Bryan approved several bills and vetoed one measure passed by the 35th Legislature

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. approved several bills and acknowledged resolutions passed by the 35th Legislature during its March 25, 2024, session, according to an April 12, 2024, transmittal letter to Senate President Novelle Francis.

Bryan vetoed Bill No. 35-0115, which would have repealed Title 24, Virgin Islands Code, Chapter 17, Subchapter II, "Limited Use of Criminal Records in Hiring Practices." In the letter, he said the bill contained "overreaching components," including criminal penalties for employers and no cap on damages for job applicants.

Bryan approved bills establishing a maritime-industry scholarship program; adopting nationally recognized consensus-based building codes and standards; allowing automatic expungement of arrest records when an arrest lacked probable cause and making expunged records confidential; and creating provisions related to the nonconsensual dissemination of sexually explicit images.

He also approved measures setting terms for the Government Employees Retirement System's personal loan program, changing unemployment-benefit provisions, establishing a minimum default amount for child support, recognizing March as Girl Scouts Month, and authorizing reprogramming of unused proceeds from the Series 2016 Emergency First Responder Line of Credit to help the Virgin Islands Police Department cover costs tied to the June 2024 National Alliance of State Drug Enforcement Agencies International Symposium.

Bryan also approved zoning measures in Bill Nos. 35-0213, 35-0233, 35-0234 and 35-0235, and lease measures in Bill Nos. 35-0077, 35-0211, 35-0225, 35-0245 and 35-0246.

He approved honor bills posthumously honoring Dr. Fenella Cooper and Private Viggo E. Sewer, honoring Bernice Alma Turnbull and naming the Department of Finance building at No. 2314 Kronprindsens Gade in Charlotte Amalie after her, and honoring Bishop Dr. William Alfred Industrious and renaming a portion of Gamle Gade in his honor.

Bryan acknowledged the Legislature's favorable action on the nominations of Harold W.L. Willocks as a Supreme Court justice, Averil George as commissioner of the Department of Human Services, Antonio Stevens as director of Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Maurice Muia as a member of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority board, May Adams Cornwall as the St. Croix member of the Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Management Commission, and Dr. Nathaniel Olive and Carlos Robles as members of the Board of Supervisors of the Virgin Islands Conservation District.

He also acknowledged Resolution No. 1910, honoring Honorary Brigadier General Leayle Gerard Galiber, and Resolution No. 1911, requiring the Virgin Islands Public Services Commission to file an official complaint with the Federal Communications Commission against Liberty Latin America, Liberty Mobile USVI and Liberty Mobile Puerto Rico.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-approves-various-bills-acknowledges-several-resolutions/