COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, ENERGY,

AND VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

BILL NO. 29-0025

Twenty-Ninth Legislature of the Virgin Islands

March 11, 2011

An Act amending 3 V.I.C., sections 8a (a), 8b (a) and section 525 (a) and title 17 V.I.C.,
sections 302 and 306(3) relating to veteran’s benefit

PROPOSED BY: Senators Louis Patrick Hill, Janette Millin Young

and Ronald E. Russell

1 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands:

2 SECTION 1. Title 3, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 1, is amended in the following

3 instances:

4 (a) Section 8a, subsection (a) is amended by striking the second sentence and by

5 adding subsection (c) to read as follows:

6 “(c) For purposes of sections 8a, 8b and 8c of this chapter “veteran" includes any

7 person honorably discharged from the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine

8 Corps or Navy, and any person honorably discharged from the Virgin Islands National Guard

9 after serving eight years or more.

10 (b) Section 8b is amended in the following instances:

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1 (1) subsection (a) is amended in the first sentence by inserting “The

2 Virgin Islands National Guard” after “armed forces” and by striking the sum “$3,

3 500” and inserting “$5,000” in its place ;

4 (2) Subsection (c) is amended in the first sentence by striking

5 “temporarily” in the second sentence after “armed forces” by inserting “or The Virgin

6 Islands National Guard; and in the third sentence by striking “with 20 years of

7 qualifying service”, and the fifth sentence is stricken in its entirety;

8 (c) Section 8c, Subsection (d) is amended in paragraph (1) subparagraph (B) by

9 striking “20” and inserting “8”; in its place.

10 SECTION 2. Title 3, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 25, subchapter IV, section 525,

11 subsection (a) is amended at the end of the first sentence by inserting “, or any person

12 honorably discharged from the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps,

13 Navy, or any person honorably discharged from the National Guard after serving no less than

14 eight years.”

15 SECTION 3. Title 17, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 25, section 302 is amended by

16 re-designating the existing paragraph as subsection (a) and by adding a subsection (b) to read

17 as follows:

18 “(b) Charges may be made of veterans enrolled in a program at the University of

19 the Virgin Islands for tuition and operating expenses to be paid by the Government of the

20 Virgin Islands in accordance with schedules and conditions authorized by contract or

21 agreement with the Office of Veterans Affairs.”

22 SECTION 4. Title 17, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 25, section 306, paragraph (3)

23 is amended at the end of the sentence by inserting “, or has completed eight years of service

24 with the Virgin Islands National Guard”.

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1 Bill Summary

2 SECTION 1 of this bill amends Title 3, V.I.C., section 8a, subsection (a) by

3 expanding the definition of “veteran” to include any member of the Virgin Islands National

4 Guard who has served not less than eight years of service. Thus, this amendment will entitle

5 members of the Virgin Islands National Guard to the same benefits entitled to veterans of the

6 United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine and Navy. In addition, SECTION 1

7 amends title 3 Virgin Islands Code, section 8b, subsection (a) by increasing the burial

8 benefits for deceased veterans from $3,500 to $5, 000.

9 SECTION 2 amends Title 3, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 25, subchapter IV, section

10 525, subsection (a) by expanding the definition of veterans to any person honorably

11 discharged from the National Guard after having served not less than eight years.

12 SECTION 3 amends Title 17, Virgin Islands Code, section 302 in order to provide

13 tuition and related financial benefits to veterans enrolled in a program at the University of the

14 Virgin Islands. However, the costs will be paid by the Government of the Virgin Islands, in

15 accordance with schedules and conditions authorized by contracts or agreements with the

16 Office of Veteran Affairs.

17 Lastly, section 4 amends Title 17, Virgin Islands Code, section 306, paragraph 3, by

18 making the completion of eight years of service with the Virgin Islands National Guard one

19 of the conditions necessary for transportation benefits for the purpose of attending school for

20 career and technical or academic training.

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22 BR11-0004/February 1, 2011/

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