fiscal year in which the Oversight Board is established, 
and in each fiscal year thereafter during which the Over-
sight Board is in operation, the Oversight Board shall de-
liver a notice to the Governor providing a schedule for the 
process of development, submission, approval, and certifi-
cation of Fiscal Plans. The notice may also set forth a 
schedule for revisions to any Fiscal Plan that has already 
been certified, which revisions must be subject to subse-
quent approval and certification by the Oversight Board. 
The Oversight Board shall consult with the Governor in 
establishing a schedule, but the Oversight Board shall re-
tain sole discretion to set or, by delivery of a subsequent 
notice to the Governor, change the dates of such schedule 
as it deems appropriate and reasonably feasible. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—A Fiscal Plan developed 
under this section shall, with respect to the terri-
torial government or covered territorial instrumen-
tality, provide a method to achieve fiscal responsi-
bility and access to the capital markets, and— 
(A) provide for estimates of revenues and 
expenditures in conformance with agreed ac-
counting standards and be based on— 
(i) applicable laws; or
(ii) specific bills that require enact-
ment in order to reasonably achieve the 
projections of the Fiscal Plan; 
(B) ensure the funding of essential public 
services; 
(C) provide adequate funding for public 
pension systems; 
(D) provide for the elimination of struc-
tural deficits; 
(E) for fiscal years covered by a Fiscal 
Plan in which a stay under titles III or IV is 
not effective, provide for a debt burden that is 
sustainable; 
(F) improve fiscal governance, account-
ability, and internal controls; 
(G) enable the achievement of fiscal tar-
gets; 
(H) create independent forecasts of rev-
enue for the period covered by the Fiscal Plan; 
(I) include a debt sustainability analysis; 
(J) provide for capital expenditures and in-
vestments necessary to promote economic 
growth;
(K) adopt appropriate recommendations 
submitted by the Oversight Board under section 
205(a); 
(L) include such additional information as 
the Oversight Board deems necessary; 
(M) ensure that assets, funds, or resources 
of a territorial instrumentality are not loaned 
to, transferred to, or otherwise used for the 
benefit of a covered territory or another covered 
territorial instrumentality of a covered territory, 
unless permitted by the constitution of the ter-
ritory, an approved plan of adjustment under 
title III, or a Qualifying Modification approved 
under title VI; and 
(N) respect the relative lawful priorities or 
lawful liens, as may be applicable, in the con-
stitution, other laws, or agreements of a covered 
territory or covered territorial instrumentality 
in effect prior to the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
(2) TERM.—A Fiscal Plan developed under this 
section shall cover a period of fiscal years as deter-
mined by the Oversight Board in its sole discretion 
but in any case a period of not less than 5 fiscal
years from the fiscal year in which it is certified by 
the Oversight Board. 
(c) DEVELOPMENT, REVIEW, APPROVAL, AND CER-
TIFICATION OF FISCAL PLANS.— 
(1) TIMING
REQUIREMENT.—The Governor 
may not submit to the Legislature a Territory Budg-
et under section 202 for a fiscal year unless the 
Oversight Board has certified the Territory Fiscal 
Plan for that fiscal year in accordance with this sub-
section, unless the Oversight Board in its sole dis-
cretion waives this requirement. 
(2) FISCAL PLAN DEVELOPED BY GOVERNOR.— 
The Governor shall submit to the Oversight Board 
any proposed Fiscal Plan required by the Oversight 
Board by the time specified in the notice delivered 
under subsection (a). 
(3) REVIEW BY THE OVERSIGHT BOARD.—The 
Oversight Board shall review any proposed Fiscal 
Plan to determine whether it satisfies the require-
ments set forth in subsection (b) and, if the Over-
sight Board determines in its sole discretion that the 
proposed Fiscal Plan— 
(A) satisfies such requirements, the Over-
sight Board shall approve the proposed Fiscal 
Plan; or
(B) does not satisfy such requirements, the 
Oversight Board shall provide to the Gov-
ernor— 
(i) a notice of violation that includes 
recommendations for revisions to the appli-
cable Fiscal Plan; and 
(ii) an opportunity to correct the vio-
lation in accordance with subsection (d)(1). 
(d) REVISED FISCAL PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—If the Governor receives a 
notice of violation under subsection (c)(3), the Gov-
ernor shall submit to the Oversight Board a revised 
proposed Fiscal Plan in accordance with subsection 
(b) by the time specified in the notice delivered 
under subsection (a). The Governor may submit as 
many revised Fiscal Plans to the Oversight Board as 
the schedule established in the notice delivered under 
subsection (a) permits. 
(2) DEVELOPMENT BY OVERSIGHT BOARD.—If 
the Governor fails to submit to the Oversight Board 
a Fiscal Plan that the Oversight Board determines 
in its sole discretion satisfies the requirements set 
forth in subsection (b) by the time specified in the 
notice delivered under subsection (a), the Oversight 
Board shall develop and submit to the Governor and
the Legislature a Fiscal Plan that satisfies the re-
quirements set forth in subsection (b). 
(e) APPROVAL AND CERTIFICATION.— 
(1) APPROVAL OF FISCAL PLAN DEVELOPED BY 
GOVERNOR.—If the Oversight Board approves a Fis-
cal Plan under subsection (c)(3), it shall deliver a 
compliance certification for such Fiscal Plan to the 
Governor and the Legislature. 
(2) DEEMED APPROVAL OF FISCAL PLAN DE-
VELOPED BY OVERSIGHT BOARD.—If the Oversight 
Board develops a Fiscal Plan under subsection 
(d)(2), such Fiscal Plan shall be deemed approved 
by the Governor, and the Oversight Board shall 
issue a compliance certification for such Fiscal Plan 
to the Governor and the Legislature. 
(f) JOINT DEVELOPMENT OF FISCAL PLAN.—Not-
withstanding any other provision of this section, if the 
Governor and the Oversight Board jointly develop a Fiscal 
Plan for the fiscal year that meets the requirements under 
this section, and that the Governor and the Oversight 
Board certify that the fiscal plan reflects a consensus be-
tween the Governor and the Oversight Board, then such 
Fiscal Plan shall serve as the Fiscal Plan for the territory 
or territorial instrumentality for that fiscal year.
SEC. 202. APPROVAL OF BUDGETS. 
(a) REASONABLE SCHEDULE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF 
BUDGETS.—As soon as practicable after all of the mem-
bers and the Chair have been appointed to the Oversight 
Board in the fiscal year in which the Oversight Board is 
established, and in each fiscal year thereafter during 
which the Oversight Board is in operation, the Oversight 
Board shall deliver a notice to the Governor and the Legis-
lature providing a schedule for developing, submitting, ap-
proving, and certifying Budgets for a period of fiscal years 
as determined by the Oversight Board in its sole discretion 
but in any case a period of not less than one fiscal year 
following the fiscal year in which the notice is delivered. 
The notice may also set forth a schedule for revisions to 
Budgets that have already been certified, which revisions 
must be subject to subsequent approval and certification 
by the Oversight Board. The Oversight Board shall con-
sult with the Governor and the Legislature in establishing 
a schedule, but the Oversight Board shall retain sole dis-
cretion to set or, by delivery of a subsequent notice to the 
Governor and the Legislature, change the dates of such 
schedule as it deems appropriate and reasonably feasible. 
(b) REVENUE FORECAST.—The Oversight Board 
shall submit to the Governor and Legislature a forecast 
of revenues for the period covered by the Budgets by the 
time specified in the notice delivered under subsection (a),
for use by the Governor in developing the Budget under 
subsection (c). 
(c) BUDGETS DEVELOPED BY GOVERNOR.— 
(1) GOVERNOR’S
PROPOSED
BUDGETS.—The 
Governor shall submit to the Oversight Board pro-
posed Budgets by the time specified in the notice de-
livered under subsection (a). In consultation with the 
Governor in accordance with the process specified in 
the notice delivered under subsection (a), the Over-
sight Board shall determine in its sole discretion 
whether each proposed Budget is compliant with the 
applicable Fiscal Plan and— 
(A) if a proposed Budget is a compliant 
budget, the Oversight Board shall— 
(i) approve the Budget; and 
(ii) if the Budget is a Territory Budg-
et, submit the Territory Budget to the 
Legislature; or 
(B) if the Oversight Board determines that 
the Budget is not a compliant budget, the Over-
sight Board shall provide to the Governor— 
(i) a notice of violation that includes 
a description of any necessary corrective 
action; and
(ii) an opportunity to correct the vio-
lation in accordance with paragraph (2). 
