U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature: FY 2022 Budget Bills Forwarded

ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands, Sept. 21 -- The U.S. Virgin Islands legislature issued the following news release:

Members of the 34th Legislature, led by Senate President Donna A. Frett-Gregory, met Friday in Legislative Session and voted favorably for measures including the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Bills and ratified the renewal agreement for the health, dental, and life insurance and the FY 2021 supplemental budget.

Senator Frett-Gregory, in her opening statement said, "today is an indicator of the amount of work that legislators have done and achieved regarding the FY 2022 budget bills." The Senate President further indicated that where there are challenges, there are always opportunities. The proposed supplemental budget provides an opportunity to fill areas in which there are challenges, said Senator Frett-Gregory.

Lawmakers voted favorably on the following measures:

* Bill No. 34-0134 - An Act ratifying the Third Renewal Agreement for Group Medical Health Insurance and the Third Renewal of Agreement for Group Dental Insurance between the Government of the Virgin Islands and Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company; the Second Renewal of Agreement for Vision Insurance and the First Renewal of Agreement for Group Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance between the Government of the Virgin Islands Standard Insurance Company

* Bill No. 34-0106 - An Act amending Act No. 8365, as amended by Act No. 8411; and Act No. 8451; amending Act No. 8451, section 2(a); amending Act No. 8347, section 1, relating to the fiscal year 2021 operating budget for the Government of the Virgin Islands, to appropriate $24,423,321 to several departments and agencies to pay outstanding obligations; and providing for other related purposes (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0109 - An Act providing an appropriation from the General Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the operation of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0110 - An Act providing an appropriation for the operation of the U. S. Virgin Islands Judiciary and Court System during the fiscal year October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0111 - An Act providing an appropriation for the operation of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0112 - An Act providing an appropriation for salaries and expenses of the Board of Elections and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0113 - An Act providing an appropriation from the Anti-Litter and Beautification Fund to the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority and the Department of Public Works for operating expenses during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0114 - An Act providing an appropriation for the salaries and expenses of The University of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022 and for other purposes (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0115 - An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Board of Education from the General Fund during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0116 - An Act providing an appropriation from the Business and Commercial Properties Revolving Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands to the Department of Property and Procurement for operating expenses during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0117 - An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Board of Career and Technical Education from the General Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0118 - An Act providing an appropriation from the Caribbean Basin Initiative Fund as a contribution to the General Fund for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0119 - An Act providing an appropriation from the Government Insurance Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands to the Department of Labor and the Department of Finance for personnel, operating expenses, and other purposes during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0120 - An Act providing for the lump sum appropriation from the Health Revolving Fund to the Department of Health for fiscal year October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0121 - An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Hospitals and Health Facilities Corporation from the General Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0122 - An Act providing for a lump sum appropriation from the Indirect Cost Fund for salaries, operating expenses, and for other purposes of the Office of Management and Budget, the Division of Personnel, the Department of Property and Procurement, and the Department of Finance for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0123 - An Act providing an appropriation for operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Office of the Inspector General from the General Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

- Bill No. 34-0124 - An Act providing an appropriation from the Internal Revenue Matching Fund for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No 34-0125 - An Act providing an appropriation in the sum of $900,000 from the Virgin Islands Lottery as a contribution to the General Fund for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0126 - An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Public Employees Relations Board and the Labor Management Committee for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0127 - An Act providing an appropriation for operating expenses of the Waste Management Authority from the Sewer Wastewater Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0128 - An Act providing an appropriation to the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0129 - An Act providing an appropriation from the Tourism Advertising Revolving Fund to the Office of the Governor, Department of Education, Virgin Islands Police Department, the Department of Public Works, the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation and the Department of Tourism during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0130 - An Act providing an appropriation of $1,000,000 to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and a $10,000,000 appropriation as a contribution to the General Fund from the Transportation Trust Fund for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0131 - An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority from the General Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0132 - An Act providing an appropriation to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs from the Public Services Commission Revolving Fund for the fiscal year October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022, for operating expenses (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0133 - An Act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Board of Nurse Licensure from the General Fund during the fiscal year October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* Bill No. 34-0136 - An Act providing an appropriation for the sum of $16,300,000 from the Virgin Islands Insurance Guaranty Fund as a contribution to the General Fund for the fiscal year October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022 (Closed Rule)

* An Act amending Virgin Islands Code, title 22, chapter 10, section 237(a)(3) (A) and title 33, chapter 111, section 3061 relating to the balance in the Insurance Guaranty Fund and to amend the currently required $30,000,000 amount which is set to increase to $50,000,000 on September 30, 2022, to $40,000,000 (Closed Rule)

Senators attending the meeting: Donna A. Frett-Gregory, Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Genevieve R. Whitaker, Kurt A. Vialet, Franklin D. Johnson, Samuel Carrion, Steven D. Payne, Sr., Dwayne M. DeGraff, Carla J. Joseph, Javan E. James, Milton E. Potter, Alma Francis Heyliger, and Janelle K. Sarauw. However, Senators Marvin A. Blyden and Kenneth L. Gittens were excused.