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MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Members of the Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks The Honorable Carla Joseph, Vice Chair The Honorable Marvin A. Blyden The Honorable Alma Francis Heyliger The Honorable Novelle E. Francis, Jr. The Honorable Franklin D. Johnson The Honorable Avery L. Lewis FROM: Senator At Large Angel L. Bolques, Jr. ___________________ Chairman, Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks DATE: Friday, September 19, 2025 RE: AGENDA | Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports and Parks HEARING: Friday, September 19, 2025, at 10:00 AM, Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall, St. Thomas, USVI The Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks will convene a legislative hearing to examine the operational oversight, progress, and challenges of recreational facilities and capital improvement projects of the Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation across the Virgin Islands. The hearing will also include a legislative review of Bill No. 36-0099 addressing elder abuse response systems and a special policy discussion regarding CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) certification for the Virgin Islands' aging and senior care facilities. BLOCK I: ____________ _ 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation – Territorial Operations Review The Committee will receive a comprehensive report from the Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation, presented by Commissioner Nominee Vincent Roberts, detailing the current state of operations, progress, and challenges across all territorial sites. The testimony will include updates on capital improvement projects, program implementation, staffing and resource needs, budget utilization, and projected timelines. Invited Testifiers: o Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation - Acting Commissioner, Vincent Roberts LUNCH ________ 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM BLOCK II: ____________ 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Bill No. 36-0099 – Elder Abuse Response Reform The Committee will conduct a legislative hearing on Bill No. 36-0099, which proposes amendments to Title 34, Chapter 15 of the Virgin Islands Code to improve the territory's responsiveness to elder abuse cases. The bill mandates the creation of an Elder Anti-Abuse Multidisciplinary Team within the Department of Human Legislature of the Virgin Islands P.O. BOX 1690 ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS 00802 (340) 693-3571 CHAIRMAN Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, and Parks VICE-CHAIRMAN Committee on Economic Development & Agriculture MEMBER Committee of the Whole Committee on Rules & Judiciary Committee on Homeland Security, Justice & Public Safety Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning Sub-Committee on Energy & Infrastructure Development The Honorable Angel Bolques, Jr. Senator-At-Large 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands Services and requires collaboration with the Department of Justice to facilitate protective order requests through the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands. Invited Testifiers: o Department of Human Services - Commissioner, Averil George o Department of Justice - Attorney General of the Virgin Islands, Gordon Rhea, Esq. o AARP Virgin Islands - State Director, Troy De Charbet-Schuster BLOCK III: ____________ 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM Policy Discussion – CMS Certification for Senior Living Facilities The Committee will engage in a policy discussion on Aging focused on the current status and pathway toward achieving CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) certification for senior living and long- term care facilities in the U.S. Virgin Islands. CMS certification is essential for facilities seeking to provide care reimbursable under Medicare and Medicaid, and ensures compliance with federal standards for quality, safety, and patient rights. The Committee will examine: 1. Where are we now? – Assessing the current certification status of senior living facilities. 2. What's required? – Understanding CMS's Conditions of Participation, operational manuals, and compliance criteria. 3. What's next? – Outlining a strategic path forward for certification, facility upgrades, and access to CMS federal funding. Invited Testifiers: o Department of Human Services - Commissioner, Averil George o AARP Virgin Islands - State Director, Troy De Charbet-Schuster o Department of Health – Commissioner Justa Encarnacion o Administrators from local senior living and assisted care facilities o Yellow Cedar Residence – CEO, Lutheran Social Services of Virgin Islands (broader oversight for Yellow Cedar Residence, Ms. John-Straker ___________________________________________________________________________________ Sincerely, The Honorable Angel Bolques, Jr. Chair, Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, and Parks Senator At Large, 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands Courtesy Copy:____________________________________________________________________________ Cc: All Senators, All Chiefs of Staff, All Divisions of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, All Members of the Virgin Islands Media