(2) GOVERNOR’S
REVISIONS.—The Governor 
may correct any violations identified by the Over-
sight Board and submit a revised proposed Budget 
to the Oversight Board in accordance with para-
graph (1). The Governor may submit as many re-
vised Budgets to the Oversight Board as the sched-
ule established in the notice delivered under sub-
section (a) permits. If the Governor fails to develop 
a Budget that the Oversight Board determines is a 
compliant budget by the time specified in the notice 
delivered under subsection (a), the Oversight Board 
shall develop and submit to the Governor, in the 
case of an Instrumentality Budget, and to the Gov-
ernor and the Legislature, in the case of a Territory 
Budget, a revised compliant budget. 
(d) BUDGET APPROVAL BY LEGISLATURE.— 
(1) LEGISLATURE
ADOPTED
BUDGET.—The 
Legislature shall submit to the Oversight Board the 
Territory Budget adopted by the Legislature by the 
time specified in the notice delivered under sub-
section (a). The Oversight Board shall determine 
whether the adopted Territory Budget is a compliant 
budget and—
(A) if the adopted Territory Budget is a 
compliant budget, the Oversight Board shall 
issue a compliance certification for such compli-
ant budget pursuant to subsection (e); and 
(B) if the adopted Territory Budget is not 
a compliant budget, the Oversight Board shall 
provide to the Legislature— 
(i) a notice of violation that includes 
a description of any necessary corrective 
action; and 
(ii) an opportunity to correct the vio-
lation in accordance with paragraph (2). 
(2) LEGISLATURE’S REVISIONS.—The Legisla-
ture may correct any violations identified by the 
Oversight Board and submit a revised Territory 
Budget to the Oversight Board in accordance with 
the process established under paragraph (1) and by 
the time specified in the notice delivered under sub-
section (a). The Legislature may submit as many re-
vised adopted Territory Budgets to the Oversight 
Board as the schedule established in the notice deliv-
ered under subsection (a) permits. If the Legislature 
fails to adopt a Territory Budget that the Oversight 
Board determines is a compliant budget by the time 
specified in the notice delivered under subsection (a),
the Oversight Board shall develop a revised Terri-
tory Budget that is a compliant budget and submit 
it to the Governor and the Legislature. 
(e) CERTIFICATION OF BUDGETS.— 
(1) CERTIFICATION
OF
DEVELOPED
AND
AP-
PROVED TERRITORY BUDGETS.—If the Governor and 
the Legislature develop and approve a Territory 
Budget that is a compliant budget by the day before 
the first day of the fiscal year for which the Terri-
tory Budget is being developed and in accordance 
with the process established under subsections (c) 
and (d), the Oversight Board shall issue a compli-
ance certification to the Governor and the Legisla-
ture for such Territory Budget. 
(2) CERTIFICATION
OF
DEVELOPED
INSTRU-
MENTALITY BUDGETS.—If the Governor develops an 
Instrumentality Budget that is a compliant budget 
by the day before the first day of the fiscal year for 
which the Instrumentality Budget is being developed 
and in accordance with the process established under 
subsection (c), the Oversight Board shall issue a 
compliance certification to the Governor for such In-
strumentality Budget. 
(3) DEEMED
CERTIFICATION
OF
TERRITORY 
BUDGETS.—If the Governor and the Legislature fail
to develop and approve a Territory Budget that is 
a compliant budget by the day before the first day 
of the fiscal year for which the Territory Budget is 
being developed, the Oversight Board shall submit a 
Budget to the Governor and the Legislature (includ-
ing any revision to the Territory Budget made by 
the Oversight Board pursuant to subsection (d)(2)) 
and such Budget shall be— 
(A) deemed to be approved by the Gov-
ernor and the Legislature; 
(B) the subject of a compliance certifi-
cation issued by the Oversight Board to the 
Governor and the Legislature; and 
(C) in full force and effect beginning on 
the first day of the applicable fiscal year. 
(4) DEEMED CERTIFICATION OF INSTRUMEN-
TALITY BUDGETS.—If the Governor fails to develop 
an Instrumentality Budget that is a compliant budg-
et by the day before the first day of the fiscal year 
for which the Instrumentality Budget is being devel-
oped, the Oversight Board shall submit an Instru-
mentality Budget to the Governor (including any re-
vision to the Instrumentality Budget made by the 
Oversight Board pursuant to subsection (c)(2)) and 
such Budget shall be—
(A) deemed to be approved by the Gov-
ernor; 
(B) the subject of a compliance certifi-
cation issued by the Oversight Board to the 
Governor; and 
(C) in full force and effect beginning on 
the first day of the applicable fiscal year. 
(f) JOINT DEVELOPMENT OF BUDGETS.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of this section, if, in the case 
of a Territory Budget, the Governor, the Legislature, and 
the Oversight Board, or in the case of an Instrumentality 
Budget, the Governor and the Oversight Board, jointly de-
velop such Budget for the fiscal year that meets the re-
quirements under this section, and that the relevant par-
ties certify that such budget reflects a consensus among 
them, then such Budget shall serve as the Budget for the 
territory or territorial instrumentality for that fiscal year. 
SEC. 203. EFFECT OF FINDING OF NONCOMPLIANCE WITH 
BUDGET. 
(a) SUBMISSION OF REPORTS.—Not later than 15 
days after the last day of each quarter of a fiscal year 
(beginning with the fiscal year determined by the Over-
sight Board), the Governor shall submit to the Oversight 
Board a report, in such form as the Oversight Board may 
require, describing—
(1) the actual cash revenues, cash expenditures, 
and cash flows of the territorial government for the 
preceding quarter, as compared to the projected rev-
enues, expenditures, and cash flows contained in the 
certified Budget for such preceding quarter; and 
(2) any other information requested by the 
Oversight Board, which may include a balance sheet 
or a requirement that the Governor provide informa-
tion for each covered territorial instrumentality sep-
arately. 
(b) INITIAL ACTION BY OVERSIGHT BOARD.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—If the Oversight Board de-
termines, based on reports submitted by the Gov-
ernor under subsection (a), independent audits, or 
such other information as the Oversight Board may 
obtain, that the actual quarterly revenues, expendi-
tures, or cash flows of the territorial government are 
not consistent with the projected revenues, expendi-
tures, or cash flows set forth in the certified Budget 
for such quarter, the Oversight Board shall— 
(A) require the territorial government to 
provide such additional information as the 
Oversight Board determines to be necessary to 
explain the inconsistency; and
(B) if the additional information provided 
under subparagraph (A) does not provide an ex-
planation for the inconsistency that the Over-
sight Board finds reasonable and appropriate, 
advise the territorial government to correct the 
inconsistency by implementing remedial action. 
(2) DEADLINES.—The Oversight Board shall 
establish the deadlines by which the territorial gov-
ernment shall meet the requirements of subpara-
graphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1). 
(c) CERTIFICATION.— 
(1) INCONSISTENCY.—If the territorial govern-
ment fails to provide additional information under 
subsection (b)(1)(A), or fails to correct an inconsist-
ency under subsection (b)(1)(B), prior to the appli-
cable deadline under subsection (b)(2), the Oversight 
Board shall certify to the President, the House of 
Representatives Committee on Natural Resources, 
the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources, the Governor, and the Legislature that the 
territorial government is inconsistent with the appli-
cable certified Budget, and shall describe the nature 
and amount of the inconsistency. 
(2) CORRECTION.—If the Oversight Board de-
termines that the territorial government has initi-
ated such measures as the Oversight Board con-
siders sufficient to correct an inconsistency certified 
under paragraph (1), the Oversight Board shall cer-
tify the correction to the President, the House of 
Representatives Committee on Natural Resources, 
the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources, the Governor, and the Legislature. 
(d) BUDGET REDUCTIONS BY OVERSIGHT BOARD.— 
If the Oversight Board determines that the Governor, in 
the case of any then-applicable certified Instrumentality 
Budgets, and the Governor and the Legislature, in the 
case of the then-applicable certified Territory Budget, 
have failed to correct an inconsistency identified by the 
Oversight Board under subsection (c), the Oversight 
Board shall— 
(1) with respect to the territorial government, 
other than covered territorial instrumentalities, 
make appropriate reductions in nondebt expendi-
tures to ensure that the actual quarterly revenues 
and expenditures for the territorial government are 
in compliance with the applicable certified Territory 
Budget or, in the case of the fiscal year in which the 
Oversight Board is established, the budget adopted 
by the Governor and the Legislature; and
(2) with respect to covered territorial instru-
mentalities at the sole discretion of the Oversight 
Board— 
(A) make reductions in nondebt expendi-
tures to ensure that the actual quarterly reve-
nues and expenses for the covered territorial in-
strumentality are in compliance with the appli-
cable certified Budget or, in the case of the fis-
cal year in which the Oversight Board is estab-
lished, the budget adopted by the Governor and 
the Legislature or the covered territorial instru-
mentality, as applicable; or 
(B)(i) institute automatic hiring freezes at 
the covered territorial instrumentality; and 
(ii) prohibit the covered territorial instru-
mentality from entering into any contract or en-
gaging in any financial or other transactions, 
unless the contract or transaction was pre-
viously approved by the Oversight Board. 
