reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 208 - Computers and their Components (§§ 2171 — 2173) › § 2171 - Prohibition

The Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs is hereby directed to establish the regulations necessary to prohibit the sale of computers or components thereof that have used, recycled, or refurbished parts without having an affixed notification, sticker, sign or label of not less than one (1) inch by two (2) inches in a visible and legible place on the equipment, as well as on the box in which it is packaged, in both English and Spanish, to notify consumers that same may have the aforementioned parts. Furthermore, he/she shall establish that any consumer who purchases computers or components thereof that have used, recycled, or refurbished parts without compliance with the purposes of this chapter on part of the vendor, which are defective as a result of having such parts, shall be entitled, within a year of the sale, to the repair of same within not more than ten (10) days after delivery for such purposes, or twenty (20) days, if the defect is repaired out of the jurisdiction of Puerto Rico. Should the vendor not comply with the repairs within the aforementioned term, the buyer shall be entitled to total reimbursement of the price paid for such item or product and its components, once they are delivered to the vendor. It shall be provided that it is absolutely prohibited to sell computers or components thereof that have used, recycled, or refurbished parts that have been returned for being defective as a result of having such parts, and which have not been repaired within the previously specified term.
History —Nov. 10, 2006, No. 240, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 208 - Computers and their Components (§§ 2171 — 2173) › § 2172 - Orders and fines

The Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs is hereby authorized to issue orders and impose fines for violations against this regulation as provided in §§ 341 l and 341q of Title 3.
History —Nov. 10, 2006, No. 240, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 208 - Computers and their Components (§§ 2171 — 2173) › § 2173 - Regulations

The Department of Consumer Affairs, in accordance with the provisions of §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Uniform Administrative Procedure Act”, shall establish the regulations necessary to enforce compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
History —Nov. 10, 2006, No. 240, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 208A - Spyware [Regulation] Act (§§ 2181 — 2185) › § 2181 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning stated below:
(a) Advertisement. — Means any communication whose main purpose is to commercially promote a commercial product or service, including the content of a webpage to such purpose.
(b) Computer. — Means any computer, server, or electronic device, such as cellular and mobile telephones, personal digital assistants, videogames with Internet access, and devices that retrieve biometrical information, such as retinal scanners and fingerprint readers.
(c) Informed consent. — Means the consent given by a person who has been clearly, simply, conspicuously and unambiguously informed on the fact that a software is being installed or executed in his/her computer, as well as a notice of its function and effects. In addition, the person shall be informed about the manner in which said product may be removed from his/her computer.
(d) Damage. — Means any disability or adverse effect on the integrity of the computer, the programming thereof, its operating system or the information contained therein.
(e) Person. — Means any individual, partnership, corporation or other kind of organization with legal capacity.
(f) Program. — Means any sequence of instructions written in any programming language that is executed in a computer.
(g) Spyware. — Any software that:
(1) Runs or executes functions in a computer without the informed consent of the owner or authorized user.
(2) Obtains or uses, in any way, any information in said computer, or information obtained or made available by said computer to any other computer, server, or electronic device through any kind of communication.
This definition does not include the investigative functions of the State pursuant to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the United States of America and to Commonwealth and federal laws and regulations.
(h) Authorized user. — Means any person who is the owner or is authorized by the owner or is the lessor of said computer.
(i) Virus. — Means any software or sequence of instructions designed to corrupt the functions of the computer or to disable the computer or computer network, designed so as to reproduce spontaneously in computers or computer networks without the owner’s or authorized user’s authorization.
History —Aug. 6, 2008, No. 165, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 208A - Spyware [Regulation] Act (§§ 2181 — 2185) › § 2182 - Confidential personal information

For the purposes of this chapter, confidential personal information shall be deemed to be any information found in a computer or computer network as stated below:
(a) Names, surnames and initials of any person.
(b) Credit or debit card numbers.
(c) Any secret code used to access the information indicated in this section or to access financial information.
(d) Social Security Numbers.
(e) Bank, credit balances, payment history to financial institutions, overdraft or insufficient fund information.
(f) History of visited webpages.
[(g) History of Internet shopping.]
[(h)] Mailing and physical addresses.
[(i)] Medical records.
[(j)] Academic records.
History —Aug. 6, 2008, No. 165, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 208A - Spyware [Regulation] Act (§§ 2181 — 2185) › § 2183 - Prohibited conduct

