Financial Officer serving in any government or semi-
autonomous agency. 
(e) REFERENDUM.—As part of the closest regularly 
scheduled, islands-wide election in the Virgin Islands to 
the expiration of the fourth year of the five-year term of 
the Chief Financial Officer, the Board of Elections of the 
Virgin Islands shall hold a referendum to seek the ap-
proval of the people of the Virgin Islands regarding wheth-
er the position of Chief Financial Officer of the Govern-
ment of the Virgin Islands shall be made a permanent part 
of the executive branch of the Government of the Virgin 
Islands. The referendum shall be binding and conducted 
according to the laws of the Virgin Islands, except that 
the results shall be determined by a majority of the ballots 
cast. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com-
mission to be known as the ‘‘Virgin Islands Chief Finan-
cial Officer Search Commission’’. 
(b) DUTY OF COMMISSION.—The Commission shall 
recommend to the Governor not less than 3 candidates for 
nomination as Chief Financial Officer of the Virgin Is-
lands. Each candidate must have demonstrated ability in 
general management of, knowledge of, and extensive prac-
tical experience at the highest levels of financial manage-
ment in governmental or business entities and must have 
experience in the development, implementation, and oper-
ation of financial management systems. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Com-
mission shall be composed of eight members ap-
pointed not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. Persons appointed as mem-
bers must have recognized business, government, or 
financial expertise and experience and shall be ap-
pointed as follows: 
(A) One individual appointed by the Gov-
ernor of the Virgin Islands. 
(B) One individual appointed by the Presi-
dent of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands. 
(C) One individual, who is an employee of 
the Government of the Virgin Islands, ap-
pointed by the Central Labor Council of the 
Virgin Islands. 
(D) One individual appointed by the 
Chamber of Commerce of St. Thomas-St. John. 
(E) One individual appointed by the Cham-
ber of Commerce of St. Croix. 
(F) One individual appointed by the Presi-
dent of the University of the Virgin Islands.
(G) One individual, who is a resident of St. 
John, appointed by the At-Large Member of the 
Legislature of the Virgin Islands. 
(H) One individual appointed by the Presi-
dent of AARP Virgin islands. 
(2) TERMS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Each member shall be 
appointed for the life of the Commission. 
(B) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Com-
mission shall be filled in the manner in which 
the original appointment was made. Any mem-
ber appointed to fill a vacancy shall be ap-
pointed for the remainder of that term. 
(3) BASIC PAY.—Members shall serve without 
pay. 
(4) QUORUM.—Five members of the Commis-
sion shall constitute a quorum. 
(5) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the 
Commission shall be the Chief Justice of the Su-
preme Court of the United States Virgin Islands or 
the designee of the Chief Justice. The Chairperson 
shall serve as an ex officio member of the Commis-
sion and shall vote only in the case of a tie. 
(6) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at 
the call of the Chairperson. The Commission shall
meet for the first time not later than 15 days after 
all members have been appointed under this sub-
section. 
(7) 
GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYMENT.—Members 
may not be current government employees, except 
for the member appointed under paragraph (1)(C). 
(d) REPORT; RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Commission 
shall transmit a report to the Governor, the Committee 
on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
Senate not later than 60 days after its first meeting. The 
report shall name the Commission’s recommendations for 
candidates for nomination as Chief Financial Officer of 
the Virgin Islands. 
(e) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 
upon the nomination and confirmation of the Chief Finan-
cial Officer. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions 
apply: 
(1) CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.—In sections 1 
and 2, the term ‘‘Chief Financial Officer’’ means a 
Chief Financial Officer or Acting Chief Financial 
Officer, as the case may be, appointed under section 
1(a).
(2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Virgin Islands Chief Financial Officer 
Search Commission established pursuant to section 
2. 
(3) GOVERNOR.—The term ‘‘Governor’’ means 
the Governor of the Virgin Islands. 
(4) REMOVAL FOR CAUSE.—The term ‘‘removal 
for cause’’ means removal based upon misconduct, 
failure to meet job requirements, or any grounds 
that a reasonable person would find grounds for dis-
charge. 
Passed the House of Representatives August 1, 
2012. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3706 
AN ACT 
To create the Office of Chief Financial Officer of 
the Government of the Virgin Islands, and for 
other purposes.