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HomeNewsLocal governmentThis Week’s Senate Calendar: March 21-25

This Week’s Senate Calendar: March 21-25

The Legislature Building of the U.S. Virgin Islands on St. Thomas (Source file photo by Bethaney Lee)

34th Legislature of the Virgin Islands

Senate Calendar

Monday, March 21

9 a.m.

Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall

Committee on Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications

Agenda:

Meeting Call to Order

Roll Call

Reading of the Agenda and Correspondence

BLOCK I – 9:10 a.m.

A discussion on the status of housing opportunities, home ownership opportunities and plans for the future of housing in the Virgin Islands

BREAK: 12:30 p.m. – 1 p.m.

BLOCK II

1 p.m.

A discussion on Housing Stability and plans to address Homelessness in the Virgin Islands.

Tuesday, March 22

10 a.m.

Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall

Committee of the Whole

Agenda:

The 34th Legislature will hear testimony on the proposed settlement agreement with Southland Gaming of the Virgin Islands Inc. and VIGL Operations LLC to facilitate the construction of the Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack facility on St. Thomas, to support and improve horseracing in the Virgin Islands, and to facilitate the implementation of video lottery at the racetrack on St. Thomas.

Wednesday, March 23

9:30 a.m.

Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall, St. Thomas

Committee on Rules and Judiciary

Agenda

BLOCK I

9:30 a.m.

VI Board of Optometrist Examiners:

Nomination of Dr. Carl Maschauer O.D.

BLOCK II:

Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission:

Nomination of Carolyn Hermon-Percell Esq.

VI Real Estate Commission:

Nomination of Sharon Amey

Nomination of Laurent Alfred Esq.

Nomination of Yvonne Toussaint

Nomination of Barbara J. Harris

BLOCK III

Bill No. 34-0101 — An Act amending the Virgin Islands Code, Title 3, chapters 1 and 15; Title 23, chapter 7; and Title 33, section 3032 to add a unit within the existing Virgin Islands Fire Service for emergency medical services and to establish the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services to provide fire prevention services, fire suppression services, emergency medical services and for the protection of life and property; to require the Fire Service and the Emergency Medical Services to develop and merger plans, and to provide for the transfer of employees from the Fire Service and the Emergency Medical Services to the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services; and to provide for other related purposes

Bill No. 34-0166 — An Act amending Title 22, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 27 by changing the name of the chapter to “The Virgin Islands Unauthorized and Surplus Lines Insurer Act” and by establishing the diligent search requirements that an authorized surplus lines broker must fulfill before placing coverage for certain lines of insurance with a surplus lines’ insurer in the territory; and for other purposes.

Bill No. 34-0191 — An Act amending Title 22, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 55 relating to captive insurance companies to clarify the purpose of the chapter, and to prohibit the organization within the Virgin Islands of a special category of multi-state insurers that may not be required to comply with the accreditation standards established by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and adopted by the territory as a NAIC-accredited jurisdiction

Bill No. 34-0204 — An Act amending the Virgin Islands Code, Title 22, chapter 58, relating to self-insurance and Title 29, chapter 10, section 543, relating to the powers of the Port Authority to authorize the Virgin Islands Port Authority to establish a self-insurance program to cover and manage certain risks.

BLOCK IV

Bill No. 34-0153 — An Act establishing the Sixth Constitutional Convention of the Virgin Islands, and providing for an appropriation to cover convention-related expenses.

Thursday, March 24

10 a.m.

Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall, St. Thomas

Legislative Session

Agenda:

Call to Order: Donna A. Frett-Gregory, Senate President

Invocation: Reverend, Doctor Dawn Pondt, Faith Wesleyan Holiness Church

Anthem: National Anthem and Virgin Islands March

Roll Call: Genevieve Whitaker, Legislative Secretary

Messages and/or Correspondences

Reports: Chairpersons of Standing Committees

Special Orders and Overrides

Consideration of Floor Agenda

Resolutions:

Bill No. 34-0146 — An Act acknowledging and commemorating the memory of Mary Thomas, Axeline Salomon, Mathilde McBean, Susanna Abramson and other estate laborers before, during and after the Labor Uprising of 1878 (Fireburn) and their courageous pursuit of human rights, freedom from serfdom variant and improvement of labor conditions in the former Danish West Indies, and condemning the excessive, cruel and unjust punishment meted out to the laborers by the Danish Government; making a $250,000 appropriation from the Community Facilities Trust Account to the Virgin Islands Council of the Arts to coordinate the erection of a monument to honor the Fireburn Queens and estate laborers who took part in the Fireburn Labor Uprising