(1) The use or installation of spyware in a computer, for any given purpose, is hereby prohibited, unless there is the informed and express consent by the owner or the authorized user thereof.
(2) The prohibited use of spyware includes, but is not limited to:
(a) The modification, by means of deceit or ruse, of any of the functions of the computer, including, but not limited to access to the computer, the webpage where the computer activates its Internet navigation system and bookmarks registered in the computer by its authorized user or owner.
(b) The collection, by means of deceit or ruse, of confidential personal information of the authorized user or owner, including when said action is performed by means of a device that records all keyboard uses of an authorized user and transfers said information to another computer or person; when said action is performed by means of unauthorized access to the history of webpages visited by the authorized user, and when said action is performed by retrieving information from the hard disk of the computer without the express authorization of the authorized user or owner.
(c) Prevent, by means of deceit or ruse, an authorized user from being able to detect that his/her computer has been intervened, programmed or that information has been retrieved without his/her authorization.
(d) Misrepresent, knowingly and intentionally, by electronic means that the computer has eliminated spyware or a virus.
(e) To disable the security system, anti-spyware or antivirus of a computer intentionally or by means of ruse or deceit.
(3) No person, except the authorized user or owner of a computer, shall:
(a) Abet an authorized user to install software or a component thereof by means of deceit or ruse, misrepresenting that such software is necessary for assuring the security of the computer or for the computer to be able to open certain files, programs or records.
History —Aug. 6, 2008, No. 165, §§ 5, 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 208A - Spyware [Regulation] Act (§§ 2181 — 2185) › § 2184 - Penalties

Any person who, with the intention of deceiving or causing financial or any other kind of harm, knowingly and intentionally violates any of the provisions of §§ 2182 and 2183 of this title, shall be guilty of a fourth degree felony and the punishment established in the Penal Code of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as amended, for such crime shall be applied.
Any person who, due to thoughtlessness and for failing to observe proper care violates any of the provisions of §§ 2182 and 2183 of this title, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and the punishment established in the Penal Code of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as amended, for such crime shall be applied.
History —Aug. 6, 2008, No. 165, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 208A - Spyware [Regulation] Act (§§ 2181 — 2185) › § 2185 - Reservation of rights

None of the provisions of this chapter shall be construed as a limitation of the right of Internet service provider companies, in any modality, to monitor their networks, interact with their subscribers and perform any other action relative to their security system, to repair the system, upgrading the equipment and software and any software which detects or prevents the unauthorized, fraudulent or unlawful use of the Internet access system offered by a provider.
History —Aug. 6, 2008, No. 165, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 209 - Purchase and Sale of Precious Metals and Stones Regulation (§§ 2201 — 2211) › § 2201 - Definitions

(a) Buyer.—Shall mean any person regularly engaged in carrying out business transactions, his employee or agent, who acquires precious metals or stones from a salesman by purchase; Provided, That those businessmen established in fixed places are excluded, when the purchase of the precious metal or precious stone is made directly from manufacturers or wholesalers.
(b) Salesman.—Shall mean any person who sells or attempts to sell any precious metal or stone to a buyer.
(c) Precious metal.—Shall mean gold, silver, platinum, sterling silver, rhodium and palladium in any grade of purity of said metals, or any article commonly or commercially known as jewelry.
(d) Precious stone.—Shall mean any gem such as diamond, emerald, ruby or sapphire, or any semiprecious stone including, but not limited to the amethyst, agate, spinel, jasper, onyx, opal, topaz, turquoise, pearl or others.
(e) Person.—Shall mean any juridical or natural person.
History —Sept. 21, 1983, No. 18, p. 401, § 1, eff. 60 days after Sept. 21, 1983.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 209 - Purchase and Sale of Precious Metals and Stones Regulation (§§ 2201 — 2211) › § 2202 - License

From the effective date of this act, no person may engage in the purchase of precious metals or precious stones without having first obtained the corresponding license issued by the Secretary of the Treasury of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
History —Sept. 21, 1983, No. 18, p. 401, § 2, eff. 60 days after Sept. 21, 1983.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 209 - Purchase and Sale of Precious Metals and Stones Regulation (§§ 2201 — 2211) › § 2203 - License—Application

