COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE/SESSION 10/10/2024-REPPORTED OUT TO THE FLOOR 10/07/2024-REPORTED OUT TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES AND JUDICIARY BILL NO. 35-0374 Thirty-Fifth Legislature of the Virgin Islands September 26, 2024 An Act approving the conveyance of Parcel No. 201 Submarine Base, No. 6 Southside Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands from the Government of the Virgin Islands to the Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System PROPOSED BY: Senator Novelle. E. Francis, Jr., and Marvin A. Blyden by Request of the Governor WHEREAS, the Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System (the “VIPBS”), is a public 1 corporation and autonomous governmental instrumentality of the Government of the Virgin 2 Islands created to advance the general welfare, education, cultural developments and awareness 3 of public affairs for Virgin Islands residents; 4 WHEREAS, pursuant to title 30 Virgin Islands Code, section 203 (b)(6) and (7), the 5 VIPBS may acquire, own, or possess real property by lawful means for any of its purposes, and 6 may use, sell, improve, manage, develop, lease, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of or 7 encumber, any real or personal property, or any interest or estate in such; 8 WHEREAS, the Government of the Virgin Islands owns Parcel No. 201 Submarine 9 Base, No. 6 Southside Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, consisting of 0.743 U.S. acre, as 10 more fully shown and described on O.L.G Drawing No. D9-9793-T023, dated September 9, 11 2023, (“Parcel No. 201”); 12 WHEREAS, Parcel No. 201 is adjacent to Parcels No. 158 and 158A Submarine Base, 13 St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, the WTJX headquarters a public television station operated by the 14 2 VIPBS; 1 WHEREAS, the VIPBS is seeking to combine Parcels No. 158 and 158A with Parcel 2 No. 201 to develop an updated facility to offer additional services to the Virgin Islands 3 community; 4 WHEREAS, the Government has agreed to convey Parcel No. 201 to the VIPBS for $1; 5 WHEREAS, pursuant to title 31 Virgin Islands Code, section 205(b), no conveyance or 6 other disposition of government real estate is binding on the Government of the Virgin Islands 7 except with the written approval of the Governor; and 8 WHEREAS, pursuant to title 31 Virgin Islands Code, section 205(c), in addition to the 9 Governor’s approval, the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, while in regular or special session, 10 or the Committee of Finance when the Legislature is not in session, must also approve the 11 conveyance; 12 WHEREAS, the Governor has submitted a quitclaim deed and supporting documents 13 for consideration and approval by the Legislature for the conveyance of the property to the 14 VIPBS; Now, Therefore, 15 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 16 SECTION 1. Pursuant to title 31 Virgin Islands Code, section 205(c), the Legislature 17 of the Virgin Islands approves the conveyance by the Department of Property and Procurement, 18 on behalf of the Government of the Virgin Islands, to the Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting 19 System of all rights, title, and interest in and to Parcel No. 201 Submarine Base, No. 6 Southside 20 Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, consisting of 0.743 U.S. acre, as more fully shown and 21 described on O.L.G Drawing No. D9-9793-T023, dated September 9, 2023. 22 SECTION 2. Upon the enactment of this act, the Commissioner of the Department of 23 Property and Procurement, on behalf of the Government of the Virgin Islands, shall convey 24 Parcel No. 201 Submarine Base, No. 6 Southside Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, to the 25 Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System. 26 3 BILL SUMMARY 1 This bill approves the Government of the Virgin Islands’ conveyance of Parcel No. 201 2 Submarine Base, No. 6 Southside Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, to the Virgin Islands 3 Public Broadcasting System. 4 BR24-1274/September 20, 2024/NS 5 G35-083 6