reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 18 - Inspection and Regulation of Dams and Reservoirs (§§ 401 — 408) › § 406 - Hazardous dams and reservoirs

Whenever the Unit determines that a dam or reservoir of an agency or public instrumentality is a hazard to the life and property of the citizens of the area in which it is located, it shall so notify the Executive Director of the Electric Power Authority. The Director in turn shall notify the Committee, which in consultation with the Management and Budget Office and the chief or director of the agency or instrumentality owner of the dam or reservoir shall adopt a plan of measures to be taken specifying the funds needed, if any, to carry them out. The Unit shall establish the time limit that the agency shall have to correct the pointed deficiencies. If the same are not corrected, within the fixed term, the Executive Director of the Electric Power Authority shall notify the noncompliance to the Secretary of Justice, for his/her evaluation and subsequent processing pursuant to the law. The Committee shall notify the Governor in writing on the situation.
History —July 15, 1986, No. 133, p. 419, § 6; Aug. 28, 2002, No. 207, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 18 - Inspection and Regulation of Dams and Reservoirs (§§ 401 — 408) › § 407 - Prior permit for works on dams or reservoirs; works in private hazardous dams or reservoirs

From and after the effective date of this act, no dam or reservoir shall be constructed, enlarged, modified or abandoned in Puerto Rico without obtaining the Unit’s permission and approval.
Whenever the Unit determines that a private dam or reservoir is a hazard, it shall notify the owner or person in charge in writing by means of an order that includes the remedial measures that he must take, and fixing a prudent term to execute them. The owner or person in charge of each dam or reservoir shall be responsible for carrying out the remedial measures that have been pointed out to him, and perform additional complex studies that may be required of him within the term he has been granted.
History —July 15, 1986, No. 133, p. 419, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 18 - Inspection and Regulation of Dams and Reservoirs (§§ 401 — 408) › § 408 - Recovery of costs incurred by unit

The Unit, with the approval of the Committee shall annually bill each public agency, person, or private entity that possesses a dam or reservoir participating in the Program, for the expenses incurred by the Program during each year and the collected sums shall be reimbursed to the Electric Power Authority.
In order to establish the duties and responsibilities of the owners of dams or reservoirs, the Committee shall promulgate regulations which guarantee their conservation and to determine the manner in which the contribution corresponding to each public agency, person, or private entity shall be computed, taking as a base the expenses incurred by the Program and the size, material, age, and state of the wall that holds the waters in each dam and reservoir that receive the services rendered by the Unit.
History —July 15, 1986, No. 133, p. 419, § 8; Aug. 28, 2002, No. 207, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 18A - North Coast Superaqueduct (§§ 451 — 456) › § 451 - North Coast Superaqueduct—Authorization

The Aqueduct and Sewer Authority is hereby authorized and ordered to continue uninterruptedly and diligently with the design and construction of the North Coast Superaqueduct Project until its completion, once all the requirements and procedures established in § 452 of this title are complied with and the authorization for the work is issued.
History —June 12, 1997, No. 19, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 18A - North Coast Superaqueduct (§§ 451 — 456) › § 452 - Construction permits—Solicitation

The Aqueduct and Sewer Authority shall file the following documents in a duly certified original or copy with the Regulations and Permits Administration:
(a) Permit of the U.S. Corps of Engineers to comply with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, gathering comments of federal and state agencies to comply with the:
(1) Safe Drinking Water Act
(2) Endangered Species Act
(3) National Historic Preservation Act
(4) Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972
(b) Quality of water certificate issued by the Environmental Quality Board.
(c) Certification of compliance with Section 4(C) of Act June 18, 1970, known as “Environmental Public Policy Act”.
(d) Construction permit for intake of water issued by the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources on September 18, 1996, pursuant to §§ 1115a et seq. of Title 12, known as “Act for the Conservation, Development and Use of the Water Resources of Puerto Rico”, regardless of whether such permit is final and binding.
The Regulations and Permits Administration shall review that the application of the Aqueducts and Sewers Authority includes the required documents above, and if complete, shall proceed immediately to issue the Authorization to Commence Works.
History —June 12, 1997, No. 19, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 18A - North Coast Superaqueduct (§§ 451 — 456) › § 453 - Construction permits—Awarding

