reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter IV - Defined Benefit Program for System Participants as of July 31, 2014 (§§ 396 — 396i) › § 396b - Fund contributions

(a) Individual contribution.— Active System participants shall contribute nine percent (9%) of their total monthly salary to the Fund until July 1, 2014.
(b) Employer contributions.— Employers shall make a monthly contribution to the Fund equal to eleven point five percent (11.5%) of the monthly salary earned by every System participant. After July 1, 2014, the employer contribution shall be increased annually by one percent (1%) of the monthly salary earned by the System participant until June 30, 2016. From July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2021, the employer contribution shall increase annually by one point twenty-five percent (1.25%) of the monthly salary earned by every System participant. Beginning on July 1, 2021, and thereafter, the employer contribution shall increase to twenty point five hundred twenty-five percent (20.525%) of the monthly salary of every System participant. The employer contribution with respect to participants of the Defined Contribution Program shall continue to be deposited in the Fund.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 4.3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter IV - Defined Benefit Program for System Participants as of July 31, 2014 (§§ 396 — 396i) › § 396d - Grandfather provision

Should this act had not been passed, any participant who would have been entitled to retire with a pension under Articles 40(b)(1) and (b)(2) of Act No. 91-2004, as amended, for having completed thirty (30) years of credited service between August 1, 2014 and June 30, 2016, may do so under the following conditions:
(a) Any participant who would have completed thirty (30) years of credited service or more during such period, but has not reached the age of fifty-five (55) or more on or before the effective date of this Act, shall be granted seventy percent (70%) of the average salary of such participant as of the effective date of this act. To benefit from this provision, participants shall be required to retire effective on July 31, 2014, and continue making individual contributions to the System as provided in subsection (d) of § 396c of this title, until they reach the age of fifty-five (55). Likewise, employers shall continue to make contributions to the System as established in subsection (d) of § 396c of this title, until the participant reaches the age of fifty-five (55).
(b) Any participant who has completed thirty (30) years of credited service or more during such period and reached the age of fifty-five (55) or more on or before the effective date of this act, shall be granted seventy percent (70%) of the average salary of such participant on the effective date of this act. To benefit from this provision, the participant shall be required to retire effective on July 31, 2014.
Participants in active service who meet the requirements to receive a pension under this section and wish to avail themselves of the provisions of this section, shall be required to notify their resignation, final and binding, to the Department of Education and send a copy thereof to the Teacher’s Retirement System on or before March 31, 2014.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 4.4a.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter IV - Defined Benefit Program for System Participants as of July 31, 2014 (§§ 396 — 396i) › § 396e - Disability retirement

(a) Until July 31, 2014, any participant in active service who applies for a disability pension shall be entitled to a lifetime annual income in the amount established in § 396f of this title.
(b) Beginning on August 1, 2014, the System shall grant a disability pension in accordance with § 396f of this title to any active participant who after serving for five (5) years suffers a disability whether or not it is work-related.
(c) Retirement for disability may be granted at the request of the participant or the appointing authority and with the approval of the System.
(d) The participant shall be examined by an authorized physician designated by the System, who shall render a report of the matter to the Executive Director.
(e) Participants who enroll in the System after August 1, 2014, shall be entitled to the disability benefits established in § 397–397k of this title.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 4.5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter IV - Defined Benefit Program for System Participants as of July 31, 2014 (§§ 396 — 396i) › § 396f - Computation of disability pension

