Government

Senate to Allow Automatic Renewal of State of Emergency Declaration, Sen. Francis Says

Senate President Novelle E. Francis announced Friday that the 33rd Legislature has opted to allow the automatic extension of the State of Emergency, which was requested by Governor Albert Bryan on July 5. The Legislature last acted to extend the state of emergency at a May 6 Legislative Session. Mr. Francis said the Legislature’s decision to allow the automatic extension is predicated by the statutory timeline and the Legislature’s fiscal constraints. “The timeline to act on the matter within five days was challenging, considering the Legislature had just convened on June 29 for legislative session. It’s not practical or prudent at this time to convene a session to approve something that is obviously needed.” Mr. Francis stated. “My colleagues and I are very aware of the circumstances surrounding the state of emergency, having previously received extensive testimony from the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency, the Virgin Islands Department of Health, and the admi...