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Senators who make up the 33rd Legislature met on Friday to take action on a number of important measures, chief among them being a bill authorizing Governor Bryan to borrow $60 million through revenue anticipation notes to help keep the government — afflicted by the coronavirus — afloat.
They also approved a number of nominees.
Lawmakers voted and approved the following:
- Bill No. 33-0288- A Resolution to Congress to include the Virgin Islands in COVID-19 stimulus packages.
- Bill No. 33-0287- An Act authorizing the Governor to borrow monies from public funds of the Virgin Islands to offset cash flow problems caused by shortfalls resulting from the COVID-19 Virus Pandemic in the collection of revenues, and to create working capital, avoid layoffs of Government employees, pay essential obligations and meet the operating expenses of the Government for Fiscal Year 2020.
- Bill No. 33-0278- An Act amending Act No. 8178 clarifying and adding additional provisions to enable the closing on the disaster recovery funding-based line of credit.
- Bill No. 33-0290- An Act amending Title 30, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5, subchapter V, section 127 by reducing the amount of time that the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority can back-bill customers, and by defining the “billing cycle.”
- Bill No. 33-0289- An Act amending Title 27, chapter 1 of the Virgin Islands Code relating to the Board of Medical Examiners by including Doctors of Podiatric Medicine as physicians allowed to supervise physician assistants in their respective practice.
Senators voted favorably for the nominees recommended by the governor to serve on various boards:
- Denise M. Francois Judge, Superior Court of the Virgin Islands
- Celestino A. White, Sr. V.I. Port Authority Governing Board District of St. Thomas/St. John
- Willard John Virgin Islands Port Authority Governing Board District of St. Croix
- Dr. Jerry Smith, PT V.I. Government Hospitals and Health Facilities Corporation Virgin Islands Board of Physical Therapy District of St. Thomas/St. John
Policymakers voted to remove from the agenda: Bill No. 33-0291- An Act requiring the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority to suspend electric and water service disconnections for non-payment until June 01, 2020, or until the State of Emergency declared by the Governor on March 13, 2020, is lifted, whichever date comes first.
Senators present are Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Donna Frett-Gregory, Athneil “Bobby” Thomas, Oakland Benta, Marvin A. Blyden, Janelle K. Sarauw, Dwayne DeGraff, Kenneth L. Gittens, Stedmann Hodge, Jr., Kurt Vialet and Javan E. James, Sr.
