reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
V.I. Code tit. 32, § 361 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 32 - Sports and Parks|Chapter 19 - Outdoor Recreation|§ 361. Coordinated action

 The Legislature finds and declares it to be desirable that the people of the Virgin Islands of present and future generations be assured adequate outdoor recreation resources, and that it is desirable for all levels of government and private interests to take prompt and coordinated action to the extent practicable without diminishing or affecting their respective powers and functions to conserve, develop and utilize such resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the people of the Virgin Islands.
V.I. Code tit. 32, § 362 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 32 - Sports and Parks|Chapter 19 - Outdoor Recreation|§ 362. Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation as state agency

 The Government of the Virgin Islands, through the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation which is hereby designated as the state agency for such purpose, is authorized to participate in the programs authorized by the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (P.L. 88–578, 78 Stat. 897), to cause to be prepared such comprehensive state plan as may be required thereunder, to receive and expend federal funds, and to comply with all other federal requirements for participation in such programs.
V.I. Code tit. 32, § 363 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 32 - Sports and Parks|Chapter 19 - Outdoor Recreation|§ 363. Legislative approval

 Before becoming effective a comprehensive state plan as referred to in section 362 of this title or any amendment or modification thereof shall be approved by the Legislature or if the Legislature is not in session by the Committee on Conservation, Recreation and Cultural Affairs of the Legislature.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 1 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 1. Definitions

 As used in this chapter— “child welfare services” include the protection and care of children who are dependent or neglected and any other children who may be in need of services in their own homes or foster care; “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Human Services; “Department” means the Department of Human Services; “Pooled Medical Fund” means a special fund established under “Public Assistance” and dedicated to the payment of costs of medical supplies, appliances and services for public assistance recipients with respect to whom fixed monthly assistance payments are currently being made into such Fund; and “public assistance” means money payments, medical care, and assistance in kind.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 2 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 2. Functions of Commissioner of Human Services

 The Commissioner shall discharge the social welfare functions of the Virgin Islands, including those specified in section 384 of Title 3, except as otherwise prescribed by law.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 4 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 4. Eligibility for public assistance

 Public assistance shall be granted under this chapter to any needy individual who has not available sufficient income and resources to maintain a reasonable standard of health and well-being.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 5 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 5. Preparation of plans and classification of expenditures

 The rulemaking powers of the Commissioner shall include authority to establish rules and regulations and necessary procedures for the preparation of plans and for classifying and reporting expenditures made with respect to recipients of public assistance in such manner as to obtain the financial participation of Federal Government under Titles I, IV, and X of the Social Security Act and any law amendatory of or supplementary thereto that may hereafter be enacted.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 6 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 6. Amount of assistance

 The amount of assistance which a recipient shall receive shall be determinated in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commissioner, with due regard to his requirements and the conditions existing in his case and to the income and resources determined to be available to him from whatever source, and shall be sufficient to provide him with a reasonable subsistence compatible with health and well-being.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 7 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 7. Applications for public assistance

 Applications for public assistance under the provisions of this chapter shall be made in the manner and form prescribed by the Commissioner and shall contain such information as the Commissioner may require.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 8 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 8. Investigation of application

 Whenever the Commissioner receives an application for public assistance under this chapter, he shall promptly make an investigation and record of the circumstances of the applicant in order to ascertain the facts supporting the application and to obtain such other information as may be required by the rules and regulations of the Commissioner.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 9 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 9. Approval of public assistance

 The Commissioner shall determine, in accordance with his rules and regulations, whether the applicant is eligible for public assistance under the provisions of this chapter, the type and amount of public assistance he shall receive, and the date upon which such public assistance shall begin. Public assistance shall be paid in the manner prescribed by the Commissioner.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 10 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 10. Redetermination of eligibility and amount of payments

 The Commissioner shall change or withdraw the award of assistance whenever the conditions have altered sufficiently to warrant such action. If during the time he is receiving public assistance, the recipient thereof receives income or acquires resources in excess of the amount previously reported by him, it shall be his duty to notify the Commissioner of the fact immediately.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 11 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 11. Appeal and fair hearing—Continued payments pending appeal

