1. COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION YOUTH AND CULTURE
BILL NO. 28-0012
Twenty-Eighth Legislature of the Virgin Islands
March 3, 2009
An Act amending title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5 to provide for the Worker
Preparation Educational Program for high school seniors
PROPOSED BY: Senator Terrence “Positive” Nelson
Co-Sponsors: Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg, Jr.
and Patrick Simeon Sprauve
1 WHEREAS, preparation of high school students to enter the world of work has been
2 neglected; and
3 WHEREAS, high school preparation has been skewed in favor of the “college
4 bound” graduate; and
5 WHEREAS, most high schools in the Territory have some semblance of a college
6 preparatory curriculum; and
7 WHEREAS, there exists no comprehensive worker preparation course in the
8 curricula; and
9 WHEREAS, high schools have failed to make sufficient provisions for that segment
10 of our high school graduates who are not college or military bound; and

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1 WHEREAS, high school students wishing to enter the workforce after graduation are
2 ill prepared to do so; and
3 WHEREAS, students lack sufficient knowledge of labor matters, such as of the
4 collective bargaining process, the requirements of the National Labor Relations Act,
5 employment discrimination and unemployment benefits and other employee benefits, rights
6 and protections; and
7 WHEREAS, notwithstanding the employment-related programs currently offered in
8 the high schools, too many of our high school graduates who opt to enter the workforce are
9 far from prepared to meet the needs of employers for even entry level jobs; and
10 WHEREAS, the United States Chamber of Commerce, Center for Workforce
11 Preparation conducted a study entitled, “The Equipped for the Future Work Readiness
12 Credential” (June 2006), in which it reported that four categories of skills are needed for
13 entry level jobs: (1) Communication skills; (2) Interpersonal skills; (3) decision-making
14 skills; and (4) lifelong learning skills; and
15 WHEREAS, educational programs that develop communication, interpersonal,
16 decision making and lifelong learning skills are needed to teach the skills needed for our high
17 school graduates’ success in the job market; and
18 WHEREAS, the Virgin Islands Department of Education’s Office of Testing and
19 Planning, Research and Evaluation revealed that 230 students graduated from St. Croix
20 Educational Complex in 2006, and of those graduates, 102 entered the job market; and
21 WHEREAS, the Legislature finds and declares that the development and
22 implementation of worker preparation educational programs to develop the skills sought in
23 the job market and provide students with a comprehensive overview of laws and issues
24 affecting the workplace are essential to the success of young people entering the workforce
25 and to the general welfare of the citizens of the Virgin Islands; and

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1 WHEREAS, the Legislature finds and declares that an affirmative effort to provide
2 high school graduates with greater opportunities for success in the workforce within the
3 Virgin Islands is important to the welfare and security of this Territory and nation and,
4 consequently, is an important public service; and
5 WHEREAS, the Legislature further finds and declares that worker preparation
6 educational programs in the Territory’s high schools will have, a major impact on the Virgin
7 Islands in meeting the socially and economically desirable goals of educating young people
8 to become successful and productive members of the workforce in this Territory; Now,
9 Therefore,
10 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands:
11 SECTION 1. Title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5 is amended by adding section
12 41c to read as follows:
13 “§41c (a) This section may be cited as “The Worker Preparation Educational
14 Program Act”.
15 (b) As used in this section
16 (1) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of the Department of
17 Education.
18 (2) “Cooperative education” means a structured method of instruction in
19 work–related matters, including federal and local labor laws, designed for high school
20 seniors to increase their knowledge of work and employment matters, develop and
21 augment communication interpersonal, decision-making and lifelong learning skills
22 needed for success in the job market and to provide learning experiences in employer-
23 employee relations, team work, customer service, and work assignment
24 responsibilities, as an integral part of the of the Labor Relations Worker Preparation
25 components Worker Preparation Course under subsections (d) and (e).

