reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 710a (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 710a. Committee of Medical Review

 (a) There is hereby created a Committee of Medical Review, to fulfill the requirements of Sections 708 and 710 of this chapter, and to assure fair and impartial evaluation of all claims for permanent disability retirement benefits. The Committee of Medical Review shall consist of at least three (3) and no more than seven (7) physicians who are licensed and Board certified. Each physician must be retained by contract. Any member of the Committee of Medical Review shall refrain from participation when it is clear that they may have a conflict of interest on a particular case. When a member recuses himself, the Committee shall conduct its work with a majority of the members of the committee. The Committee of Medical Review, its substitutes, and its employees may not be held personally liable for conclusions, advice, or recommendations made in accordance with the duties of the Committee of Medical Review. The substitutes shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees and shall be paid at a rate of compensation set by the Board of Trustees. (b) The Committee of Medical Review shall: (1) review all reports and medical examinations required by this chapter; (2) investigate all essential health and medical statements and certificates filed in connection with an application for disability retirement benefits; and (3) submit to the System a written report of its conclusions and recommendations on all matters referred to it. (c) The Board of Trustees shall, within 270 days of the enactment of this section, promulgate rules and regulations governing the administration of this section.
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 711 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 711. Administration of disability annuities

 (a) At least once each year during the first five years following the allowance of a disability annuity to any member, and at least once in every three-year period thereafter, until a member's attainment of age 55, the Board shall require any disability beneficiary to undergo a medical examination to be made at the place of residence of said beneficiary, or any other place mutually agreed upon, by a physician or physicians engaged by the System. If an examination indicates that the beneficiary is no longer physically or mentally incapacitated for service in the position held by the member at the date of disability, payments by the system shall be discontinued. The name of such member shall then he placed on the appropriate list of candidates maintained for appointment to a position in the division for which he is found to be qualified at compensation at least equal to the rate he received at the time he last became a beneficiary. (b) Should any member receiving a duty disability annuity or nonduty disability annuity resume a gainful occupation, and his earnings therefrom together with his disability annuity exceed the rate of compensation of the member at the date of retirement, the System shall reduce the amount of disability annuity to an amount which, when added to the compensation being earned by the member, shall not exceed the rate of compensation of the member at the date he last became a disability beneficiary. (c) Should any disability beneficiary refuse to submit to a medical examination as herein provided, payments by the system shall be discontinued until his withdrawal of such refusal, and should his refusal continue for one year, all rights of the member in any disability annuity shall be revoked by the System.
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 713 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 713. Refunds

 (a) Upon withdrawal from service, any member who does not have ten years of credited service and is not then eligible for a service retirement annuity shall be entitled to receive a refund of the accumulated contributions, plus regular interest, including contributions made by the member to any superseded retirement System. Any member withdrawing from service who does not receive a refund and later returns to service shall receive credit for the amount of credited service in force at the time of his withdrawal from service. Any member receiving a refund shall thereby waive and relinquish all accrued rights in the System including all accrued credited service. The System may, in its discretion, withhold payment of a refund for a period not to exceed one year after receipt of an application from a member. If no specific request to the contrary is made by a member within 30 days from the date of his separation from the service, the System may, in its discretion, refund the accumulated contributions of any member who has less than 3 years of credited service; notwithstanding that such member may not have applied for a refund. (b) Any member who has received a refund shall be considered a new member upon subsequent reemployment if such person qualifies for membership under the provisions hereof. Additionally, the member shall pay to the System the withdrawn contributions, the interest paid on those contributions prior to withdrawal, the income the System would have earned had those contributions remained in the System, and the interest on the unpaid balance, if the member elects to redeposit on an installment basis, provided the payments do not exceed a period of five consecutive years. (c)  (1) Whenever the System receives from the employer a member’s contributions, due to partial payment of the “salary right” of a member, as defined by section 702(z) of this chapter, and the contributions are not adequate to permit the System to adjust the member’s service retirement annuity for paid membership service, or no Notice of Personnel Action (NOPA) is received to permit the System to adjust the member’s service retirement annuity, the System shall refund the member’s contributions. (2) Payment of the member’s contributions to the member is final and in lieu of the member’s receipt of membership service credit, and the member is not entitled to any membership service credit that the member would have received, or to which the member would have been entitled, if contributions were paid on compensation created by the “salary right”.
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 716 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 716. Treasurer; legal counsel

