COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, VETERANS 
AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION 
 
 
BILL NO. 
36-0012 
 
Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands 
 
 
 
February 27, 2025 
 
 
 
An Act amending title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 27 to streamline the GERS disability 
annuity approval procedures and for other related issues 
 
 
 
PROPOSED BY: 
 
 
Senator Milton E. Potter 
 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 
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SECTION 1.  Title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 27 is amended as follows: 
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(1) 
In section 708 (a) (1) by inserting the following at the end: 
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“Provided, however, that if all the physicians designated by that Board have 
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provided proper proof that the member is mentally or physically incapacitated, or 
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totally and permanently disabled, the member shall automatically be entitled to 
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duty disability annuity and the member’s disability application need not be 
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presented to the Committee of Medical Review pursuant to § 710a herein.” 
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(2) 
In section 710 (c) by inserting the following at the end: 
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“Provided, however, if at least two licensed and practicing physicians, 
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selected by the Board, as provided herein, certify that the member is totally and 
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likely to be permanently disabled, notwithstanding 3 V.I.C.§710a, the member’s 
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application need not be submitted to the Committee of Medical Review.” 
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(3) 
In section 710a After the first sentence the following is added “Claims for 
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duty and nonduty disability, pursuant to 3 V.I.C. § 708 and 710, need not be submitted to 
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2 
 
the Committee if the appropriate number of doctors designated or selected pursuant to 
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§708 and §710, have opined that the member is totally or permanently disabled or 
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mentally or physically incapacitated.” 
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(4) 
In section §757(a)(1) the following is added at the end “Provided, however, 
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that if all the physicians designated by that Board have provided proper proof that the 
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member is mentally or physically incapacitated, or totally and permanently disabled, the 
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member shall automatically be entitled to duty disability annuity and the member’s 
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disability application need not be presented to the Committee of Medical Review 
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pursuant to § 710a herein.” 
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(5) In section §759(c), at the end of the paragraph the following is added, 
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“Provided, however, if at least two licensed and practicing physicians, selected by 
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the Board, as provided herein, certify that the member is totally and likely to be 
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permanently disabled, notwithstanding 3 V.I.C.§710a, the member’s application 
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need not be submitted to the Committee of Medical Review.” 
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BILL SUMMARY 
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This bill amends sections 708 (a) 710(c), 710a, 757 (a) (1) and 759 (c) of chapter 27 of 
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title 3 of the Virgin Islands Code to streamline the GERS annuity approval procedures to give 
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more clarity as to how disability claims are to be approved. 
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BR25-0100/February 7, 2025/AA 
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