The Department of Natural and Environmental Resources is hereby ordered to continue the administrative procedure it determines necessary for the final award of the water franchise. Any person who is affected by the award of the construction permit for water intake or of a water franchise, may request a judicial review pursuant to § 455 of this title.
The Aqueduct and Sewer Authority shall meet with the conditions established in the abovementioned documents, which are attuned to the conservation and protection of the natural resources and the environment. These conditions establish provisions geared to mitigate any possible effect of the North Coast Superaqueduct Project on the environment.
History —June 12, 1997, No. 19, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 18A - North Coast Superaqueduct (§§ 451 — 456) › § 454 - Administration procedure; exclusion

The provisions of §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3 known as the “Uniform Administrative Procedure Act of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico”, shall not apply to actions or decisions of the agencies in connection with the documents detailed in § 452 of this title, except with respect to any term that has expired before the effectiveness of this act. All those permits, endorsements, certifications, contracts, bids and administrative procedures, including notices, public and location consultations, which have been obtained or carried out administratively for the development of the North Coast Superaqueduct prior to the effectiveness of this act, shall be understood to be force and in accordance with the public policy adopted hereby, due to the urgent need for potable water in order to ensure life, health and general welfare.
History —June 12, 1997, No. 19, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 18A - North Coast Superaqueduct (§§ 451 — 456) › § 455 - Judicial review

Any petition for judicial review of the decision of the administrative agency concerned shall be filed with the Supreme Court, within the jurisdictional term of thirty (30) days from the date on which the Regulations and Permits Administration gives notice, through publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in Puerto Rico, of the issue of the authorization to commence work or regarding the construction permit or the final water franchise, from the time the decision is served and a copy thereof is filed in the record of the case. The petitioner shall serve notice of the filing of the petition for review to the appealed agency and to all interested parties within the established term; Providing, That compliance with said notice shall be jurisdictional in nature.
The issue of a writ of review shall not paralyze the authorization to commence work or the implementation of a rule, regulation, order, resolution, determination, processing, granting or effectiveness of any permit, endorsement or certification of an agency or official; or the award of a bid or granting of a contract issued or that arises in connection with the North Coast Superaqueduct Project, unless expressly ordered by the court to avoid irreparable damage.
In order for the court to issue said order, the petitioner shall prove that the same is indispensable to protect the jurisdiction of the court; that it is most likely to prevail on its merits; that the cease order shall not cause substantial damage to the other parties; that it shall not harm the public interest; that there is no reasonable alternative to prevent the alleged damages; and that the damage cannot be compensated through the granting of a monetary remedy or any other adequate remedy in law, all in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure of 1933, as amended.
Any court order shall only affect the component or components of the project which are in dispute in the case and where substantial damage is involved.
No type of legal action, procedure or recourse shall proceed in any court other than those provided in this Section, with the exception of those that compose a claim for damages pursuant to §§ 3077 to 3092a of Title 32, known as the “Lawsuits Against the State Act”, or eminent domain procedures.
History —June 12, 1997, No. 19, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 18A - North Coast Superaqueduct (§§ 451 — 456) › § 456 - Communication of information

In order to adequately orient the People of Puerto Rico, the Infrastructure Council is hereby directed to give broad coverage of the complete text of §§ 451—456 of this title in the news media; and any other information germane to the North Coast Superaqueduct that it deems necessary to be divulged.
History —June 12, 1997, No. 19, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 19 - Government Office Centers (§§ 701 — 752) › Subchapter II - Buildings Constructed with Commonwealth Funds (§§ 751 — 752) › § 751 - Exclusive municipal use

