FLOOR 
 
07/22/2024-SPECIAL ORDERED 
 
BILL NO. 
35-0313 
 
Thirty-Fifth Legislature of the Virgin Islands 
 
 
 
July 22, 2024 
 
 
 
An Act appropriating $100,000 to allow the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services to 
provide meals to persons waitlisted to participate in the Meals on Wheels program 
 
 
 
PROPOSED BY: 
 
Senators Diane T. Capehart, Donna A Frett-Gregory, 
Milton E. Potter, Novelle E . Francis Jr., Marise C. James, 
Franklin D. Johnson, Marvin A. Blyden and Angel L. Bolques, Jr. 
WHEREAS, the Elderly Nutrition Program, or Meals on Wheels as is more commonly 
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known is found in all fifty states and territories; and 
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WHEREAS, Meals on Wheels is a program that delivers meals to seniors at home; and 
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WHEREAS, studies have shown that Meals on Wheels programs improves food security 
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and quality of life amongst those seniors enrolled; and 
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WHEREAS, our culture ad traditions teach us to have a deep respect for our elders; and 
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WHEREAS, in fiscal yar 2024, the Meals on Wheels program has serviced 849 
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individuals and served almost 140,000 meals; and 
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WHEREAS, the current waitlist consists of 77 individuals on St. Croix and 20 on St. 
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Thomas; and 
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WHEREAS, additional funding is needed to clear the current waitlist for the Meals on 
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Wheels program throughout the Virgin Islands; and 
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WHEREAS, the additional staffing and transportation required to sustain clearing the 
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current waitlist will be adjusted in the fiscal year 2025 budget for the Virgin Islands Department 
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of Human Services; Now, Therefore 
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Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 
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SECTION 1. (a) The sum of $100,000 is appropriated in the fiscal year ending 
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September 30, 2024, from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin 
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Islands, to the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services, for the Elderly Nutrition Program 
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known as Meals on Wheels (“Program”) to allow the 77 individuals on St. Croix and 20 
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individuals on St. Thomas who are on the Program’s waiting list, to receive meals under the 
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Program.  
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(b) 
The appropriated sum covers the cost of the meals and any additional personnel 
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costs associated with getting the meals delivered to the individuals during the 2024 fiscal year. 
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SECTION 2.  Not later that August 5, 2024, the Virgin Islands Department of Human 
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Service shall provide meals to the 77 individuals on St. Croix and the 20 individuals on St. 
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Thomas under the Elderly Nutrition Program otherwise known as the Meals on Wheels 
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Program. 
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BILL SUMMARY 
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This bill appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to the Virgin Islands Department 
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of Human Services to provide meals to waitlisted individuals to the end of the 2024 fiscal year. 
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BR24-1217/ July 22, 2024/ SLR 
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