Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. acts on Bills passed during the 34th Legislature’s August 3, 2021, Session

Bill No. 34-0004 an Act amending title 33 Virgin Islands Code subtitle 1, part 1, chapter 5, section 91 relating to the payment of fuel taxes to change the time for remittance of the tax to the Bureau of Internal Revenue and for other related purposes.

Bill No.34-0030 an Act divesting the jurisdiction of the Virgin Islands Superior Court for consenting to the marriage of a child under the age of 18 pursuant to title 4 VIC section 172(e) consistent with title 16 VIC section 36; and Bill Nos. 34-0031 and 34-0032, two Acts amending the Virgin Islands Code to require the person convicted of child abuse or child neglect to attend counseling in addition to imprisonment or fine. We believe the provisions of Bills Nos. 34-0031 and 34-0032 need further clarification which will be discussed with the Judiciary.

Bill No. 34-0034 an Act amending title 1 Virgin Islands Code by adding a new chapter enacting the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act, to provide for the management of electronic legal information in a manner that guarantees the trustworthiness of and continuing access to important governmental legal material was also signed into law.

Bill No. 34-0037 an Act amending title 15 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 3, section 89, subsections (b) and (c) relating to decedents estates and payment of certain debts without administration to increase the aggregate amount that a surviving spouse and family may receive from debtors upon the death of the decedent-creditor and to increase the amount of debt a debtor must pay the survivors of a decedent creditor not less than thirty days after the creditor’s death from not more than $5,000 to not more than $10,000. We commend Senator Francis-Heyliger for moving this Bill forward.

Bill No. 34-0058 an Act amending title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 34 by adding a subchapter III to establish the Virgin Islands Catalyst Fund to provide loans to eligible entities to promote economic resiliency, and to support the retention or creation of jobs, to provide for the University of the Virgin Islands Research and Technology Park Corporation to administer the program and the fund, and to provide criteria for making loans; and making $5,000,000 appropriation to the Virgin Islands Catalyst Fund and a $1,000,000 appropriation to the Economic Development Authority Enterprise Zone Program for marketing of the Southshore Trade Zone.

Bill No. 34-0060 an Act amending the Virgin Islands Code to enact The First-Time Homebuyers Program Act and enable more Virgin Islanders to purchase their first home and making an appropriation to the Department of Public Works to construct The Leonardo “Nardo” Trotman Drive. Although I have approved the bill, I must note two important amendments are still needed to protect the program. The first is found in title 21 section 10(2)(c) to set a time frame within which to repay the construction loans in the event that the construction is not completed or delayed and extended over many years. The second is found at title 21 section 9(a)(3) where the cap on home improvement loans was removed. Unless it was the intent of the Thirty-Fourth Legislature to not place a cap on home improvement loans, amendment of this section is much needed.

Bill No. 34-0066 an Act amending the Virgin Islands Code to allow the Lt. Governor to foreclose on properties for which the property taxes and public sewer fees are delinquent; and Bill No. 34-0076 an Act to grant seniors and the terminally ill preference in civil actions and expediting trials. Bill No. 34-0066 provides an alternative means of collection of property taxes and sewer user fees. Bill No. 34-0076 will need further discussion and clarification with the Judiciary.

Bill No. 34-0071 an Act amending title 28 of the Virgin Islands Code by adding a chapter 36 to enact The Virgin Islands Timeshare Act has also been approved. After several prior efforts to implement a Code specifically related to Timeshare sales, management, operations, and property taxation were unsuccessful, we are pleased that this collaborative effort between the Executive, the Legislative, and the Timeshare Industry has completed the task.

Bill No. 34-0077 an Act amending Act No. 8365, the Fiscal Year 2021 Executive Budget, and Act No. 8348, the Legislature’s Fiscal Year 2021 Budget, to restore the 8% reduction in salaries to the employees of the Government of the Virgin Islands and for other related purpose. While we applaud and join in this long-overdue action, I note to the Legislature that this Bill is an initial effort and needs completion by amendments to provide a) inclusion of all employees included in the salary reduction provided by Act No. 7261; b) appropriation of additional funds to cover these additional employees; and c) closure and termination of the VIESA Contingency Reserve Fund established by Act No. 7987. The Fund presently has no monies in it but has no sunset date.

 Bill No. 34-0095, the Act extending the State of Emergency in the Virgin Islands based on the COVID-19 Pandemic from August 5, 2021, to January 10, 2022, allowing the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands and its dedicated employees to concentrate on the task of protecting the public health.

Senator Alma Francis Heyliger weighed in, “I want to thank Governor Bryan Jr. for signing these very important and necessary legislation into law that will help the people of this territory. I am particular proud of the fact that I can be a part of making our people whole in repaying the 8 percent that was wrongfully taken from the people.”

The bills were approved and Governor Bryan, Jr. closed with his sentiments to the senate president. “I thank you and the members of the of the Thirty-Fourth Legislature for your hard work on behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands. I look forward for further collaborative efforts on legislation needed for the benefit of the public and the Territory and the operations of the Government.”