Nov. 6, 2006 — During legislative sessions scheduled over the next two months, senators will consider some "big" bills — some more than 200 pages long.
On tap for an upcoming Committee of the Whole meeting is the Government Employees' Retirement System reform bill, which will attempt to overhaul the system and find a solution to the more than $1 billion unfunded liability.
Another bill — the Government Reform and Modernization Act, sponsored by Senate President Lorraine L. Berry — will attempt to consolidate several other bills pending in the Legislature.
During a recent interview, Berry said that sections of the bill will deal with the establishment of a medical school in the territory, setting up a civilian review board to review actions of the police department and restructuring the Division of Banking and Insurance within the office of the lieutenant governor.
These sections, first introduced on the floor as independent bills, have gone through extensive debate in the Senate and have been amended to address concerns brought forth from the public and private sectors.
"A lot of work went into this piece of legislation," Berry said. "Everything has been researched, testimony has been taken and meetings have been held. So Im just trying to clean up all the bills I have pending, so at least those can be approved before January."
Since the bill — a voluminous 247-page document — includes some "major reforms," she said, senators will have a chance to caucus and add amendments before anything goes to Gov. Charles W. Turnbull for final approval.
Some of the reforms have not been introduced on the floor, including proposals to develop an independent tourism authority governed by a board composed of individuals from the local Hotel and Tourism Association and the Chamber of Commerce in both districts, along with representatives from various taxi associations and local businesses.
"This bill passed before, but was vetoed by the governor," Berry said. "What we're trying to do is set up a system similar to that of any other Caribbean country, where there's a board that makes the decisions regarding tourism in the Virgin Islands."
The bill proposes that the board would oversee the current Tourism Department, and the Commissioner of Tourism would serve as its executive director, Berry said.
"Tourism is our number-one industry, and it should have the proper attention," she added. "So the board will deal with issues like cruise ships, hotels and transportation services."
Also included in the Government Reform bill is a proposal to restructure the Public Finance Authority. "We want to bring amendments to the current statute which establishes the PFA," Berry explained. "That's because several senators are concerned with some of the powers the organization has, such as the lack of a competitive bidding process and the authority they have to utilize funds without the authorization of the Legislature."
The bill is currently scheduled to appear during a Committee of the Whole hearing on Nov. 28-30.
Also scheduled for the Committee of the Whole hearing is the Omnibus Authorization Act of 2007, another voluminous document that will include various appropriations, government reforms and amendments to laws already on the books.
As of Monday afternoon, copies of the Omnibus bill had not yet been distributed to senators.
While a majority of the committee chairs have said that they do not have bills to address before the Legislature wraps up in January, Sen. Ronald E. Russell, chair of the Rules and Judiciary Committee, has set up several meetings to consider numerous nominations recently submitted by Turnbull. The nominees, if approved by the full Senate, will serve on various government boards and commissions.
At least one nomination for the V.I. Superior Court — sitting Judge Audrey L. Thomas — will be considered during a Rules Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday.
At a recent Senate hearing, Russell said the committee presently has more than 30 nominations pending. Russell said he would "try to address as many as possible" before January.
"It all depends on what we can do," he said. "The nominees have to fill out the questionnaires, and the committee has to do all the investigative work, then give them a full hearing. The holidays are coming up as well, and some of the senators will be traveling, so we'll try to fit in as much as we can."
The Rules and Judiciary Committee acts as the clearinghouse for all nominations — including appointments to boards or commissions, judgeship positions and top positions within government departments or agencies. If approved by the committee, the nominees move onto the full Senate body for a final vote.
Nominations not considered before the Legislature changes hands are null and void.
"So we still have a lot to do," Berry said. "And we're not going to stop until the end."
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