The application to obtain the license mentioned in § 2202 of this title must be filed before the Secretary of the Treasury of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico on the forms prescribed by him. Said application shall be attested before an official authorized to take oaths and shall include a criminal records certificate of the applicant issued by the Superintendent of the Police of Puerto Rico, and two recent 2″ X 2″ photographs. No license shall be issued to persons who have been convicted of a felony, or a misdemeanor entailing moral turpitude. The license granted shall be personal and non-transferable.
History —Sept. 21, 1983, No. 18, p. 401, § 3, eff. 60 days after Sept. 21, 1983.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 209 - Purchase and Sale of Precious Metals and Stones Regulation (§§ 2201 — 2211) › § 2204 - License—Fees

The Secretary of the Treasury shall collect fees in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500) for each license issued according to the provisions of this chapter. The license fees shall be for each calendar year, or fraction thereof. In the cases of license renewal, the fees shall be payable no later than the 15th day of January of each year. The late payment of the license after January 15 of each year shall entail a surcharge of twenty-five percent (25%) over and above the annual license fees, which shall be paid on obtaining the license.
History —Sept. 21, 1983, No. 18, p. 401, § 4, eff. 60 days after Sept. 21, 1983.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 209 - Purchase and Sale of Precious Metals and Stones Regulation (§§ 2201 — 2211) › § 2205 - Registries

Every buyer of precious metals or precious stones shall keep in his principal office, or place of business, a registry in Spanish or English in which he shall state in writing, in a clear way, a report of each transaction or purchase of precious metals or precious stones he carries out. The registry shall include the following information:
(a) The name of the buyer or of his employee or agent who makes the purchase.
(b) The name, address and age of the vendor, verified by the buyer through the corresponding identification.
(c) The place, date and time of purchase.
(d) A complete description of the purchased article including the type and weight of the precious metal or stone purchased. The description shall also include any name, letter, mark or engraving it may have, or which may identify the article to be purchased.
(e) Purchase price.
(f) Market price at the time of purchase.
(g) Original source of acquisition verified by a receipt or bill, or by having the seller explain the origin of the precious stone or precious metal by a sworn or written statement, duly identifying the object being sold.
Every buyer shall provide the seller with a receipt regarding the price for which he acquires the precious metal or precious stone, which must be signed by both. A copy of the receipt shall be included permanently in the registry which this section requires.
History —Sept. 21, 1983, No. 18, p. 401, § 5, eff. 60 days after Sept. 21, 1983.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 209 - Purchase and Sale of Precious Metals and Stones Regulation (§§ 2201 — 2211) › § 2206 - Registries—Inspection and submission

The record required by § 2205 of this title may be inspected by any law enforcement officer in the discharge of his/her duties, including the Commissioner of Financial Institutions, who shall have the power to oversee, regulate, and ensure compliance with this chapter whenever the business of purchasing and selling precious metals and stones is conducted at the same location as a pawnbroking business. The aforesaid of the Commissioner shall be consistent with the provisions of the Pawnbroking Business and Operations Regulator Act, §§ 634 et seq. of this title.
A legible copy of such record shall be filed by the purchaser at the nearest Police Station within forty eight (48) hours following the purchase of a precious metal or stone.
History —Sept. 21, 1983, No. 18, p. 401, § 6; Feb. 24, 2011, No. 23, § 24, eff. 60 days after Feb. 24, 2011.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 209 - Purchase and Sale of Precious Metals and Stones Regulation (§§ 2201 — 2211) › § 2207 - Purchase from minors

No buyer may acquire precious metals or precious stones from minors under eighteen (18) years of age; or from sellers which he may have a reasonable doubt, or reason to believe that he is not the owner of said precious metal or precious stone.
History —Sept. 21, 1983, No. 18, p. 401, § 7, eff. 60 days after Sept. 21, 1983.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 209 - Purchase and Sale of Precious Metals and Stones Regulation (§§ 2201 — 2211) › § 2208 - Retention and display

The buyer shall retain and display to the public any precious metal or precious stone purchased from a seller for a minimum period of twenty (20) days counting from the date of purchase, after which period he/she may offer the goods for sale. Provided, That he/she cannot make any change or modification of any sort to the purchased item, with the intention of perpetrating a fraud.
History —Sept. 21, 1983, No. 18, p. 401, § 8; July 27, 1996, No. 85, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 209 - Purchase and Sale of Precious Metals and Stones Regulation (§§ 2201 — 2211) › § 2209 - Suspension or revocation of license

