COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE 
DEVELOPMENT 
 
BILL NO. 
36-0234 
 
Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands 
 
 
 
February 2, 2026 
 
 
 
An act amending title 17 Virgin Islands Code chapter 15 extending the Virgin Islands Higher 
Education Scholarship Program to include tuition scholarships for master’s degree programs 
at the University of the Virgin Islands 
 
 
 
PROPOSED BY: 
 
 
Senator Avery L. Lewis 
 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 
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SECTION 1.  Title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 15, section 190dd is amended as 
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follows: 
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(a) In subsection (b): 
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(1) 
the first sentence, after “or both,” strike “or”; and after “of this title” insert “, 
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or a master’s degree”. 
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(2) 
the second sentence, after “associates degree” strike “or a” and insert “,” and 
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after “bachelor’s degree” insert “or a master’s degree”. 
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(b) 
In subsection (d), subsection (6), after “bachelor’s degree” insert “or a master’s 
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degree”. 
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(c) 
In subsection (e), renumber paragraph (3) as paragraph (4) and insert the following 
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paragraph (3): 
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“(3) the scholarship recipient who receives a two-year scholarship for a master’s 
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degree must work in the territory for two years; and” 
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BILL SUMMARY 
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This bill amends title 17 Virgin Islands Code chapter 15, section 190dd by extending the 
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Virgin Islands Higher Education Scholarship Program to include tuition scholarships for 
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master’s degree programs at the University of the Virgin Islands. 
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BR25-0939/January 22, 2026/PFA 
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