(e) TERMINATION OF BUDGET REDUCTIONS.—The 
Oversight Board shall cancel the reductions, hiring 
freezes, or prohibition on contracts and financial trans-
actions under subsection (d) if the Oversight Board deter-
mines that the territorial government or covered territorial 
instrumentality, as applicable, has initiated appropriate
measures to reduce expenditures or increase revenues to 
ensure that the territorial government or covered terri-
torial instrumentality is in compliance with the applicable 
certified Budget or, in the case of the fiscal year in which 
the Oversight Board is established, the budget adopted by 
the Governor and the Legislature. 
SEC. 204. REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE 
WITH FISCAL PLAN. 
(a) SUBMISSION OF LEGISLATIVE ACTS TO OVER-
SIGHT BOARD.— 
(1) SUBMISSION OF ACTS.—Except to the ex-
tent that the Oversight Board may provide otherwise 
in its bylaws, rules, and procedures, not later than 
7 business days after a territorial government duly 
enacts any law during any fiscal year in which the 
Oversight Board is in operation, the Governor shall 
submit the law to the Oversight Board. 
(2) COST ESTIMATE; CERTIFICATION OF COM-
PLIANCE OR NONCOMPLIANCE.—The Governor shall 
include with each law submitted to the Oversight 
Board under paragraph (1) the following: 
(A) A formal estimate prepared by an ap-
propriate entity of the territorial government 
with expertise in budgets and financial manage-
ment of the impact, if any, that the law will 
have on expenditures and revenues. 
(B) If the appropriate entity described in 
subparagraph (A) finds that the law is not sig-
nificantly inconsistent with the Fiscal Plan for 
the fiscal year, it shall issue a certification of 
such finding. 
(C) If the appropriate entity described in 
subparagraph (A) finds that the law is signifi-
cantly inconsistent with the Fiscal Plan for the 
fiscal year, it shall issue a certification of such 
finding, together with the entity’s reasons for 
such finding. 
(3) NOTIFICATION.—The Oversight Board shall 
send a notification to the Governor and the Legisla-
ture if— 
(A) the Governor submits a law to the 
Oversight Board under this subsection that is 
not accompanied by the estimate required under 
paragraph (2)(A); 
(B) the Governor submits a law to the 
Oversight Board under this subsection that is 
not accompanied by either a certification de-
scribed in paragraph (2)(B) or (2)(C); or
(C) the Governor submits a law to the 
Oversight Board under this subsection that is 
accompanied by a certification described in 
paragraph (2)(C) that the law is significantly 
inconsistent with the Fiscal Plan. 
(4) OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO NOTIFICA-
TION.— 
(A) FAILURE TO PROVIDE ESTIMATE OR 
CERTIFICATION.—After sending a notification 
to the Governor and the Legislature under 
paragraph (3)(A) or (3)(B) with respect to a 
law, the Oversight Board may direct the Gov-
ernor to provide the missing estimate or certifi-
cation (as the case may be), in accordance with 
such procedures as the Oversight Board may 
establish. 
(B) SUBMISSION
OF
CERTIFICATION
OF 
SIGNIFICANT
INCONSISTENCY
WITH
FISCAL 
PLAN AND BUDGET.—In accordance with such 
procedures as the Oversight Board may estab-
lish, after sending a notification to the Gov-
ernor and Legislature under paragraph (3)(C) 
that a law is significantly inconsistent with the 
Fiscal Plan, the Oversight Board shall direct 
the territorial government to—
(i) correct the law to eliminate the in-
consistency; or 
(ii) provide an explanation for the in-
consistency that the Oversight Board finds 
reasonable and appropriate. 
(5) FAILURE
TO
COMPLY.—If the territorial 
government fails to comply with a direction given by 
the Oversight Board under paragraph (4) with re-
spect to a law, the Oversight Board may take such 
actions as it considers necessary, consistent with this 
Act, to ensure that the enactment or enforcement of 
the law will not adversely affect the territorial gov-
ernment’s compliance with the Fiscal Plan, including 
preventing the enforcement or application of the law. 
(6) 
PRELIMINARY
REVIEW
OF
PROPOSED 
ACTS.—At the request of the Legislature, the Over-
sight Board may conduct a preliminary review of 
proposed legislation before the Legislature to deter-
mine whether the legislation as proposed would be 
consistent with the applicable Fiscal Plan under this 
subtitle, except that any such preliminary review 
shall not be binding on the Oversight Board in re-
viewing any law subsequently submitted under this 
subsection.
(b) EFFECT OF APPROVED FISCAL PLAN ON CON-
TRACTS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS.— 
(1) TRANSPARENCY
IN
CONTRACTING.—The 
Oversight Board shall work with a covered terri-
tory’s office of the comptroller or any functionally 
equivalent entity to promote compliance with the ap-
plicable law of any covered territory that requires 
agencies and instrumentalities of the territorial gov-
ernment to maintain a registry of all contracts exe-
cuted, including amendments thereto, and to remit 
a copy to the office of the comptroller for inclusion 
in a comprehensive database available to the public. 
With respect to Puerto Rico, the term ‘‘applicable 
law’’ refers to 2 L.P.R.A. 97, as amended. 
(2) AUTHORITY
TO
REVIEW
CERTAIN
CON-
TRACTS.—The Oversight Board may establish poli-
cies to require prior Oversight Board approval of 
certain contracts, including leases and contracts to 
a governmental entity or government-owned corpora-
tions rather than private enterprises that are pro-
posed to be executed by the territorial government, 
to ensure such proposed contracts promote market 
competition and are not inconsistent with the ap-
proved Fiscal Plan.
(3) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that any policies established by the Over-
sight Board pursuant to paragraph (2) should be de-
signed to make the government contracting process 
more effective, to increase the public’s faith in this 
process, to make appropriate use of the Oversight 
Board’s time and resources, to make the territorial 
government a facilitator and not a competitor to pri-
vate enterprise, and to avoid creating any additional 
bureaucratic obstacles to efficient contracting. 
(4) AUTHORITY TO REVIEW CERTAIN RULES, 
REGULATIONS, AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS.—The pro-
visions of this paragraph shall apply with respect to 
a rule, regulation, or executive order proposed to be 
issued by the Governor (or the head of any depart-
ment or agency of the territorial government) in the 
same manner as such provisions apply to a contract. 
(5) FAILURE TO COMPLY.—If a contract, rule, 
regulation, or executive order fails to comply with 
policies established by the Oversight Board under 
this subsection, the Oversight Board may take such 
actions as it considers necessary to ensure that such 
contract, rule, executive order or regulation will not 
adversely affect the territorial government’s compli-
ance with the Fiscal Plan, including by preventing
the execution or enforcement of the contract, rule, 
executive order or regulation. 
(c) RESTRICTIONS ON BUDGETARY ADJUSTMENTS.— 
(1) SUBMISSIONS OF REQUESTS TO OVERSIGHT 
BOARD.—If the Governor submits a request to the 
Legislature for the reprogramming of any amounts 
provided in a certified Budget, the Governor shall 
submit such request to the Oversight Board, which 
shall analyze whether the proposed reprogramming 
is significantly inconsistent with the Budget, and 
submit its analysis to the Legislature as soon as 
practicable after receiving the request. 
(2) NO
ACTION
PERMITTED
UNTIL
ANALYSIS 
RECEIVED.—The Legislature shall not adopt a re-
programming, and no officer or employee of the ter-
ritorial government may carry out any reprogram-
ming, until the Oversight Board has provided the 
Legislature with an analysis that certifies such re-
programming will not be inconsistent with the Fiscal 
Plan and Budget. 
(3) PROHIBITION ON ACTION UNTIL OVERSIGHT 
BOARD IS APPOINTED.— 
(A) During the period after a territory be-
comes a covered territory and prior to the ap-
pointment of all members and the Chair of the
Oversight Board, such covered territory shall 
not enact new laws that either permit the trans-
fer of any funds or assets outside the ordinary 
course of business or that are inconsistent with 
the constitution or laws of the territory as of 
the date of enactment of this Act, provided that 
any executive or legislative action authorizing 
the movement of funds or assets during this 
time period may be subject to review and rescis-
sion by the Oversight Board upon appointment 
of the Oversight Board’s full membership. 
