Bryan signed two bills, vetoed two and acknowledged COVID-19 aid resolution

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. took action on four bills on April 14, 2020, signing two measures and vetoing two others, according to a transmittal to Senate President Novelle Francis Jr.

Bryan signed Bill No. 33-0287, authorizing the government to issue up to $120 million in Revenue Anticipation Notes for government operations related to the COVID-19 response. The administration said the measure was intended to address cash-flow problems tied to the economic effects of the coronavirus.

He also signed Bill No. 33-0278, which added provisions related to closing on a disaster-recovery-funding-based line of credit. In his letter, Bryan said amendments requested by bond counsel on February 27, 2020, remained necessary to structure the borrowing for hurricane disaster recovery projects.

Bryan vetoed Bill No. 33-0290, which would have reduced the period in which the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority could back-bill customers and redefined the utility's billing cycle. He said a three-month back-billing limit was already in place under Act 7373 and said a shorter correction period could hinder billing adjustments, including after disasters.

He also vetoed Bill No. 33-0289, which sought to add doctors of podiatric medicine to definition sections under the Board of Medical Examiners and physician assistant licensing provisions. Bryan said the bill would not achieve its stated goal of expanding podiatry services because Medicare does not reimburse physician assistant services supervised by podiatrists and because physician assistants are trained as medical generalists rather than in podiatry.

Bryan also acknowledged receipt of Resolution No. 1866, which petitioned Congress to include the U.S. Virgin Islands in federal aid packages and legislation related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-takes-action-on-legislation-2/