Legislature Advances Slew of Bills to Governor

During a session Thursday when they imposed sanctions against Sen. Marvin Blyden for flouting COVID-19 protocols, senators also advanced Cindy Richardson’s nomination to serve as Director of the Division of Personnel, two lease agreements, five zoning requests, and eight separate pieces of legislation.

Among the items awaiting Gov. Albert Bryan’s signature pen is an appropriation of $280,000 to the University of the Virgin Islands for taxes on backpay from an 8 percent emergency cut in 2011. The Legislature passed the bill along with a nongermane amendment Sen. Kenneth Gittens added relating to gas station licensing and permit regulations.

Gittens said the amendment proposes “gasoline stations holding valid permits for the construction and operations of gas stations from the Department of Planning and Natural Resources before the effective date of this act” would no longer be denied permits or licenses from any other government entity, including the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs, as the legislation strips any agencies power to deny.

Should the governor sign the UVI related bill into law, he would also be signing into law the unrelated amendment contained within speaking to gas station licensing and permitting.

Aside from lease agreements and zoning requests, all legislation advanced to the governor is listed below with provided links for additional information on each measure:

Bill No. 34-0035: The Legislature voted unanimously on the measure aiming to strip an antiquated requirement from the V.I. Code that stipulates a wife to bear the surname of her husband.