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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesFYI: Sen. Malone Calls for Support on Funding for School Surveillance Cameras

FYI: Sen. Malone Calls for Support on Funding for School Surveillance Cameras

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Feb. 11, 2005 – Today, during the second half of the first Regular Session of the 26th Legislature, Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Education, Culture, and Youth, Senator Shawn-Michael Malone's legislation to amend title 14, Virgin Islands Code, section 1265a, to provide for an increase in the fines for school vandalism passed the full senate with a unanimous vote. The bill is established to make vandals and parents of those under 18 accountable for their actions and serve as a deterrent from committing heinous crimes against school property.
The intent of this bill is to send a strong message to our community that the education of our children must be taken seriously and embraced by all, Senator Malone explained.
I have been advocating for harsher penalties for over a year now and it is refreshing to see that all the work and effort that was expended to make this legislation become a reality, was worth it to secure the welfare and livelihood of our children s academic future. As most know, this legislation was vetoed by the Governor late last year. This new version of the bill contains minor changes, mostly technical in nature that was addressed in the Governor's veto message, Senator Malone further stated. The changes addressed regarded language that would have required principals to establish a new impress fund account as opposed to one, and to change the effective date of the fiscal year to reflect 2005 as opposed to 2004.
I am also calling on the Governor to sign this legislation into law and request the support for funding to purchase surveillance cameras. With the addition of the $300,000 grant from the LEPC for the surveillance cameras, we are taking a proactive, as opposed to reactive approach to the social ills that are detrimental to the preservation and development of our most precious resource, our children. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues for voting in favor of this very important legislation that will serve the best interest of our students, Senator Malone concluded.

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