 An applicant or recipient aggrieved because of a decision of the Commissioner or his authorized representative, or by delay in making a decision shall be entitled to appeal to the Board in the manner prescribed by it, and shall be afforded reasonable notice and opportunity for a fair hearing by the Board or by a representative duly appointed by it for that purpose. If the appeal concerns a termination or reduction of public assistance payments, such payments shall continue in full force and effect pending the Board's determination at the hearing, and shall thereafter be either continued, terminated or reduced pursuant to such determination. The Board shall meet to consider appeals hereunder within 30 days after the date of filing of same.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 12 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 12. Confidential character of information

 The Commissioner shall establish and enforce reasonable rules and regulations governing the custody, use and preservation of the documents, records, papers, files, and communications concerning public assistance, child welfare service and other welfare services of the Department. The use of such documents, records, papers, files, and communications by any other Government agency or department to which they may be furnished shall be limited exclusively to the purpose for which they are furnished. It shall be unlawful, except for purposes directly connected with the administration of public assistance and welfare services and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commissioner, for any person to solicit, disclose, or receive, make use of, or authorize, knowingly permit, participate in, or acquiesce in the use of any list of or name of, or information concerning persons applying for or receiving assistance or services, directly or indirectly derived from the documents, records, papers, files, or communications of the Department or any other agency or department. This section shall not be construed to limit the power of the Legislature to obtain information and records as provided in section 2 of Title 2.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 13 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 13. Public assistance not assignable

 Public assistance granted under this chapter shall not be transferable or assignable at law or in equity, and none of the money paid or payable under this chapter shall be subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process, or to the operation of any bankruptcy or insolvency law.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 14 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 14. Public Assistance Fund

 Income and disbursements  (a) There is established in the Treasury of the Virgin Islands, a special fund to be known as the “Public Assistance Fund.” Into this Fund shall be paid all moneys appropriated by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands for assistance under this chapter and all moneys from all other sources, including contributions from the Federal Government and from other public or private sources made available to the Commissioner for assistance or the administration of assistance under this chapter. All contributions from private sources shall become public funds upon deposit in the Public Assistance Fund and shall thenceforth be subject to the control of the Commissioner. Into this Fund may also be paid, if so provided in appropriation bills passed by the Legislature, moneys appropriated thereby for administration of assistance under this chapter, including moneys appropriated for administration of assistance jointly with other programs. Disbursements from this Fund shall be made as directed by the Commissioner in accordance with this chapter. Allocation of moneys  (b) The Commissioner shall estimate the money to be credited to the Public Assistance Fund from all sources during each fiscal year and from the funds available shall make such apportionments among various assistance and other programs, for assistance and/or the administration thereof, and for other purposes, as will most effectively carry out the purposes of this chapter and the purposes of the appropriations and contributions made to the Fund for the fiscal year. Unexpended balances  (c) Unexpended balances in the Public Assistance Fund at the end of each fiscal year will continue available in succeeding fiscal years for liquidation of obligations of the preceding years and for the continued operation of assistance programs, provided that there shall be included in the budget estimates submitted by the Commissioner each year an estimate of the Virgin Islands share of the accumulated unobligated balance of the Fund to be carried forward into the year for which the budget estimates are submitted. Loans from public and trust funds  (d) Upon recommendation of the Commissioner, the Governor may make loans from the public and trust funds for advance to the Public Assistance Fund, when cash balances are temporarily insufficient to meet authorized obligations. Such loans shall not exceed in the aggregate the total appropriation for public assistance made in the annual budget for the fiscal year for which the loans are made. Such loans shall be repaid, without interest, to the public or trust funds before the close of the fiscal year for which the loans were made.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 14a (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 14a. Dorothy D. Buckley Trust Funds

