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A bill proposing dedicated parking spaces for expectant mothers in establishments with more than 50 parking spaces was dismissed by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, Justice, and Public Safety during a hearing last week.
Senator Franklin Johnson, sponsor of Bill No. 35-0046, highlighted in his presentation the necessity of considering the physical and emotional stress expectant mothers undergo.
He indicated that the Department of Public Safety fully supports the measure, particularly after clarifying that the bill is applicable to large parking areas. Other testimony, including from the V.I. Police Department, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and a local family nurse practitioner, was also entered in support of the measure. Lawmakers, however, were more skeptical.
Senator Alma Francis Heyliger argued that the bill may not be practical, considering the relatively small number of pregnant women in the Virgin Islands who might utilize these spaces. She suggested amending the bill to allow for temporary handicap parking passes for expectant mothers. "I personally would like to see this piece of legislation amended," she said, "to include expectant mothers on a temporary basis."
However, Johnson noted that the ADA office was opposed to this inclusion even on a temporary basis, as they cited the lack of adequate reserved parking to meet the needs of disabled Virgin Islanders.
Senator Ray Fonseca inquired whether the proposed legislation would extend to family members if the pregnant mother were unable to drive. In response, Johnson assured that he was open to amendments that would ensure the bill best serves pregnant mothers.
When it came time for a vote, an attempt to hold the bill for further discussion was objected to by Francis Heyliger, and subsequently failed. A vote on bill 34-0046 itself also failed.
Meanwhile, Johnson had more success with his proposal to expand the definition of disabled veteran to allow those who have served their country to use the vehicle decal indicating disability. The measure, according to Bureau of Motor Vehicles Assistant Director Leon LaFon, would empower the VI Office of Veterans Affairs to issue such decals, instead of that authority being restricted to the national office as the law is currently written.
Lawmakers' support of this measure was unanimous, with Francis Heyliger calling the bill a "no-brainer. " Bill 35-0035 sailed through its vote, and will now be forwarded to the Committee of Rules and Judiciary for further consideration.
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