(a) Until July 31, 2014, any participant in active service that applies for a disability pension shall be entitled to a lifetime annual income in an amount equal to one point eight percent (1.8%) of the highest average salary earned during five (5) consecutive years, or the number of years of service if it were less than five (5) years, multiplied by the number of years of rendered services. This lifetime annual income shall never be less than the amount established in this chapter.
(b) Beginning on August 1, 2014, any participant who is active as of July 31, 2014 and retires from service due to disability shall be entitled to a pension after such date in an amount equal to one point eight percent (1.8%) of the average salary earned during five (5) consecutive years, multiplied by the number of years of service rendered until August 1, 2014, up to a maximum of thirty-three percent (33%) of such participant’s average salary, plus the amount provided in the corresponding pension under §§ 397-397k of this title. This disability pension shall never be less than five hundred dollars ($500).
(c) Participants who as of July 1, 2014 are receiving a disability benefit under the System shall continue to receive it without any alteration, except when such benefits are suspended in accordance with this chapter.
(d) Disability benefits of participants who enroll in the System after August 1, 2014, shall be determined in accordance with §§ 397-397k of this title.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 4.6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter IV - Defined Benefit Program for System Participants as of July 31, 2014 (§§ 396 — 396i) › § 396g - Suspension of disability pensions; examinations

(a) System pensioners who have retired due to disability shall stop receiving the pension as soon as the disability ceases or upon resuming their Government service.
(b) Any person receiving a disability pension who works on a non—governmental job and receives a monthly compensation of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) shall also cease to receive said pension.
(c) System pensioners who have retired due to disability under the provisions of this or any prior retirement act shall be periodically examined by a physician appointed by the System. If such disability ceased to exist, the pension shall continue to be paid for six (6) months from the date of the medical examination declaring the pensioner able to return to work.
(d) When a pensioner who has retired due to disability refuses to be medically examined as ordered by the System, after having been summoned therefor on three (3) different occasions at intervals of not more than one month, it shall be deemed that such pensioner is relinquishing his/her pension and the payment thereof shall cease at the end of the month of the last requirement.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 4.7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter IV - Defined Benefit Program for System Participants as of July 31, 2014 (§§ 396 — 396i) › § 396i - Additional benefits

(a) Any person who retires as of July 31, 2014, shall be entitled to receive the following additional benefits:
(1) A Medications Bonus equal to one hundred dollars ($100), which shall be paid not later than July 15 of each year;
(2) a Christmas Bonus equal to two hundred dollars ($200), which shall be paid not later than December 20 of each year, and
(3) a Government’s contribution for health benefits for pensioners covered by the health benefit plans under §§ 729a et seq. of Title 3, of one hundred dollars ($100) a month for the pensioners of the System, but shall not exceed the total rate corresponding to any pensioner.
(b) As of fiscal year 2014-2015 and on each subsequent fiscal year, the System shall receive from the general Fund a contribution equal to one thousand six hundred seventy-five dollars ($1,675) per pensioner, notwithstanding the pensioner retired on or after August 1, 2014, in order to pay these additional benefits and nourish the System.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 4.9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter V - Defined Contribution Program (§§ 397 — 397k) › § 397 - Creation of the Defined Contribution Program

(a) Creation of the Program.— The Defined Contribution Program is hereby created. This Program shall consist of the establishment of an individual account for each person who enrolls in the System under the provisions of this subchapter. The contributions made by each participant to the Defined Contribution Program, as well as the return on investment thereon, shall be credited to such individual accounts, in accordance with § 397g of this title. The benefit to be paid to each participant upon separation from service, due to retirement or otherwise, shall depend on the total amount of contributions made to the Defined Contribution Program accumulated in the participant’s account after August 1, 2014, or the date of enrollment of the participant in the Defined Contribution Program, the return on investment of these contributions, and the pension granted on the basis thereof, in accordance with § 397i of this title.
(b) Program participants.— The following persons shall participate in the Defined Contribution Program:
(1) Any participant enrolled in the System as of July 31, 2014.
(2) Any new participant who enrolls for the first time in the System on or after August 1, 2014.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 5.1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter V - Defined Contribution Program (§§ 397 — 397k) › § 397a - Transfer to the Program

Beginning on August 1, 2014, every active participant who is enrolled in the System, regardless of the date on which they were first originally appointed shall become participants of the Defined Contribution Program.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 5.2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter V - Defined Contribution Program (§§ 397 — 397k) › § 397b - Accumulated benefits

