Economy
Bill No. 31-0236 Act No. 7856 - Senator Jean A. Forde championed the fight to increase the minimum wage as he knew that $7.25 was unacceptable for any Virgin Islander to have a decent standard of living. The minimum wage was raised in stages to $10.50 so that the economy could sustain the incremental increases. On June 21, 2016, the minimum wage was raised to $8.35, to $9.25 in 2017 and ultimately to $10.50 in June 2018.
Bill No. 31-0115 Act No. 7852 - Now named Act #78562, this mandated Cigar Factory is a revenue generating initiative. The Act calls for the hiring of Cigar Rollers while providing an opportunity for farmers to grow local tobacco with a local market. As the Virgin Islands competes with other jurisdictions in the tourism industry, particularly with the opening of Cuba, which is known for its tobacco products, this piece of legislation will help to diversify the industry as a whole. Since the passage of the legislation, three entities on St. Croix and one on St. Thomas have expressed interest in exploring this as an economic venture.
Bill No. 32-0039 Act No. 7989 - This Act amends Virgin Islands Code, title 8 chapter 1, section 9, subsection (a) to change the amount of Tavernkeeper Liquor Licenses (A) that can be in effect within the historic districts of the Virgin Islands.
Bill No. 31-0021 Act No. 7730 - This Act appropriated $1 million to the Office of the Governor for litigation costs and legal fees directly related to the litigation between the Government and Hess Oil V.I. Corp., HOVENSA, LLC, and Petroleos de Venezuela, PDVSA V.I., Inc. and related entities. *co-sponsored*
Bill No. 31-0330 Act No. 7868 - This Act provides for the Department of Agriculture, the University of the Virgin Islands and other selected universities to cultivate industrial hemp for research purposes and provides the deferred authority for the commercial cultivation of industrial hemp contingent upon congressional authorization, making a $75,000 appropriation to the Department of Agriculture, and for other related purposes of the Act.
Bill No. 31-0333 Act No. 7894 - This Act seeks to address the mooring and anchoring of vessels in the Virgin Islands. The current mooring fee is set at $5 per foot per vessel regardless of the type of use. The proposed mooring fees per year are $10 per foot length for pleasure vessels, $15 per foot for live-aboard vessels and $20 per foot length for commercial vessels. Fifty percent of the fees collected are to be deposited into the Natural Resources Reclamation Fund and the other 50% goes to the Department of Planning and Natural Resources marine enforcement unit.
Bill No. 32-0032 Act No. 7985 - A zoning variance is granted for Plot No. 5B Estate Fountain, Northside “A” Quarter, St. Croix, Virgin Islands to allow the landing portion of the zip line as a matter of right. This is directly aimed at promoting economic development.
Bill No. 32-0036 - This Act amends the Virgin Islands Code title 27, chapter 9, section 303, relating to business license fees and amending title 33, chapter 3, adding section 43k to exempt small business concerns from the payment of the fee for the initial license and from initial gross receipt taxes.
Bill No. 32-0188 Act No. 8046 - This Act appropriated $3.5 million from the St. Croix Capital Improvement Fund for maintenance dredging of the Schooner Bay Channel. *co-sponsored*
Bill No. 32-0125 Act No. 8009 - This Act appropriates a sum not exceeding $480,000 to purchase the real property identified in Act No. 7990, section 1 (a) to complete the Paul E. Joseph Stadium Project. *co-sponsored*