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COMMITTEE ON RULES AND JUDICIARY BILL NO. 36-0300 Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands June 11, 2026 An act amending title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 25, subchapter II, section 472 regarding the powers and duties of the Government Employees Service Commission PROPOSED BY: Senator Kurt A. Vialet WHEREAS, the Government Employees Service Commission (GESC) is charged with 1 administering the Government of the Virgin Islands’ group health insurance program and 2 wellness initiatives for government employees and retirees; 3 WHEREAS, access to comprehensive, affordable, and well-managed health insurance 4 is critical to the health and economic security of public sector employees, retirees, and their 5 families; 6 WHEREAS, the effective design, oversight, and evaluation of group health insurance 7 and wellness programs require clear statutory authority, transparency, and accountability; 8 WHEREAS, the costs and complexity of healthcare continue to rise, demanding 9 proactive measures to ensure the fiscal sustainability and effectiveness of government- 10 sponsored health benefit programs; 11 2 WHEREAS, employee and retiree participation and representation in benefit 1 governance, including elections to the Health Insurance Board of Trustees, are essential to 2 maintaining trust and responsiveness in health plan administration; 3 WHEREAS, the GESC must be empowered to engage in strategic planning, vendor 4 oversight, wellness promotion, and data-driven decision-making to meet the evolving 5 healthcare needs of the government workforce; and 6 WHEREAS, expanding the powers and duties of the GESC will allow for more efficient 7 administration, stronger accountability, and improved health outcomes across the Government 8 of the Virgin Islands; Now, Therefore, 9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 10 SECTION 1. Title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 25, subchapter II section 472 is 11 amended by adding the following items (6) through (17): 12 “(6) administer the Government of the Virgin Islands’ group health insurance plans for 13 active employees, retirees, and eligible dependents, including procurement, implementation, 14 and monitoring of vendor performance; 15 (7) develop and monitor wellness programs’ design, implement, and evaluate wellness 16 initiatives that promote preventive care, chronic disease management, mental health, and 17 healthy lifestyles among government employees and retirees. 18 (8) conduct health benefit plan reviews regularly assess the cost, quality, utilization, 19 and effectiveness of health insurance offerings and recommend plan changes or improvements 20 to the Governor and the Legislature; 21 (9) ensure transparency and accessibility of health benefits, maintain a public-facing 22 platform with updated information on available plans, coverage options, benefits summaries, 23 wellness program resources, and frequently asked questions; 24 3 (10) engage in vendor selection and oversight, participate in the development of 1 Requests For Proposals, evaluation of bids, and oversight of contracts with third-party 2 administrators, insurers, and wellness providers to ensure fiscal responsibility and quality of 3 service; 4 (11) coordinate with the Department of Finance and the Office of Management and 5 Budget to forecast healthcare-related expenditures, determine cost-sharing structures, and 6 manage fund allocations to ensure the long-term viability of the insurance program; 7 (12) monitor compliance with local and federal laws to ensure that all aspects of the 8 group health insurance and wellness programs comply with applicable local and federal laws 9 including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Affordable Care Act, 10 and the Employee Retirement Income and Security Act of 1974, where applicable, and 11 collective bargaining agreements; 12 (13) oversee elections for the Health Insurance Board of Trustees, conduct and certify 13 elections for employee and retiree representatives to the Health Insurance Board of Trustees, 14 and establish fair election procedures and timelines; 15 (14) advocate for employee and retiree interests, serve as a liaison between government 16 employees, retirees, and policymakers to ensure that stakeholder feedback informs benefit 17 design and delivery; 18 (15) issue the Annual Health and Wellness Report summarizing enrollment statistics, 19 plan performance metrics, wellness program participation rates, financial performance, and 20 strategic goals; 21 (16) promote interagency collaboration on health initiatives, work with the Departments 22 of Health and Education, and the Division of Personnel to promote interagency health 23 campaigns, workplace wellness efforts, and employee assistance programs; and 24 4 (17) conduct outreach and education, provide regular training, benefit fairs, and 1 outreach activities to ensure employees and retirees understand their rights, responsibilities, 2 and options under the group health insurance plan and wellness programs. 3 BILL SUMMARY 4 The bill amends title 3 Virgin Islands Code chapter 25, subchapter II, section 472 to 5 expand the authority and power of the Government Employees Service Commission over the 6 group health insurance and selection process, developing health reports and outreach programs. 7 BR25-0760/August 6, 2025/AA 8