The Secretary of Transportation and Public Works is hereby authorized and vested with the necessary powers to take the required steps for conveying to the muncipalities those buildings heretofore or hereafter constructed from Commonwealth funds, exclusively for municipal uses. The maintenance and repair of the buildings so transferred shall devolve upon the municipalities.
History —June 16, 1953, J.R. No. 91, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 19 - Government Office Centers (§§ 701 — 752) › Subchapter II - Buildings Constructed with Commonwealth Funds (§§ 751 — 752) › § 752 - Government centers occupied by municipalities and Commonwealth

(a) Those buildings such as municipal government centers, which have been constructed from Commonwealth funds and are occupied by offices of the Commonwealth and municipal governments, shall be the property of the Commonwealth government.
(b) None of the offices occupied by the Commonwealth or municipal government shall pay any kind of rent whatsoever.
(c) Maintenance and repair costs shall be defrayed from Commonwealth funds, and the expenses of janitorial and other common services shall be paid from Commonwealth and municipal funds. The Commonwealth government shall contribute a fair share of said expenses, as may be determined annually prior to each fiscal year.
(d) Space distribution at Government Centers shall adhere strictly to the project submitted to the consideration of the Puerto Rico Planning Board and approved by it. In case any changes should become necessary, in the light of unforeseen situations, the same shall be made by mutual agreement between the Department of Transportation and Public Works and the corresponding municipality. Should there be any discrepancy between the two, then the case shall be submitted to the Puerto Rico Planning Board for final decision.
History —June 16, 1953, J.R. No. 91, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter I - Title and Definitions (§§ 801 — 802) › § 801 - Title

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act”.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 1.1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 811 - Misstatements in applications

Any natural or juridical person that makes any misstatement for the purpose of obtaining any electric power or water and/or sewer service credit, special rate, grant, or subsidy granted under this chapter or any other present or future law or regulations, may be convicted of fraud, perjury, and of filing false documents or data, as classified under the Penal Code of Puerto Rico, or of any other applicable offense classified under special legislation.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 2.1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 812 - Requirement to update information and notify loss of eligibility

Every customer receiving any electric power or water and/or sewer service credit, special rate, grant, or subsidy granted under this chapter or any other present or future law or regulations, shall be required to notify PREPA or PRASA, as the case may be, of any change in the information or profile by virtue of which the credit, special rate, grant, or subsidy was granted or of the loss of eligibility to receive such credit, special rate, grant, or subsidy. Said customer shall have thirty (30) days from the time of the change in the information or profile or from his/her loss of eligibility to notify PREPA or PRASA, as the case may be, of such change or loss of eligibility. Said notification may be made by telephone, letter, personally at the commercial office, or on the webpage of the public corporation.
Any customer who fails to notify the loss of eligibility within the term provided herein and continues to enjoy such benefit may be convicted of fraud and perjury, as classified under the Penal Code of Puerto Rico, or of any other applicable offense classified under special legislation.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 2.2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 813 - Loss of credit, subsidy, or grant benefit

Any electric power or water and/or sewer service credit, special rate, subsidy or grant shall be revoked if the customer fails to comply with his/her responsibility to pay his/her utility bill in two (2) consecutive months, unless such customer has disputed the corresponding bills under §§ 1051 et seq. of this title, in the case of PREPA, and under §§ 262 et seq. of Title 27, known as the “Act to Establish Minimum Procedural Requirements for the Suspension of Essential Public Services”, in the case of PRASA, or fails to meet any other requirement established by law or regulations. Once a credit, special rate, subsidy, or grant is revoked for lack of payment, the customer shall no longer be entitled to receive the benefit. This paragraph shall not apply to subsidies established in §§ 819 and 820 of this title.
If the Electric Power Authority, the Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, the Puerto Rico Energy Commission, or the General Court of Justice determines that a customer, whether a natural or juridical person, has committed an offense involving meter tampering or sabotage of essential services, said customer shall lose every electric power or water and/or sewer service credit, special rate, subsidy, or grant. In addition, said natural or juridical person shall permanently lose eligibility to receive any future electric power or water and/or sewer service credit, special rate, subsidy or grant.
Any electric power or water and/or sewer service credit, special rate, subsidy, or grant shall be revoked if the General Court of Justice determines that a customer, whether a natural or juridical person, has committed an offense involving perjury, falsification, or filing of false documents or data to obtain an electric power or water and/or sewer service credit, special rate, subsidy or grant. In addition, said natural or juridical person shall permanently lose eligibility to receive any future electric power or water and/or sewer service credit, special rate, subsidy, or grant.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 2.3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 814 - Limitation on future subsidies