The Secretary of the Treasury may revoke or suspend the license issued, when, in his judgment, the person to whom it was issued or his agent or employee has violated any of the provisions of this chapter.
History —Sept. 21, 1983, No. 18, p. 401, § 9, eff. 60 days after Sept. 21, 1983.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 209 - Purchase and Sale of Precious Metals and Stones Regulation (§§ 2201 — 2211) › § 2210 - Reconsideration and review

Every person injured by any order or decision issued by the Secretary of the Treasury under the provisions of this chapter may file for a reconsideration before the Secretary of the Treasury within ten (10) days, counting from the date the notice of the decision or order is received. If the application for a reconsideration is adverse, the person may file for a review before the Court of First Instance. The petition for review must be filed within a term of thirty (30) days counting from the receipt of the notice of the Secretary’s decision. The filing of the petition for a reconsideration or review shall not suspend the effects of the appealed order or decision.
History —Sept. 21, 1983, No. 18, p. 401, § 10, eff. 60 days after Sept. 21, 1983.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 209 - Purchase and Sale of Precious Metals and Stones Regulation (§§ 2201 — 2211) › § 2211 - Penalties

Any violation of the provisions of §§ 2202 and 2205—2208 of this title shall be a felony and shall be punished with a fine which shall not exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000) and imprisonment for a term which shall not exceed two (2) years, or both penalties in the discretion of the court.
History —Sept. 21, 1983, No. 18, p. 401, § 11, eff. 60 days after Sept. 21, 1983.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 213 - Puerto Rican Arts and Crafts (§§ 2251 — 2253) › § 2251 - Protection

The sale, offering, importing to, and distribution of articles in Puerto Rico that include the phrase “Souvenir of Puerto Rico”, “Puerto Rico” or any other phrase that entails the same meaning which, having been manufactured or produced in a foreign country, are sold or are destined for sale to the consumer under the deceitful appearance of having been produced in Puerto Rico, is hereby prohibited.
History —July 3, 1986, No. 63, p. 216, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 213 - Puerto Rican Arts and Crafts (§§ 2251 — 2253) › § 2252 - Execution; regulations

The Department of Consumer Affairs is hereby empowered to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter and to approve the necessary regulations for the execution of its provisions by using all the powers and faculties granted to it by virtue of §§ 341—341w of Title 3.
History —July 3, 1986, No. 63, p. 216, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 213 - Puerto Rican Arts and Crafts (§§ 2251 — 2253) › § 2253 - Penalties

(a) Any natural or juridical person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a public offense and each day the same violation is incurred shall be deemed as a separate offense. If convicted, a punishment of imprisonment for a term which shall not exceed six (6) months or a fine which shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500) or both penalties shall be imposed at the discretion of the court.
(b) The Secretary of Consumer Affairs may impose administrative fines for violations of the provisions of this chapter and the regulations or orders issued pursuant to it as provided in § 341q of Title 3.
History —July 3, 1986, No. 63, p. 216, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 215 - Student Boarding House Businesses (§§ 2301 — 2314) › § 2301 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meaning set forth below:
(a) Person.— Any natural person, corporation, society, association, cooperative or any other group of persons, their legal heirs or representatives, and any entity, instrumentality, public corporation or municipality.
(c) Student.— Anyone who attends a public or private high level post-graduate or technological educational institution acredited by the Council on Higher Education or by the General Education Council, as a student.
(d) License.— The permit that authorizes a person to operate a student boarding house business including a provisional, temporary or permanent permit.
(e) Department.— Department of Consumer Affairs.
(f) Secretary.— The Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs.
(g) Factors and Criteria that serve as guidelines for the fixing of reasonable rental rates [sic].
(b) Student boarding house business. — Shall mean any housing unit used to lodge one or more students for pay, be it rent or any of the basic services such as water, electricity, telephone with or without board. This definition shall include, but not be limited to, a club house, a guest house, furnished guest houses, rooms and dorms. The property leased to at least one student at the postsecondary level shall not be deemed a student boarding house business unless the owner resides in the same or when the housing unit is leased to less than three (3) students at postsecondary level, even though the owner does not reside in the same. A housing unit shall be understood to be the establishments, buildings or that part of the latter (additional floors, duplexes or apartments) used as residential lodgings and that have the corresponding permits issued by the Regulations and Permits Administration.
History —Aug. 22, 1990, No. 48, p. 196, § 2; June 14, 2000, No. 99, § 1; Sept. 14, 2004, No. 276, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 215 - Student Boarding House Businesses (§§ 2301 — 2314) › § 2302 - License

