2019 US Virgin Islands Code
Title 24 - Labor
Chapter 11 - Workers' Compensation Administration
§ 251a. Worker's Compensation Board of Directors

(a) The Workers' Compensation Administration (WCA) shall be governed by a Board of Directors.

(b) The Board of Directors of the Workers' Compensation Administration shall be composed of eight (8) members, one being the Commissioner of Finance, or his designee, who shall serve as an ex officio member and the remainder who shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Legislature. Two (2) members Shall be appointed from a group of at least six (6) persons who are active members of the Central Labor Council. Of the members appointed from the Central Labor Council, one (1) shall be employed in a supervisory position, one (1) shall be a resident of the District of St. Croix and one (1) shall be a resident of the District of St. Thomas-St. John. Of the remaining four (4) members, two (2) shall represent employers, provided, however, that one (1) such appointee shall be a resident of the District of St. Croix and shall be recommended by the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce and one (1) such appointee shall be recommended by the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce. The remaining three (3) members of the Board shall be employees of the Government of the Virgin Islands provided that one (1) shall be employed in a supervisory position, one (1) such appointee shall be a resident of St. Croix, one (1) shall be a resident of St. Thomas and one (1) shall be a resident of St. John. The three (3) members who are active government employees shall not hold any other administrative positions with the Government of the Virgin Islands. Four (4) members of the board shall serve for a term of four (4) years and three members shall serve for a term of three (3) years. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no member of the board of the Workers' Compensation Administration shall serve more than two (2) complete terms. Any vacancy in a term shall be filled an the manner of the original appointment for the unexpired period of the term.

(c) The Governor shall designate one of the members to serve as temporary Chairman, whose sole responsibility shall be to call the first meeting of the board in which, the Chairman and other officers shall be elected from its members. Members of the Board of Directors of the Workers' Compensation Administration may be removed for justifiable cause by the Governor. Four (4) members shall constitute a quorum of the Board for the purpose of conducting the business of the Workers' Compensation Administration (WCA) and exercising its powers.

(d) Each member of the Board of Directors of the Workers' Compensation Administration shall take an Oath of Office that he will diligently and honestly administer the affairs of the Workers' Compensation Administration and that he will not knowingly violate or willingly permit to be violated any of the provisions of law applicable to Worker's Compensation. Such oath shall be subscribed by the board member taking it, and certified by the officer before whom it is taken, and shall immediately thereafter be filed with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

(e) Members of the board, while acting within the scope of their authority as Directors, shall not be subject to any personal or civil liability resulting from the exercise of any of the Workers' Compensation Administration's purposes, duties and responsibilities as provided under this chapter unless the conduct of the member is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to constitute willful wrongdoing or gross negligence.

(f) Members of the Board of Directors of the Workers' Compensation Administration shall receive $50 for each day or part thereof spent in work for the board, provided, however, that no member shall receive more than $3,000 in any fiscal year. Members shall be reimbursed by the Workers' Compensation Administration (WCA) for all necessary and reasonable expenses incurred through service on the board.

(g) To effectuate the provisions of this chapter, the Board of Directors shall adopt rules and regulations to govern its internal organization and functioning and shall approve and cause to be promulgated from time to time such other regulations as the administrator or the board may deem necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the Administration according to the law.