Prior to creating any new electric power or water and/or sewer service subsidy, credit, or grant, the Legislative Assembly shall assess the need for and convenience of the proposed subsidy or grant, taking into account existing subsidies and grants, the impact of the subsidy or grant on the finances of the public corporation concerned and on the General Fund of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the number of customers that shall benefit from the credit, subsidy, or grant.
In the specific case of a new electric power or water and/or sewer service credit, subsidy, or grant, whose purpose is to promote economic development, the law or resolution authorizing it shall also include a detailed statement of the need for and the convenience of the subsidy, measureable factors and performance standards to evaluate its success, the number of jobs created, the requirement imposed on the beneficiary to render annual reports on said measurable factors, performance standards and job creation, as well as the maximum amount of funds to be awarded. Every credit, subsidy, or grant legislated after the approval of this act shall be limited to a term that shall not exceed five (5) years.
No law or resolution authorizing the granting of an electric power or water and/or sewer service credit, subsidy, or grant shall be approved without first obtaining the certifications of the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of the Treasury, attesting to the availability of the funds to finance the same, as of the date it is signed, and expressly identifying the maximum amount to be allocated and the source of the funds. The funds used to finance said subsidies shall not be derived from the revenues generated by PREPA or PRASA. In the case of a recurring credit, subsidy, or grant, the certifications of the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of the Treasury shall attest, in turn, to the availability of recurring funds. The certification of the Office of Management and Budget shall be required only in those cases where the source of financing for such subsidies derives from the General Fund.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 2.4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 815 - Annual reports

PREPA and PRASA shall file annually written reports to the Legislative Assembly stating the number of customers receiving each credit, special rate, subsidy, or grant, the costs associated with each benefit, and the service consumption of each group of beneficiaries. The annual report shall include any other information deemed pertinent by the public corporation for the analysis of the program’s success, including the difficulties encountered to oversee subsidy programs. The annual reports shall be filed not later than October 15th of each year, and include data as of the close of the preceding fiscal year.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 2.5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 816 - Payment agreements

Any payment agreement entered into between PREPA or PRASA and its customers for the payment or amortization of debt shall have a specific term, or a maximum number of installments, within which the payment of the outstanding debt must be made. PREPA and PRASA may establish an initial minimum payment as a condition to execute the payment agreement. Provided, That the provisions of this section shall not apply to payment agreements entered into pursuant to § 822 of this title.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 2.6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 817 - Smart networks and efficient use of resources

As of the approval of this act, PREPA and PRASA shall initiate programs to study the feasibility and promote the use of smart meters, automated or remote meter reading, pre-paid plans, mobile applications, and other technology aimed at achieving the efficient and rational use of electric power and water and/or sewer resources.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 2.7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 818 - Obligation to disclose subsidy costs

PREPA and PRASA shall disclose on their webpages the costs attributable to subsidies, grants, credits, and special rates including, but not limited to, the total number of customers benefiting from each subsidy and the costs of defraying each subsidy. PREPA and PRASA shall update the information published on the Internet at least every six (6) months.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 2.8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 819 - Requirements to receive NAP’s Special Rate

