reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 65 - Sharecroppers (§§ 1901 — 1905) › § 1903 - Sharecropping contract, renewal, forms

The sharecropper who wishes to receive the benefits of this chapter should present his sharecropping contract to the Department of Agriculture. Said contract shall clearly express the way or proportion that the products or gains are to be divided. This contract shall be for the term agreed upon by both parties, but never for less than a year, and it will be subject to renewal according to what the parties agree upon. If the contract is not renewed, the unharvested produce shall be harvested in due time and distributed between the parties as stipulated in the contract.
The issuing and renewal of the sharecropping contract shall be presented for registration in the Registry hereunder created within the prescribed thirty (30) days. The presentation and registration of the sharecropping contract shall be free of taxes.
The Secretary of Agriculture is empowered to design and distribute samples or forms of sharecropping contracts to be used by the interested parties.
History —May 26, 1978, No. 24, p. 52, § 3, eff. 90 days after May 26, 1978.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 65 - Sharecroppers (§§ 1901 — 1905) › § 1904 - Sharecropping Contracts Registry

The Sharecropping Contracts Registry is created in the Department of Agriculture. The Secretary of Agriculture shall determine the form and contents of said Registry. The Secretary of Agriculture is also empowered to establish the district or local offices where the books of the Registry shall be kept.
History —May 26, 1978, No. 24, p. 52, § 4, eff. 90 days after May 26, 1978.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 65 - Sharecroppers (§§ 1901 — 1905) › § 1905 - Rules and regulations

The Secretary of Agriculture is ordered to issue rules and regulations and establish the procedures needed to guarantee the rights granted by this chapter to the sharecroppers.
History —May 26, 1978, No. 24, p. 52, § 5, eff. 90 days after May 26, 1978.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 66 - Agricultural Development of Valley of Yabucoa (§§ 1911 — 1917) › § 1911 - Special zoning resolution order

The Planning Board, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture, and the School of Agricultural Sciences of the University of Puerto Rico shall conduct any necessary studies of the properties located within the denominated Valley of Yabucoa for the ordination of their lands through the promulgation and adoption of a special zoning resolution, in order to reserve and devote the lands within said Valley to agricultural production and development. Once the lands therein are analyzed, the lands to be protected shall be established through geographical delimitation, and the corresponding zoning shall be adopted in accordance with the zone qualification districts included in the Special Agricultural Reserves of Puerto Rico Regulations (Planning Regulation No. 28).
The Special Zoning shall include, in addition to the lands that presently have agricultural value, such lands that abut on those identified as having agricultural value, and which act as buffer zones. Within the buffer zones, it shall be included the identified lands south from the Caño de Santiago, which abut on industrial lands, and the Yabucoa port lands, as identified by the Land Administration.
Said Special Zoning Resolution shall be promulgated no later than one (1) year after the approval of this act.
History —Aug. 3, 2009, No. 49, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 66 - Agricultural Development of Valley of Yabucoa (§§ 1911 — 1917) › § 1912 - Prohibitions

The Planning Board, the Regulations and Permits Administration, and the municipal governments whose territorial boundaries are located within the area comprised by the Valley of Yabucoa Agricultural Reserve, each within its jurisdiction, are hereby forbidden to approve site consultations, authorize developments, and grant construction or use permits in contravention with the public policy stated in the purpose note under § 1911 of this title. However, such construction or use permits resulting from the site consultation or developments or operations validly approved before the effective date of and pursuant to this act shall be authorized, provided that such permits have not been revoked for any reason.
Furthermore, said agencies and government bodies may not authorize land division for the creation of plots of less than fifty (50) cuerdas in the area designated in the Special Zoning Resolution as provided in § 1911 of this title.
History —Aug. 3, 2009, No. 49, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 66 - Agricultural Development of Valley of Yabucoa (§§ 1911 — 1917) › § 1913 - Identification of ownership of public and private lands and demarcation of parcels

The Planning Board, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture, shall identify the ownership of the public lands located within the Valley of Yabucoa, in order to expedite the territorial ordination and the approval of the Special Zoning Resolution for the lands to be protected therein.
Government agencies holding title to lands with agricultural potential located within the geographic boundaries of the Valley of Yabucoa, except the School of Agricultural Sciences of the University of Puerto Rico, shall transfer the lands they own under gratuitous title to the Land Authority.
The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture shall identify any parcel or land of high agricultural value that does not belong to Commonwealth and is not devoted to agricultural production so as to encourage the development of specific agricultural projects for said properties in coordination with the owners of said land through the subsidies and incentives that the Department of Agriculture has available for such ends and purposes.
History —Aug. 3, 2009, No. 49, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 66 - Agricultural Development of Valley of Yabucoa (§§ 1911 — 1917) › § 1914 - Exclusion of parcels from Special Zoning Resolution