(B) Upon appointment of the Oversight Board’s 
full membership, the Oversight Board may review, 
and in its sole discretion, rescind, any law that— 
(i) was enacted during the period between, 
with respect to Puerto Rico, May 4, 2016; or 
with respect to any other territory, 45 days 
prior to the establishment of the Oversight 
Board for such territory, and the date of ap-
pointment of all members and the Chair of the 
Oversight Board; and 
(ii) alters pre-existing priorities of credi-
tors in a manner outside the ordinary course of 
business or inconsistent with the territory’s con-
stitution or the laws of the territory as of, in
the case of Puerto Rico, May 4, 2016, or with 
respect to any other territory, 45 days prior to 
the establishment of the Oversight Board for 
such territory; 
but such rescission shall only be to the extent that 
the law alters such priorities. 
(d) IMPLEMENTATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS.—In 
taking actions under this Act, the Oversight Board shall 
not exercise applicable authorities to impede territorial ac-
tions taken to— 
(1) comply with a court-issued consent decree 
or injunction, or an administrative order or settle-
ment with a Federal agency, with respect to Federal 
programs; 
(2) implement a federally authorized or feder-
ally delegated program; 
(3) implement territorial laws, which are con-
sistent with a certified Fiscal Plan, that execute 
Federal requirements and standards; or 
(4) preserve and maintain federally funded 
mass transportation assets. 
SEC. 205. RECOMMENDATIONS ON FINANCIAL STABILITY 
AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Oversight Board may at any 
time submit recommendations to the Governor or the Leg-
islature on actions the territorial government may take to 
ensure compliance with the Fiscal Plan, or to otherwise 
promote the financial stability, economic growth, manage-
ment responsibility, and service delivery efficiency of the 
territorial government, including recommendations relat-
ing to— 
(1) the management of the territorial govern-
ment’s financial affairs, including economic fore-
casting and multiyear fiscal forecasting capabilities, 
information technology, placing controls on expendi-
tures for personnel, reducing benefit costs, reforming 
procurement practices, and placing other controls on 
expenditures; 
(2) the structural relationship of departments, 
agencies, and independent agencies within the terri-
torial government; 
(3) the modification of existing revenue struc-
tures, or the establishment of additional revenue 
structures; 
(4) the establishment of alternatives for meet-
ing obligations to pay for the pensions of territorial 
government employees; 
(5) modifications or transfers of the types of 
services that are the responsibility of, and are deliv-
ered by the territorial government;
(6) modifications of the types of services that 
are delivered by entities other than the territorial 
government under alternative service delivery mecha-
nisms; 
(7) the effects of the territory’s laws and court 
orders on the operations of the territorial govern-
ment; 
(8) the establishment of a personnel system for 
employees of the territorial government that is based 
upon employee performance standards; 
(9) the improvement of personnel training and 
proficiency, the adjustment of staffing levels, and 
the improvement of training and performance of 
management and supervisory personnel; and 
(10) the privatization and commercialization of 
entities within the territorial government. 
(b) RESPONSE TO RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE TER-
RITORIAL GOVERNMENT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—In the case of any rec-
ommendations submitted under subsection (a) that 
are within the authority of the territorial govern-
ment to adopt, not later than 90 days after receiving 
the recommendations, the Governor or the Legisla-
ture (whichever has the authority to adopt the rec-
ommendation) shall submit a statement to the Over-
sight Board that provides notice as to whether the 
territorial government will adopt the recommenda-
tions. 
(2) IMPLEMENTATION
PLAN
REQUIRED
FOR 
ADOPTED RECOMMENDATIONS.—If the Governor or 
the Legislature (whichever is applicable) notifies the 
Oversight Board under paragraph (1) that the terri-
torial government will adopt any of the recommenda-
tions submitted under subsection (a), the Governor 
or the Legislature (whichever is applicable) shall in-
clude in the statement a written plan to implement 
the recommendation that includes— 
(A) specific performance measures to de-
termine the extent to which the territorial gov-
ernment has adopted the recommendation; and 
(B) a clear and specific timetable pursuant 
to which the territorial government will imple-
ment the recommendation. 
(3) 
EXPLANATIONS
REQUIRED
FOR
REC-
OMMENDATIONS NOT ADOPTED.—If the Governor or 
the Legislature (whichever is applicable) notifies the 
Oversight Board under paragraph (1) that the terri-
torial government will not adopt any recommenda-
tion submitted under subsection (a) that the terri-
torial government has authority to adopt, the Gov-
ernor or the Legislature shall include in the state-
ment explanations for the rejection of the rec-
ommendations, and the Governor or the Legislature 
shall submit such statement of explanations to the 
President and Congress. 
SEC. 206. OVERSIGHT BOARD DUTIES RELATED TO RE-
STRUCTURING. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS FOR RESTRUCTURING CERTIFI-
CATION.—The Oversight Board, prior to issuing a restruc-
turing certification regarding an entity (as such term is 
defined in section 101 of title 11, United States Code), 
shall determine, in its sole discretion, that— 
(1) the entity has made good-faith efforts to 
reach a consensual restructuring with creditors; 
(2) the entity has— 
(A) adopted procedures necessary to de-
liver timely audited financial statements; and 
(B) made public draft financial statements 
and other information sufficient for any inter-
ested person to make an informed decision with 
respect to a possible restructuring; 
(3) the entity is either a covered territory that 
has adopted a Fiscal Plan certified by the Oversight 
Board, a covered territorial instrumentality that is 
subject to a Territory Fiscal Plan certified by the
Oversight Board, or a covered territorial instrumen-
tality that has adopted an Instrumentality Fiscal 
Plan certified by the Oversight Board; and 
(4)(A) no order approving a Qualifying Modi-
fication under section 601 has been entered with re-
spect to such entity; or 
(B) if an order approving a Qualifying Modi-
fication has been entered with respect to such entity, 
the entity is unable to make its debt payments not-
withstanding the approved Qualifying Modification, 
in which case, all claims affected by the Qualifying 
Modification shall be subject to a title III case. 
(b) 
ISSUANCE
OF
RESTRUCTURING
CERTIFI-
CATION.—The issuance of a restructuring certification 
under this section requires a vote of no fewer than 5 mem-
bers of the Oversight Board in the affirmative, which shall 
satisfy the requirement set forth in section 302(2) of this 
Act. 
SEC. 207. OVERSIGHT BOARD AUTHORITY RELATED TO 
DEBT ISSUANCE. 
For so long as the Oversight Board remains in oper-
ation, no territorial government may, without the prior ap-
proval of the Oversight Board, issue debt or guarantee, 
exchange, modify, repurchase, redeem, or enter into simi-
lar transactions with respect to its debt.
SEC. 208. REQUIRED REPORTS. 
(a) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after 
the last day of each fiscal year, the Oversight Board shall 
submit a report to the President, Congress, the Governor 
and the Legislature, describing— 
(1) the progress made by the territorial govern-
ment in meeting the objectives of this Act during the 
fiscal year; 
(2) the assistance provided by the Oversight 
Board to the territorial government in meeting the 
purposes of this Act during the fiscal year; 
(3) recommendations to the President and Con-
gress on changes to this Act or other Federal laws, 
or other actions of the Federal Government, that 
would assist the territorial government in complying 
with any certified Fiscal Plan; 
(4) the precise manner in which funds allocated 
to the Oversight Board under section 107 and, as 
applicable, section 104(e) have been spent by the 
Oversight Board during the fiscal year; and 
(5) any other activities of the Oversight Board 
during the fiscal year. 
(b) REPORT ON DISCRETIONARY TAX ABATEMENT 
AGREEMENTS.—Within six months of the establishment 
of the Oversight Board, the Governor shall submit a report 
to the Oversight Board documenting all existing discre-
tionary tax abatement or similar tax relief agreements to 
which the territorial government, or any territorial instru-
mentality, is a party, provided that— 
(1) nothing in this Act shall be interpreted to 
limit the power of the territorial government or any 
territorial instrumentality to execute or modify dis-
cretionary tax abatement or similar tax relief agree-
ments, or to enforce compliance with the terms and 
conditions of any discretionary tax abatement or 
similar tax relief agreement, to which the territorial 
government or any territorial instrumentality is a 
party; and 
(2) the members and staff of the Oversight 
Board shall not disclose the contents of the report 
described in this subsection, and shall otherwise 
comply with all applicable territorial and Federal 
laws and regulations regarding the handling of con-
fidential taxpayer information. 