After six (6) months following the effective date of this act, no person may engage in the operation of a student boarding house business without having obtained a license to do so, issued by the Secretary. A copy of the license thus issued shall be placed in a visible place in the business.
History —Aug. 22, 1990, No. 48, p. 196, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 215 - Student Boarding House Businesses (§§ 2301 — 2314) › § 2303 - License—Authorized agency

The Department of Consumer Affairs shall be the only agency authorized to issue licenses to the student boarding house businesses regulated by this chapter.
History —Aug. 22, 1990, No. 48, p. 196, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 215 - Student Boarding House Businesses (§§ 2301 — 2314) › § 2304 - License—Issuance

(a) All student boarding house businesses that operate in Puerto Rico on the effective date of this act, may request and receive a provisional license from the Department that will authorize them to continue operating for a term that shall not exceed six (6) months after its date of issue, so that they can have the opportunity to meet the requirements established in § 2307 of this title, and the regulations promulgated by virtue thereof, in order to be granted a permanent license.
(b) The Department shall issue a license to every business that requests it and meets the applicable norms and requirements.
(c) The licenses shall be issued for periods not greater than one year, at the end of which, they may be renewed if the establishment continues to meet the requirements established by this chapter and its regulations.
(d) The Department may cancel, suspend or deny a license in any case, if the holder of the same, after being notified of the deficiencies found, does not proceed to correct them within a reasonable period, to be established by regulations.
(e) Every request for the issuing or renewal of a license shall be accompanied by a certified check or postal or bank money order payable to the Secretary of the Treasury in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100). The government agencies shall be exempted from the payment of these fees.
(f) The Department shall prepare the request forms for the issuing or renewal of a license.
(g) The Department shall prepare a registry of all student boarding houses to which it has issued a license, which shall be remitted, along with the regulations adopted to ensure compliance of the provisions of this chapter, to the Office of the Dean of Students of the universities to be circulated and made available to the students who request it, and be posted on the bulletin boards of the universities.
By knowing the requirements that must be met by the student boarding house businesses, the students will be better informed of their rights which will allow them to file the corresponding complaints as provided in § 2309 of this title.
History —Aug. 22, 1990, No. 48, p. 196, § 5; July 19, 1998, No. 148, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 215 - Student Boarding House Businesses (§§ 2301 — 2314) › § 2305 - License—Restrictions

Each license shall be granted only for the structure and the person who requests it, and it shall not be transferred, ceded or assigned.
History —Aug. 22, 1990, No. 48, p. 196, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 215 - Student Boarding House Businesses (§§ 2301 — 2314) › § 2306 - License—Regulations

The Department is hereby empowered to promulgate the regulations needed to ensure compliance of the provisions of this chapter in accordance with the procedure established in §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as “Uniform Administrative Procedure Act”.
History —Aug. 22, 1990, No. 48, p. 196, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 215 - Student Boarding House Businesses (§§ 2301 — 2314) › § 2307 - Requirements