Within sixty (60) days after the approval of this act, PREPA shall enter into agreements with the Department of the Family to verify which current customers or potential customers thereof are beneficiaries of the Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) administered by the Socio-economic Development Administration of the Department of the Family (ADSEF, Spanish acronym). Prior to granting the special rate for NAP beneficiaries, PREPA must verify that the customer appears in the list of beneficiaries provided by the Department of the Family.
Any customer removed from the NAP shall be required to immediately notify PREPA that he/she no longer is a NAP beneficiary, as provided in § 812 of this title, and PREPA shall proceed to transfer said customer to the applicable general residential rate.
The Department of the Family shall also send electronically, at least monthly, a list of the persons who have been removed from the Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) administered by the Socio-economic Development Administration of the Department of the Family (ADSEF). Once PREPA receives such list from the Socio-economic Development Administration, it shall proceed to send a notice to the customer indicating that he/she has been removed from NAP, and warning him/her that he/she may be removed from the special rate for NAP beneficiaries if such removal is not challenged within thirty (30) calendar days. If the customer fails to satisfactorily show to PREPA his/her eligibility for the NAP beneficiaries special rate, or if the customer fails to contact PREPA within said thirty (30)-day term, PREPA may transfer such customer to the regular residential rate.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 3.7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 820 - Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Within sixty (60) days after the approval of this act, the Socio-economic Development Administration (ADSEF) of the Department of the Family shall enter into agreements with PREPA to remit directly to the latter the payment for the electric power services of the beneficiaries of the Energy Assistance and Energy Crisis Programs under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 3.8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 822 - Payment plan for public utilities

Electric power or water service customers residing in public housing projects attached to the Public Housing Administration who, on the effective date of this act, have outstanding debts or payments over sixty (60) days in arrears, may establish payment plans with PREPA or PRASA, as the case may be, to pay off such debt. Payment plans shall be subject and limited to the following:
(a) PRASA and PREPA, as the case may be, shall determine, on a case by case basis, the initial payment to be made by the customer, which shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the balance in arrears or two hundred dollars ($200), whichever is less. The monthly payment shall be ten dollars ($10), which shall be added to the flat monthly rate in the bill of the respective agency until the balance due is paid in full. This payment plan shall always be issued regardless of the amount of the debt.
(b) If the customer avails him/herself of a payment plan and fails to meet his/her requirement to pay on two (2) consecutive months of the payment plan or fails to comply with any other term of the payment plan, he/she shall lose the right to the same and shall be subject to service suspension or disconnection. PREPA and PRASA, as the case may be, may restore said payment plan if the customer pays one hundred dollars ($100) in addition to overdue amounts from the payment plan and the overdue amounts from the current rate at the time payment was due. Said one hundred dollars ($100) shall be credited to the outstanding debt and shall not be considered a fine or a penalty.
(c) This payment plan shall be an agreement between the customer and the public utility that shall be effective until the debt is paid in full regardless of the time it takes the customer to pay the same in full.
(d) PRASA and PREPA, as the case may be, may adopt any other additional condition or initial payment, if they determine that the customer has shown a pattern of noncompliance with his/her payment obligations or any other pattern of irregularities. It shall be considered that a customer shows a pattern of noncompliance if he/she has breached the payment plan established in accordance with this chapter more than twice (2) in a period of twelve (12) months.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 3.10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 823 - Disconnection or suspension of service due to nonpayment

Disconnection or suspension of service by PREPA due to nonpayment, as well as any claim that a PREPA customer may have in connection with the implementation of §§ 821—828 of this title, shall be made in accordance with the process established in § 1054z of this title, known as the “Puerto Rico Energy Transformation and RELIEF Act”.
Disconnection or suspension of service by PRASA due to nonpayment, as well as any claim that a PRASA customer may have in connection with the implementation of §§ 821—828 of this title, shall be made in accordance with the process established in §§ 262 et seq. of Title 27, known as the “Act to Establish Minimum Procedural Requirements for the Suspension of Essential Public Services”.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 3.11.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 824 - Transfer of funds on account of utility allowances

Within sixty (60) days after the approval of this act, the Public Housing Administration of the Department of Housing shall enter into interagency agreements with PREPA and PRASA as are necessary to transfer directly to the accounts of such customers in said public corporations the funds allocated by the United States Government on account of Utility Allowances. Said funds shall be allocated to PREPA and PRASA, respectively, as provided in the regulations of the Federal Housing Administration and/or the Department of Housing of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 3.12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 825 - Agreements to notify irregularities