(c) QUARTERLY REPORTS
OF CASH FLOW.—The 
Oversight Board, when feasible, shall report on the 
amount of cash flow available for the payment of debt 
service on all notes, bonds, debentures, credit agreements, 
or other instruments for money borrowed whose enforce-
ment is subject to a stay or moratorium hereunder, to-
gether with any variance from the amount set forth in the
debt sustainability analysis of the Fiscal Plan under sec-
tion 201(b)(1)(I). 
SEC. 209. TERMINATION OF OVERSIGHT BOARD. 
An Oversight Board shall terminate upon certifi-
cation by the Oversight Board that— 
(1) the applicable territorial government has 
adequate access to short-term and long-term credit 
markets at reasonable interest rates to meet the bor-
rowing needs of the territorial government; and 
(2) for at least 4 consecutive fiscal years— 
(A) the territorial government has devel-
oped its Budgets in accordance with modified 
accrual accounting standards; and 
(B) the expenditures made by the terri-
torial government during each fiscal year did 
not exceed the revenues of the territorial gov-
ernment during that year, as determined in ac-
cordance with modified accrual accounting 
standards. 
SEC. 210. NO FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The full faith and credit of the 
United States is not pledged for the payment of any prin-
cipal of or interest on any bond, note, or other obligation 
issued by a covered territory or covered territorial instru-
mentality. The United States is not responsible or liable 
for the payment of any principal of or interest on any 
bond, note, or other obligation issued by a covered terri-
tory or covered territorial instrumentality. 
(b) SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATIONS.—Any claim to 
which the United States is determined to be liable under 
this Act shall be subject to appropriations. 
(c) FUNDING.—No Federal funds shall be authorized 
by this Act for the payment of any liability of the territory 
or territorial instrumentality. 
SEC. 211. ANALYSIS OF PENSIONS. 
(a) DETERMINATION.—If the Oversight Board deter-
mines, in its sole discretion, that a pension system of the 
territorial government is materially underfunded, the 
Oversight Board shall conduct an analysis prepared by an 
independent actuary of such pension system to assist the 
Oversight Board in evaluating the fiscal and economic im-
pact of the pension cash flows. 
(b) PROVISIONS
OF ANALYSIS.—An analysis con-
ducted under subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) an actuarial study of the pension liabilities 
and funding strategy that includes a forward looking 
projection of payments of at least 30 years of benefit 
payments and funding strategy to cover such pay-
ments;
(2) sources of funding to cover such payments; 
(3) a review of the existing benefits and their 
sustainability; and 
(4) a review of the system’s legal structure and 
operational arrangements, and any other studies of 
the pension system the Oversight Board shall deem 
necessary. 
(c) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.—In any case, 
the analysis conducted under subsection (a) shall include 
information regarding the fair market value and liabilities 
using an appropriate discount rate as determined by the 
Oversight Board. 
SEC. 212. INTERVENTION IN LITIGATION. 
(a) INTERVENTION.—The Oversight Board may in-
tervene in any litigation filed against the territorial gov-
ernment. 
(b) INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—If the Oversight Board in-
tervenes in a litigation under subsection (a), the 
Oversight Board may seek injunctive relief, including 
a stay of litigation. 
(2) NO
INDEPENDENT
BASIS
FOR
RELIEF.— 
This section does not create an independent basis on 
which injunctive relief, including a stay of litigation, 
may be granted.
TITLE III—ADJUSTMENTS OF 
DEBTS 
SEC. 301. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAWS; DEFINITIONS. 
(a) SECTIONS APPLICABLE TO CASES UNDER THIS 
TITLE.—Sections 101 (except as otherwise provided in 
this section), 102, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 112, 333, 
344, 347(b), 349, 350(b), 351, 361, 362, 364(c), 364(d), 
364(e), 364(f), 365, 366, 501, 502, 503, 504, 506, 
507(a)(2), 509, 510, 524(a)(1), 524(a)(2), 544, 545, 546, 
547, 548, 549(a), 549(c), 549(d), 550, 551, 552, 553, 
555, 556, 557, 559, 560, 561, 562, 902 (except as other-
wise provided in this section), 922, 923, 924, 925, 926, 
927, 928, 942, 944, 945, 946, 1102, 1103, 1109, 1111(b), 
1122, 1123(a)(1), 1123(a)(2), 1123(a)(3), 1123(a)(4), 
1123(a)(5), 1123(b), 1123(d), 1124, 1125, 1126(a), 
1126(b), 1126(c), 1126(e), 1126(f), 1126(g), 1127(d), 
1128, 1129(a)(2), 1129(a)(3), 1129(a)(6), 1129(a)(8), 
1129(a)(10), 1129(b)(1), 1129(b)(2)(A), 1129(b)(2)(B), 
1142(b), 1143, 1144, 1145, and 1146(a) of title 11, 
United States Code, apply in a case under this title and 
section 930 of title 11, United States Code, applies in a 
case under this title; however, section 930 shall not apply 
in any case during the first 120 days after the date on 
which such case is commenced under this title.
(b) MEANINGS OF TERMS.—A term used in a section 
of title 11, United States Code, made applicable in a case 
under this title by subsection (a), has the meaning given 
to the term for the purpose of the applicable section, un-
less the term is otherwise defined in this title. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this title: 
(1) AFFILIATE.—The term ‘‘affiliate’’ means, in 
addition to the definition made applicable in a case 
under this title by subsection (a)— 
(A) for a territory, any territorial instru-
mentality; and 
(B) for a territorial instrumentality, the 
governing territory and any of the other terri-
torial instrumentalities of the territory. 
(2) DEBTOR.—The term ‘‘debtor’’ means the 
territory or covered territorial instrumentality con-
cerning which a case under this title has been com-
menced. 
(3) HOLDER OF A CLAIM OR INTEREST.—The 
term ‘‘holder of a claim or interest’’, when used in 
section 1126 of title 11, United States Code, made 
applicable in a case under this title by subsection 
(a)— 
(A) shall exclude any Issuer or Authorized 
Instrumentality of the Territory Government
Issuer (as defined under Title VI of this Act) 
or a corporation, trust or other legal entity that 
is controlled by the Issuer or an Authorized 
Territorial Instrumentality of the Territory 
Government Issuer, provided that the bene-
ficiaries of such claims, to the extent they are 
not referenced in this subparagraph, shall not 
be excluded, and that, for each excluded trust 
or other legal entity, the court shall, upon the 
request of any participant or beneficiary of such 
trust or entity, at any time after the commence-
ment of the case, order the appointment of a 
separate committee of creditors pursuant to 
section 1102(a)(2) of title 11, United States 
Code; and 
(B) with reference to Insured Bonds, shall 
mean the monoline insurer insuring such In-
sured Bond to the extent such insurer is grant-
ed the right to vote Insured Bonds for purposes 
of directing remedies or consenting to proposed 
amendments or modifications as provided in the 
applicable documents pursuant to which such 
Insured Bond was issued and insured. 
(4) 
INSURED
BOND.—The 
term 
‘‘Insured 
Bond’’ means a bond subject to a financial guar-
antee or similar insurance contract, policy and/or 
surety issued by a monoline insurer. 
(5) PROPERTY
OF
THE
ESTATE.—The term 
‘‘property of the estate’’, when used in a section of 
title 11, United States Code, made applicable in a 
case under this title by subsection (a), means prop-
erty of the debtor. 
(6) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ when used in a 
section of title 11, United States Code, made appli-
cable in a case under this title by subsection (a) 
means State or territory when used in reference to 
the relationship of a State to the municipality of the 
State or the territorial instrumentality of a territory, 
as applicable. 
(7) TRUSTEE.—The term ‘‘trustee’’, when used 
in a section of title 11, United States Code, made 
applicable in a case under this title by subsection 
(a), means the Oversight Board, except as provided 
in section 926 of title 11, United States Code. The 
term ‘‘trustee’’ as described in this paragraph does 
not mean the U.S. Trustee, an official of the United 
States Trustee Program, which is a component of 
the United States Department of Justice. 
(d) REFERENCE TO TITLE.—Solely for purposes of 
this title, a reference to ‘‘this title’’, ‘‘this chapter’’, or
words of similar import in a section of title 11, United 
States Code, made applicable in a case under this title 
by subsection (a) or to ‘‘this title’’, ‘‘title 11’’, ‘‘Chapter 
9’’, ‘‘Chapter 11’’, ‘‘the Code’’, or words of similar import 
in the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure made appli-
cable in a case under this title shall be deemed to be a 
reference to this title. 
(e) 
SUBSTANTIALLY
SIMILAR.—In 
determining 
whether claims are ‘‘substantially similar’’ for the purpose 
of section 1122 of title 11, United States Code, made ap-
plicable in a case under this title by subsection (a), the 
Oversight Board shall consider whether such claims are 
secured and whether such claims have priority over other 
claims. 
