33rd Legislature of The Virgin Islands Senate Calendar
Monday, September 16
9 a.m.
Committee on Economic Development, Regulations and Agriculture
Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall, St. Thomas
Agenda:
The committee will receive testimony on the following bills:
Bill No. 33-0037 — An act requiring the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) to identify and rehabilitate five existing ponds in the St. Croix District and two existing ponds in the St. Thomas District to capture stormwater runoff to be used primarily by farmers, allowing DPNR to seek assistance from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and requiring that DPNR maintain the rehabilitated ponds. (Proposed by Sen. Allison L. DeGazon)
Bill No. 33-0122 — An Act amending Title 7, chapter 1, subchapter I, section 2 of the Virgin Islands Code by expanding the definition of farming and by adding current industry standard terminology. (Proposed by Sen. Novelle E. Francis Jr.)
Bill No. 33-0123 — An act to earmark a percentage of the Government of the Virgin Islands’ budget to support local agriculture. (Proposed by Sen. Novelle E. Francis Jr.)
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Monday, September 16
2 p.m.
Legislative Session
Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall, St. Thomas
Call to Order: Senate President Novelle E. Francis Jr.
Invocation: Pastor Oral Hazell, Global Life Church, St. Thomas, V.I.
National Anthem and Virgin Islands March
Roll Call: Sen. Alicia V. Barnes – legislative secretary
Senate Pages: Theyonee Hector, Ivanna Eudora Kean H.S. and Jade Durrant, Ivanna Eudora Kean H.S.
Committee Reports: Chairpersons of Standing Committees
Consideration of Floor Agenda
Consideration of Nominations:
Trevor A. Velinor, commissioner nominee, Virgin Islands Police Department
Christopher E. Finch, member nominee, V.I. Government Hospitals and Health Facilities Corporation
Brian Bacot, member nominee, Board of Medical Examiners – St. Thoms-St. John District
Rupert O. Ross, director nominee, Bureau of Information Technology
Consideration of Resolutions:
Bill No. 33-0020 — A Resolution honoring and commending Tishelle Knight for her accomplishments, service and musical contributions to the Virgin Islands
Bill No. 33-0060 – A Resolution posthumously honoring and commending Alvin “Alli” Paul for his contribution to the culture of the Virgin Islands through the Mocko Jumbie artform
Consideration of Bills:
Bill No. 33-0082 – An Act honoring and commending Robert O’Connor Jr. for his commitment to the people of the Virgin Islands through his service as a senator, his membership on the Port Authority Board and his work as a community leader, by naming the new Port Authority maintenance building in his honor
Bill No. 33-0011 – An Act amending Title 14 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 60, section 1191 relating to strengthen the loitering law and increasing the penalty for loitering
Bill No. 33-0040 – An Act amending Title 20, part II, chapter 41, section 466, subsection (b) of the Virgin Islands Code to require each passenger in the rear seat of a vehicle to wear safety belt
Bill No. 33-0086 – An Act amending Title 19 of the Virgin Islands Code by inserting a new chapter 52 requiring all restaurants and establishments that sell food to post signs that demonstrate appropriate first aid for choking
Bill No. 33-0092 – An Act amending Title 4, chapter 1 of the Virgin Islands Code by adding a new section 7 to provide for the continuing operation of the Judicial Branch of the Virgin Islands in the event of natural disaster or other emergencies
Bill No. 33-0061 – An Act amending Title 29, chapter 12, section 705 of the Virgin Islands Code relating to the powers of the Economic Development Commission (EDC), sections 713a and 713b relating to tax reduction benefits for EDC beneficiaries, and Title 29, chapter 23, section 1308 relating to the Hotel Development Trust Fund
Bill No. 33-0080 – An Act amending Title 2, chapter 9, section 154, subsection (b) of the Virgin Islands Code regarding the expiration of the appointment of members to the Legislative Youth Advisory Council Bill
No. 33-0085 – An Act amending Title 2, chapter 9, section 154, subsection (a) of the Virgin Islands Code by increasing the number of days for the appointment of members to the Legislative Youth Advisory Council
Bill No. 33-0098 – An Act amending Title 12A of the Virgin Islands Code by adding a new chapter 8 requiring that businesses offer at least two payment options to their customers, and matters related thereto
Bill No. 33-0036 – An Act amending Title 7, chapter 1, subchapter1, section 2 of the Virgin Islands Code by including horses in the definition of livestock; and amending Title 32, chapter 11, section 203 of the Virgin Islands Code by establishing a definition of “horses” for the purpose of horse racing
Bill No. 33-0104 – An Act amending the Hotel Development Act; Title 29, chapter 23, of the Virgin Islands Code by making technical amendments to sections 1302 through 1309 and inserting new sections 1312, 1313, 1314 and 1317, regarding the Economic Recovery Fee and matters related thereto
Tuesday, September 17
9 a.m.
Committee on Finance
Gov. Juan F. Luis Cardiac Center
Agenda:
The committee will consider the following bills:
BLOCK I
Bill No. 33-0052 — A Resolution to petition the Governor of the Virgin Islands and the Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress to join the 33rd Legislature in pursuing the return of a portion of the gasoline excise tax collected by the Federal Government (Proposed by Sen. Stedmann Hodge Jr.)
