COMMITTEE ON RULES AND JUDICIARY 
 
 
BILL NO. 
36-0116 
 
Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands 
 
 
 
July 10, 2025 
 
 
 
An Act amending and updating various sections of title 12 Virgin Islands Code 
 
 
 
PROPOSED BY: 
 
 
Senator Carla J. Joseph 
 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 
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SECTION I. Title 12 Virgin Islands Code is amended as follows: 
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(a) 
In section 1 by striking “Conservation and Cultural Affairs” and inserting 
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“Planning and Natural Resources” in the title heading wherever it appears; 
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(b) 
In section 15 by striking “$1” and inserting “a fee as instituted by the 
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Commissioner after notice to the public.”; 
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(c) 
In section 17 by striking “not more than $5” and inserting “an amount 
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instituted by the Commissioner after notice to the public.”; 
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(d) 
In section 18 by striking “Conservation and Cultural Affairs” and inserting 
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“Planning and Natural Resources”, and by striking “$100” and inserting “$200”; 
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(e) 
In section 32(h) by striking “$200” and inserting “$500”; 
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(f) 
In section 125 by striking “$100” and inserting “$500” and by adding the 
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following at the end of the section: “Upon conviction, defendant shall also pay the costs 
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for replacement of the trees or shrubs removed in violation of this section”; and 
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(g) 
In section 145, subsection (a), by striking “$100” and inserting “$200” and 
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inserting the following at the end of the subsection: ‘The Tree Board may also require 
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that the violator pay a restoration fee equivalent to the cost of purchasing and replanting 
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the removed trees and shrubs.” 
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BILL SUMMARY 
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This bill updates sections of title 12 Virgin Islands Code by adjusting fees and penalties, 
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and imposing additional requirements for replacing trees and shrubs in violation of the sections. 
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BR25-0566/April 3, 2025/LMW 
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