(f) OPERATIVE CLAUSES.—A section made applicable 
in a case under this title by subsection (a) that is operative 
if the business of the debtor is authorized to be operated 
is operative in a case under this title. 
SEC. 302. WHO MAY BE A DEBTOR. 
An entity may be a debtor under this title if— 
(1) the entity is— 
(A) a territory that has requested the es-
tablishment of an Oversight Board or has had 
an Oversight Board established for it by the
United States Congress in accordance with sec-
tion 101 of this Act; or 
(B) a covered territorial instrumentality of 
a territory described in paragraph (1)(A); 
(2) the Oversight Board has issued a certifi-
cation under section 206(b) of this Act for such enti-
ty; and 
(3) the entity desires to effect a plan to adjust 
its debts. 
SEC. 303. RESERVATION OF TERRITORIAL POWER TO CON-
TROL TERRITORY AND TERRITORIAL INSTRU-
MENTALITIES. 
Subject to the limitations set forth in titles I and II 
of this Act, this title does not limit or impair the power 
of a covered territory to control, by legislation or other-
wise, the territory or any territorial instrumentality there-
of in the exercise of the political or governmental powers 
of the territory or territorial instrumentality, including ex-
penditures for such exercise, but whether or not a case 
has been or can be commenced under this title— 
(1) a territory law prescribing a method of com-
position of indebtedness or a moratorium law, but 
solely to the extent that it prohibits the payment of 
principal or interest by an entity not described in 
section 109(b)(2) of title 11, United States Code,
may not bind any creditor of a covered territory or 
any covered territorial instrumentality thereof that 
does not consent to the composition or moratorium; 
(2) a judgment entered under a law described 
in paragraph (1) may not bind a creditor that does 
not consent to the composition; and 
(3) unlawful executive orders that alter, amend, 
or modify rights of holders of any debt of the terri-
tory or territorial instrumentality, or that divert 
funds from one territorial instrumentality to another 
or to the territory, shall be preempted by this Act. 
SEC. 304. PETITION AND PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO PETI-
TION. 
(a) COMMENCEMENT OF CASE.—A voluntary case 
under this title is commenced by the filing with the district 
court of a petition by the Oversight Board pursuant to 
the determination under section 206 of this Act. 
(b) OBJECTION TO PETITION.—After any objection 
to the petition, the court, after notice and a hearing, may 
dismiss the petition if the petition does not meet the re-
quirements of this title; however, this subsection shall not 
apply in any case during the first 120 days after the date 
on which such case is commenced under this title. 
(c) ORDER FOR RELIEF.—The commencement of a 
case under this title constitutes an order for relief.
(d) APPEAL.—The court may not, on account of an 
appeal from an order for relief, delay any proceeding 
under this title in the case in which the appeal is being 
taken, nor shall any court order a stay of such proceeding 
pending such appeal. 
(e) VALIDITY OF DEBT.—The reversal on appeal of 
a finding of jurisdiction shall not affect the validity of any 
debt incurred that is authorized by the court under section 
364(c) or 364(d) of title 11, United States Code. 
(f) JOINT FILING OF PETITIONS AND PLANS PER-
MITTED.—The Oversight Board, on behalf of debtors 
under this title, may file petitions or submit or modify 
plans of adjustment jointly if the debtors are affiliates; 
provided, however, that nothing in this title shall be con-
strued as authorizing substantive consolidation of the 
cases of affiliated debtors. 
(g) 
JOINT
ADMINISTRATION
OF
AFFILIATED 
CASES.—If the Oversight Board, on behalf of a debtor and 
one or more affiliates, has filed separate cases and the 
Oversight Board, on behalf of the debtor or one of the 
affiliates, files a motion to administer the cases jointly, 
the court may order a joint administration of the cases. 
(h) PUBLIC SAFETY.—This Act may not be construed 
to permit the discharge of obligations arising under Fed-
eral police or regulatory laws, including laws relating to
the environment, public health or safety, or territorial laws 
implementing such Federal legal provisions. This includes 
compliance obligations, requirements under consent de-
crees or judicial orders, and obligations to pay associated 
administrative, civil, or other penalties. 
(i) VOTING
ON DEBT ADJUSTMENT PLANS NOT 
STAYED.—Notwithstanding any provision in this title to 
the contrary, including sections of title 11, United States 
Code, incorporated by reference, nothing in this section 
shall prevent the holder of a claim from voting on or con-
senting to a proposed modification of such claim under 
title VI of this Act. 
SEC. 305. LIMITATION ON JURISDICTION AND POWERS OF 
COURT. 
Subject to the limitations set forth in titles I and II 
of this Act, notwithstanding any power of the court, unless 
the Oversight Board consents or the plan so provides, the 
court may not, by any stay, order, or decree, in the case 
or otherwise, interfere with— 
(1) any of the political or governmental powers 
of the debtor; 
(2) any of the property or revenues of the debt-
or; or 
(3) the use or enjoyment by the debtor of any 
income-producing property.
SEC. 306. JURISDICTION. 
(a) FEDERAL SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION.— 
The district courts shall have— 
(1) except as provided in paragraph (2), origi-
nal and exclusive jurisdiction of all cases under this 
title; and 
(2) except as provided in subsection (b), and 
notwithstanding any Act of Congress that confers 
exclusive jurisdiction on a court or courts other than 
the district courts, original but not exclusive juris-
diction of all civil proceedings arising under this 
title, or arising in or related to cases under this title. 
(b) PROPERTY JURISDICTION.—The district court in 
which a case under this title is commenced or is pending 
shall have exclusive jurisdiction of all property, wherever 
located, of the debtor as of the commencement of the case. 
(c) PERSONAL JURISDICTION.—The district court in 
which a case under this title is pending shall have personal 
jurisdiction over any person or entity. 
(d) REMOVAL, REMAND, AND TRANSFER.— 
(1) REMOVAL.—A party may remove any claim 
or cause of action in a civil action, other than a pro-
ceeding before the United States Tax Court or a 
civil action by a governmental unit to enforce the po-
lice or regulatory power of the governmental unit, to 
the district court for the district in which the civil
action is pending, if the district court has jurisdic-
tion of the claim or cause of action under this sec-
tion. 
(2) REMAND.—The district court to which the 
claim or cause of action is removed under paragraph 
(1) may remand the claim or cause of action on any 
equitable ground. An order entered under this sub-
section remanding a claim or cause of action, or a 
decision not to remand, is not reviewable by appeal 
or otherwise by the court of appeals under section 
158(d), 1291 or 1292 of title 28, United States 
Code, or by the Supreme Court of the United States 
under section 1254 of title 28, United States Code. 
(3) TRANSFER.—A district court shall transfer 
any civil proceeding arising under this title, or aris-
ing in or related to a case under this title, to the dis-
trict court in which the case under this title is pend-
ing. 
(e) APPEAL.— 
(1) An appeal shall be taken in the same man-
ner as appeals in civil proceedings generally are 
taken to the courts of appeals from the district 
court. 
(2) The court of appeals for the circuit in which 
a case under this title has venue pursuant to section
307 of this title shall have jurisdiction of appeals 
from all final decisions, judgments, orders and de-
crees entered under this title by the district court. 
(3) The court of appeals for the circuit in which 
a case under this title has venue pursuant to section 
307 of this title shall have jurisdiction to hear ap-
peals of interlocutory orders or decrees if— 
(A) the district court on its own motion or 
on the request of a party to the order or decree 
certifies that— 
(i) the order or decree involves a ques-
tion of law as to which there is no control-
ling decision of the court of appeals for the 
circuit or of the Supreme Court of the 
United States, or involves a matter of pub-
lic importance; 
(ii) the order or decree involves a 
question of law requiring the resolution of 
conflicting decisions; or 
(iii) an immediate appeal from the 
order or decree may materially advance the 
progress of the case or proceeding in which 
the appeal is taken; and 
(B) the court of appeals authorizes the di-
rect appeal of the order or decree.
(4) If the district court on its own motion or on 
the request of a party determines that a cir-
cumstance specified in clauses (i), (ii), or (iii) of 
paragraph (3)(A) exists, then the district court shall 
make the certification described in paragraph (3). 
(5) The parties may supplement the certifi-
cation with a short statement of the basis for the 
certification issued by the district court under para-
graph (3)(A). 
(6) Except as provided in section 304(d), an 
appeal of an interlocutory order or decree does not 
stay any proceeding of the district court from which 
the appeal is taken unless the district court, or the 
court of appeals in which the appeal is pending, 
issues a stay of such proceedings pending the ap-
peal. 