(a) On the effective date of this act, the retirement benefits accumulated by System participants who entered public service before August 1, 2014, based on the years of service accumulated and the average salary as of that date, shall be kept by them. Such accumulated benefits shall be computed in accordance with §§ 396-396i of this title.
(b) Participants who, as of July 31, 2014, were entitled to retire and receive some sort of pension under this chapter for having met the years of service and age requirements provided herein, shall retire on a subsequent date and be entitled to receive the corresponding pension computed under § 396c of this title based on the salaries earned and years of service accrued as of July 31, 2014, plus the amount to which they are entitled under the Defined Contribution Program.
(c) As of August 1, 2014, participants shall not accumulate additional years of service for purposes of determining the average salary and computing the pension under the Defined Contribution Program. Participants shall not obtain contributions for periods worked before July 31, 2014, except for those exceptions expressly established in this chapter.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 5.3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter V - Defined Contribution Program (§§ 397 — 397k) › § 397c - Establishment of contributions accounts for the Defined Contribution Program

(a) The System shall establish and maintain an individual account for each participant with the contributions he/she has made to the Defined Contribution Program, said account shall be credited and debited in accordance with this subchapter.
(b) In the case of System participants who entered public service before August 1, 2014, the amounts contributed by them after August 1, 2014, shall be allocated to such account. Individual contributions made before August 1, 2014, shall be used for the payment of the pension provided in § 396c of this title.
(c) As of the date on which the Defined Contribution Account is established for each participant, said participants shall always be entitled to one hundred percent (100%) of the initial balance transferred, if any, and any contributions made after the approval of this act.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 5.4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter V - Defined Contribution Program (§§ 397 — 397k) › § 397d - Contributions of Defined Contribution Program participants

(a) Beginning on August 1, 2014, every active System participant shall mandatorily contribute ten percent (10%) of his/her monthly salary to his/her Defined Contribution Account. The percentage of the mandatory contribution to be made by each participant according to his/her monthly salary shall be reviewed as follows: (1) for Fiscal Year 2017-2018, to eighty-two percent (82%) of the maximum employer contribution established in subsection (b) of § 396b of this title for said fiscal year; and (2) for Fiscal Year 2020-2021, to seventy-one percent (71%) of the maximum employer contribution established in § 396b of this title for said fiscal year.
(b) The review established in subsection (a) of this section for Fiscal Years 2017-2018 and/or 2020-2021 may be rendered ineffective if the actuary certifies at the beginning of the corresponding fiscal year that such review is not necessary to reduce the actuarial deficit of the Retirement System.
(c) Any participant who wishes to contribute to his/her Defined Contribution Account a higher percentage than that established in subsection (a) of this section may do so by requesting the Executive Director in writing to withhold a higher amount from his/her salary.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 5.5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter V - Defined Contribution Program (§§ 397 — 397k) › § 397e - Employer contributions

Beginning on August 1, 2014, every employer shall contribute to the Fund the amount established in § 396b of this title with respect to every existing participant or participants who enroll for the first time in the System after such date.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 5.6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter V - Defined Contribution Program (§§ 397 — 397k) › § 397f - Obligation of the employer, penalties