Bill No. 34-0148 — An Act honoring and commending Dr. LaVerne E. Ragster for her contributions to the University of the Virgin Islands and the territory in research and science, her contributions to the children of the Virgin Islands and for becoming the first woman to serve as president of the University of the Virgin Islands; naming the University of the Virgin Islands Administration and Conference Center on the island of St. Thomas in her honor; making a $10,000 appropriation to UVI to pay the cost of signage at and maintenance of the Administrative and Conference Center; and for other related purposes

Bill No. 34-0157 — A Resolution honoring and commending Gloria H. Canegata Waterman for her outstanding years of service to the Virgin Islands Community as an educator and public servant through various organizations

Bill No. 34-0174 — A Resolution commending The Ivanna Eudora Kean High School on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, on the occasion of the commemoration of its 50th Year Anniversary (1971-2021) and acknowledging the many accomplishments of the administrators, teachers and students

Zonings:

Bill No. 34-0184 — An Act amending Official Zoning Map No. SCZ-12 for the island of St. Croix to change the zoning designation of Plot Nos. 174 and 175 Estate Peter’s Rest, Queen Quarter, St. Croix, Virgin Islands from R-2 (Residential-Low Density-One and Two Family) to B-1 (Business-Central Business District)

Bill No. 34-0213 — An Act to amend Official Zoning Map No. STZ-4 to allow for the rezoning of Parcel “F” Estate Sorgenfri (Western Half, No. 1 Southside Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. from R-1 (Residential – Low Density) to R-2 (Residential – Low Density- One and Two Family)

Bill No. 34-0214 — An Act granting a zoning use variance from the B-4 (Business- Residential Areas) for Remainder Plot No. 14 Estate Saint John, Queen Quarter, St. Croix, Virgin Islands to allow for dwellings

Bill No. 34-0215 — An Act granting a zoning use variance from the R-2 (Residential-Low Density-One and Two Family) zoning designation for Plot No. 44 Estate Williams Delight Prince Quarter, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, to allow for a nail salon

Bill No. 34-0216 — An Act to amend Official Zoning Map No. SCZ-11 to allow for the rezoning of Parcels No. 5-E and 5-F VICORP Land, Estate Castle Burke, Prince Quarter, St. Croix, from A-1 (Agricultural Zone) to A-2 (Agricultural Zone) and from A-1 (Agricultural Zone) to B-2 (Business Secondary/Neighborhood), respectively

Bill No. 34-0217 — An Act to amend Official Zoning Map No. STZ-10 for the island of St. Thomas to change the zoning designation of Parcel No. 13 and 14-A Estate Frydenhoj, No. 3 Red Hook Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, from R-2 (Residential-Low Density-One and Two Family) to B-3 (Business-Scattered)

Bill No. 34-0218 — An Act amending Official Zoning Map No. SCZ-20 for the island of St. Croix to change the zoning designation Plot 32 of Subdivision of Parcel No. 11 of Estate Richmond Matricular 1 AL, Company Quarter, St. Croix from the C (Commercial) to B-3 (Business-Scattered)

Bill No. 34-0219 — An Act granting a zoning use variance from the R-2 (Residential-Low Density-One and Two Family) zoning designation for Plot No. 126-E Estate Whim, West End Quarter, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, to allow for an adult daycare and assisted living facility

Bill No. 34-0222 — An Act amending Official Zoning Map No. STZ-7 for the island of St. Thomas to change the zoning designation of Parcel Nos. 2 and 4 Estate Thomas, Nos. 6B and 6F New Quarter, from W-2 (Waterfront-Industrial) to R-3 (Residential-Medium Density

Bill No. 34-0223 — An Act amending Official Zoning Map No. SJZ-1 for the island of St. John to change the zoning designation of Parcel No. 12 Estate Susannaberg, No. 17A Cruz Bay Quarter, from P (Public) to R-3 (Residential-Medium Density)

Bills:

Bill No. 34-0055 — An Act amending Title 34, Virgin Islands Code, by adding a chapter 4 to be known as “The Responsible Fatherhood Act of 2022”

Bill No. 34-0072 — An Act amending Title 23, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5, providing for the declaration of firearm components upon their entry into the Virgin Islands; and other related purposes

 

Bill No. 34-0087 — An Act amending Title 20, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 3 by adding subchapter II providing for a Complete Streets Policy and creating a Complete Streets Task Force within the Department of Public Works to aid in the development and implementation of strategies to increase the usability of all streets for all modes of travel for citizens of all ages and abilities in the Virgin Islands; making a $100,000 appropriation from the Community Facilities Trust Account to the Department of Public works to implement the Complete Streets Policy; and for other related purposes