 (a) The Board of Trustees shall appoint a treasurer of the system who shall perform the following duties: (1) Act as official custodian of the cash and securities belonging to the system and provide adequate safe deposit facilities for the preservation of the securities and hold the cash and securities subject to the order of the Board; (2) Receive all items of cash belonging to the system; (3) Collect the interest and principal on securities acquired by the system and deposit all such amounts in a special trust fund maintained in the name of the board; (4) Make payments for the various purposes specified in this chapter in accordance with the direction and authorization of the Administrator; (5) Submit such periodic reports or statements of accounts as the board may require. (b) The Administrator of the Government Employees Retirement System shall employ, with the advice and consent of the Board of Trustees, an attorney for the system.
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 717a (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 717a. Payment of loan after retirement

 Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any person who has a personal, mortgage, or mortgage chattel loan from the retirement system may upon retirement, if otherwise entitled, receive his retirement annuity, notwithstanding the fact that he may have an outstanding balance on such loan; Provided, That he agrees to have an amount equal to the amount deducted from his salary for repayment of the loan deducted from his retirement annuity and applied as payment to the outstanding balance of the loan.
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 718b (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 718b. Contribution from retroactive wages

 A retiree who is paid retroactive wages is not subject to payment of any contribution to the System from such retroactive wages. The System shall refund to the retiree any such contribution withheld from the payment of the retroactive wages.
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 718c (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 718c. Election available to eligible employees

 Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, participation in the early retirement program shall be voluntary for eligible employees as defined by this subchapter. Any person eligible for early retirement may elect to participate in the regular retirement program with contributions established at a rate of compensation determined by the Board. Should such person eligible for early retirement become a participant in the early retirement program, they shall pay the difference in contribution retroactive to December 29, 1986 or for five years, whichever is greater, or to the original date of their commencement of employment.
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 718d (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 718d. Transfers of eligible employees

 (a) A person eligible for early retirement, transferred to a position which does not qualify as a person so eligible after at least ten years of service as a person so eligible may elect to continue to contribute at the additional rate of compensation, for which he shall receive full benefits after twenty years of service or he may elect to pay six percent of compensation with reimbursement or credit for overpayment, but shall not be eligible for early retirement. (b) A person in a position which does not qualify as a person eligible for early retirement who is transferred to a position so eligible may elect to contribute at the additional rate of compensation for which he shall receive full benefits after twenty years of credited service, provided that such employee has been eligible and paying at the higher rate for at least ten years. Such employee shall be required at the time he becomes eligible for early retirement at the time he elects to become such pursuant to section 718c of this chapter, to pay retroactive to December 29, 1986 or for credited service to the time he makes such election to pay the difference between the rates for the time he seeks credit.
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 718e (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 718e. Persons eligible for early retirement; definition

 For the purposes of sections 718a-718d of this chapter “person eligible for early retirement” means a policeman, fireman, including a fireman employed by the Virgin Islands Port Authority, Virgin Islands marshal and probation officer of the Superior Court, internal affairs agents, to include but not limited to the Director and Assistant Director and agents of the Internal Affairs Bureau of the Virgin Islands Police Department, peace officer as defined in Title 5, section 3561, Virgin Islands Code, emergency medical technician, a radiology or x-ray technician employed by the Department of Health or the Virgin Islands Hospitals, corrections officer, eligible employee with the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority or eligible employee working with chlorine, sewage or carcinogens as defined in section 702 of this chapter.
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 720 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 720. Obligations of employer

 It shall be the duty of the employer to provide the System with records concerning the periods of service, dates of birth, compensation, new entrants into service, deaths, withdrawals and such other data on the employees as is necessary for the proper and effective operation of the system in accordance with the provisions hereof. It is the intention of this chapter that the payment of the required contributions by the employer and all annuities and benefits granted under the provisions of this chapter are hereby made obligations of the employer to the extent specified herein.
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 721 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 721. Superseded retirement funds or systems

