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COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION BILL NO. 36-0245 Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands February 10, 2026 An act amending title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapters 27 and 28A to prohibit a member of the Legislature who has served more than three terms, from receiving, while serving in the Legislature, an annuity from the Government Employees Retirement System for nonlegislative service, and amending title 33 Virgin Islands Code, subtitle 3, chapter 111, section 3080 to prohibit an elected Governor or Lieutenant Governor who has served more than one and a half terms, from receiving, while serving as Governor or Lieutenant Governor, an annuity from the Government Employees Retirement System that is computed on the basis of years of service PROPOSED BY: Senator Alma Francis Heyliger WHEREAS, retired government employees have earned the right to receive pensions 1 through years of service to the people of the Virgin Islands; and 2 WHEREAS, some retirees have subsequently returned to public service by being elected 3 as senators, governors, or lieutenant governors; and 4 WHEREAS, the simultaneous collection of a government pension and a full public 5 salary, known as dual compensation, has raised concerns about fiscal sustainability and equity; 6 and 7 WHEREAS, the Government Employees' Retirement System (“GERS”) faces ongoing 8 financial challenges that threaten its long-term solvency; and 9 WHEREAS, this Legislature finds it necessary to enact a fair limitation on dual 10 compensation that balances individual rights with the public interest; Now, Therefore, 11 2 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 1 SECTION 1. Title 3 Virgin Islands Code is amended in the following instances: 2 (a) In chapter 27, section 714, subsection (g): 3 (1) in paragraph (1), insert the following language after “nonlegislative service”: 4 “, but a member of the Legislature who serves more than three terms, may not receive, 5 while serving in the Legislature, an annuity from the system for nonlegislative service”; 6 and 7 (2) in paragraph (2), strike “by” and insert “of” and strike all the language after 8 “employed” and insert a period. 9 (b) In chapter 28A, section 763, subsection (g), insert the following language after 10 “non-legislative service”: 11 “, but a member of the Legislature who serves more than three terms, may not 12 receive, while serving in the Legislature, an annuity from the System for non-legislative 13 service”. 14 SECTION 2. Title 33 Virgin Islands Code, subtitle 3, chapter 111, section 3080, is 15 amended by adding subsection (g): 16 “(g) An elected Governor or Lieutenant Governor who serves more than one and a half 17 terms, may not receive, while serving as Governor or Lieutenant Governor, an annuity from the 18 Government Employees Retirement System that is computed on the basis of years of service.” 19 SECTION 3. Section 1 takes effect on January 11, 2027. 20 SECTION 4. Section 2 takes effect on January 4, 2027. 21 BILL SUMMARY 22 Section 1 of the bill amends title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 27, section 714, 23 subsection (g) by prohibiting a member of the Legislature who has served more than three 24 3 terms, from receiving, while serving in the Legislature, an annuity from the GERS for 1 nonlegislative service. Section 2 of the bill amends title 33 Virgin Islands Code, subtitle 3, 2 chapter 111, section 3080 by adding subsection (g) prohibiting an elected Governor or 3 Lieutenant Governor who has served more than one and a half terms, from receiving, while 4 serving as Governor or Lieutenant Governor, an annuity from the GERS that is computed on 5 the basis of years of service. Section 3 of the bill contains a savings clause making the 6 amendment to 3 V.I.C. § 714(g) effective on January 11, 2027. Section 4 of the bill contains a 7 savings clause making the amendment to 33 V.I.C. § 3080 effective on January 4, 2027. 8 BR25-0496/March 10, 2025/Revised/July 30, 2025/Revised/August 4, 2025/GC 9