U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – Governor Albert Bryan Jr. acted on and approved several bills and acknowledged resolutions passed by the 35th Legislature at its Session on March 25, 2024.
In his April 12 transmittal letter to Senate President Novelle Francis, Governor Bryan wrote that he vetoed Bill No. 35-0115 – an Act repealing title 24 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 17, subchapter II, “Limited Use of Criminal Records in Hiring Practices,” due to concerns regarding “overreaching components in the bill, particularly the severe criminal penalty for employers and the absence of a cap on damages for job applicants.”
“I applaud the Senate for passing such a forward-thinking measure aimed at advancing employment opportunities for individuals in the Territory,” Governor Bryan wrote. “I respectfully request the Legislature to amend the measure by removing the criminal penalty against employers and imposing a cap on damages for applicants/employees. Additionally, the declaration of policy in section 465(b) should align with the language of the Act for consistency. These adjustments would ensure that the measure achieves its intended goal without unduly burdening employers and will provide clarity. I eagerly anticipate the approval of a revised revision of this bill.”
Governor Bryan approved the following bills:
Bill No. 35-0133 – An Act establishing a scholarship program to support individuals interested in pursuing a career in the maritime industry in the Virgin Islands;
Bill No. 35-0172 – An Act relating to the adoption of nationally recognized consensus-based building codes and standards.
Bill No. 35-0178 – An Act allowing for the automatic expungement of arrest records upon a finding that the arrest lacked probable cause and relating to public records to designate expunged criminal records as confidential records;
Bill No. 35-0182 – An Act designating the existing provisions and adding a subchapter II relating to the nonconsensual dissemination of sexually explicit images;
Bill No. 35-0196 – An Act establishing a deadline for the Government Employees Retirement System to resume the personal loan program, remove the $10,000,000 annual aggregate amount and the 8% interest rate cap, to limit the System’s liability to $75,000, and set a parameter in section 717 that all loans must be structured such that the payoff date occurs before the member reaches age 70;
Bill No. 35-0218 – An Act relating to unemployment benefits by: reducing the number of weeks that unemployment benefits can be received; increasing the statute of limitations for the collection of overpayments of unemployment benefits from claimants and for delinquent employer contribution and implementing a 10-year record retention period for employers.
Bill No. 35-0226 – An Act establishing a minimum default amount for child support;
Bill No. 35-0237 – An Act recognizing the month of March as Girl Scouts Month;
Bill No. 35-0249 – An Act authorizing the reprogramming of the remaining unused proceeds of the Series 2016 Emergency First Responder Line of Credit to assist the Virgin Islands Police Department in offsetting costs associated with hosting the June 2024 National Alliance of State Drug Enforcement Agencies International Symposium.
Additionally, Governor Bryan approved the following zoning measures:
Bill No. 35-0213, Bill No. 35-0233, Bill No. 35-0234, Bill No. 35-0235; and approved the following leases: Bill No. 35-0077, Bill No. 35-0211, Bill No. 35-0225, Bill No. 35-0245 and Bill No.35-0246.
Governor Bryan also approved the following honor bills:
Bill No. 35-0107, an Act posthumously honoring and commending Dr. Fenella Cooper for her contributions to the field of education, sports and culture and naming the University of the Virgin Islands tennis courts in her honor.
Bill No. 35-0184, an Act posthumously honoring and commending Private Viggo E. Sewer
Bill No. 35-0208, an Act honoring and commending Mrs. Bernice Alma Turnbull for her lifetime of service and dedication to the people of the Virgin Islands and naming the Department of Finance’s building located at No. 2314 Kronprindsens Gade, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, “The Bernice Alma Turnbull Finance Administrative Building”
Bill No. 35-0223, an Act to honor and commend Bishop Dr. William Alfred Industrious for his service to the people of the Virgin Islands through his transportation service and designating that a portion of Gamle Gade be renamed “Bishop Dr. William A. Industrious Street”.
Governor Bryan acknowledged the Legislature’s favorable action on the nominations of Harold W.L.Willocks as a Supreme Court Justice, Averil George as the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services, Antonio Stevens as the Director of Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Maurice Muia as Board Member of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, May Adams Cornwall as a Member from the District of St. Croix for the Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Management Commission, Dr. Nathaniel Olive as a Member of the Board of Supervisors on the Virgin Islands Conservation District and Carlos Robles as a Member of the Board of Supervisors on the Virgin Islands Conservation District.
Governor Bryan also acknowledged:
Resolution No. 1910 (Bill No. 35-0116) – A Resolution honoring and commending Honorary Brigadier General Leayle Gerard Galiber for his leadership in the Virgin Islands National Guard and his dedication to his country and to the people of the Virgin Islands
Resolution No. 1911 (Bill No. 35-0247) – A Resolution requiring the Virgin Islands Public Services Commission to file an official complaint on behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands against Liberty Latin America, Liberty Mobile USVI and Liberty Mobile Puerto Rico with the Federal Communications Commission.
The Bryan-Roach Administration is investing in the Territory’s people, infrastructure, and future through transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government, and ensuring that recovery projects are completed as quickly as possible. Visit transparency.vi.gov .
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