Within sixty (60) days after the approval of this act, the Public Housing Administration and the Department of Housing shall enter into interagency agreements with PREPA and PRASA to receive notifications, at least monthly, enclosed with a list of public housing project customers whose accounts are sixty (60) days in arrears or over, customers who have failed to comply with the payment plans, customers whose service have been disconnected, units whose meters have been tampered with, and customers who have engaged in any other conduct, practice, or irregularity that may entail consequences regarding the lease agreements of the PHA. Such notification may be made electronically.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 3.13.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 826 - Obligation to comply with the terms of the lease agreement

The Public Housing Administration may initiate an administrative process to terminate a lease agreement when it determines that a resident is not receiving water or electric power services lawfully, has failed to comply with PREPA or PRASA payment plans, or PREPA or PRASA service has been disconnected.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 3.14.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 827 - Support of the public housing project residents’ council

The PHA, in conjunction with agent administrators of public housing projects, shall create a support group constituted by public housing project residents” councils to facilitate customers” compliance with their obligation to receive water and electric power services lawfully.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 3.15.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 828 - Obligation to make an inventory of meters in public housing projects

Within ninety (90) days counted as of the approval of this act, PREPA and PRASA, in conjunction with the PHA, shall initiate a meter inspection and inventory process in public housing projects for the purpose of ensuring that the accounts of public housing project customers are dully associated with meters in housing units that are physically located within a public housing project. This inventory process shall conclude not later than two hundred seventy (270) days as of the approval of this act.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 3.16.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 829 - Budget for the payment agreements for water and electric power services

Every public corporation, agency, municipal corporation, and government instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall include items in their annual budget for the payment of electric power, water, and/or sewer services, and as well as items for debt payoff and the payment agreements entered into with PREPA and PRASA. Every public corporation, municipal corporation, agency, and government instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that has any outstanding debt and has entered into a payment agreement with PREPA or PRASA, shall initiate a reconciliation process to determine the sum of the outstanding debt and enter into a payment agreement with PREPA or PRASA, as the case may be, for the payment of the past due debt. Provided, that PREPA ¬and PRASA may require a reasonable minimum initial payment to enter into said payment agreements.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 4.2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 830 - Obligation of government entities to reconcile debt with PRASA and PREPA

Within forty-five (45) days as of the approval of this act, every public corporation, municipal corporation, agency, and government instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that has any outstanding debt with PREPA or PRASA, shall initiate an account reconciliation process with PREPA or PRASA, as the case may be, to define the total amount of the debt. The term to complete such reconciliation shall not exceed forty-five (45) days after the process began. Within sixty (60) days, counted as of the completion of the reconciliation process provided herein and, if no dispute arises in connection with the total amount of the debt, the public corporation, municipal corporation, agency, and government instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall enter into a payment agreement with PREPA or PRASA, as the case may be, for the payment of the past due debt. PRASA and PREPA may require a reasonable minimum initial payment to enter into said payment agreements.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 4.3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 20 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Energy and Aqueduct and Sewer Service Subsidy Reform and Debt Payoff Act (§§ 801 — 831) › Subchapter II - General Provisions (§§ 811 — 831) › § 831 - Rulemaking authority

The Electric Power Authority, the Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, the Department of the Family, the Socio-economic Development Administration of the Department of the Family, the Public Housing Administration, the Tourism Company, the Department of Economic Development and Commerce, the Puerto Rico Energy Commission, the Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office, and any other agency with jurisdiction to award energy credits, subsidies, or grants shall draft and promulgate regulations as are necessary, if any, to enforce the provisions of this Act within ninety (90) days after its approval.
History —Apr. 7, 2016, No. 22, § 6.1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter I - Creation and Functions (§§ 901 — 917) › § 901 - Definitions

(a) Authority. — Means the Public Buildings Authority hereby created.
(b) Bond. — Means any evidence of indebtedness which the Authority may incur pursuant to §§ 901—917 of this title.
(c) Board or Governing Board. — Shall mean the Board of Directors of the Authority.
(d) Director. — Shall mean the Executive Director of the Authority.
(e) Private entity or entities. — Means any non-governmental natural or juridical person, for profit or non-profit, that is not engaged in political activities.
History —June 19, 1958, No. 56, p. 120, § 18; July 2, 1991, No. 18, § 6; May 16, 2006, No. 97, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter I - Creation and Functions (§§ 901 — 917) › § 902 - Creation