The parcels identified by the following cadastre number shall be exempted from the Special Zoning Resolution:
377-000-008-02
329-000-007-53-001
329-000-008-65-001
329-95-001-17-901
352-000-003-36-000
352-000-004-11-901
352-000-004-20-000
352-000-004-24-000
352-000-004-26-001
352-000-004-27-000
352-000-004-41-998
352-000-004-53-000
352-000-009-18-000
352-000-009-22-000
353-000-001-12-000
377-000-004-06-901
377-000-004-06-902
07DX2-CE00-08838
The above listed parcels are classified as industrial parcels and contain graphite deposits; therefore, they are not suitable for agricultural activity or shall be partially divided upon delimiting the area or devoted to other purposes.
The parcels stated in this section shall not be subject to the prohibition established in § 1912 of this title.
History —Aug. 3, 2009, No. 49, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 66 - Agricultural Development of Valley of Yabucoa (§§ 1911 — 1917) › § 1916 - Powers of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture

The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture is hereby empowered to enter into agreements with other Commonwealth and federal government agencies as well as non-governmental organizations for the study, administration and management of the Valley of Yabucoa.
Likewise, the Secretary of Agriculture is hereby empowered to establish the regulations needed to perform the duties and functions imposed by this chapter. Said regulations shall comply with the provisions of §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Uniform Administrative Procedures Act”.
History —Aug. 3, 2009, No. 49, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 66 - Agricultural Development of Valley of Yabucoa (§§ 1911 — 1917) › § 1917 - Annual report

The Secretary of Agriculture shall render an annual report to the Legislature regarding the progress on the promulgation and adoption of the Special Zoning Resolution to be established in the Valley of Yabucoa.
Such annual report shall also include information regarding the measures and actions that have been taken, as well as the plans that have been drawn to achieve the design and implementation of the Valley of Yabucoa Integrated Development Plan.
This report shall be filed before the Legislature not later than June of each year after the approval of this act.
History —Aug. 3, 2009, No. 49, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 66A - La Hermosura Plantation—Agricultural Reserve (§§ 1921 — 1929) › § 1921 - Declaration

La Hermosura Plantation, along with its nine hundred and ten (910) cuerdas of important agricultural land, located in the Quebrada Arenas Ward of the Municipality of Las Piedras, Puerto Rico, is hereby declared as an agricultural reserve.
History —June 25, 2015, No. 94, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 66A - La Hermosura Plantation—Agricultural Reserve (§§ 1921 — 1929) › § 1922 - Identification of the lands

The Planning Board, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture, shall identify all lands with potential for agriculture and livestock farming in the Municipality of Las Piedras and adjoining areas so that, after due process, they may be declared and included as part of the Las Piedras Agricultural Reserve under Special Zoning.
History —June 25, 2015, No. 94, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 66A - La Hermosura Plantation—Agricultural Reserve (§§ 1921 — 1929) › § 1923 - Development plan

The Agricultural and Livestock Business Development Administration of the Department of Agriculture of Puerto Rico is hereby required to devise a development plan for La Hermosura Plantation in the Municipality of Las Piedras.
History —June 25, 2015, No. 94, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 66A - La Hermosura Plantation—Agricultural Reserve (§§ 1921 — 1929) › § 1924 - Agreements

The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture is hereby directed to enter into agreements with other government and private organizations, if necessary, for the administration and management of this agricultural reserve.
History —June 25, 2015, No. 94, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 66A - La Hermosura Plantation—Agricultural Reserve (§§ 1921 — 1929) › § 1925 - Annual report

The Secretary of Agriculture shall file an annual report with the Legislative Assembly regarding the operational progress of La Hermosura Plantation in the Municipality of Las Piedras.
History —June 25, 2015, No. 94, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 66A - La Hermosura Plantation—Agricultural Reserve (§§ 1921 — 1929) › § 1926 - Location consultations

The approval of location consultations by the Planning Board and permits by the Permit Management Office and the Municipal Government of Las Piedras that is inconsistent with the State’s public policy of protecting farmland to foster economic development and food security is hereby prohibited.
History —June 25, 2015, No. 94, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 66A - La Hermosura Plantation—Agricultural Reserve (§§ 1921 — 1929) › § 1927 - Non-agricultural activity

Any non-agricultural activity currently taking place in farmland or which adversely affects agricultural activity within the Reserve shall cease within two (2) years as of the approval of the Special Zoning Resolution; Provided, That any non-agricultural activity to which any regulatory agency had issued location, construction, use, or enjoyment permits and which had not begun or been completed shall cease immediately and all permits granted shall be revoked subject to just compensation.
History —June 25, 2015, No. 94, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 66A - La Hermosura Plantation—Agricultural Reserve (§§ 1921 — 1929) › § 1928 - Renewable energy systems

