Bryan Vetoes Fair Chance Bill, Saying it Allows Job Applicants to Sue Employers Without Cap to Damages Sought

On Wednesday, a press release from Government House announced the approval of several pieces of legislation that had been passed by the Senate in recent weeks, and the veto of a bill lawmakers had called “the epitome of a second chance” for ex-offenders.

Along with a slew of approved honor bills, zoning measures and leases, signed into law was an act establishing scholarships for those interested in pursuing careers in the territory’s maritime industry, as well as legislation allowing for the automatic expungement of arrest records if probable cause to uphold the charges is not found. A bill to enhance the legal prohibitions against “revenge porn” was also approved by the governor, as was legislation to reduce the number of weeks unemployment benefits will be able to be collected.

Governor Bryan further signed bills that raised the minimum default amount of child support, established parameters for the restart of GERS personal loans, and adopted nationally recognized building codes and standards.

The designation of March as Girl Scouts Month was also approved by the governor, as was a bill to redirect unused line of credit funds to help the Virgin Islands Police Department pay for the hosting of the 2024 National Alliance of State Drug Enforcement Agencies Symposium in June.