(a) Any employer of a Defined Contribution Program participant shall have the following obligations:
(1) Obligation to deduct and withhold the contributions of program participants and to remit the contributions of the program participants and employers to the system.— Every employer of a Defined Contribution Program participant shall deduct and withhold the contributions provided in § 397d of this title from the participant’s salary. The Secretary of the Treasury or any paymaster of the employer is hereby authorized to make such withholding, even if the salary to be paid to the participant as a result of such withholding is reduced to less than any minimum amount prescribed by law. Contributions of Defined Contribution Program participants shall be remitted by the employer along with the contributions such employer is required to make under § 397e of this title to the System on or before the fifteenth (15th) day of the month following the date on which the withholding was made. The Executive Director shall establish the form and manner in which contributions shall be remitted.
(2) Responsibility for contributions.— Every employer shall be required to remit to the System its contributions and those deducted and withheld from participants, as provided in this subchapter. Employers shall also be responsible to the System for the total payment of such contributions. If the employer fails to withhold, deduct, or remit such contributions, the sums that such employer failed to withhold or deduct and pay, shall be collected from the employer by the Executive Director.
(3) Interests on contributions owed.— Any employer that fails to remit its contributions and those of the Defined Contribution Program participants within the term provided therefor shall be responsible to the System for the payment of interests at a rate to be determined by the Board on the contribution owed, from the day the contribution should have been remitted to the System to the day on which the contribution is remitted. Interests owed by an employer shall be collected by the Executive Director.
(b) Return on investment–credit.— If an employer fails to remit the contributions of Defined Contribution Program participants within the term provided therefor, the Executive Director shall credit the return on investment to the account of the affected Defined Contribution Program participants, as provided in § 397g of this title, as of the deadline for the employer to remit such contributions.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 5.7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter V - Defined Contribution Program (§§ 397 — 397k) › § 397g - Credits to the defined contribution account, return on investment, and rights on the defined contribution account

(a) Credit.— The Executive Director shall credit to the Defined Contribution Account of every Defined Contribution Program participant the following items:
(1) Individual Contributions of Participants.— The individual contributions made by the Defined Contribution Program participant, as required under this chapter, shall be credited once the employer remits them to the System.
(2) Return on investment.— The return on investment shall be credited at the close of each semester of each fiscal year. The return on investment shall be computed on the last business day of each semester of the fiscal year on the average monthly balance of the defined contribution account of the Defined Contribution Program participant, during the semester in question. The return on investment shall be determined by the Board and shall never be less than eighty percent (80%) of the System’s portfolio net rate of return during each semester of each fiscal year, of management fees such as, but not limited to, fees payable to portfolio managers, custody, and investment advice.
(b) Rights on the Defined Contribution Account.— Defined Contribution Program participants shall always be entitled to one hundred percent (100%) of the balance of the contributions made to their defined contribution accounts.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 5.9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter V - Defined Contribution Program (§§ 397 — 397k) › § 397h - Defined contribution account debits

The Executive Director shall debit from the Defined Contribution Account established for each Defined Contribution Program participant those amounts used for the payment of benefits or a lump sum distribution in accordance with §§ 397i and 397j of this title. Once the total balance of the defined contributions account is paid, the account shall cease to exist.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 5.9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter V - Defined Contribution Program (§§ 397 — 397k) › § 397i - Benefits upon separation from service

(a) Retirement benefit.— Upon permanent separation from service, when the separation is not due to death or total and permanent disability, the balance of the participant’s Defined Contribution Account shall be distributed to the participant, if such participant meets any of the following requirements: (1) has less than five (5) years of credited service or, (2) has less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) accumulated in the System.
(b) Date of issue of pension contract and commencement of distributions.— In the case that the participant (1) permanently separates from service after completing five (5) years or more of credited service, and (2) has accumulated in the System an amount equal to or higher than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), said participant shall be entitled to a pension that shall be computed on the basis of the balance of his/her Defined Contribution Account, in accordance with subsection (c) of this section. The age in which the participant may begin to receive such annuity, provided that he/she has permanently separated from service, shall be that established in § 395h of this title. If separation from service occurs prior to the retirement age established in § 395h of this title, the participant shall receive a deferred pension until he/she reaches the required retirement age.
(c) The pension of each participant shall be computed upon retirement as follows: (1) the accumulated balance of his/her contributions to the Defined Contribution Account on the date of retirement, divided by (2) a factor, established by the Board in consultation with its actuaries and to be determined on the basis of the actuarial life expectancy of the participant and a specific interest rate.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 5.10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter V - Defined Contribution Program (§§ 397 — 397k) › § 397k - Applicability of Uniform Securities Act