The installation of large- or mid-scale renewable energy systems in this Special Agricultural Zoning is hereby prohibited. Only those alternative energy systems meant to complement electric power needs for the farms’ agricultural production shall be allowed.
History —June 25, 2015, No. 94, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 66A - La Hermosura Plantation—Agricultural Reserve (§§ 1921 — 1929) › § 1929 - Segregations for agricultural purposes

It is hereby provided that, in the Las Piedras Agricultural Reserve, only segregations for agricultural purposes of at least fifty (50) cuerdas of land shall be allowed.
History —June 25, 2015, No. 94, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 69 - Purebred Paso Fino Horse Agro-Industry Act (§§ 2001 — 2010) › § 2003 - Director—Appointment

The Office shall be administered by an Executive Director appointed by the Secretary, under whose volition he shall perform his duties, and who shall be a person of recognized competence, moral probity, and experience in the breeding and marketing phase of Puerto Rican purebred Paso Fino horses.
The Director shall not have any financial interest whatsoever in agricultural activities related to the breeding, training, sale, marketing, stable management, competitions, or any other activity pertaining to this industry’s competitions during his term, and up to two (2) years after having ceased in his office.
However, the Director shall automatically become a member of the Board of the Sector Attached to the Regulating Office for two (2) years subsequent to the moment he vacates his position, with the purpose of advising the Board and lending continuity to the operation of the Office.
The Director shall perform those functions, powers, and duties that are delegated on him by the Secretary, who shall fix his remuneration at a par with that received by officials of the same or similar nature and responsibilities in the Department of Agriculture.
History —Aug. 11, 1988, No. 169, p. 754, § 4; Jan. 20, 2000, No. 37, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 69 - Purebred Paso Fino Horse Agro-Industry Act (§§ 2001 — 2010) › § 2004 - Director—Functions

In order to comply with the purposes of this chapter, the Director shall have the following functions and duties, among others:
(1) To determine, with the approval of the Secretary, the Office’s internal organization, and establish the necessary systems for its proper functioning and operation, as well as to carry out the administrative and managerial actions needed to implement this chapter.
(2) To delegate to any official or employee, with the approval of the Secretary, those functions, duties and responsibilities conferred on him by this chapter.
(3) To make resolutions and execute agreements or contracts with the approval of the Secretary to implement and comply with the purposes of this chapter.
(4) To offer breeders, per se, or through agreements with other public or private, natural or juridical persons, training on breed matching, taming and training techniques, and production and business practices, as well as to authorize the expenditure of public funds for education and training in matters related to the production or marketing of paso fino horses, to the breeders, employees, workers or professionals who work directly with the paso fino horse industry or subsequently serve it.
(5) To request and obtain any funds, donations and aids from the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or the Government of the United States of America, including their agencies, instrumentalities and public corporations, as well as from private persons or entities, to carry out the purposes established in this chapter.
(6) To promote programs or projects subsidized with funds from the Government of the United States of America, and to supervise the investment and distribution of funds appropriated to such programs and projects.
(7) To study the conditions of the Puerto Rican Purebred Paso Fino Horse Industry.
(8) To hold a meeting at least once a year, for research purposes, with breeders, trainers and interested persons, to hear their opinions, points of view and ideas regarding the Puerto Rican purebred paso fino horse industry.
(9) To adopt adequate measures to regulate said industry, with the approval of the Secretary, to the extent needed to comply with the goals and purposes of this chapter.
(10) To establish a control and accounting system for the adequate management of the Office’s funds. The accounting system thus adopted must be approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, according to the provisions of § 283 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Puerto Rico Government Accounting Act”.
History —Aug. 11, 1988, No. 169, p. 754, § 5; Jan. 20, 2000, No. 37, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 69 - Purebred Paso Fino Horse Agro-Industry Act (§§ 2001 — 2010) › § 2005 - Director—Powers