The regulations adopted by the Department shall specify, among others, the following requirements that must be met by student boarding house businesses:
(a) Adequate physical facilities, sanitary conditions of the locale and neighborhood and ventilation provided in keeping with the services offered and the number of students it serves.
(b) Safety measures against fires, and other protection measures such as public liability insurance or bonds, that are necessary for the health and well being of the students.
(c) Accessibility to the teaching institutions and means of transportation needed by the students to attend their classes and other educational activities.
(d) Health requirements to be met by the person who operates the business, his/her agents, persons in charge or employees.
(e) Health requirements that must be taken into account for the acceptance of the students in the boarding house.
(f) Quality and conditions of the services that are rendered.
(g) Every lease contract shall contain a clause certifying that the student boarding house complies with all the provisions contained in this chapter, and with regulations of the Department of Consumer Affairs for Student Boarding House Businesses. In addition, it shall certify that the lessee has been duly informed about the availability of the act and the regulations and the advantages of reviewing and discussing both documents at the time of the execution of said contract.
The requirements listed in this section shall apply to any apartment identified by the Department as a single unit, which is sublet as an individual student boarding unit. Likewise, the provisions of § 341 l of Title 3, part of the act known as the “Organic Act of the Department of Consumer Affairs” shall apply thereto.
History —Aug. 22, 1990, No. 48, p. 196, § 8; Aug. 9, 1998, No. 213, § 1; Jan. 23, 2006, No. 31, § 1, eff. 90 days after Jan. 23, 2006.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 215 - Student Boarding House Businesses (§§ 2301 — 2314) › § 2308 - Advice

The Department may request and obtain the advice of the student assistance offices at the different educational institutions, and of the student organizations, for the approval of the regulations that are needed, and to achieve compliance with its provisions.
History —Aug. 22, 1990, No. 48, p. 196, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 215 - Student Boarding House Businesses (§§ 2301 — 2314) › § 2309 - Complaints

Whenever the Department has information or believes that a place is operating as a student boarding house business contrary to or in violation of this chapter and the regulations approved thereunder, it may perform the necessary inspection of that site, with the consent of the legal occupant and without a prior search warrant issued by a competent court.
In the exercise of the responsibility conferred herein, the Department may exercise all the powers granted to it pursuant to §§ 341—341w of Title 3, as amended, known as the “Organic Act of Department of Consumer Affairs” and §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Uniform Administrative Procedures Act”, as amended, including the power to inspect the businesses subject to this chapter and to impose administrative sanctions.
When through information or belief it is understood that a place is operating as a student boarding house business without a valid license issued by the Department, whether because it has been denied, suspended, cancelled, or because it has not been renewed or requested, the Department is hereby authorized to perform the necessary inspection, which includes the power to compel the appearance of witnesses and the production of documents or information to corroborate the existence or nonexistence of the boarding house business at the moment it acquires knowledge of said information or belief, without having to request and having been issued a search warrant by a Court of Justice. If any legal occupant of the place to be inspected were to deny permission for the inspection, any magistrate, upon receiving a sworn statement that reveals probable cause for it, may issue a warrant authorizing the authorized representative of the Department to enter the place in question with the purpose of performing the investigation or the corresponding inspection. None of the abovementioned shall be interpreted as limiting the right of the Department or its authorized representatives to enter sites that are, or that there is the belief that they are operating as a student boarding house, without first obtaining permission from the owner or tenant, provided that the Department or its representative enters in good faith, with the purpose of carrying out investigations or inspections under the present law, directed to protect the health and safety of our young university students.
History —Aug. 22, 1990, No. 48, p. 196, § 10; June 14, 2000, No. 99, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 215 - Student Boarding House Businesses (§§ 2301 — 2314) › § 2310 - Injunction

In the event that a business is operating without the corresponding license because it has been denied, suspended, cancelled or because it has not requested it, the Department may file for an injunction before the Court of First Instance to prevent the continued operation of said business.
History —Aug. 22, 1990, No. 48, p. 196, § 11.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 215 - Student Boarding House Businesses (§§ 2301 — 2314) › § 2311 - Appeals

Any person affected by a decision of the Secretary may follow the procedure established by §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as “Uniform Administrative Procedure Act”.
History —Aug. 22, 1990, No. 48, p. 196, § 12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 215 - Student Boarding House Businesses (§§ 2301 — 2314) › § 2312 - Revenue from licenses

Any revenue collected on account of licenses shall be entered into the books of the Secretary of the Treasury apart from any other funds that the Department of Consumer Affairs sees fit to receive. These funds shall be accounted for without a specific natural year. Once five (5) years of effectiveness of this act have passed, the collections on account of this concept shall be covered into the General Fund of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; Provided, That prior to using the resources deposited in the Special Fund, the Secretary must submit annually for approval by the Office of Management and Budget, an expense budget to be charged to these funds. The remainder of the funds not used or obligated for the purposes of this chapter shall be transferred on June 30 of each fiscal year, to the General Fund of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The income collected may be used by the Department to contract consulting personnel, the acquisition and replacement of equipment, purchase of materials and in anything that has the purpose of improving and expediting the processes followed by the Department.
History —Aug. 22, 1990, No. 48, p. 196, § 13.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 215 - Student Boarding House Businesses (§§ 2301 — 2314) › § 2313 - Prohibition

