Committee on Health, Hospitals and Human Services

BLOCK I
9:30A.M.-11:00A.M

Bill No. 35-0187- An Act amending title 19, part V, chapter 45, by adding subchapter XI, titled Extreme Risk Protection Orders, to allow a family or household member, law enforcement officer, healthcare worker, educator or co-worker to intervene and file a court petition to temporarily confiscate and ban a person’s access to guns for one year if that person is deemed to be a risk to themselves or others,

INVITED TESTIFIER(S):

Ms. Ariel Smith, Attorney General
The Honorable Ray Martinez, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Police Department
Mr. Sean Santos, Chief of Police, Virgin Islands Police Department,
Mr. Steven Phillip, Chief of Police, Virgin Islands Police Department
The Honorable Just “Tita” Encarnacion, Commissioner, Department of Health
The Honorable Dionne Wells-Hedrington, Commissioner, Department of Education
The Honorable Averil George, Commissioner Nominee, Department of Human Services

LUNCH
12:05 PM.-11:00 PM

BLOCK II
1:00 PM-3:00 PM

Bill No. 35-0173, An Act amending title 5 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 201, by adding a subchapter V enacting the Safe Haven Newborn Protection Act to provide a mechanism for a newborn infant to be relinquished to a safe environment, for the parents of the newborn infant to remain anonymous if they choose and avoid civil or criminal liability for the act of relinquishing the newborn infant, Sponsored by Senator Angel L. Bolques, Jr.

INVITED TESTIFIER(S):

The Honorable Averil George, Commissioner Nominee, Department of Human Services
Ms. Carla E. Benjamin, ME. ED. MSW, CSW, CPM, Assistant Commissioner, Department of Human Services
Mr. Douglas Koch, Chief Executive Officer, Juan F. Louis Hospital
Ms. Tina Comissiong, Esq., MPA, Chief Executive Officer, Schneider Regional Medical Center
Mr. Sydney Elskoe, Assistant Commissioner, Virgin Islands Police Department
Mr. Antonio Stevens, Acting Director, V.I. Fire and Emergency Medical Service
Mr. Robert Bryan, NRP, EMS Chief, V.I. Fire and Medical Emergency Medical Services
Mr. Victor Adams, EMS Chief, V.I. Fire and Medical Emergency Medical Services
Ms. Leah Kipley, Assistant Director, National Safe Haven Alliance
Ms. Heather Burner, Rn, BSN, Executive Director, National Safe Haven Alliance
Ms. Anya Stuart, Executive Director, Family Resource Center

BLOCK III
3:05 PM-4:30 PM

The Committee will receive testimony on all past, current, and future mitigation efforts, health effects,
and potential risks to the community as it relates to the fire on the Bovoni landfill, on St. Thomas.

INVITED TESTIFIER(S):

Honorable Justa E. Encarnacion, Commissioner, Department of Health
Honorable Jean-Pierre L. Oriol, Commissioner, Department of Planning & Natural Resources
Mr. Daryl D. Jaschen, Director, Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency
Mr. Roger E. Merritt Jr, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority
Mr. Antonio Stevens, Acting Director, V.I. Fire and Emergency Medical Service
The Honorable Dionne Wells-Hedrington, Commissioner, Department of Education