Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, who is suing the Education Department and Commissioner Ruby Simmonds over Simmonds' plan to impose school bus fees in the fall, took another route toward the same end at Monday's session of the full Senate.
Hansen offered an amendment requiring Education to determine how much money it will take to provide free bus transportation for V.I. students, and then to seek federal funding and an appropriation from the V.I. Legislature. The measure was passed 10-0 without discussion, with five senators absent.
Voting for the amendment with Hansen were Sens. Gregory Bennerson, Lorraine Berry, Donald "Ducks" Cole, Roosevelt David, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, Violet Anne Golden, George Goodwin, Almando "Rocky" Liburd and Vargrave Richards.
Hansen's amendment was among the first of many senators energetically added to a routine bill retroactively changing the effective date of the 911 Emergency Services telephone customer surcharge. The session had been scheduled to extend into Tuesday, but the lawmakers adjourned shortly after 8 p.m. Monday.