A body corporate and politic with corporate franchise is hereby created and established, to be ruled by a Governing Board, whose members shall be appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall bear the name of Public Buildings Authority. The Authority is hereby constituted as an instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, exercising public and essential functions of the Government, and the execution by the Authority of the powers conferred by §§ 901—917 of this title, shall be deemed and understood to be an essential function of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
It is declared and established as public policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that its agencies, instrumentalities, public corporations and other government dependencies shall promote and support the contracting of the services of the Public Buildings Authority in order to fulfill the design, construction, remodeling, improvements, operations and maintenance needs of the structures needed for rendering its services. This, without implying that those agencies, instrumentalities, corporations and other government dependencies in which such services are traditionally provided by their own employees or contracted for with other entities are obligated to use the services promoted by the Public Buildings Authority; provided there are no contradictions with other provisions of §§ 901—917 of this title.
History —June 19, 1958, No. 56, p. 120, § 1; July 2, 1991, No. 18, § 3; May 16, 2006, No. 97, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter I - Creation and Functions (§§ 901 — 917) › § 905 - Officers; bonds

The Board shall designate one of its members as Chairperson and another as Vice Chairperson; Provided, That the term for which these members hold said office shall not exceed the term for which these members hold their respective offices as Board members. The Board shall appoint a Secretary, a Treasurer and any other officers it may determine, who may be members of the Board. The Board shall also adopt, amend or revoke bylaws and other rules of the Authority that are not in conflict with §§ 901—917 of this title, or other laws that provide for the administration of the Authority. The Board shall also appoint an Executive Director, who shall not be a member of the Board and who shall be in charge of the general administration of the Authority and shall supervise all the officers, employees and agents thereof. The Executive Director shall have the following duties and functions, among others:
(a) To carry out all administrative and managerial actions that are necessary and convenient for the implementation of §§ 901—917 of this title and of any other regulations adopted by virtue thereof;
(b) to adopt reasonable and appropriate norms and administrative orders to implement and put in effect the provisions of §§ 901—917 of this title;
(c) to administer and operate the facilities of the Authority subject to the regulations in effect and the norms established by the Board;
(d) to administer its own personnel system and to appoint all its officers (in accordance with the other provisions of §§ 901—917 of this title), agents, employees and external advisers and consultants;
(e) to impose on the officers, agents and employees of the Authority the corresponding disciplinary measures, according to the regulations adopted by the Board to such effects, that do not contravene the collective bargaining agreements negotiated with the exclusive representatives of the union employees, and
(f) all other powers and duties assigned to him/her by the Governing Board by means of the bylaws.
Prior to issuing any bonds under the provisions of §§ 901—917 of this title, the Secretary, the Treasurer and every Board member shall post a bond in the amount to be determined by the Board, conditioned on the good faith in the performance of the duties of the office of Secretary, Treasurer, or member, as the case may be, and served by a bonding company authorized to do business in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as a guarantor. Each of these bonds shall be submitted to the Secretary of Justice for approval, and upon his/her approval, shall be filed with the office of the Secretary of State prior to the bond issue by the Authority. Anytime after the Authority’s bond issue and while those bonds have not been cancelled, the Secretary, the Treasurer and every member shall hold said bond fully active and effective. All costs of said bonds shall be borne by the Authority.
History —June 19, 1958, No. 56, p. 120, § 4; July 2, 1991, No. 18, § 5; May 16, 2006, No. 97, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter I - Creation and Functions (§§ 901 — 917) › § 907a - Bonds—Warranty by Commonwealth; refundable reserve