In order to ensure compliance with this chapter and its regulations, the Director shall have the following powers:
(1) To take samples and perform the prescribed analyses, including blood tests, from every horse under consideration for registration or that is currently registered in the Central Genealogical Register.
(2) Inspect any stable, breeding farm, animal, material, equipment, product, artifact, vehicle, record, book, document, or printed material in any investigation on any aspect of the agricultural activity of the Puerto Rican purebred Paso Fino Horse Industry that is conducted pursuant to the purposes and provisions of this chapter.
(3) To hear and resolve complaints of violations of the provisions of this chapter and its regulations.
(4) To issue summons requiring the appearance of witnesses and the presentation of any financial data or information deemed necessary for the administration of this chapter, and to adopt any rules he deems are needed to govern the procedures to be followed in every petition or complaint filed in the Office.
(5) Preside over the public hearings regarding the regulations to be adopted for the celebration of local and international Puerto Rican purebred Paso Fino horse competitions, or any equine or sports activity in which there are Puerto Rican purebred Paso Fino horse events, or their exhibitions. Only Puerto Rican purebred Paso Fino horses that are duly registered in the Central Genealogical Register shall be permitted to represent Puerto Rico. Once the hearings are concluded, he shall submit the proposed regulations to the consideration of the Administrative Board, for approval.
(6) Render to the Governor and the Legislature, no later than the second week of January of each year, and through the Regulator designated by the Secretary, a complete and detailed report of all the activities of the Office, its achievements, programs, incentives, subsidies, assistance, and training offered by said office, the funds from different sources that were assigned, procured or administered by the Office during the corresponding report year, their disbursement, and on any remaining funds.
(7) He shall automatically become the subregulator of the Industry.
History —Aug. 11, 1988, No. 169, p. 754, § 6; Jan. 20, 2000, No. 37, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 69 - Purebred Paso Fino Horse Agro-Industry Act (§§ 2001 — 2010) › § 2006 - Regulations

The Secretary shall adopt the regulations needed for the implementation of this chapter, with the exception of the provisions that govern the internal organization of the Office and those related to the powers conferred to its Administrative Board, as indicated in the effectiveness note under § 2001 of this title. Such rules and regulations shall be adopted and promulgated pursuant to §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Uniform Administrative Procedures Act”.
History —Aug. 11, 1988, No. 169, p. 754, § 7; Jan. 20, 2000, No. 37, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 69 - Purebred Paso Fino Horse Agro-Industry Act (§§ 2001 — 2010) › § 2007 - Central Genealogical Register

The Department of Agriculture shall establish a Central Genealogical Register of Puerto Rican Purebred Paso Fino Horses, which shall cover the areas of identification of the purebred Paso Fino horses, mating tests, blood tests, birth date, registration date, markings, owners of the horse and its sire and dam, method of certifying registrations, and any other matter of relevance to achieve the purposes of this chapter. The Department shall adopt said Register through regulation to such effects, which shall include the fees that shall be charged for registration therein, and for the certificates that are issued.
As means of transition, during the first six (6) months following the effective date of this act, the Secretary, through regulations to such effect, may accept the registration in the Central Genealogical Register of every horse association, which groups owners of Paso Fino horses, provided that said association has previously published said register, and if the register meets the requirement established in the definition of “Puerto Rican purebred Paso Fino horse” included in § 2001 of this title. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to review the registrations made under this transitional clause within the unpostponable term of one year from the effective date of this act, and to adopt and modify the regulations related to the Central Genealogical Register, as deemed necessary, pursuant to the objectives and provisions of this chapter, and to take the corresponding actions.
The Administrative Board shall establish, by regulations, the reason to reject the registration of a horse in the Central Genealogical Register. The party involved may request the reconsideration of the decision, using the procedure established in § 2008 of this title.
No horse may be classified or advertised as a “ Paso Fino horse”, unless it appears on and is duly registered as such in the Central Genealogical Register.
The Secretary shall also establish a Register of Puerto Rican Purebred Paso Fino Sires, regulating its use through the requirement of mating records, blood tests, and any other standards that are deemed necessary to achieve the purposes of this chapter.
History —Aug. 11, 1988, No. 169, p. 754, § 8; Jan. 20, 2000, No. 37, § 7; Aug. 1, 2004, No. 179, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 69 - Purebred Paso Fino Horse Agro-Industry Act (§§ 2001 — 2010) › § 2009 - Violations and penalties

Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter, the regulations adopted by virtue thereof, or any order or resolution of the Secretary issued under this chapter, shall incur a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500). Subsequent violations shall be punished by a minimum penalty of three hundred dollars ($300), but not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or imprisonment for a term of six (6) months, or both penalties at the discretion of the court.
Once established the Administrative Board, may impose fines as provided in §§ 3051 et seq. of this title.
History —Aug. 11, 1988, No. 169, p. 754, § 10; Jan. 20, 2000, No. 37, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 69 - Purebred Paso Fino Horse Agro-Industry Act (§§ 2001 — 2010) › § 2010 - Internal procedures