The interests accrued by any Defined Contribution Program participant shall not constitute a security for purposes of §§ 881 et seq. of Title 10, known as the “Uniform Securities Act”.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 5.12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter VI - Investments and Loans (§§ 398 — 398d) › § 398 - Investment of funds; rules and procedures

(a) The System shall invest its funds in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the rules, procedures, and regulations prescribed by Board of Trustees through regulations.
(b) The regulations, rules, and procedures approved shall be consistent with all the restrictions established in the Investment Guidelines for government retirement plans promulgated by the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico.
(c) The Board of Trustees shall adopt the policies for the administration of the investments authorized under this chapter. The investment policy shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) The criteria, requirements, and conditions for the selection, contracting and evaluation of the performance of investment managers and depository banks to be contracted to make the investments authorized under this chapter.
(2) The policy for investing the System’s resources in the capital market.
(3) The rules for the administration, lease, sale, encumbrance or attachment of real property acquired to generate income.
(4) Provisions to direct actuarial investigations to determine the System’s financial solvency, adopt rules as are necessary to guarantee the payment of pensions, and approve the mortality tables necessary to make an actuarial valuation of all pensions and other benefits granted under this chapter.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 6.1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter VI - Investments and Loans (§§ 398 — 398d) › § 398a - Types of authorized investments

(a) The System shall be authorized to invest all available resources that are not required for its regular operations in the securities authorized under the Investment Guidelines promulgated by the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico and the Investment Guidelines established and approved by the System.
(b) Investments made in accordance with the provisions of this chapter shall be executed with the foresight and care and under the criteria that prudent, reasonable and expert individuals exercise in conducting their own affairs for investment and not speculative purposes, also taking into consideration the balance that must exist between yield and risk expectations.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 6.2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter VI - Investments and Loans (§§ 398 — 398d) › § 398b - Nature of loans to system participants; documents; exemptions

(a) The funds of the System may also be invested, in accordance with the regulations in effect, by granting participants:
(1) Loans secured by contributions.
(2) Special loans.
(3) Mortgage loans. Any document regarding contracts or securing mortgage loans, mortgage renewals and cancellations, as well as the recording, annotation or any transaction related to said document which is part of the System and is executed before a notary, shall be exempt from the payment of any type of fees, levies, and taxes.
(4) Loans to temporary transitory and eligible transitory participants at an interest rate to be determined by the Board of Trustees in its general by-laws.
(5) Any other type of loan or credit which the Board of Trustees of the System deems to be beneficial or necessary for its participants.
(6) Cultural travel loans.— The Board of Trustees is hereby authorized to invest a portion of the reserves available to facilitate the granting of loans to System participants for cultural travel, subject to the regulations adopted by the System. The System shall determine, from time to time, the amount of funds to be allocated to this type of investment. It shall also determine through regulations the conditions and lending procedure authorized under this chapter. Loan payments shall be deducted on a monthly basis from the salary of the System participant. The Government shall pay the System fifty percent (50%) of the interests corresponding to the loan made by the participant to participate in these trips. If the participant resigns from the position he/she holds within eighteen (18) months after receiving the loan, such participant shall reimburse the Government the interests it paid on said loan. The resources deemed necessary for attaining these purposes shall be earmarked every year in the Budget of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 6.3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter VI - Investments and Loans (§§ 398 — 398d) › § 398c - Loan deductions and interests

The deductions from the participant’s salary to pay loans granted and the interest deducted in advance shall be covered into the Fund by the Secretary of the Treasury simultaneously with the payroll payment.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 6.4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter VI - Investments and Loans (§§ 398 — 398d) › § 398d - Power to regulate lending procedures

The System shall approve the regulations it deems convenient and necessary to regulate the granting of loans.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 6.5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter VII - Administrative Provisions (§§ 399 — 399d) › § 399 - Regular and special appropriations