 (a) There is established in the Treasury of the Virgin Islands a special fund to be known as the “Dorothy D. Buckley Trust Fund for the Indigent Elderly.” Into this fund shall be paid all monies bequeathed from the estate of the late Dorothy D. Buckley for the benefit of the indigent elderly of the Virgin Islands. No other monies shall be placed therein, and all payments made from this fund shall be made for the benefit of the indigent elderly at the discretion of the Commissioner of Human Services. This fund shall continue in existence until expended. (b) There is established in the Treasury of the Virgin Islands a special fund to be known as the “Dorothy D. Buckley Trust Fund for the Underprivileged Children of the Virgin Islands.” Into this fund shall be paid all monies bequeathed from the estate of the late Dorothy D. Buckley for the benefit of the underprivileged children of the Virgin Islands. No other monies shall be placed therein, and all payments made from this fund shall be made for the benefit of the underprivileged children at the discretion of the Commissioner of Human Services. This fund shall continue in existence until expended.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 14b (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 14b. Disabled Persons Special Fund

 There is hereby established in the Treasury of the Virgin Islands a special fund to be known as the “Disabled Persons Special Fund” (hereinafter referred to in this section as the “Fund”). Into this Fund shall be deposited the sums referred to in the proviso clause contained in (i) of paragraph (11) of subsection (a), section 246, Title 32, Virgin Islands Code of which not more than 15 percent may be used for administrative costs of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled Persons Program, and not more than 25 percent of any unused portion of an allotment to finance critical priorities within the Department's Division of Adult Protective Services including, the Homes for the Aged, Homemaker Services, Family Caregiver Support Program, emergency residential placements, and emergency funding for elderly and disabled persons. All payments made from this Fund shall be made for the benefit of disabled persons at the discretion of the Commissioner of Human Services. Payments made to any individual disabled person or his or her family on such person's behalf from this Fund shall not exceed $20,000 per annum.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 15 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 15. Travel assistance

 The Commissioner may in proper cases, wherein he determines that an emergency exists, provide travel assistance and may authorize Government personnel to accompany the recipient of such assistance; provided that the amounts spent for the travel and subsistence of the Government employees shall not exceed the amounts set forth in the Government Travel Regulations.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 16 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 16. Appropriations

 (a) The Legislature shall annually appropriate out of funds available to it, an amount sufficient to carry out the provisions of this chapter based upon the estimates submitted by the Commissioner of Social Welfare pursuant to section 384 of Title 3. The Commissioner of Finance shall pay into the Public Assistance Fund the amounts appropriated thereto in accordance with section 14(a) of this title. (b) No appropriation request for the Public Assistance Fund shall be considered by the Legislature unless such request is accompanied by a schedule showing the average proposed and existing grants for all categories of public assistance including average allowances for food, clothing, shelter and fuel in each category.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 17 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 17. Work relief

 The Commissioner is authorized, as deemed desirable, within funds made available to the Department for emergency aid or work relief, to provide employment for employable persons who are in need and unemployed and for whom no other employment is immediately available, such employment to be in useful work for the Department or any other activity of the Government.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 18 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 18. Homes for aged and destitute persons

