2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 102 - Spending Cutback Measures (§§ 8791 — 8810) › § 8803 - Public Employees Options Program

Every employee who avails him/herself of the voluntary incentivized resignation plan, as provided by § 8794(1) of this title, or those who are terminated by virtue of the provisions of § 8795 of this title, shall be eligible for the Public Employees Options Program.
The Public Employee Options Program shall consist of four (4) options or alternatives:
(a) One (1) educational voucher for a total amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000);
(b) one (1) vocational/technical or relocation voucher for a total amount of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), or
(c) one (1) fifty-percent (50%)-subsidy of the salary of transition to a job in the private sector or in the third sector, applicable to a gross salary of up to a maximum of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000). Therefore, the maximum benefit to be granted by virtue of this subsection is fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000). The subsidy to be granted shall be applicable only in those cases in which the job in the sector to be subsidized is additional to those existing within the entity of the private or third sector. In cases in which the entity of the private or third sector hires terminated employees under the provisions of this subsection or employees who have availed themselves of the Voluntary Incentivized Resignation Program, a one (1)-year probationary period shall be applicable to the such employees in accordance with §§ 185a et seq. of Title 29. The layoff of employees in entities of the private sector for the purpose of employing persons through the subsidy authorized in this subsection is hereby prohibited. Any layoffs made in entities of the private sector that receive the subsidy authorized in this subsection shall comply with the provisions of §§ 185a et seq. of Title 29, or
(d) one (1) voucher for a sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the establishment of his/her own business or for self-employment subject to the instructions to be established to such effects by JREF.
Upon choosing and thus benefiting from any of the four (4) options described above, the employee waives all rights to claim any of the other three (3) options.
The above described options do not consist of payments or benefits to be received directly by the employee, the same shall be processed or channeled to the educational or vocational technical institution or to the new employer subject to the instructions to be established to such effects by JREF.
The JREF shall establish through guidelines all that pertains to the eligibility criteria, requirements, forms to be completed, documents to be submitted and any other consideration needed so that an eligible public employee may qualify to receive the aid described in the preceding subsections and benefits from the same.
The Department of Labor and Human Resources shall promote the hiring of laid off employees in the entrepreneurial and private employer sector in areas in which there is a work demand through the existing programs and mechanisms deemed necessary.
With respect to public employees terminated by virtue of the provisions of § 8795 of this title, the Public Employees Options Program shall preempt and prevail over any other existing program applicable to terminated employees.
The JREF shall identify the resources needed to make this Program feasible.
History —Mar. 9, 2009, No. 7, § 39; July 10, 2009, No. 37, § 43.