The Government of Puerto Rico hereby guarantees the payment of the principal of and interest on outstanding bonds at any given time, for a total principal amount that shall not exceed four billion seven hundred twenty-one million dollars ($4,721,000,000), issued from time to time by the Public Buildings Authority for any of its purposes authorized by §§ 901 et seq. of this title. The bonds covered by this warranty shall be those specified by the Authority, with the consent and approval of the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico, including, but not limited to, Qualified School Construction Bonds or other bonds, including federal tax credit bonds under Section 54A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or other applicable section, and a statement of such warranty shall be placed on the face of such bonds. If at any time the revenues or income and any other monies of the Authority, pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds, are not sufficient for the payment of such principal and interest at their maturity date nor to maintain the reserve fund for the bonds that the Authority has pledged to maintain, the Secretary of the Treasury shall withdraw from any available funds in the Treasury of Puerto Rico, such sums as may be necessary to cover the deficit in the amount required for the payment of such principal and interest, and to repay said reserve fund and restore it to the required maximum agreed by the Authority; and shall direct that the sums thus withdrawn be applied to such payment and purpose.
For purposes of this section, it shall not be deemed as outstanding those bonds that have been redeemed, voided and/or refinanced and for which payment has been reserved for its maturity or redemption date through a special reserve, a guaranteed investment contract or other acceptable collateral. To make the payments described in the above paragraph, the full faith, credit, and the taxing power of the Government of Puerto Rico are hereby pledged.
History —Apr. 11, 1968, No. 17, p. 27; May 30, 1970, No. 89, p. 238, § 2; June 23, 1971, No. 72, p. 214, § 2; May 1, 1973, No. 13, p. 49; Aug. 9, 1974, No. 19, Part 2, p. 639, § 2; Mar. 19, 1979, No. 27, p. 63, § 2; May 27, 1981, No. 1, p. 71, § 2; July 3, 1986, No. 69, p. 231, § 2; July 14, 1989, No. 21, p. 80, § 2; July 12, 1993, No. 23, § 2; July 25, 1996, No. 75, § 2; Mar. 13, 2003, No. 86, §§ 1, 2; Dec. 28, 2003, No. 321, § 2; May 16, 2006, No. 97, § 8; July 26, 2010, No. 95, § 1; July 12, 2011, No. 128, § 1; July 2, 2012, No. 131, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter I - Creation and Functions (§§ 901 — 917) › § 907b - Convertible and reimbursement bonds

The Authority is hereby authorized to issue Authority refinancing bonds in order to (i) refinance, in whole or in part, any payment of principal or interest on its outstanding bonds and for the payment of any expenses related to the sale and [issuance] of said refinancing bonds, (ii) refinance those bonds in effect and outstanding at the time and which have been issued under the provisions of §§ 901—917 of this title, including the payment of any redemption premium with respect thereto, and any interest accrued or which is accrued as of the date of redemption or expiration of such bonds and, if the Authority deems it advisable, (iii) for any of the purposes for which it may issue bonds. The [issuance] of such bonds, the maturity and other details with respect thereof, the rights of the bondholders of said bonds, and the rights, duties and obligations of the Authority with respect thereto, shall be governed by the provisions of §§ 901—917 of this title regarding to the [issuance] of bonds, provided, said provisions are applicable.
Refinancing bonds issued pursuant to §§ 901—917 of this title may be sold or exchanged for bonds in effect issued under §§ 901—917 of this title, and if sold, the product of such a sale may be set aside, in addition to any authorized purpose, for the purchase, redemption or payment of such bonds in effect and outstanding, and may be invested pending such an application. Refinancing bonds may be issued at the discretion of the Authority, at any time on or before the date of payment or payments of the principal or interest of its bonds, the maturity thereof, or the date selected for the redemption of the bonds to be refinanced.
History —June 19, 1958, No. 56, p. 120, added as § 6B on May 16, 2006, No. 97, § 9; Mar. 9, 2009, No. 7, § 48.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter I - Creation and Functions (§§ 901 — 917) › § 908 - Legal investments

The bonds issued by the Authority shall be legal investments and may be accepted as guarantee for all trust funds, special or public, whose investment or deposit is under the authority or jurisdiction of the Commonwealth Government or of any officer or officers thereof.
History —June 19, 1958, No. 56, p. 120, § 7; May 16, 2006, No. 97, § 10.