Executive Officer, Lutheran Social Services

 Erma Chase-Derima, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Methodist Training and Outreach Center

Shaine Gaspard, President, STT-STJ Chambers of Commerce

LUNCH               2:30 PM-3:00 PM

 BLOCK III          3:00 PM-4:00 PM

Bill No. 34-0108-An Act amending title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 27, section 7 relating to membership of senators in the Government Employees Retirement System, to increase the age of retirement

Sponsored by Senator Alma Francis Heyliger

Invited Testifier:

 Austin L. Nibbs, Chief Executive Officer, Administrator, Virgin Islands Government Employee Retirement System (GERS)

BLOCK IV          4:00 PM-5:30 PM

 To receive testimony on the Virgin Islands Lottery’s operations to include but not limited to the enabling law and jurisdiction.

Invited Testifier:

 Raymond J. Williams, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Lottery