This Week in the VI Senate

Monday marks Virgin Islands/Puerto Rico Friendship Day and Columbus Day. In observance, the Legislature will break for a holiday.

The 34th Legislature will resume business the following day with Tuesday and Wednesday reserved for Constituent Meeting and Office Work.

On Thursday, the Senate’s Rules and Judiciary Committee will meet on St. Thomas to consider several nominations and bills.

In Block I, the Rules and Judiciary Committee will consider the following nominations:

VI Port Authority (VIPA) Governing Board - Leona Smith (Re-nomination)

VI Housing Authority Board of Commissioners - Janis Valmond

VI Board of Pharmacy - Dr. Rick Warehime

In Block II, lawmakers will consider the nominations of Kasima Hodge, Stephanie Hodge and Christopher McDonald to the VI Real Estate Board.

In Block III, the committee will consider Bill No. 34-0295, which requests that the Governor posthumously pardon Rothschild “Polly” Francis for unjust convictions. The bill is sponsored by Senator Alma Francis Heyliger.

In Block IV, lawmakers will consider six bills.

Bill No. 34-0238 - Amends Title 17 of the VI Code, chapter 5, section 41(c), relating to courses of study in public schools to require that Virgin Islands and Caribbean history to be integrated into the curriculum for kindergarten through grade 12 and for other purposes.

Bill No. 34-0243 - Amends Title 27 of the VI Code, chapter 4, section 193 to change the composition of the Board of Naturopathic Physicians.

Bill No. 34-0271 - Amends Title 10 VI Code, chapter 5, section 64 of the Civil Rights Act to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity as an unlawful discriminatory practice.

Bill No. 34-0272 - Amends Title 3 of the VI Code, chapter 16, section 274 to empower the Executive Director of the Taxicab Commission to hire the necessary staff to operate and manage the Taxicab Commission office.

Bill No. 34-0278 - Approves the Lease Agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands, acting through the Commissioner of the Department of Property and Procurement and On The Level d/b/a OTL MECHANICAL for the leasing of Parcel No. 69 Submarine Base, No. 4 Southside Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

Bill No. 34-0236 - Amends Title 17 of the VI Code, chapter 15, section 190dd extending the eligibility for the Virgin Islands Higher Education Scholarship Program to part time students.

On Friday, the 34th Legislature’s Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety will meet at 10 a.m. in St. Croix to receive updates on the Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) of all projects and programs related to Hurricane Preparedness for the following agencies; Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA), VI Department of Human Services (DHS), and the VI National Guard (VING).

Meetings can be viewed live online on the 34th Legislature’s Facebook page, LEGIT TV and YouTube.