(a) The Administrative Boards shall have powers to approve their own regulations and establish the internal procedures needed for their adequate operation. Said regulations shall be promulgated according to the provisions of §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Uniform Administrative Procedures Act”.
(b) The Boards shall submit a report of their activities during the previous fiscal year to the Secretary, including information, data, and recommendations related to issues dealt with in this chapter.
History —Aug. 11, 1988, No. 169, p. 754, added as § 14 on Jan. 20, 2000, No. 37, § 12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 70 - Sale or Training of Watchdogs and Guide Dogs (§§ 2101 — 2111) › § 2101 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter the following terms shall have the meaning stated hereinbelow:
(1) Business engaged in selling, leasing or training watchdogs and security dogs.— Means any business, whether duly incorporated pursuant to the Laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or not, is devoted to the sale, lease or training of watchdogs, security dogs or guide dogs.
(2) Watchdogs and security dogs.— Means those dogs also known in English as sentry dogs, especially trained to provide protection and security without human supervision, in properly enclosed properties, whether industrial, commercial or residential.
(3) Dogs trained to detect drugs, narcotics and explosives.— Means those dogs especially trained in the security task of detecting and locating drugs, narcotics and explosives through the use of their olfactory and auditory senses, or both.
(4) Owners.— Means those natural or juridical persons who own any business devoted to the sale, lease or training of watchdogs, security dogs or guide dogs.
(5) Operators.— Means those persons, be they natural persons, whether owners or not, who operate a business engaged in selling, leasing or providing certain training programs for dogs.
(6) Trainers.— Means those persons duly trained in the various techniques for training dogs to control and modify their conduct, subject to the provisions of this chapter.
History —Aug. 11, 1995, No. 157, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 70 - Sale or Training of Watchdogs and Guide Dogs (§§ 2101 — 2111) › § 2102 - Authority and powers of the Department of Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture is hereby authorized and empowered to implement this chapter: to oversee its accurate and proper compliance; to issue licenses to authorize and qualify the owners, operators and trainers who operate businesses devoted to the sale, lease or training of watchdogs dedicated to protect industrial, commercial and residential properties, as well as training to detect drugs, narcotics and explosives; and training to provide preventive vigilance and personal protection. When issuing a license, the Department of Agriculture shall verify that the person requesting said license has complied with the corresponding fiscal laws concerning municipal licenses, the State Insurance Fund and the Department of Health.
History —Aug. 11, 1995, No. 157, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 70 - Sale or Training of Watchdogs and Guide Dogs (§§ 2101 — 2111) › § 2103 - The Secretary of Agriculture

The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby empowered and authorized to promulgate the necessary regulations and to establish those measures geared towards achieving the purposes of this chapter. The regulations thus promulgated shall be filed with the Department of State within ninety (90) days after the approval of this act.
History —Aug. 11, 1995, No. 157, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 70 - Sale or Training of Watchdogs and Guide Dogs (§§ 2101 — 2111) › § 2104 - Licenses

It shall be the duty of every owner, operator or trainer of preventive vigilance and personal protection watchdogs, or those that detect drugs, narcotics and explosives, to acquire a license issued by the Department of Agriculture, through the payment of the corresponding fees, authorizing and qualifying him/her to offer specialized training programs for dogs. This license shall be an essential requirement for all the aforementioned owners, operators or trainers, and shall be obtained in addition to any other license, certificate or diploma issued according to the criteria of any professional entity located in the United States of America.
History —Aug. 11, 1995, No. 157, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 70 - Sale or Training of Watchdogs and Guide Dogs (§§ 2101 — 2111) › § 2105 - Dog registry; duty to register dogs with the Department of Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture shall be responsible for keeping and maintaining an up-to-date register of all dogs required to be registered with this agency, as established in this chapter, also including a full history of the sale or lease of any dog.
The owner of the business engaged in selling, leasing or providing certain dog training programs must maintain an individual file for every dog in his/her possession, including the dates of purchase, sale or lease.
The owner must also register every dog in his/her possession with the Department of Agriculture within 15 days following its acquisition.
History —Aug. 11, 1995, No. 157, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 70 - Sale or Training of Watchdogs and Guide Dogs (§§ 2101 — 2111) › § 2106 - Duty to notify

It shall be the duty of every owner or operator of a business engaged in selling, leasing or providing certain dog training programs, to notify the Department of Agriculture of the sale or lease of any dog, or the various dog training programs, within 72 hours following the sale or lease of any dog, including the name and address of the purchaser or lessee, as well as a description of the dog and its registry data. In case the dog is leased, the notice shall specify the term covered by the lease.
History —Aug. 11, 1995, No. 157, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 70 - Sale or Training of Watchdogs and Guide Dogs (§§ 2101 — 2111) › § 2107 - Dog identification

Any dog duly registered as established in this chapter, shall be identified at all times as required by the regulations adopted by the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
History —Aug. 11, 1995, No. 157, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 70 - Sale or Training of Watchdogs and Guide Dogs (§§ 2101 — 2111) › § 2108 - Transportation