(a) In order to make up the System’s cash flow deficit, every fiscal year, beginning on fiscal year 2016-2017 and ending on fiscal year 2041-2042, the System shall receive the Teacher’s Justice Uniform Contribution. Furthermore, from fiscal year 2018-2019 to fiscal year 2041-2042, the System shall receive the annual additional contribution, as defined in § 393 of this title.
(b) For every applicable fiscal year, the System shall determine the portion of the annual additional contribution corresponding to each participating employer on the basis of the total percentage of employer contributions corresponding to such employer for the current fiscal year and remit to the Office of Management and Budget a certification of the amount corresponding to such employer.
(c) The resources to cover both the Teacher’s Justice Uniform Contribution and the annual additional contribution shall be earmarked by the Office of Management and Budget in the Recommended General Budget of the Government.
(d) The System shall be responsible for the regular payment of employer contribution provided in this chapter for System employees who benefit from this chapter.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 7.1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter VII - Administrative Provisions (§§ 399 — 399d) › § 399b - Loss of benefits for acts of corruption

(a) Any System participant who commits and is convicted in a court of justice of Puerto Rico or any other state or federal jurisdiction, of acts constituting fraud, extortion, acceptance of a bribe, illegal taking, or any other offense involving the use of public funds for his/her own benefit or for the benefit of another person or entity, shall lose all benefits under the System.
(b) In such case, the System shall refund to the participant the balance of all accrued individual contributions made to the Fund but not enjoyed, deducting any debt, if applicable, incurred therewith.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 7.3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter VII - Administrative Provisions (§§ 399 — 399d) › § 399c - Penalties

(a) Any person who unduly collects a check issued to an active participant or pensioner, or who knowingly makes any false statement or falsifies or allows the falsification of any registry or document of this System, with the intent to defraud it, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and subject to a five hundred dollar ($500)-fine, or in default thereof, to imprisonment for a term that shall not exceed two (2) years, or both penalties at the discretion of the court.
(b) The System shall be entitled to recover any payments erroneously or unduly made before or after the effective date of this act. The System shall determine the manner and conditions under which the amounts thus paid shall be recovered.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 7.4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 18C - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Teacher’s Retirement System Act (§§ 393 — 399d) › Subchapter VII - Administrative Provisions (§§ 399 — 399d) › § 399d - Pre-retirement orientation program

(a) Consistently with the public policy of the Government of providing orientation to all public employees prior to their retirement, the System shall establish a “Pre-retirement Orientation Program for Education Professionals.”
(b) The Executive Director shall be responsible for the operation and appropriate contents of the Program, and shall coordinate orientations, as he/she may deem convenient or appropriate, with the Department of Education and the entities employing personnel participating in the System.
(c) As part of the Pre-retirement Orientation Program of its participants, the System shall promote their participation in community service activities, provide orientation regarding the kind of volunteer work in which participants may engage, health benefits of participants, and social contribution, as well as a list of community organizations in which they may provide community service, as established in the Registry of Community Service Organizations attached to the Special Joint Committee on Legislative Donations of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico.
(d) Each employer shall set aside in its annual budget the necessary resources to cover the costs of resources, physical facilities, food, and other related expenses incurred by the System in providing orientations to its participants. The employer shall make such payment not later than the fifteenth (15th) day of the month following the date of the invoice.
History —Dec. 24, 2013, No. 160, § 7.5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 401 - Division of Community Education—Creation

There is hereby created in the Department of Education the Division of Community Education which shall carry out the programs and activities determined by the Secretary of Education in the enforcement of §§ 401—406 of this title. The Division shall be in charge, under the supervision of the Secretary of Education, of the development of an ample program of promotion and extension of adult education in the rural and urban districts of Puerto Rico, and it shall establish a system which shall develop until it covers the whole Commonwealth, through which it shall provide means of education, educational material, opportunities, and means to do community work and carry out the purposes of §§ 401—406 of this title.
History —May 14, 1949, No. 372, p. 1134, § 1, eff. July 1, 1949.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 402 - Division of Community Education—Powers of Secretary

