§ 206. Promotion of hemp research and development
(a) The Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the University of the Virgin Islands shall promote the research and development of markets for the Virgin Islands industrial hemp and products after the selection and establishment of the industrial hemp research program and the Industrial Hemp Commission, subject to the availability of adequate funds for these […]
§ 207. The Virgin Islands Industrial Hemp Commission
(a) The Virgin Islands Industrial Hemp Commission is established within the Department of Agriculture and consists of at least nine members as follows: (1) The President of the University of the Virgin Islands or the President’s designee; (2) The chair of the Legislature’s Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture & Planning or its successor: (3) The […]
§ 208. Adoption of federal regulations
The Department shall adopt the federal regulations regarding industrial hemp and any subsequent changes thereto.
§ 301. Definitions
As used in the chapter, the term (1) “ABIC” means the Agriculture Business Incubator Center established in section 302. (2) “Agri-business” means a business engaged in any business listed in section 192 of this title. (3) “Business incubator” means a facility, including the ABIC, that offers: (A) Space for start-up and expanding firms; (B) The […]
§ 302. Established; program
(a) There is established within the Department of Agriculture the ABIC. The purpose of the ABIC is to operate the Program established in subsection (b). (b) The Program is established within the ABIC to provide start-up and operating assistance to qualified agri-business entrepreneurs, including providing assistance with in business planning, marketing agricultural products, obtaining access […]
§ 195. Certification of applicant
The Commissioner of Agriculture shall determine whether an applicant for the benefits provided under this chapter shall qualify under the provisions of this chapter for said exemptions and shall certify his findings to the Commissioner of Finance. Any person, individual, corporation or legal entity that provides false documents or statements, knowingly and with the intent […]
§ 196. Refund of taxes or fees
Any applicant who qualifies for the exemptions provided in this chapter shall have refunded to him, from the Treasury of the United States Virgin Islands, any taxes or fees he may have paid on or after January 1, 2011, the payment of which he is exempt by virtue of this chapter.
§ 197. Subsidy payments
(a) In addition to the exemptions provided in section 193 of this chapter, any applicant certified by the Commissioner of Agriculture as engaged in agriculture shall be entitled to a subsidy equal in amount to ninety percent of that portion of his annual income tax which was derived from agriculture and paid into the Treasury […]
§ 198. Annual report
The Commissioner of Agriculture shall submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, not later than January 31 of each calendar year, in which he shall review and analyze the effectiveness of the programs established by this act and make recommendations to enhance or reduce benefits to farmers and […]
§ 199. Established; definitions; subcommittee; funding; permits
(a) This section may be cited as the “Virgin Islands Native Aquatic Species Protection Act”. (b) The “Virgin Islands Native Aquatic Species Protection Act” is hereby enacted to establish, maintain, and support by appropriations to the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), efforts to develop strategies to protect Virgin Islands native aquatic species through […]