The execution of contracts for leasing apartments in buildings, part thereof, dwellings, or establishments operating as student boarding houses lacking the licenses and permits required by law and regulations is hereby prohibited.
History —Aug. 22, 1990, No. 48, p. 196, added as § 14 on Jan. 23, 2006, No. 31, § 2, eff. 90 days after Jan. 23, 2006.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 215 - Student Boarding House Businesses (§§ 2301 — 2314) › § 2314 - Penalties

Any person who violates the provisions of any section of this chapter shall be sanctioned by the Secretary with the established administrative penalties and sanctions, which include the imposition of a fine which shall not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per violation, pursuant to the power granted in § 341q of Title 3, part of the act known as the “Organic Act of the Department of Consumer Affairs”.
History —Aug. 22, 1990, No. 48, p. 196, added as § 15 on Jan. 23, 2006, No. 31, § 3, eff. 90 days after Jan. 23, 2006.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 219 - Regulation and Development of Discount Markets Act (§§ 2341 — 2350) › § 2341 - Purpose

The Legislature wishes that discount markets be uniformly regulated in order to offer the consumers assurance and trust. For that purpose, a control plan is created in order to enable government agencies to recognize discount market sellers so that consumers who have a claim may have the alternative to discuss any such claim with the seller.
The Government of Puerto Rico is committed, through the Department of Consumer Affairs, to stimulate, promote, keep in operation, and oversee discount markets. It shall, likewise, oversee that it be regulated in the most integrated manner possible.
History —Dec. 12, 1993, No. 126, § 2; July 30, 1999, No. 176, § 1; Feb. 18, 2011, No. 16, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 219 - Regulation and Development of Discount Markets Act (§§ 2341 — 2350) › § 2342 - Definitions

The following terms and phrases shall have the meaning expressed hereinbelow:
(a) Department.— Means the Department of Consumer Affairs, created by §§ 341 et seq. of Title 3.
(b) Discount market.— Means any event which involves a series of sales, which by their number and space, are characteristic of a business where:
(1) Two (2) or more persons offer personal objects or articles for sale or barter;
(2) rent, a commission or a fee is charged for the privilege of exhibiting objects or articles for sale or barter;
(3) buyers or customers are charged a rent, commission or fee for entrance to the premises where personal objects or articles are offered for sale or barter;
(4) merchandise is offered or shown for sale or barter, even though it may not be immediately, regardless of the number of persons offering personal objects or articles for sale or barter or without any rent, commission or fee being charged.
(c) Operator.— Means any person, partnership, company, organization or corporation controlling or administering a discount market in which any personal object or article is bartered, sold or offered.
(d) Seller.— Means any vendor, person, association, organization or corporation that barters, sells or offers any article, object or product at a discount market.
History —Dec. 12, 1993, No. 126, § 3; July 30, 1999, No. 176, § 2; Feb. 18, 2011, No. 16, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 219 - Regulation and Development of Discount Markets Act (§§ 2341 — 2350) › § 2343 - Application

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to:
(1) An event organized for the exclusive benefit of any non-profit foundation, partnership, entity or corporation and from which neither the operators nor the sellers benefit from the sales or from the entrance or parking fees.
(2) An event in which all objects and articles offered for sale or on display are new and the sellers are bonafide manufacturers or distributors.
History —Dec. 12, 1993, No. 126, § 4, eff. Jan. 1, 1995.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 219 - Regulation and Development of Discount Markets Act (§§ 2341 — 2350) › § 2344 - License

Every operator shall apply for and obtain an operating license from the Department of Consumer Affairs. The Department, upon evaluation of the application to the effect that it meets the requirements imposed by regulations, shall issue an operating license that shall have a term of not more than one (1) year, from the moment it was evaluated and the license issued. Said license must be renewed annually.
History —Dec. 12, 1993, No. 126, § 5; July 30, 1999, No. 176, § 3; Feb. 18, 2011, No. 16, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 219 - Regulation and Development of Discount Markets Act (§§ 2341 — 2350) › § 2345 - Register