 Effective as of October 1, 1959, there shall be transferred to this System all moneys, securities, loans receivable and other property to which title is held under applicable legislation relating to the existing retirement funds. The trustees of such retirement funds are hereby authorized to make such transfer. The amounts of contribution credits in the accounts of the employees in the aforesaid retirement funds shall be credited to them on the books of the system created by this chapter, and shall be subject to all provisions and conditions of this chapter. Any amounts remaining, after such contribution credits have been made, shall be credited to the Employer's Contribution Reserve as provided in section 719 of this title. Any pensions or benefits being paid by the aforesaid funds shall continue to be paid by the system. Claims for benefits pending at the date of establishment shall be granted in accordance with the aforesaid legislation. Claims for pensions and benefits arising on and after the date of establishment shall be granted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 722 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 722. Vested interest of employees; effect

 Each member shall, by virtue of the payment of contributions to this system, receive a vested interest in such contributions, and in consideration of such vested interest shall be conclusively deemed to undertake and agree to pay the same and to have them deducted from his compensation as herein provided.
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 723 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 723. Annuity and benefit payments

 The right of any member or other beneficiary to any annuity, benefit or refund shall accrue as of the date of establishment. Except as herein specifically otherwise provided, any annuity provided herein shall be payable for life in equal semimonthly installments from the beginning date thereof as fixed by the Administrator, on the fifteenth and last day of each month, first payment to be due as of October 15, 1959; Provided, That for the purpose of effectuating administration, a small pro rata amount may be paid for part of the month when the annuity or benefit payment begins after the first day of the month, or ends before the last day of the month. No annuity or benefit shall be increased, decreased, revoked or repealed, except for error, or where specifically otherwise provided by this chapter.
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 724 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 724. Penalties for fraud; adjustment of changes or errors in records

 (a) Any person who knowingly makes any false statement, or falsifies or permits to be falsified any record of this system, in an attempt to defraud the system, is guilty of a felony, and on conviction shall be fined not less than $25,000 nor more than $100,000 and imprisoned not less than five years, without suspension, modification, or revocation of the sentence prescribed herein, nor more than ten years. (b) Whenever any act of or attempt to commit fraud is discovered, the Administrator or his designee, shall transmit all evidence of the crime to the Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General for investigation and prosecution. (c) Should the fraudulent manipulation of the records result in any member's or beneficiary's receiving from the system more or less than he would have been entitled to receive had the records been correct, the System shall correct the error and, as far as practicable, shall adjust future payments in a manner that the actuarial equivalent of the annuity or benefit that the member or beneficiary was correctly entitled to receive, shall be paid. (d) Any person who endorses or cashes another member’s retirement check without written authorization is guilty of a felony and is subject to the penalties prescribed in subsection (a) of this section. (e) Any person who withdraws the proceeds of another member’s retirement check which were electronically deposited into the member’s account, without written authorization, is guilty of a felony and is subject to the penalties prescribed by subsection (a) of this section. (f) The acts proscribed in subsections (a), (d), and (e) apply to the endorsement or cashing of retirement checks, or the withdrawal of the proceeds of retirement checks electronically deposited into a member’s account, after the member is deceased. (g) Any person who commits an act proscribed in subsections (a), (d), and (e) is subject to any other criminal or civil penalty contained elsewhere in the Virgin Islands Code.
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 725 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 725. Exemption of rights from legal process; unassignability

 (a) The rights of a person to any annuity or benefit or right accrued or accruing to any person under the provisions of this chapter and the various moneys in the System created by this chapter, are hereby exempted from levy and sale, garnishment, attachment, or any other legal process whatsoever, and shall be unassignable except as in this chapter specifically otherwise provided. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the rights and benefits provided in this chapter are assignable only pursuant to actions for the support of a child, spouse, or other dependent, as ordered by any court of competent jurisdiction.
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 725a (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 725a. Increase in pensions, effective July 1, 1956

