(a) Any department, agency, bureau or office of the Government of the Virgin Islands that wishes to issue credit cards to its officers or employees for government purchases shall first seek approval from the Department of Finance.
(b) The purchases must be for goods and services authorized pursuant to title 31 Virgin Islands Code, sections 236 and 239 and may not exceed the monetary caps set forth in those two sections.
(c) A record of all purchases must be kept by the department, agency, bureau or office as well as the limit authorized, which may not be increased without the prior authorization of the head of the agency and the Department of Finance.
(d) The Department of Finance shall ensure that payments to the credit card issuing companies are made within the timelines set out in the credit card contract, and that statements are reviewed for accuracy and errors.
(e) The Department of Finance shall promulgate regulations for the use of government-issued credit cards which must include:(1) Designation of officers and employees authorized to be issued credit cards;(2) A requirement that, before being issued a government credit card, authorized users shall sign an agreement that the user will use the card only in accordance with the policies of the issuing governmental entity;(3) Transaction limits for the use of each card;(4) Designation of purchases to be authorized for use of the cards;(5) A list of purchases that are not authorized for use of the cards;(6) Procedures for auditing and reviewing purchases made with such cards;(7) Procedures for addressing a violation, disciplinary actions, and administrative hearings;(8) Provisions for training use and misuse of credit; and(9) Such other provisions as the Department of Finance may consider necessary to carry out the purpose of this section.
(1) Designation of officers and employees authorized to be issued credit cards;
(2) A requirement that, before being issued a government credit card, authorized users shall sign an agreement that the user will use the card only in accordance with the policies of the issuing governmental entity;
(3) Transaction limits for the use of each card;
(4) Designation of purchases to be authorized for use of the cards;
(5) A list of purchases that are not authorized for use of the cards;
(6) Procedures for auditing and reviewing purchases made with such cards;
(7) Procedures for addressing a violation, disciplinary actions, and administrative hearings;
(8) Provisions for training use and misuse of credit; and
(9) Such other provisions as the Department of Finance may consider necessary to carry out the purpose of this section.
(f) The Department of Finance shall immediately cancel every credit instrument issued to a government employee who has separated from the Government of the Virgin Islands for any reason or who has used the credit instrument for personal purchases or other unauthorized purchases. The head of the department, agency, bureau or office is responsible for notifying the Department of Finance when an employee is no longer employed with the government or the employee is no longer authorized to use the credit instrument.
(g) Each department, agency, bureau or office shall submit a report on the use of the credit instruments, identifying the purchases, travel and expenditures authorized to the Legislature’s Committee on Finance during the respective agency’s budget request presentation.
(h) The Inspector General may conduct audits of any department, agency, bureau or office on the use of credit cards, and the audits must be submitted to the Governor and the Legislature of the Virgin Islands.
(i) It is unlawful for any officer or employee of any department, agency, bureau or office to use a government-issued credit card inconsistent with the purpose authorized. Any person who violates this section is subject to penalties under 14 V.I.C. § 3004 and is subject to appropriate administrative discipline, including, suspension from duty without pay or removal from office or employment.