For the enforcement of the provisions of §§ 401—406 of this title, the Secretary of Education is authorized to:
(1) Extend existing educational facilities in Puerto Rico, and establish new facilities.
(2) Outline courses of studies and carry them into effect.
(3) Adopt the necessary regulations to carry out its activities.
(4) Appoint, contract for and train the necessary personnel. This authority includes power to contract for the services of teachers practicing in the public schools of Puerto Rico or of any licensed teacher authorized to practice his profession or those public employees who render services in other agencies of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and to pay the proper compensation for the additional services rendered under this program outside of the regular hours they serve as public school teachers or as public servants. The Secretary may also contract for such professional technicians and services, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of §§ 401—406 of this title. The positions and the personnel created by §§ 401—406 of this title shall not be subject to the provisions of the Personnel Act.
(5) Contract for and acquire by any lawful means, without being subject to the provisions of the Service Office Act, all kinds of property necessary for the enforcement of §§ 401—406 of this title, including lands, buildings, plans, designs, vehicles, motion-picture projectors, films and material to produce the same, all kinds of necessary equipment and printed matter. The Secretary may incur any other necessary expenses for the efficient enforcement and administration of §§ 401—406 of this title.
(6) Employ any means of communication practical for the divulgation and diffusion of his teaching programs and public lectures.
(7) Establish centers in the rural and urban districts for the purpose of awakening the interest and initiative of the residents in order to promote the economic and social welfare of the community; raise the cultural level of the people by providing adequate facilities for the enjoyment by the latter, in their leisure hours, of a program of educational and cultural activities and obtain the establishment of such community services as will contribute to a more wholesome, creative and happy life through individual and collective efforts.
(8) Publish, sell and distribute gratis such pamphlets and all kinds of such printed or cinematographic material as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of §§ 401—406 of this title.
(9) Exercise any other powers incidentally necessary and advisable to carry out the purposes of §§ 401—406 of this title.
History —May 14, 1949, No. 372, p. 1134, § 2; June 8, 1953, No. 37, p. 96, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 403 - Division of Community Education—Appointment of personnel

The Director of the Division of Community Education and all the other personnel of the said Division shall be appointed by the Secretary of Education.
History —May 14, 1949, No. 372, p. 1134, § 3, eff. July 1, 1949.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 404 - Division of Community Education—Duties of Director

It shall be the duty of the Director of the Division of Community Education to comply with the instructions received from the Secretary of Education and direct the activities of the Division for the accomplishment of the purposes thereof.
History —May 14, 1949, No. 372, p. 1134, § 4, eff. July 1, 1949.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 405 - Division of Community Education—Declaration of public utility

All such real and personal property and the accessories thereof, and such rights or interest therein as in the judgment of the Secretary of Education may be necessary to carry out the purposes of §§ 401—406 of this title are hereby declared of public utility, and such property and accessories and such other rights therein may be condemned without the previous declaration of public utility by the Governor provided for in the General Condemnation Act, §§ 2901—2913 of Title 32.
History —May 14, 1949, No. 372, p. 1134, § 5, eff. July 1, 1949.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 406 - Division of Community Education—Appropriation

The necessary sum for the operation of the Division of Community Education shall be included annually in the General Budgetary Act for the expenses of the Commonwealth Government.
History —May 14, 1949, No. 372, p. 1134, § 10, eff. July 1, 1949.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 407 - Appropriation for instruction of illiterates

The sum of one hundred and eight thousand dollars ($108,000) is hereby appropriated from unencumbered general funds to the Department of Education, for the fiscal year 1953-54, for the operating expenses of a program for the instruction of illiterates. In succeeding fiscal years the sum necessary for such purpose shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the Commonwealth Government.
History —May 27, 1953, No. 24, p. 66, § 1, eff. July 1, 1953.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 408 - Contract for teachers of adults—Appropriation