Bill No. 34-0090 — An Act amending Title 3, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 25, subchapter V, section 570, relating to the career incentive program for peace officers to extend the program to peace officers in the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, the Department of Health’s Environmental Health Division and the Virgin Islands Legislature, and to exclude exempt employees from the program; and providing for exempt employees participating in the program on the effective date of the act to continue their participation in the program

Bill No. 34-0096 — An Act amending Title 3, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 1 by adding a section 27j, establishing the Virgin Islands Virtual Information System; and providing for other related purposes

Bill No. 34-0141 — An Act amending the Virgin Islands Code Title 34, chapter 8, to require the Bureau of Corrections and the Virgin Islands Attorney General’s Office to notify expeditiously victims of crimes against the person of the release of their alleged perpetrator; amending Title 5, chapter 407, section 4606 relating to restitution and notification of victims of crime by the Territorial Parole Board of an inmate’s release to increase the time, contents and the methods of notification to a crime victim of an inmate’s release; and for other related purposes

Bill No. 34-0142 — An Act amending the Virgin Islands Code, Title 20, chapter 45 by adding a subchapter II to provide for an automatic license plate reader system as a crime-fighting tool throughout the Virgin Islands; amending Title 20, chapter 32, subchapter I relating to the inter-island transport of motor vehicles to provide additional requirements in section 225a for transporting motor vehicles inter-island and adding section 225c to provide for a special permit for vehicles brought into the Virgin Islands; amending Title 3, chapter 33, section 881(g) relating to public records to exclude from public examination captured plate data from automatic license plate reader systems; requiring the Virgin Islands Police Department in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General to promulgate regulations relating to the automatic license plate reader system; making a $500,000 appropriation to the Virgin Islands Police Department to establish a pilot speed and red-light camera program; and providing for other purposes

 

Bill No. 34-0147 — An Act amending the Virgin Islands Code, Title 10, chapter 1, sections 2 and 3 relating to discrimination on account of race to include discrimination on the basis of hair texture or protective hair style; and amending Title 17, chapter 3, relating to education to enact “The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act” or “The Virgin Islands Crown Act”

Bill No. 34-0152 — An Act amending the Virgin Islands Code, Title 27, chapter 10, relating to general construction contractors, to place for licensing and regulatory purposes the professions in the plumbing, electrical, mechanical and fiber optic fields in addition to certain specialty trades under the V.I. Board of Contractors, Trades and Crafts; and repealing chapter 7

Bill No. 34-0154 — An Act amending Title 17, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5, section 41a relating to bilingual education to direct the Department of Education to establish and maintain the Bilingual and English Language Development Program in the public schools

Bill No. 34-0155 — An Act amending the Virgin Islands Code, Title 3, chapter 29, relating to notaries, notarial officers and notarial acts by adding subchapter III enacting the Virgin Islands Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (2021); and amending and repealing conflicting laws on notaries public

Bill No. 34-0156 — An Act amending Title 15, Virgin Islands Code, part 1, relating to decedents’ estates by adding chapter 1A enacting the Virgin Islands Uniform Electronic Wills Act

Bill No. 34-0170 — An Act amending the Virgin Islands Code, Title 29, chapter 12, sections 708, 708a, 708b, 710, 711, 712, 713a(b)(5), 715 and 723, relating to Economic Development Program, amend the incentives to beneficiaries to further their commitments to investment in the Virgin Islands community

 

Bill No. 34-0171 — An Act amending Virgin Islands Code Title 3, chapter 27, section 706 and chapter 28A, section 755, relating to the service retirement annuity to allow retirees to reenter government service and retain their annuity while paying a contribution to the Retirement System; amending Title 3, chapter 25, subchapter III, relating to the government personnel position classification system position to cover positions of annuitants who reenter government service; and for other related purposes

Bill No. 34-0182 — An Act amending Title 31, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 1, section 4, relating to the naming of real and personal property of the Government of the Virgin Islands after persons, to exempt the University of the Virgin Islands, the Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center and the Schneider Regional Medical Center from the requirement of obtaining legislative approval before naming any their respective property for the sole purpose of allowing fundraising and exchange for and recognition of significant financial bequests or endowments and for other related purposes

Bill No. 34-0190 — An Act amending Title 27, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 4A relating to the practice of professional counseling to modify and update licensure requirements; and for other related purposes

Bill No. 34-0198 — An Act amending Title 27, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 10, section 330, establishing the Virgin Islands Board of Contractors, Trades and Crafts

Bill No. 34–0224 — An Act amending Title 32, Virgin Islands Code, chapters 13 and 21, relating to video lottery at the horse racetrack on St. Thomas and amending Title 29, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 3 relating to the zoning for video lottery at the horse racetrack on St. Thomas

Friday, March 25

9 a.m.

No Meetings

Reserved for the Senate Office of the President

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