COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, VETERANS 
AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION 
BILL NO. 
36-0100 
 
Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands 
 
 
 
June 24, 2025 
 
 
 
An act amending title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 25, subchapter V, section 559 relating to 
pay systems establishing a pay differential for French and Spanish speaking bilingual 911 
Dispatch Operators, and amending title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 25, subchapter IV, 
section 522, relating to entrance and promotion tests, to provide for foreign language 
proficiency tests 
 
 
 
PROPOSED BY:  Senator Franklin D. Johnson 
 
 
 
WHEREAS, the Virgin Islands is a multi-lingual community with many residents and 
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visitors whose primary language is not English; 
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WHEREAS, 911 Dispatch Operators have to communicate with individuals in 
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emergency situations; 
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WHEREAS, Spanish and French are the other primary languages that are spoken in the 
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territory; 
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WHEREAS, a pay differential for 911 Dispatch Operators with a demonstrated 
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proficiency in English and Spanish or French would help with recruitment and retention  of 911 
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Dispatch Operators; and  
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WHEREAS, when individuals who speak only Spanish or French call the 911 Public 
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Safety Answering Points there will be an increased likelihood that they will be able to 
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effectively communicate with a 911 Dispatch Operator in Spanish or French; Now, Therefore,  
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Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 
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SECTION 1.  Title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 25, subchapter V, section 559, is 
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amended by adding  the following subsection (g) : 
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“(g) All bilingual 911 Dispatch Operators of the Virgin Islands Territorial Management 
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Agency fluent in French or Spanish shall be paid a differential of ten percent of their basic 
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compensation which shall be in addition to  their basic compensation. 
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(1) 
Eligibility under this subsection requires that an operator must be certified by 
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the Director of the Division of Personnel as being proficient in English, and Spanish or 
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French under section 522(a) of this chapter. 
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(2) 
Operators who receive a foreign language proficiency pay differential shall 
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use their foreign language proficiency in the performance of their duties as a 911 Dispatch 
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Operators and are required to recertify each year.” 
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SECTION 2.  Title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 25, subchapter IV, section 522, 
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subsection (a) is  amended as follows: 
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(1) 
By inserting “, foreign language proficiency tests,” after “entrance tests”; and  
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(2) 
By inserting “, differential pay qualification lists” after “employment lists”. 
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BILL SUMMARY 
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This bill amends title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 25, subchapter V, section 559 by 
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inserting a subsection (g) that allows for a ten percent pay differential for French and Spanish-
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speaking bilingual 911 dispatch operators of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency 
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Management.  It also amends title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 25, subchapter IV, section 
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522 by adding a foreign language proficiency examination to be administered by of the Division 
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of Personnel. 
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BR25-0140/June 23, 2025/LMW 
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