 An increase of ten ($10.00) dollars a month is hereby authorized and granted to each pensioner of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands who is a former Government Employee not covered under the Retirement Law of the Municipality of Saint Thomas and Saint John or the Municipality of Saint Croix. The Commissioner of Finance is hereby authorized to pay this increase from the Retirement Fund effective July 1, 1956.
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 726 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 726. Cost-of-living bonus for pensioners, effective July 1, 1957

 Each former official and employee of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands, or of the Municipality of Saint Thomas and Saint John or of the Municipality of Saint Croix, who is receiving a pension of less than seventy-five ($75.00) dollars a month from the Government of the United States Virgin Islands by virtue of any retirement law or by special legislation is hereby granted a cost-of-living bonus of ten dollars per month, effective July 1, 1957.
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 727 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 727. Cost-of-living bonus for pensioners, effective July 1, 1961

 Subject to the limitation set forth below, every person who is now receiving or may hereafter receive an annuity or a pension from the Government of the United States Virgin Islands, by virtue of any retirement law or by special legislation, is hereby granted a cost-of-living bonus of $10 per month, effective on and after July 1, 1961; Provided, however, That this cost-of-living bonus shall be in addition to the cost-of-living bonus authorized by section 726 of this title; And provided further, That in no case shall any annuity or pension hereby affected plus the bonus heretofore and herein granted exceed $100 per month. In the cases of persons now receiving or who may hereafter receive an annuity and a special pension, the amounts of such annuity and special pension shall be combined for the purpose of determining eligibility for this cost-of-living bonus. In such cases, the total cost-of-living bonus shall not exceed $10, and shall be paid from the Pension Fund. The cost-of-living bonus of $10 per month herein authorized shall not be applicable to pensions granted by special legislation approved on and after January 1, 1962.
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 728 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 728. Cost-of-living bonus for pensioners, effective July 1, 1966

 Every person on July 1, 1966, who is receiving or who after July 1, 1966, may receive an annuity from the Government of the United States Virgin Islands by virtue of any retirement law and every person who, prior to January 1, 1966, received a pension from said Government by virtue of special legislation, including in both instances cost-of-living bonuses and increases heretofore granted, is granted a cost-of-living bonus as follows: (a) Every person receiving such annuity or pension not in excess of $75 per month is granted a bonus of $10 per month; and (b) Every person receiving such annuity or pension in excess of $75 per month is granted a bonus of $15 per month.
V.I. Code tit. 3, § 729 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 3 - Executive|Chapter 27 - Retirement of Personnel; Federal Benefits|§ 729. Supplementary annuity to employee annuitants

 (a) Employees who retired on service retirement annuity prior to July 1, 1970, who were at least 55 years of age at date of retirement shall be entitled to receive a supplementary annuity under this section. (b) The Board may set cost-of-living increases for annuitants and pensioners and determine when the annuity should be paid on the basis of the most recent actuarial valuation, the Consumer Price Index, or other economic studies or evaluations that the Board may determine are relevant. (c) In the case of a member on retirement who is receiving, in addition to the retirement annuity from this system, a special pension grant from the government not paid by the retirement system, the following conditions shall govern: In the case of such retired member, payments on the supplementary annuity herein provided shall be deferred until the date when the retirement annuity payment being made by the system plus the total accumulation of supplementary annuity additions thereon become equal to the sum of (1) the retirement annuity payable by the system and (2) the amount of the special pension. Thereafter, the supplementary annuity additions shall become payable to such retired member at the rate herein stated based upon the original grant of the retirement annuity by the system as in the case of other retired members who receive no special pension. (d) In the case of members on disability retirement, the increase shall be 1 percent of the disability annuity times the number of full years that he has been in receipt of such annuity prior to his attainment of age 60, and 1 ½ percent of the disability annuity for each year after attainment of such age. (e) The supplementary annuity payable under this section shall be charged to a retired employee’s supplementary annuity reserve. This reserve shall be credited with investment earnings above 4 percent per annum, as established and earned by the system in each fiscal year to fund these annuities.