Any owner and operator who must transport a dog to be leased shall ensure that all reasonable safety measures are taken to prevent the possible escape of said animal.
History —Aug. 11, 1995, No. 157, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 70 - Sale or Training of Watchdogs and Guide Dogs (§§ 2101 — 2111) › § 2109 - Follow-up visits

Concerning watchdogs under a lease contract, is shall be the duty of the owner, operator, trainer or employee trained in handling and care of the dogs mentioned herein, to ensure that said personnel make follow-up visits to the sites where the dogs are providing security services in order to verify that their physical condition, their surrounding environment, and their water and food supply are well taken care of. In case any of the aforementioned conditions is not adequate for the safety or health of the dogs, it shall be the duty of said person to immediately seek to correct the adverse condition.
History —Aug. 11, 1995, No. 157, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 70 - Sale or Training of Watchdogs and Guide Dogs (§§ 2101 — 2111) › § 2110 - Additional safety measures

(a) It shall be the duty of the owner or operator of the business, in those cases in which watchdogs have been leased, to install reasonably sized and graphically designed signs at the entrance and on the walls or fences of the property where the dogs are being used on that property. Said signs shall also contain the name of the lessee business, the physical address of the business and a telephone number which is accessible 24 hours a day.
(b) Any owner of an industrial or commercial establishment open to the public is hereby prohibited from possessing watchdogs in or around said establishment unless reasonably sized and graphically designed signs have been posted at every entrance of said building and its surroundings, to warn the general public that this type of dog is being used in that establishment and its surroundings.
History —Aug. 11, 1995, No. 157, § 11.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 70 - Sale or Training of Watchdogs and Guide Dogs (§§ 2101 — 2111) › § 2111 - Violations, fines

Any violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be punishable as a misdemeanor and shall entail a fine of three hundred dollars ($300), or imprisonment of not more than six (6) months, or both penalties at the discretion of the court.
History —Aug. 11, 1995, No. 157, § 12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 75 - Cattle Industry (§§ 3001 — 3012) › § 3001 - Definitions

For the purposes of §§ 3001—3012 of this title, the following terms and phrases shall have the meaning stated below:
(1) Department.— Means the Department of Agriculture of Puerto Rico.
(2) Secretary.— Means the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture of Puerto Rico or his/her authorized representative.
(3) Cattle.— Means live bovine animals except unweaned calves.
(4) Male Calf (Becerro).— Means a nursing calf of up to seven (7) days from birth.
(5) Calf (Ternero).— Means an animal that at the time of slaughtering weighs less than five hundred (500) pounds.
(6) Producer.— Means any person who owns or acquires ownership of cattle. For the purposes of §§ 3001—3012 of this title, a person who reaps benefit from the sale of cattle on commission, or a person who acquires cattle to enable its transfer to a third party; or resells said cattle within a period not greater than ten (10) days from the date said person acquires the cattle, shall not be deemed to be a producer.
(7) Animal.— Refers solely to cattle.
(8) Beef.— Means the meat of cattle.
(9) Carcase.— Is the carcass of a dead animal which can be either fresh or frozen, cut into two equal sides to be consumed as meat, and whose legs from the knee joint down, its tail, hide and viscera have been removed.
(10) Meat cut and vacuum-packed.— Established cuts of meat from the various parts of the carcase, which are vacuum-packed fresh as well as frozen.
(11) Market or to market.— Means the ownership, sale or offering for sale at any level, transfer, donation, transportation, storage, processing or handling of beef in any way, which is produced in, or imported to Puerto Rico.
(12) To Import.— Means any introduction of beef into Puerto Rico from any other place, be it from the United States or from any foreign country.
(13) Importer.— Means any person who receives beef in Puerto Rico from any place abroad.
(14) Package.— Means any receptacle, box, carton, or crate used to package and protect beef while being marketed.
(15) Slaughterhouse.— Facility devoted to the slaughter of animals for human consumption which must be licensed and inspected by the federal government, and which must meet all other legal requirements.
(16) Office.— The Office for the Regulation and Promotion of the Beef Industry.
(17) Fund.— Means the Beef Industry Development Fund.
(18) Small farmer.— A person devoted to breeding beef cattle who owns seventy-five (75) head of cattle or less.
History —Nov. 29, 1992, No. 95, § 2, eff. 60 days after Nov. 29, 1992.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 75 - Cattle Industry (§§ 3001 — 3012) › § 3002 - Creation