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1 (3) “Workforce preparation” means activities that are designed to prepare
2 high school graduates for entry into the job market, including classroom exposure to
3 core concepts in labor relations as well as more practical cooperative education
4 arrangements administered as part of the component of the Labor Relations and the
5 Worker Preparation components of the Worker Preparation Course established in
6 subsections (d) and (e).
7 (c) Except as provided in subsection (h), the Commissioner shall establish and
8 offer a semester-long, intensive course in worker preparation at participating high schools for
9 students in the final semester of their senior year who do not intend to enter a post-secondary
10 institution for at least one year after graduation from high school. The worker preparation
11 course must combine instruction in core principles of labor relations with the practical,
12 general job related skills.
13 (d) The Labor Relations component is taught for the first, nine-week marking
14 period and a Worker Preparation component is taught for the second, nine-week marking
15 period.
16 (e) The Labor Relations Component consists of a classroom-lecture format and
17 includes without limitation the following subject matters:
18 (1) The history of labor unions and the history of collective bargaining;
19 nationally as well as in the Virgin Islands;
20 (2) Workers rights; and responsibilities;
21 (3) An overview of the National Labor Relations Act; The Fair Labor
22 Standards Act and the Virgin Islands labor statutes;
23 (4) Classes of employment discrimination, including sex, age
24 discrimination, sexual harassment in the workplace, and all other classes of
25 employment discrimination;

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1 (5) Employee benefits, including retirement, workers compensation,
2 health insurance, unemployment insurance, sick leave, family leave;
3 (6) Work hours, including over-time pay rules;
4 (7) Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) issues;
5 (8) The problems of working people and their relations with employers
6 and co-workers;
7 (9) Termination of employment; wrongful discharge; and
8 (10) Such other subjects as the Commission determines appropriate.
9 (e) The Worker Preparation component of the course includes without limitation
10 the following cooperative education and worker preparation activities:
11 (1) Communication skills, including learning how to speak so others can
12 understand, listening actively, reading with understanding and observing critically;
13 (2) Interpersonal skills to include cooperating with others, learning
14 teamwork strategies, resolving conflicts and negotiating;
15 (3) Decision-making skills, including learning to identify and analyze
16 problems, evaluate solutions and problem solving;
17 (4) Lifelong learning skills, including developing clear thinking, self study
18 and independent learning and using information and communication technology, time
19 management;
20 (5) Developing a strong work ethic, competence and punctuality;
21 (6) Effective writing skills including English grammar and composition;
22 (7) Cover letter and resume writing;
23 (8) Use of the Public Employment Agency and Job Service and the
24 Government Personnel Office;
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1 (9) Job interviewing skills, including pre-interview preparation, proper
2 dress, speech, mannerisms and overall demeanor; and
3 (10) Cooperative education arrangements whereby students attend field
4 trips to real job settings in both the government and private sectors and other venues
5 to and interact with employers and employees on relevant worker preparation topics
6 and issues, have roundtable discussions with employers, employment recruiters and
7 job counselors issues discussed during class and perform such other activities as may
8 be assigned in class.
9 (f) To be eligible for the program a student must be a senior who upon graduation
10 intends to enter the work force, who has applied for the program on forms provided by the
11 Department of Education and meets such other criteria as the Commissioner determines.
12 (g) The Commissioner shall make arrangements with private-sector and
13 government employers, job counselors, relevant governmental and private agencies and other
14 persons and organizations to assist the Worker Preparation Educational Program in carrying
15 out the purpose of this section.
16 (h) This section does not apply to high schools in the territory which are primarily
17 college preparatory or academic schools. However, the Commissioner may develop a course
18 for these schools as determined appropriate for their particular situation.”
19 SECTION 2. Title 32 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 21, Article XI, section 517,
20 subsection (c) is amended in the first sentence after “education” by inserting “Work
21 Preparation Educational Program two” (2%) percent.”
22 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 15, 2010.
23 BILL SUMMARY
24 Section 1 amends the education code to establish the Worker Preparation Educational
25 Program. The program is offered to seniors in high school during their last semester and

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1 provides instruction in work-related matters. Such matters includes the history of the
2 National Labor Relations Act and collective bargaining, employee rights, responsibilities and
3 benefits, and the development of language interpersonal and life-long skills needed to
4 maneuver within the job market and the workplace.
5 Section 2 amends the Virgin Islands Casino and Resort Control Act. It provides for
6 an appropriation to the program from the Casino Revenue Fund established in 32 V.I.C.,
7 §517. Section 2 grants 2% of the funds deposited in the Casino Revenue Fund to the Worker
8 Preparation Educational Program.
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10 BR09-0154/February 4, 2009/YLT
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