33rd Virgin Islands Legislature

33rd Legislature of the Virgin Islands
Leadership
President	Kenneth Gittens (D) (until May 2019) Novelle Francis (from May 2019)
Vice President	Donna Frett-Gregory (D) (until May 2019) Myron D. Jackson (D) (from May 2019)
Majority Leader	Marvin A. Blyden (D)
Structure
Seats	15
Length of term	2 years

The 33rd Virgin Islands Legislature was a meeting of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands. It convened in Charlotte Amalie on January 14, 2019 and ended in December 2020, during the first two years of Albert Bryan’s governorship.

Major Events

• January 14, 2019: Members of the 33rd Legislature sworn in at Emancipation Garden.; Session convenes.
• January 28, 2019: Newly elected Governor Albert Bryan delivered his First State of the Territory Address.
• May 15, 2019: Senate President Kenneth Gittens ousted by Majority caucus. Senator Novelle Francis becomes new Senate President of the 33rd Legislature.

Major Legislation

• July 20, 2019: Act No. 8183: An act amending title 17, chapter 7, section 61a of the Virgin Islands Code to allow the Department of Education greater flexibility in setting the school calendar upon the declaration of a state of emergency.
• October 6, 2020: Act No. 8202: An Act honoring and commending Robert O’Connor, Jr. for his commitment to the people of the Virgin Islands through his service as a Senator, his membership on the Port Authority Board and his work as a community leader by naming the new Port Authority maintenance building in his honor. Act No. 8362: An Act making an appropriation of $30,000 to the University of the Virgin Islands as a grant to the League of Women Voters to conduct an educational campaign on the referendum to be held at the November 2020 General Election.
• December 14, 2020: Act No. 8392: An Act renewing and extending the state of emergency in the Virgin Islands based on the COVID-19 Pandemic for an additional 60 days from December 8, 2020 to February 6, 2021.
• December 21, 2020: Act No. 8416: An Act ratifying the Governor of the Virgin Islands approval of Minor Coastal Zone Management Permit No. CZJ-07-20W issued by the Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources to Lovango Island Holdings I, LLP.
• December 31, 2020: Act No. 8404 (Bill No. 33-0432: An Act honoring and commending Orville Edward Kean, Ph.D. for his contributions to the University of the Virgin Islands and the Virgin Islands community by renaming the St. Thomas campus of the University of the Virgin Islands “The Orville Edward Kean Campus of the University of the Virgin Islands”. Act No. 8415 (Bill No. 33-0449): A bill amending title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 15 relating to the Virgin Islands Higher Education Scholarship Program to extend eligibility for scholarships to students in the Dual Credit Program.
• January 14, 2021: An Act ratifying the Governor’s approval of Minor Coastal Zone Permit No. CZT-46-19(W) by the St. Thomas Committee of the Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Management Commission.
• January 21, 2021: Act No. 8430: A Bill recognizing and honoring the late Mrs. Dorothy Lockhart-Elskoe for her vast contributions to the preservation of the arts and culture of the Virgin Islands by renaming Raphune Hill the “Dorothy “Dotsy” Lockhart-Elskoe Drive”.

Proposed (but not enacted)

• Bill No. 33-0002: An Act requiring that the Division of Banking and Insurance explore different insurance companies to do business in the Virgin Islands and to also encourage those companies to conduct business in the Virgin Islands.

Zonings

• Act No. 8433: An Act amending Official Zoning Map No. SCZ-18 for the island of St. Croix for Plot No. 39A Prince Street, Frederiksted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands from R-4 (Residential-Medium Density) to B-3 (Business-Scattered)