Born on March 4, 1976, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, he moved to Florida in 1986. He earned a B.S. from Florida State University between 1995 and 1997 and later obtained both an LL.M. and a J.D. from the University of Florida between 2000 and 2003. A Seventh-Day Adventist, he has been actively involved in public service and community leadership.

Bernard was elected to the Florida House of Representatives on September 22, 2009, and was subsequently reelected. His prior public service includes serving as Deputy Vice Mayor of the Delray Beach City Commission from 2008 to 2009, as a member of the City of Delray Beach Code Enforcement Board in 2008, and as a Traffic Hearing Officer for the 15th Judicial Circuit in 2008.

His affiliations include membership on the Florida Democratic Party Executive Committee, serving as a board member of the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, and being part of the Palm Beach County Caucus of Black Elected Officials.