(7) Any request for a certification in respect to 
an interlocutory appeal of an order or decree shall 
be made not later than 60 days after the entry of 
the order or decree. 
(f) REALLOCATION
OF COURT STAFF.—Notwith-
standing any law to the contrary, the clerk of the court 
in which a case is pending shall reallocate as many staff 
and assistants as the clerk deems necessary to ensure that
the court has adequate resources to provide for proper 
case management. 
SEC. 307. VENUE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Venue shall be proper in— 
(1) with respect to a territory, the district court 
for the territory or, for any territory that does not 
have a district court, the United States District 
Court for the District of Hawaii; and 
(2) with respect to a covered territorial instru-
mentality, the district court for the territory in 
which the covered territorial instrumentality is lo-
cated or, for any territory that does not have a dis-
trict court, the United States District Court for the 
District of Hawaii. 
(b) ALTERNATIVE VENUE.— 
(1) If the Oversight Board so determines in its 
sole discretion, then venue shall be proper in the dis-
trict court for the jurisdiction in which the Oversight 
Board maintains an office that is located outside the 
territory. 
(2) With respect to paragraph (1), the Over-
sight Board may consider, among other things— 
(A) the resources of the district court to 
adjudicate a case or proceeding; and
(B) the impact on witnesses who may be 
called in such a case or proceeding. 
SEC. 308. SELECTION OF PRESIDING JUDGE. 
(a) For cases in which the debtor is a territory, the 
Chief Justice of the United States shall designate a dis-
trict court judge to sit by designation to conduct the case. 
(b) For cases in which the debtor is not a territory, 
and no motion for joint administration of the debtor’s case 
with the case of its affiliate territory has been filed or 
there is no case in which the affiliate territory is a debtor, 
the chief judge of the court of appeals for the circuit em-
bracing the district in which the case is commenced shall 
designate a district court judge to conduct the case. 
SEC. 309. ABSTENTION. 
Nothing in this title prevents a district court in the 
interests of justice from abstaining from hearing a par-
ticular proceeding arising in or related to a case under 
this title. 
SEC. 310. APPLICABLE RULES OF PROCEDURE. 
The Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure shall 
apply to a case under this title and to all civil proceedings 
arising in or related to cases under this title. 
SEC. 311. LEASES. 
A lease to a territory or territorial instrumentality 
shall not be treated as an executory contract or unexpired
lease for the purposes of section 365 or 502(b)(6) of title 
11, United States Code, solely by reason of the lease being 
subject to termination in the event the debtor fails to ap-
propriate rent. 
SEC. 312. FILING OF PLAN OF ADJUSTMENT. 
(a) EXCLUSIVITY.—Only the Oversight Board, after 
the issuance of a certificate pursuant to section 104(j) of 
this Act, may file a plan of adjustment of the debts of 
the debtor. 
(b) DEADLINE FOR FILING PLAN.—If the Oversight 
Board does not file a plan of adjustment with the petition, 
the Oversight Board shall file a plan of adjustment at the 
time set by the court. 
SEC. 313. MODIFICATION OF PLAN. 
The Oversight Board, after the issuance of a certifi-
cation pursuant to section 104(j) of this Act, may modify 
the plan at any time before confirmation, but may not 
modify the plan so that the plan as modified fails to meet 
the requirements of this title. After the Oversight Board 
files a modification, the plan as modified becomes the 
plan. 
SEC. 314. CONFIRMATION. 
(a) OBJECTION.—A special tax payer may object to 
confirmation of a plan.
(b) CONFIRMATION.—The court shall confirm the 
plan if— 
(1) the plan complies with the provisions of title 
11 of the United States Code, made applicable to a 
case under this title by section 301 of this Act; 
(2) the plan complies with the provisions of this 
title; 
(3) the debtor is not prohibited by law from 
taking any action necessary to carry out the plan; 
(4) except to the extent that the holder of a 
particular claim has agreed to a different treatment 
of such claim, the plan provides that on the effective 
date of the plan each holder of a claim of a kind 
specified in 507(a)(2) of title 11, United States 
Code, will receive on account of such claim cash 
equal to the allowed amount of such claim; 
(5) any legislative, regulatory, or electoral ap-
proval necessary under applicable law in order to 
carry out any provision of the plan has been ob-
tained, or such provision is expressly conditioned on 
such approval; 
(6) the plan is feasible and in the best interests 
of creditors, which shall require the court to consider 
whether available remedies under the non-bank-
ruptcy laws and constitution of the territory would
result in a greater recovery for the creditors than is 
provided by such plan; and 
(7) the plan is consistent with the applicable 
Fiscal Plan certified by the Oversight Board under 
title II. 
(c) CONFIRMATION FOR DEBTORS WITH A SINGLE 
CLASS OF CLAIMS.—If all of the requirements of section 
314(b) of this title and section 1129(a) of title 11, United 
States Code, incorporated into this title by section 301 
other than sections 1129(a)(8) and 1129(a)(10) are met 
with respect to a plan— 
(1) with respect to which all claims are substan-
tially similar under section 301(e) of this title; 
(2) that includes only one class of claims, which 
claims are impaired claims; and 
(3) that was not accepted by such impaired 
class, 
the court shall confirm the plan notwithstanding the re-
quirements of such sections 1129(a)(8) and 1129(a)(10) 
of title 11, United States Code if the plan is fair and equi-
table and does not discriminate unfairly with respect to 
such impaired class. 
SEC. 315. ROLE AND CAPACITY OF OVERSIGHT BOARD. 
(a) ACTIONS OF OVERSIGHT BOARD.—For the pur-
poses of this title, the Oversight Board may take any ac-
tion necessary on behalf of the debtor to prosecute the 
case of the debtor, including— 
(1) filing a petition under section 304 of this 
Act; 
(2) submitting or modifying a plan of adjust-
ment under sections 312 and 313; or 
(3) otherwise generally submitting filings in re-
lation to the case with the court. 
(b) REPRESENTATIVE OF DEBTOR.—The Oversight 
Board in a case under this title is the representative of 
the debtor. 
SEC. 316. COMPENSATION OF PROFESSIONALS. 
(a) After notice to the parties in interest and the 
United States Trustee and a hearing, the court may award 
to a professional person employed by the debtor (in the 
debtor’s sole discretion), the Oversight Board (in the 
Oversight Board’s sole discretion), a committee under sec-
tion 1103 of title 11, United States Code, or a trustee 
appointed by the court under section 926 of title 11, 
United States Code— 
(1) reasonable compensation for actual, nec-
essary services rendered by the professional person, 
or attorney and by any paraprofessional person em-
ployed by any such person; and
(2) reimbursement for actual, necessary ex-
penses. 
(b) The court may, on its own motion or on the mo-
tion of the United States Trustee or any other party in 
interest, award compensation that is less than the amount 
of compensation that is requested. 
(c) In determining the amount of reasonable com-
pensation to be awarded to a professional person, the 
court shall consider the nature, the extent, and the value 
of such services, taking into account all relevant factors, 
including— 
(1) the time spent on such services; 
(2) the rates charged for such services; 
(3) whether the services were necessary to the 
administration of, or beneficial at the time at which 
the service was rendered toward the completion of, 
a case under this chapter; 
(4) whether the services were performed within 
a reasonable amount of time commensurate with the 
complexity, importance, and nature of the problem, 
issue, or task addressed; 
(5) with respect to a professional person, 
whether the person is board certified or otherwise 
has demonstrated skill and experience in the restruc-
turing field; and
(6) whether the compensation is reasonable 
based on the customary compensation charged by 
comparably skilled practitioners in cases other than 
cases under this title or title 11, United States 
Code. 
(d) The court shall not allow compensation for— 
(1) unnecessary duplication of services; or 
(2) services that were not— 
(A) reasonably likely to benefit the debtor; 
or 
(B) necessary to the administration of the 
case. 
(e) The court shall reduce the amount of compensa-
tion awarded under this section by the amount of any in-
terim compensation awarded under section 317 of this 
title, and, if the amount of such interim compensation ex-
ceeds the amount of compensation awarded under this sec-
tion, may order the return of the excess to the debtor. 
(f) Any compensation awarded for the preparation of 
a fee application shall be based on the level and skill rea-
sonably required to prepare the application. 
SEC. 317. INTERIM COMPENSATION. 
A debtor’s attorney, or any professional person em-
ployed by the debtor (in the debtor’s sole discretion), the 
Oversight Board (in the Oversight Board’s sole discre-
tion), a committee under section 1103 of title 11, United 
States Code, or a trustee appointed by the court under 
section 926 of title 11, United States Code, may apply 
to the court not more than once every 120 days after an 
order for relief in a case under this title, or more often 
if the court permits, for such compensation for services 
rendered before the date of such an application or reim-
bursement for expenses incurred before such date as is 
provided under section 316 of this title. 