The Office for the Regulation and Promotion of the Beef Industry is hereby created in the Department of Agriculture of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Among other functions provided in §§ 3001—3012 of this title, this Office shall be responsible to adopt and put into effect programs and measures geared to foster the development of a prosperous cattle industry, as well as to solve the various situations and problems related to the production, promotion, distribution and sale of beef.
History —Nov. 29, 1992, No. 95, § 3, eff. 60 days after Nov. 29, 1992.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 75 - Cattle Industry (§§ 3001 — 3012) › § 3003 - Aims and purposes

The Office for the Regulation and Promotion of the Beef Industry is hereby created with the main purpose of promoting activities, programs and services which foster the development and strengthening of the beef industry in Puerto Rico. This Office shall receive ten percent (10%) of the funds collected pursuant to § 3008 of this title, for its operation and administrative functions. In addition to any other provision of §§ 3001—3012 of this title, the Office shall have the following aims and purposes:
(1) To promote beef production and consumption, as well as to stimulate and strengthen the establishment of new production units to be administered individually or through cooperatives, companies, corporations or groups of people.
(2) To promote the orderly marketing of locally-produced as well as imported beef.
(3) To offer beef producers and importers, technical advisory services in matters pertaining to beef production, sale, marketing, and importing, and with regard to practices for the administration of production units.
History —Nov. 29, 1992, No. 95, § 4, eff. 60 days after Nov. 29, 1992.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 75 - Cattle Industry (§§ 3001 — 3012) › § 3004 - Administrator

The Office shall be directed and administered by an Administrator appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. The Secretary shall fix the salary or remuneration of the Administrator according to the norms usually followed by the Department for positions of an equal or similar nature or with the same level of responsibility.
The Administrator shall discharge his office at the will of the Secretary, and shall be a person of acknowledged competency and experience in the field of beef production, importing, sales and marketing.
History —Nov. 29, 1992, No. 95, § 5, eff. 60 days after Nov. 29, 1992.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 75 - Cattle Industry (§§ 3001 — 3012) › § 3005 - Powers and duties of the Office

The Administrator shall exercise the powers and duties of the Office with the prior authorization of the Secretary of Agriculture. In addition to the other powers provided in §§ 3001—3012 of this title, the Office shall have the following duties:
(a) Develop promotional, research, publicity and orientation programs and projects for the consumer and the beef industry.
(b) Adopt measures which foster a greater participation of beef producers and importers in government decisions concerning the production and marketing of this item.
(c) Control and administer its programs and activities and decide the nature of and need of all its expenses and the manner they shall be incurred, authorized and paid with the approval of the Secretary.
(d) Promote the creation of employment sources.
(e) Periodically gather, interpret and publish statistical data regarding the production, distribution, sale, importing of beef and the income generated by said activities and any other information and data deemed pertinent for the evaluation of public policy.
(f) Execute any activities, agreements and contracts, and programs which are necessary to comply with the purposes of §§ 3001-3012 of this title.
(g) Investigate the business transactions and relations between each, as well as among, all producers, slaughterhouse administrators, retailers, processors and importers.
History —Nov. 29, 1992, No. 95, § 6, eff. 60 days after Nov. 29, 1992.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 75 - Cattle Industry (§§ 3001 — 3012) › § 3007 - Investigative powers of the Administrator

(a) In the performance of the duties imposed by §§ 3001—3012 of this title and in the exercise of the powers by it conferred, the Administrator may issue summons commanding the presence of witnesses and the presentation of financial data or information he/she may deem necessary for the administration of §§ 3001—3012 of this title. The information thus obtained shall be confidential in nature and shall be kept confidential by all officials and employees of the Department of Agriculture. Provided, That all the information thus obtained may be divulged solely by the Secretary of Agriculture through a prior order of the Court of First Instance of Puerto Rico to such effect.
The above provisions shall not be construed as limiting the power of the Administrator to issue general information based upon the reports about the number of persons subject to Office regulations, and the statistical data compiled, which reports shall not identify the source of information supplied by any person whatsoever.
Witnesses summoned by the Administrator in the interest of the Office shall receive per diems at the rate stipulated for witnesses summoned by the Court of First Instance of Puerto Rico.
(b) The Administrator or his/her duly-authorized agent may take oaths, hear testimony, and receive data and information.
(c) Should a summons issued by the Administrator were not duly complied with, said official may appear before the Court of First Instance of Puerto Rico and request the court to order that the summons be complied with. The Court of First Instance shall give preference to the course and dispatch of said petition and shall have the authority to dictate orders to compel the appearance of witnesses or the presentation of any data or information previously requested by the Administrator.
The Court of First Instance shall have the power to punish disobedience of said orders or contempt.
(d) No natural or juridical person may refuse to comply with a summons from the Administrator or with a judicial order so issued, claiming that the testimony, data or information thus required could incriminate him/her, or lead to the imposition of a penalty, although said person may not be criminally prosecuted regarding any transaction, matter or thing with relation to which said person has given testimony or provided data or information.
History —Nov. 29, 1992, No. 95, § 8, eff. 60 days after Nov. 29, 1992.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 75 - Cattle Industry (§§ 3001 — 3012) › § 3008 - Fund for the Development of the Beef Industry

