Virgin Islands lawmakers on Wednesday reconvened their 2020 legislative session to consider the remaining bills from Tuesday. Among the measures was Bill No. 33-0416, which appropriates up to $3 million from the Unemployment Insurance Fund to the Department of Labor.
To ease the economic weight for those struggling with unemployment due to Covid-19, President Trump, by executive order, created a Lost Wages Assistance program. This program authorized FEMA to expend up to $44 billion from the Disaster Relief Fund for lost wages payments. This means states/territories may provide eligible claimants with a Lost Wages Supplemental payment of up to $400.
The money comprises a $300 federal contribution from the Disaster Relief Fund and an additional amount of up to $100 from state/territory funds. Each eligible applicant will receive $400 a week for four weeks.
FEMA is tasked with obligating the funds to the state/territory, which then administers the lost wages payments in conjunction with its respective unemployment office, according to a description of the program on FEMA's website. States/territories may provide supplemental lost wages to eligible individuals retroactively, beginning with the week of unemployment ending August 1, 2020.
A key clause of the funds' release is the local match of $100. The program expires on December 27, 2020.
According to Ms. DeGazon, who along with Senator Marvin Blyden sponsored the measure, the bill is an opportunity to meet the local obligation for the Lost Wages Program. If approved, the funding will ensure that those eligible for federal unemployment benefits can collect payments for an additional four weeks.
Also approved Wednesday were the following measures, which will be forwarded to the governor for further action.
Bill No. 33-0419 – An Act approving the Contract of Sale by and between the Government of the lands acting through its Department of Property and Procurement and Rafael G. Garcia for Remainder of Plot No. 40-KB Estate La Grange, Westend Quarter, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, consisting of approximately 0.429 U.S. acres, more or less, and Remainder Plot No. 40-KC Estate La Grange Westend Quarter, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands consisting o 5.225 U.S. acres more or less.
Bill No. 33-0421 – An Act approving the Second Renewal to the Agreement for Group Medical Health Insurance between the Government of the Virgin Islands and Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, the Second Renewal of Group Dental Insurance dated October 1, 2020 by and between the Government of the Virgin Islands, and the First Renewal of Agreement for Vision Insurance dated October 1, 2020, between the Government of the Virgin Islands and Standard Insurance Company
Bill NO. 33-0420 - An Act amending Title 29, chapter section 543 relating to the powers of the Virgin Islands Port Authority to authorize the Authority establish its own self-insurance or captive insurance program to cover and manage certain risks
Bill No. 33-0416 – An Act appropriating up to $ 3 million from the Unemployment Insurance Fund to the Department of Labor in fiscal year ending September 30, 2020
Bill No. 33-0370 - An Act appropriating $800,000 to the Virgin Islands Bureau of Motor Vehicles to renovate a building located at # 100 Crown Bay, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
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