The Secretary of Education is authorized, in order to carry out the provisions of §§ 408—410 of this title, to contract for the services of such teachers as may be teaching in the public schools of Puerto Rico, or of any licensed teacher authorized to practice his profession; and he is also authorized to pay them the proper compensation for the additional services which they may render as teachers for adults outside of regular working hours as public school teachers. Provided, That said compensation shall be paid from the appropriation of fifty thousand dollars ($ 50,000) appearing in the Budgetary Act for the fiscal year 1945-46, as well as from any appropriation authorized for the purpose by law in succeeding years.
History —Mar. 28, 1946, No. 225, p. 444, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 409 - Contract for teachers of adults—Adjustment of teachers’ compensation

The Secretary of Education is hereby authorized and directed to make, with the approval of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the proper readjustment in the compensation to be paid to teachers for adults in such proportion as said Secretary of Education may deem adequate.
History —Mar. 28, 1946, No. 225, p. 444, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 410 - Contract for teachers of adults—Payment by Secretary of the Treasury

The Secretary of the Treasury is also hereby directed to pay, upon certification of the proper payroll, the compensation which must be paid to teachers for adults, as the same may have been approved by the Secretary of Education and by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget accordance with §§ 408—410 of this title.
History —Mar. 28, 1946, No. 225, p. 444, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › §§ 411–425 - Repealed. Act Dec. 16, 2011, No. 265, § 1, eff. Dec. 16, 2011

History —May 20, 1919, No. 10, p. 114, § 1, eff. 90 days after May 20, 1919; Repealed. Act.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 412 - Program against illiteracy—Additional compensation for each adult [Repealed]

History —May 20, 1919, No. 10, p. 114, § 2, eff. 90 days after May 20, 1919; Repealed. Act.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 413 - Program against illiteracy—Additional compensation for each child; exceptions [Repealed]

History —May 20, 1919, No. 10, p. 114, § 3, eff. 90 days after May 20, 1919; Repealed. Act.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 414 - Program against illiteracy—Board to verify teaching results [Repealed]

History —May 20, 1919, No. 10, p. 114, § 4, eff. 90 days after May 20, 1919; Repealed. Act.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 415 - Program against illiteracy—Supervision of program [Repealed]

History —May 20, 1919, No. 10, p. 114, § 5, eff. 90 days after May 20, 1919; Repealed. Act.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 416 - Program against illiteracy—Certificate of approval; payment [Repealed]

History —May 20, 1919, No. 10, p. 114, § 6, eff. 90 days after May 20, 1919; Repealed. Act.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › §§ 418–425 - Repealed. Act Dec. 16, 2011, No. 266, § 1, eff. Dec. 16, 2011

History —May 1, 1929, No. 48, p. 254, § 1, eff. 90 days after May 1, 1929; Repealed. Act.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 419 - ABC campaign—Purposes [Repealed]

History —May 1, 1929, No. 48, p. 254, § 2, eff. 90 days after May 1, 1929; Repealed. Act.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 420 - ABC campaign—Membership [Repealed]

History —May 1, 1929, No. 48, p. 254, § 3, eff. 90 days after May 1, 1929; Repealed. Act.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 421 - ABC campaign—Ex officio and honorary members [Repealed]

History —May 1, 1929, No. 48, p. 254, § 4, eff. 90 days after May 20, 1919; Repealed. Act.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 422 - ABC campaign—Board of Directors; regulations; general assembly [Repealed]

History —May 1, 1929, No. 48, p. 254, § 5, eff. 90 days after May 1, 1929; Repealed. Act.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 19 - Adult Education; Night Schools (§§ 401 — 438) › § 423 - ABC campaign—Income [Repealed]

History —May 1, 1929, No. 48, p. 254, § 6, eff. 90 days after May 1, 1929; Repealed. Act.