 (a) Homes for aged and destitute persons shall be under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Human Services, who shall be responsible for their proper management and operation. (b) The homes shall receive such persons as may be committed to them by the Commissioner and shall institutionalize such persons for such time as the Commissioner deems necessary or desirable. (c) The Commissioner of Human Services shall determine the policies governing the management and operation of the homes for aged and destitute persons and governing the admission and discharge of residents thereof. (d) The Commissioner shall require the payment of the actual cost of maintaining residents of such homes in instances where the residents thereof or relatives responsible by law for their support are financially able to make such payment; Provided, That the amount of payment required shall be reduced, if necessary, to an amount within the ability of the resident or his relatives to pay. The Commissioner may also accept contributions towards the cost of maintaining residents of such homes from residents thereof or their relatives or friends. (e) There is hereby created and established within the Treasury of the Virgin Islands a special fund to be known and designated as the “Homes for the Aged Special Revolving Fund” (hereinafter referred to in this section as the “Fund”). The Commissioner of Finance is directed to maintain and provide for the administration of the Fund as a separate and distinct fund within the Treasury, and no funds therein shall be available for disbursement or expenditure except as provided for in this section. (f) The Fund shall consist of: (1) all sums appropriated thereto from time to time by the Legislature; (2) payments and contributions received pursuant to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section; and (3) gifts and bequests of monies made thereto. (g) Monies shall be disbursed from the Fund by the Commissioner of Finance, upon the authorization and direction of the Commissioner, for the purpose of maintaining and operating the homes and may be utilized to purchase equipment therefor; Provided, however, That monies from gifts or bequests may be expended only in accordance with any instructions or directions associated therewith. All monies in the Fund shall remain available in the Fund until expended without fiscal year limitation. (h) The Commissioner may also accept on behalf of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands gifts, devises and bequests of property, real or personal, other than gifts or bequests of monies, for the operation, maintenance, improvement or benefit of the homes. All property so accepted shall be devoted for the purposes for which they are donated, under the direction of the Commissioner.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 18a (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 18a. Home Care Service for aged and indigent citizens

 In order to assist senior citizens who are aged and indigent to enjoy basic comforts of living during their declining years, the Commissioner of Human Services is hereby authorized to institute a Home Care Service. This service shall include, but not be limited to cleaning of rooms, assistance in cooking, and other domestic chores. The Commissioner of Human Services is hereby authorized to employ persons trained in domestic skills to provide this service on a daily basis throughout the Virgin Islands. Funds for this purpose are authorized to be appropriated in the annual operating budget for the Department of Human Services.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 19 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 19. Day care of children of working mothers

 (a) The Commissioner of Human Services shall be responsible for a program for stimulating efforts by private persons or organizations to provide suitable day care facilities for children of working mothers and for supervising the operation of such facilities. For this purpose, he shall be authorized, to the extent that funds are appropriated therefor, to provide subsidy payments for care furnished by private day care facilities to children whose parents are unable, because of lack of financial resources, to pay the minimum rates established for care in such facilities for cases not receiving a subsidy. The subsidy payments shall equal the difference between the established minimum rates of the facility, or such lower rate as the Commissioner and Board of Social Welfare may determine to be reasonable, and the responsible relatives of the child can afford to pay, as determined by the Department of Human Services on the basis of the resources and needs of the family on eligibility standards approved by the Commissioner and Board of Social Welfare. (b) In any area in the Virgin Islands where there is clear and special need for day care facilities for children of working mothers and it proves impossible to stimulate the development of private facilities adequate to the need, the Commissioner of Human Services shall be authorized to establish, as an activity of the Department of Human Services, such day care facilities as the Governor may approve and as may be operated within appropriations available therefore. (c) For day care facilities operated by the Department of Human Services under the authorization contained in subsection (b) of this section, the Commissioner and Board of Social Welfare shall determine the normal rates to be charged, and shall establish the standards on the basis of which the Department shall determine eligibility and the amount of contribution which shall be required from responsible relatives unable to pay the normal rates in full. (d) The Commissioner of Human Services shall be authorized to accept such Federal contribution as may be made available for any part or parts of the day care program authorized by this section.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 20 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 20. Food distribution program for the needy; application for federal grants

 The Commissioner of Human Services of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands shall make application to the United States Department of Agriculture for grants of foodstuffs under the Direct Distribution Program of the Department of Agriculture on the basis of need to be determined by a census of needy cases in Saint Thomas, Saint Croix, and Saint John to be made by the Department of Human Services.
V.I. Code tit. 34, § 21 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 34 - Welfare|Chapter 1 - Social Welfare Generally|§ 21. Same; storage, repackaging and delivery

 The Commissioner of Human Services shall store all foodstuffs received under the Direct Distribution Program and shall repackage and deliver such foodstuffs to the needy persons in Saint Thomas, Saint Croix, and Saint John, certified for assistance by the Department of Human Services, and in such amounts and for such periods specified by the Department of Human Services.