The Fund for the Development of the Beef Industry is hereby created to be used for the promotion of the production, sale, processing and consumption of beef, and for taking any other necessary steps for the progress of the beef industry. The Fund shall be administered by an administrative board which is described below. Contributions to the Fund shall become payable thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act.
The Fund shall be supported by contributions from beef producers and importers at the rate of:
(1) Four dollars and fourteen cents ($4.14) for each animal slaughtered taking as basis the average weight of an animal slaughtered in a slaughterhouse.
(2) One cent ($.01) per pound of imported beef on the basis of the payment made for the domestic product taking into consideration the yield of the animal slaughtered by the local producer.
(3) One dollar ($1.00) for each calf slaughtered.
The person at whose request the animal is slaughtered, be it the producer, an intermediary or the slaughterhouse owner, shall be responsible for paying the contributions established in subsections (1) and (3) of this section. Payment must be made before the animal is slaughtered.
All of the Fund’s monies shall be deposited in those banking institutions determined by the Board, but which are acknowledged as depositaries for the funds of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, although they shall be maintained in an account or in accounts in the name of the Fund. Collections and disbursements shall be made according to the regulations adopted by the Administrative Board. Disbursements shall not be subject to the pre-auditing by the Secretary of the Treasury.
History —Nov. 29, 1992, No. 95, § 9, eff. 60 days after Nov. 29, 1992.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 75 - Cattle Industry (§§ 3001 — 3012) › § 3009 - Administrative Board

The Fund shall be administered by an Administrative Board to be composed of the Administrator as an ex officio member, as well as by two (2) representatives of the importers, three (3) representatives of the producers, of which one (1) shall represent small farmers, and one (1) representative of the public interest. Once constituted, the Board shall appoint its Chairperson.
Initially, three (3) members of the Board shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years each. The remaining three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years. Subsequent appointments shall be made for a term of three (3) years each. Board members shall occupy their positions until their successors are appointed and take office. Board members shall be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture; representatives of the producers shall be chosen from a list of five (5) submitted by the President of the Farmers Association. Representatives of the importers shall be chosen from a list of three (3) submitted by the President of the Importers Association to the Secretary of Agriculture.
No member shall serve as such for more than two (2) consecutive terms, excepting the Administrator of the Office for Beef Regulation. Board members shall receive no remuneration or compensation whatsoever for discharging their duties, but those who are not public officials or employees shall have the right to a reimbursement of a per diem of fifty dollars ($50) for each day in which they discharge the duties and perform the functions pertaining to their office.
The Administrative Board of the Fund shall be empowered to approve its own regulations and establish those internal procedures that are necessary for its proper operation.
History —Nov. 29, 1992, No. 95, § 10, eff. 60 days after Nov. 29, 1992.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 75 - Cattle Industry (§§ 3001 — 3012) › § 3010 - Collection of contributions

Every slaughterhouse owner or administrator authorized to operate as such is hereby authorized to collect those contributions provided by virtue of §§ 3001-3012 of this title, regarding animals slaughtered in said slaughterhouses, and to remit the product of said contributions to the Secretary of the Treasury not later than the Wednesday following the week after the animal has been slaughtered.
Slaughterhouses shall be governed by the regulation or regulations approved by the Secretary of the Treasury for that purpose, regarding the procedures for the collection as well as the remitting of said monies to the Secretary of the Treasury.
The Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized to collect contributions, as provided in §§ 3001—3012 of this title, on imported beef. He/she is also authorized to recover the costs incurred for the administration of §§ 3001—3012 of this title pursuant to the regulations adopted.
History —Nov. 29, 1992, No. 95, § 11, eff. 60 days after Nov. 29, 1992.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 75 - Cattle Industry (§§ 3001 — 3012) › § 3011 - Regulations

The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized and ordered to adopt the regulations needed to implement this act no later than 30 days after its effectiveness. The Secretaries of the Departments of Agriculture and of the Treasury are also ordered to adopt, within the term of thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act, the regulation or regulations needed to collect the contributions referred to in § 3007 of this title, and to remit said contributions to the Fund for the Development of the Beef Industry created by virtue of §§ 3001—3012 of this title. All regulations thus approved shall be subject to the provisions of §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3. The Administrator is authorized, with the prior approval of the Secretary, to adopt the bylaws needed for the proper operation of the Office.
History —Nov. 29, 1992, No. 95, § 12, eff. 60 days after Nov. 29, 1992.