(a) There is hereby established a career incentive pay program offering pay differentials to police officers of all ranks of the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department (V.I.P.D.), Virgin Islands marshals and probation officers of the Superior Court, corrections officers of the Bureau of Corrections and corrections officers of the Department of Human Services and firefighters, crew chiefs and police officers in the Virgin Islands Port Authority and in the Virgin Islands Fire Service, as a reward for furthering their education in the field of police, marshal services, corrections, and fire work beyond the minimum qualifications set forth in the job class specifications for positions held by such employees.
(b) Each such employee delineated in subsection (a) of this section shall be eligible to receive a pay differential equal to a percentage of his present compensation, which is defined as his base pay plus payment for time of service in grade, which he is receiving at the time such credits are earned in accordance with the following schedule:
(1) A 3% increase for 10 semester hour credits or its equivalent in quarter units earned toward a baccalaureate or an associate degree;
(2) A 6% increase for 25 semester hour credits or its equivalent in quarter units earned toward a baccalaureate or an associate degree;
(3) A 10% increase for 40 semester hour credits or its equivalent in quarter units earned toward a baccalaureate or an associate degree;
(4) A 15% increase for an associate degree;
(5) A 20% increase for a baccalaureate degree; and
(6) A 30% increase for a postgraduate degree.
(c) All credits and degrees shall be earned in an accredited educational institution. Courses taken for credit to qualify for pay differentials under the provisions of this section must be approved in advance by the head official of the respective government entity and the Director of Personnel. Such courses shall be in fields which are related to the performance by the employee of present or possible future official duties with the respective employee's employer in the areas of police, corrections, or fire administration, in order to increase the knowledge, proficiency, ability, skill and qualifications of the employee in the performance of his official duties.
(d) The pay differentials authorized by this section shall be added to the basic compensation of employees effective for the first pay period following receipt and verification of official transcripts by the Director of Personnel. Employees shall be responsible for transmittal of transcripts to the Director of Personnel. However, a newly hired employee who qualifies under this section, who prior to being employed by the Government of the Virgin Islands earned a college degree or college credits in police science, fire science and criminal justice, including criminology, forensic science, fire prevention, accounting, psychology, public administration or business administration shall be eligible to receive a pay differential pursuant to the schedule outlined in subsection (b) of this section and meet the other requirements under this section.
(e) The director of Personnel shall issue, in consultation with the Police Commissioner, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Director of the Bureau of Corrections, the Director of the Virgin Islands Port Authority, or the Director of the Virgin Islands Fire Service, rules and regulations necessary for the proper administration of the provisions of this section.