Bill No. 33-0096 – An Act repealing Title 33, chapter 115, subchapter IV of the Virgin Islands Code and replacing it with a new subchapter IV creating the Virgin Islands Government Prompt Payment Act. (Proposed by Sen. Allison L. DeGazon)
BLOCK II
Bill No. 33-0090 — An Act amending Title 24, Chapter 12, sections 302 and 308 of the Virgin Islands Code to implement a new methodology for assigning individual employer Unemployment Insurance Taxes as administered by the Virgin Islands Department of Labor’s Division of Unemployment Insurance (Proposed by Sen. Stedmann Hodge Jr. and Sen. Myron Jackson)
Bill No. 33-0034 — An Act amending Title 23, chapter 19, subchapters I and III of the Virgin Islands Code relating to benefits and insurance coverage for officers and members of the National Guard of the Virgin Islands to provide for pay comparable to those serving in the armed forces of the United States and to ensure that the territorial active duty members have insurance to cover any illness or injury sustained while on active duty not covered by other health insurance coverage (Proposed by Senators Dwayne M. DeGraff and Kurt A. Vialet)
Bill No. 33-0033 – An Act to add a new section to Title 3, chapter 16 of the Virgin Islands Code, to reenact the Virgin Islands Tax Study Commission, which will be tasked with reviewing the current laws and tax structure of the Virgin Islands for the purpose of initiating tax reform and maximizing revenue in a fair and impartial manner (Proposed by Sen. Donna Frett Gregory)
Wednesday, September 18
10 a.m.
Committee on Government Operations, Consumer Affairs, Energy, Environment and Planning
Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall, St. Thomas
Agenda:
The committee will receive testimony and consider the following bills:
BLOCK I : 10 a.m. – Noon
Bill No. 33-0105 — An Act amending Title 12, chapter 21, Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Management by: (1) updating the chapter to reflect the current name of the department, (2) increasing the term and per diem of members of the Coastal Zone Management Commission, (3) modifying some of the standards for the issuance of coastal zone permits, (4) modifying some of the requirements for the issuance of permits for the development or occupancy of trust lands or other submerged or filled lands, and (5) decreasing the time-period for filing an appeal with the Board of Land Use Appeals and decreasing the time period within which the Board of Land Use Appeals must hold a public hearing on an appeal (Proposed by Senators Alicia V. Barnes, Marvin A. Blyden, Kurt A. Vialet, Janelle K. Sarauw, Steven D. Payne Sr. and Javan E. James Sr.)
Bill No. 33-0108 – An Act amending Title 12, chapter 10, section 402 of the Virgin Islands Code by requiring owners of shoreline property to provide the public with suitable access to the shorelines, imposing fines for failure to comply with this requirement, and granting the Department of Planning and Natural Resources enforcement and investigative authority regarding shoreline access (Proposed by Senators Janelle K. Sarauw, Novelle E. Francis Jr. and Kurt A. Vialet; co- sponsor: Sen. Alicia V. Barnes)
Bill No. 33-0100 – An Act amending Title 20, part II, chapter 39, section 46(b) (1) of the Virgin Islands Code by including persons who are handicapped within the class of persons exempt from being charged a fee for a handicapped window decal. (Proposed by Sen. Alicia V. Barnes)
Bill No. 33-0068 – An Act to amend Title 20, part II, chapter 32, subchapter 1 of the Virgin Islands Code by adding a new section to create a process for transferring a vehicle upon the death of an individual, without going through the probate process. (Proposed by Senator Janelle K. Sarauw)
Noon – 12: 30 p.m.
LUNCH
BLOCK II
12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Bill No. 33-0119 — An Act amending Title 27, chapter 9, subchapter I, section 303(a) of the Virgin Islands Code requiring that an initial business license be issued within three days of application. (Proposed by Senator Alicia V. Barnes)
Bill No. 33-0111 – An Act amending Title 19, part VI, of the Virgin Islands Code by adding a new chapter 56B requiring that the Waste Management Authority designate disposal sites throughout the territory for waste tires and creating the Waste Tire Management and Disposal Fund. (Proposed by Sen. Novelle E. Francis Jr.)
Bill No. 33-0103 — An Act amending the following provisions of the Virgin Islands Code: (1) Title 3, chapter 25, subchapter VI, by adding a new section 583d providing for maternity, paternity, and adoption leave for government employees; (2) Title 19, part I, chapter 7, by adding new sections 154, 155, and 156 providing for learning evaluation of children, postpartum care and minimum standards of health care for incarcerated women and men; (3) Title 19, part IV, chapter 37, subchapter II, section 831(a), by establishing a new procedure for obtaining an initial birth certificate; (4) Title 17, chapter 11, section 130 and Title 17, chapter 9, subchapter I, section 87, by prohibiting the use of corporal punishment; and (5) Title 17, chapter 9, subchapter I, by adding a new section 86a providing for paid time off from work so that parents may visit their children’s schools; and providing that certain health care facilities hire discharge planners not later than January 2020. (Proposed by Senator Janelle K. Sarauw)
Thursday, September 19
9 a.m.
Committee on Finance
Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall, St. Thomas
The committee will consider Fiscal Year 2020 Budget bills.
Agenda to follow
Friday, September 20
10 a.m.
Committee of the Whole
Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall, St. Thomas
Agenda:
The 33rd Legislature will convene in a Committee of the Whole Hearing to consider the following item:
Discussion of the Renewal of the Government Employees Health Insurance Plan and proposed changes for the health insurance plan to be effective on Oct. 1, 2019.