48 U.S.C. § 1597 — Reorganization of government

Page 156 TITLE 48—TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS § 1597 hire allowance and reimbursement for transportation expenses of the Delegate from the Virgin Islands to the House of Representatives. § 1597. Reorganization of government (a) Consolidation of departments, bureaus, etc.; popular election of school board members The Governor shall, within one year after July 22, 1954, reorganize and consolidate the existing executive departments, bureaus, independent boards, agencies, authorities, commissions, and other instrumentalities of the government of the Virgin Islands or of the municipal govern- ments into not more than nine executive depart- ments except for independent bodies whose ex- istence may be required by Federal law for par- ticipation in Federal programs. The head of each executive department other than the depart- ment of law shall be designated as the commis- sioner thereof, and the commissioner of finance shall be bonded. The head of the department of law shall be known as the attorney general of the Virgin Islands. Members of school boards, which entities of government have been duly or- ganized and established by the government of the Virgin Islands, shall be popularly elected. (b) Changes after examination from time to time The Governor shall, from time to time, after complying with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, examine the organization of the executive branch of the government of the Vir- gin Islands, and shall make such changes there- in, subject to the approval of the legislature, not inconsistent with this chapter, as he determines are necessary to promote effective management and to execute faithfully the purposes of this chapter and the laws of the Virgin Islands. (c) Appointment of department heads; tenure; re- moval; powers and duties; appointments to boards, etc. The heads of the executive departments cre- ated by this chapter shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the legislature. Each shall hold office during the continuance in office of the Governor by whom he is appointed and until his successor is ap- pointed and qualified, unless sooner removed by the Governor. Each shall have such powers and duties as may be prescribed by the legislature. The chairman and members of any board, au- thority, or commission established by the laws of the Virgin Islands shall, if the laws of the Vir- gin Islands hereafter provide, also be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the legislature, if such board, authority, or com- mission has quasi-judicial functions: Provided, That no law of the Virgin Islands dealing with the chairmanship, membership, or chairmanship and membership of any such board, authority, or commission, and requiring an appointment or appointments to be made with the advice and consent of the legislature, shall relate to more than one such board, authority, or commission, nor shall it relate to any other legislative mat- ter. (July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 16, 68 Stat. 504; Pub. L. 85–224, Aug. 30, 1957, 71 Stat. 510; Pub. L. 86–289, § 3, Sept. 16, 1959, 73 Stat. 569; Pub. L. 90–496, § 8(a), Aug. 23, 1968, 82 Stat. 839.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1968—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 90–496 substituted provi- sions that members of school boards which have been duly organized by the government of the Virgin Islands be popularly elected for provisions that required the approval of the Secretary of the Interior for the estab- lishment of any new department, agency, or other in- strumentality by the Governor or the legislature, un- less such department, agency, etc., was required by Federal law for participation in Federal programs. 1959—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 86–289 provided that the head of the department of law should be known as the attorney general of the Virgin Islands. 1957—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 85–224 provided for appoint- ments to boards, authorities or commissions. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1968 AMENDMENT Amendment of provisions of section necessary to au- thorize the holding of an election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor on Nov. 3, 1970, effective Jan. 1, 1970, and all other amendments of provisions of section, unless otherwise expressly provided by Pub. L. 90–496, effective Jan. 4, 1971, see section 16 of Pub. L. 90–496, set out as a note under section 1591 of this title. § 1598. Omitted Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section, act July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 20(b), 68 Stat. 505, which related to compensation of the Government Sec- retary, department heads, and staffs of the Governor and Government Secretary, was superseded by section 10 of Pub. L. 90–496, Aug. 23, 1968, 82 Stat. 841, which amended section 1641 of this title. See Codification note set out under section 1641 of this title. § 1599. Transfer of functions from government comptroller for Virgin Islands to Inspector General, Department of the Interior (a) Functions, powers, and duties transferred The following functions, powers, and duties heretofore vested in the government comptroller for the Virgin Islands are hereby transferred to the Inspector General, Department of the Inte- rior, for the purpose of establishing an organiza- tion which will maintain a satisfactory level of independent audit oversight of the government of the Virgin Islands: (1) The authority to audit all accounts per- taining to the revenue and receipts of the gov- ernment of the Virgin Islands, and of funds de- rived from bond issues, and the authority to audit, in accordance with law and administra- tive regulations, all expenditures of funds and property pertaining to the government of the Virgin Islands including those pertaining to trust funds held by the government of the Vir- gin Islands. (2) The authority to report to the Secretary of the Interior and the Governor of the Virgin Islands all failures to collect amounts due the government, and expenditures of funds or uses of property which are irregular or not pursu- ant to law. (b) Scope of authority transferred The authority granted in paragraph (a) shall extend to all activities of the government of the