TITLE IV—MISCELLANEOUS 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 401. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Nothing in this Act is intended, or may be con-
strued— 
(1) to limit the authority of Congress to exer-
cise legislative authority over the territories pursu-
ant to Article IV, section 3 of the Constitution of 
the United States; 
(2) to authorize the application of section 
104(f) of this Act (relating to issuance of sub-
poenas) to judicial officers or employees of territory 
courts; 
(3) to alter, amend, or abrogate any provision 
of the Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union
With the United States of America (48 U.S.C. 1801 
et seq.); or 
(4) to alter, amend, or abrogate the treaties of 
cession regarding certain islands of American Samoa 
(48 U.S.C. 1661). 
SEC. 402. RIGHT OF PUERTO RICO TO DETERMINE ITS FU-
TURE POLITICAL STATUS. 
Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted to restrict 
Puerto Rico’s right to determine its future political status, 
including by conducting the plebiscite as authorized by 
Public Law 113–76. 
SEC. 403. FIRST MINIMUM WAGE IN PUERTO RICO. 
Section 6(g) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 
1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(g)) is amended by striking para-
graphs (2) through (4) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) In lieu of the rate prescribed by subsection 
(a)(1), the Governor of Puerto Rico, subject to the ap-
proval of the Financial Oversight and Management Board 
established pursuant to section 101 of the Puerto Rico 
Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act, may 
designate a time period not to exceed four years during 
which employers in Puerto Rico may pay employees who 
are initially employed after the date of enactment of such 
Act a wage which is not less than the wage described in 
paragraph (1). Notwithstanding the time period des-
ignated, such wage shall not continue in effect after such 
Board terminates in accordance with section 209 of such 
Act. 
‘‘(3) No employer may take any action to displace 
employees (including partial displacements such as reduc-
tion in hours, wages, or employment benefits) for purposes 
of hiring individuals at the wage authorized in paragraph 
(1) or (2). 
‘‘(4) Any employer who violates this subsection shall 
be considered to have violated section 15(a)(3) (29 U.S.C. 
215(a)(3)). 
‘‘(5) This subsection shall only apply to an employee 
who has not attained the age of 20 years, except in the 
case of the wage applicable in Puerto Rico, 25 years, until 
such time as the Board described in paragraph (2) termi-
nates in accordance with section 209 of the Act described 
in such paragraph.’’. 
SEC. 404. APPLICATION OF REGULATION TO PUERTO RICO. 
(a) SPECIAL RULE.—The regulations proposed by the 
Secretary of Labor relating to exemptions regarding the 
rates of pay for executive, administrative, professional, 
outside sales, and computer employees, and published in 
a notice in the Federal Register on July 6, 2015, and any 
final regulations issued related to such notice, shall have
no force or effect in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 
until— 
(1) the Comptroller General of the United 
States completes the assessment and transmits the 
report required under subsection (b); and 
(2) the Secretary of Labor, taking into account 
the assessment and report of the Comptroller Gen-
eral, provides a written determination to Congress 
that applying such rule to Puerto Rico would not 
have a negative impact on the economy of Puerto 
Rico. 
(b) ASSESSMENT AND REPORT.—Not later than two 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comp-
troller General shall examine the economic conditions in 
Puerto Rico and shall transmit a report to Congress as-
sessing the impact of applying the regulations described 
in subsection (a) to Puerto Rico, taking into consideration 
regional, metropolitan, and non-metropolitan salary and 
cost-of-living differences. 
(c) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the Bureau of the Census should conduct a 
study to determine the feasibility of expanding data 
collection to include Puerto Rico and the other 
United States territories in the Current Population
100 
Survey, which is jointly administered by the Bureau 
of the Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 
and which is the primary source of labor force sta-
tistics for the population of the United States; and 
(2) if necessary, the Bureau of the Census 
should request the funding required to conduct this 
feasibility study as part of its budget submission to 
Congress for fiscal year 2018. 
SEC. 405. AUTOMATIC STAY UPON ENACTMENT. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) LIABILITY.—The term ‘‘Liability’’ means a 
bond, loan, letter of credit, other borrowing title, ob-
ligation of insurance, or other financial indebtedness 
for borrowed money, including rights, entitlements, 
or obligations whether such rights, entitlements, or 
obligations arise from contract, statute, or any other 
source of law related to such a bond, loan, letter of 
credit, other borrowing title, obligation of insurance, 
or other financial indebtedness in physical or dema-
terialized form, of which— 
(A) the issuer, obligor, or guarantor is the 
Government of Puerto Rico; and 
(B) the date of issuance or incurrence pre-
cedes the date of enactment of this Act.
101 
(2) LIABILITY
CLAIM.—The term ‘‘Liability 
Claim’’ means, as it relates to a Liability— 
(A) right to payment, whether or not such 
right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliq-
uidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, 
disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured, 
or unsecured; or 
(B) right to an equitable remedy for 
breach of performance if such breach gives rise 
to a right to payment, whether or not such 
right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judg-
ment, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, 
disputed, undisputed, secured, or unsecured. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(c) of this section, the establishment of an Oversight 
Board for Puerto Rico (i.e., the enactment of this Act) 
in accordance with section 101 operates with respect to 
a Liability as a stay, applicable to all entities (as such 
term is defined in section 101 of title 11, United States 
Code), of— 
(1) the commencement or continuation, includ-
ing the issuance or employment of process, of a judi-
cial, administrative, or other action or proceeding 
against the Government of Puerto Rico that was or 
could have been commenced before the enactment of
102 
this Act, or to recover a Liability Claim against the 
Government of Puerto Rico that arose before the en-
actment of this Act; 
(2) the enforcement, against the Government of 
Puerto Rico or against property of the Government 
of Puerto Rico, of a judgment obtained before the 
enactment of this Act; 
(3) any act to obtain possession of property of 
the Government of Puerto Rico or of property from 
the Government of Puerto Rico or to exercise control 
over property of the Government of Puerto Rico; 
(4) any act to create, perfect, or enforce any 
lien against property of the Government of Puerto 
Rico; 
(5) any act to create, perfect, or enforce against 
property of the Government of Puerto Rico any lien 
to the extent that such lien secures a Liability Claim 
that arose before the enactment of this Act; 
(6) any act to collect, assess, or recover a Li-
ability Claim against the Government of Puerto Rico 
that arose before the enactment of this Act; and 
(7) the setoff of any debt owing to the Govern-
ment of Puerto Rico that arose before the enactment 
of this Act against any Liability Claim against the 
Government of Puerto Rico.
108 
turing, insolvency, bankruptcy, or other pro-
ceeding (or a similar or analogous process) by, 
the Government of Puerto Rico, including a de-
fault or an event of default thereunder; or 
(B) with respect to Liability Claims— 
(i) for the non-payment of principal or 
interest; or 
(ii) for the breach of any condition or 
covenant. 
(2) The term ‘‘remedy’’ as used in paragraph 
(1) shall be interpreted broadly, and shall include 
any right existing in law or contract, including any 
right to— 
(A) setoff; 
(B) apply or appropriate funds; 
(C) seek the appointment of a custodian 
(as such term is defined in section 101(11) of 
title 11, United States Code); 
(D) seek to raise rates; or 
(E) exercise control over property of the 
Government of Puerto Rico. 
(3) Notwithstanding any contractual provision 
or applicable law to the contrary and so long as a 
stay under this section is in effect, a contract to 
which the Government of Puerto Rico is a party may
109 
not be terminated or modified, and any right or obli-
gation under such contract may not be terminated 
or modified, solely because of a provision in such 
contract is conditioned on— 
(A) the insolvency or financial condition of 
the Government of Puerto Rico at any time 
prior to the enactment of this Act; 
(B) the adoption of a resolution or estab-
lishment of an Oversight Board pursuant to 
section 101 of this Act; or 
(C) a default under a separate contract 
that is due to, triggered by, or a result of the 
occurrence of the events or matters in para-
graph (1)(B). 
(4) Notwithstanding any contractual provision 
to the contrary and so long as a stay under this sec-
tion is in effect, a counterparty to a contract with 
the Government of Puerto Rico for the provision of 
goods and services shall, unless the Government of 
Puerto Rico agrees to the contrary in writing, con-
tinue to perform all obligations under, and comply 
with the terms of, such contract, provided that the 
Government of Puerto Rico is not in default under 
such contract other than as a result of a condition 
specified in paragraph (3).