COMMITTEE ON EDICATION AND WORKFORCE 
DEVELOPMENT 
 
BILL NO. 36-0152 
 
Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands 
 
 
 
September 10, 2025 
 
 
 
An act amending title 17 Virgin Islands Code by enacting the Virgin Islands State Teacher of 
the Year Bonus Awards 
 
 
 
PROPOSED BY: 
 
Senator Ray Fonseca 
 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 
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SECTION 1.  Title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 11, is amended by inserting the 
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following section 129a: 
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Ҥ 129a.  Virgin Islands State Teacher of the Year Bonus Awards 
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(a) 
The Virgin Islands Department of Education (“Department”) shall annually award 
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a bonus in the amount of: 
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(1) 
$8,000 to the educator selected as the Virgin Islands State Teacher of the 
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Year; and 
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(2) 
$2,000 to the educator selected as the runner-up to the Virgin Islands State 
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Teacher of the Year. 
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(b) 
The funds for the bonuses must be included in the Department’s existing annual 
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operating budget. 
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(c) 
These funds shall be disbursed no later than 60 days following the public 
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announcement of the awardees by the Department. 
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SECTION 2.  The Commissioner of Education shall promulgate regulations to 
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implement the provisions of this section within 90 days of enactment. 
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BILL SUMMARY 
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This bill amends title 17 Virgin Islands Code by creating the Virgin Islands State Teacher 
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of the Year Bonus Awards that awards an $8,000 bonus to the winner and $2,000 to the runner-
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up. 
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BR25-0677/August 7, 2025/PFA 
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