10-22-26 Committee on Rules and Judiciary

BLOCK I: NOMINEES 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Mrs. Ardrina Scott Elliott Governor’s Nominee Board of Parole and representative of the District of St. Thomas - St. John Dr. Tylur D. Arvidson Governor’s Nominee The Board of Chiropractic Examiners BLOCK II: NOMINEES 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Ms. Caryn Hodge Governor’s Nominee Virgin Islands Historic Preservation Commission BLOCK III: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM Bill No 36-0277 – An act enacting a comprehensive probate code for the Virgin Islands to govern intestate and testate succession, administration of decedents’ estates, and related procedures. Proposed by Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr. Invited Testifiers: The Honorable Rhys S. Hodge Chief Justice Department of Justice The Honorable Gordan C. Rhea, Esq. Attorney General Department of Justice Ms. Shari N. D'Andrade, Esq. President Virgin Islands Bar Association Mr. Troy De Chabert-Schuster State Director AARP Virgin Islands Ms. Jessica C. Tully, Esq. Attorney & Real Estate Broker Tully Law, PLLC Mr. Ben Orzeske, Esq. Chief Counsel Uniform Law Commission Mr. Tom Bolt, Esq. President/ CEO BoltNagi PC Attorneys at Law Mr. Wayne L. Biggs, Jr. Chief Executive Officer Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority BLOCK IV: BILLS 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM Bill No. 36-0048 ̶ An Act amending title 22, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 3 relating to annual rate changes for medical malpractice liability insurance and amending title 27, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 1 by increasing the limitation on recovery in medical malpractice actions from $250,000 to $400,000; designating the records and testimony gathered by quality improvement committees as confidential; and establishing additional requirements for filing medical malpractice claims. Proposed by Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr. Bill No. 36-0280 ̶ An act amending title 19 Virgin Islands Code, part IV, chapter 37, subchapter II, section 831, subsection (a), paragraph (2), by giving a parent of a newborn, who is born in a government hospital, the option to receive the child’s birth certificate by mail. Proposed by Senator Hubert L. Frederick Bill No. 36-0218 ̶ An act honoring and commending Jerome Austin Browne for his outstanding achievements and contributions to baseball and the youth of St. Croix by renaming Prince Street in Christiansted “Jerry Browne Street”. Proposed by Senator Angel L. Bolques, Jr. Bill No. 36-0229 ̶ An act honoring and commending Adelbert M. “Bert” Bryan for his outstanding contributions and dedicated service to the Virgin Islands community, particularly on the island of St. Croix, and to ceremoniously name Queen Street in Frederiksted, St. Croix, in his honor as “Adelbert M. “Bert” Bryan Drive”. Proposed by Senator Kenneth L. Gittens Bill No. 36-0281 ̶ An act honoring and commending Hans Lawaetz for his lifetime of exemplary service to the Virgin Islands and awarding him the Virgin Islands Medal of Honor. Proposed by Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr. Bill No. 36-0319 ̶ An act honoring and commending Rena Brodhurst for her extraordinary contributions to journalism and the preservation of the Virgin Islands’ historical and cultural narrative and awarding her the Virgin Islands Medal of Honor. Proposed by Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr. Bill No. 36-0320 ̶ A resolution honoring and commending Kevre Hendricks for his outstanding contributions to music, education, military service, and cultural preservation in the Virgin Islands. Proposed by Senator Kurt A. Vialet Bill No. 36-0323 ̶ An act honoring and commending Maude “Maudie” Dowdy Roberts posthumously and concurrently designating Prince Street in Frederiksted the “Maude ‘Maudie’ Dowdy Roberts Drive”. Proposed by Senator Kenneth L. Gittens Bill No. 36-0318 ̶ An act amending title 23 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 13 establishing a Police Reserve Unit within the Virgin Islands Police Department Proposed by Senator Kenneth L. Gittens Bill No. 36-0338 ̶ An act amending title 5 Virgin Islands Code, section 31 (a) by changing the commencement of actions for personal bodily injury Proposed by Senator Franklin D. Johnson Bill No. 36-0346 ̶ An act amending title 19 Virgin Islands Code creating the Emergency Medical Services System Proposed by Senator Marise C. James Bill No. 36-0302 ̶ An act appropriating $1,000,000 from the Community Facilities Trust Fund to the Virgin Islands Diabetes Center of Excellence to finance the establishment of the Chronic Care Management Program in fiscal year 2027 Proposed by Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr. Bill No. 36-0335 ̶ An act appropriating $600,000 from the St. Croix Capital Improvement Fund to the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources to provide the remaining funding necessary for the Frederiksted Fish Market Rehabilitation Project Proposed by Senator Hubert L. Frederick Bill No. 36-0357 ̶ An act approving the lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands, acting through its Commissioner of the Department o