COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY, JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY 
 
The 36th Legislature’s Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety will meet on Thursday, 
September 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the Frits E. Lawaetz Conference Room on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin 
Islands. 
 
OFFICIAL AGENDA 
 
BLOCK I:  10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 
 
Bill No. 36-0144 - An act amending title 14 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 113 to define and prohibit 
assault rifles, ban suppressors and silencers, and requiring safety training for licensed rifles and shotgun 
holders; prohibiting large-capacity magazines and preventing the illegal sales of firearms, firearm 
accessories and ammunition. (Sponsored by:  Senator Clifford A. Joseph, Sr.) 
 
Invited Testifiers: 
 
 
 
 
BLOCK II:  11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 
 
Bill No. 36-0105 - An act amending title 7 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 13, subchapter III by prohibiting 
the possession, sale, or manufacture of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, delta-6 THC, delta-8 THC and delta-
Honorable Mario Brooks  
Commissioner  
Virgin Islands Police Department 
Honorable Gordon Rhea, Esq. 
Attorney General of the Virgin Islands 
Virgin Islands Department of Justice 
 
Mr. Antonio Emanuel 
Director, Office of Gun Violence Prevention 
Office of the Governor 
 
 
 
 
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10 THC products in the Virgin Islands and for other related purposes (Sponsored by:  Senator Clifford 
A. Joseph, Sr.) 
 
Invited Testifiers: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LUNCH BREAK:  12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. 
 
BLOCK III:  1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 
 
Bill No. 36-0123 - An act amending title 20 Virgin Islands Code, part II, chapter 43, subchapter I, 
section 493 making it unlawful for a person who has 0.04 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his 
blood to operate a commercial motor vehicle, and making it unlawful for a person under the age of 21 
Honorable Mario Brooks  
Commissioner  
Virgin Islands Police Department 
Honorable Gordon Rhea  
Attorney General of the Virgin Islands 
Virgin Islands Department of Justice 
 
 
Honorable Justa “Tita” Encarnacion 
Commissioner 
V.I. Department of Health 
Honorable Louis E. Petersen, PhD 
Commissioner 
V.I. Department of Agriculture 
 
Honorable H. Nathalie Hodge 
Commissioner 
V.I. Department of Licensing and Consumer 
Affairs 
 
Ms. Joanne Moorehead 
Executive Director 
V.I. Office of Cannabis Regulation 
 
Ms. Riise Richards 
Chair, V.I. Industrial Hemp Commission 
Deputy Commissioner, VI Department of 
Agriculture 
 
Mr. Duane Howell 
Executive Director 
ARCH Institute 
 
 
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years who has any detectable amount of alcohol in his blood, to operate a motor vehicle (Sponsored by: 
Senator Ray Fonseca  
 
Invited Testifiers: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
cc: 
All Senators 
 
Legislative Staff 
 
Media 
Honorable Mario M. Brooks 
Commissioner 
V.I. Police Department 
Honorable Gordon Rhea, Esq. 
V.I. Attorney General 
V.I. Department of Justice 
 
Ms. Julie Smith Todman, Esq. 
Chief Public Defender 
V.I. Office of the Public Defender