The operator must keep a daily register of all sellers who frequent the discount market to offer their products for sale. Said register shall indicate: the name, the address, and a general description of the merchandise for sale or barter; it must also include the signature of the sellers and of the operator.
The operator must be in possession of the register, which he/she must show if so required by official Commonwealth authorities. The operator shall keep possession of said registers for a period of one (1) year.
The operator shall be responsible for verifying that the merchandise on display for sale is as described in the register.
History —Dec. 12, 1993, No. 126, § 6, eff. Jan. 1, 1995.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 219 - Regulation and Development of Discount Markets Act (§§ 2341 — 2350) › § 2346 - License—Application

The application for the operating license shall include the following information; Provided That the Department of Consumer Affairs may require any other information needed for the purpose of this chapter.
(1) Name and address of the applicant.
(2) Should the applicant be a corporation, the name and address of the agent in charge, or the resident agent thereof, should it be a foreign corporation, shall be included.
(3) Identification number assigned to the operator of the discount market by the Department.
(4) The date when and place where the event is to take place.
(5) A certification as to the veracity of the information provided.
(6) A general description of the premises on which the event is to take place and the approximate number of spaces available for the display of merchandise.
(7) Evidence proving that the operator holds insurance to cover damages in case of an accident. The insurance shall be for a term of not less than the period of time for which the permit is requested.
History —Dec. 12, 1993, No. 126, § 7; July 30, 1999, No. 176, § 4; Feb. 18, 2011, No. 16, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 219 - Regulation and Development of Discount Markets Act (§§ 2341 — 2350) › § 2347 - License—Evaluation

The operator shall obtain the application for an operating license at the Department of Consumer Affairs. After completing it, he/she shall submit it, including the Internal Revenue vouchers that the Department establishes by regulations.
The Department of Consumer Affairs shall have ten (10) days to evaluate the application after it is duly completed and filed in order to issue or deny the license. If the operating license is granted by the Department, it shall assign it an identification number that shall be displayed in the place where the discount market is held.
If the Department denies the license, it shall so notify the applicant in writing. In such notice, the Department shall inform the applicant that he/she must appear at a hearing to state the reasons why the license should not be denied. If after the hearing the Department upholds its determination to deny the application, the applicant may file a request for reconsideration with the Department within twenty (20) days following the notice of denial, pursuant to the provisions of the “Uniform Administrative Procedures Act”, §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3.
History —Dec. 12, 1993, No. 126, § 8; Aug. 12, 1994, No. 66, § 1; July 30, 1999, No. 176, § 5; Feb. 18, 2011, No. 16, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 219 - Regulation and Development of Discount Markets Act (§§ 2341 — 2350) › § 2348 - License—Display

The operator shall display the operating license issued by the Department in a visible place at the main entrance of the place in which the event is held.
Every seller must issue a receipt with his/her name and address to the buyers, should they so request, for the amount paid for the article.
History —Dec. 12, 1993, No. 126, § 9, July 30, 1999, No. 176, § 6; Feb. 18, 2011, No. 16, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 219 - Regulation and Development of Discount Markets Act (§§ 2341 — 2350) › § 2349 - Penalties

Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall incur a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined an amount not greater than five hundred dollars ($500), or imprisoned for a term not greater than six (6) months, or both penalties at the discretion of the court.
History —Dec. 12, 1993, No. 126, § 11, eff. Jan. 1, 1995.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 219 - Regulation and Development of Discount Markets Act (§§ 2341 — 2350) › § 2350 - Special fund

A special fund is hereby created in the books of the Department of the Treasury, into which the total amount collected through the Internal Revenue vouchers for the issuance of licenses shall be covered. The Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs shall use these funds in implementing and structuring this chapter.
History —Dec. 12, 1993, No. 126, added as § 12 on Aug. 12, 1994, No. 66, § 2; July 30, 1999, No. 176, § 8; Feb. 18, 2011, No. 16, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 220 - Regulation of Personal Property Lease Contracts Act (§§ 2401 — 2426) › § 2402 - Norms and regulations

The Commissioner is hereby authorized to approve the norms and regulations needed to comply with the provisions of this chapter.
History —Aug. 13, 1994, No. 76, § 4, eff. 60 days after Aug. 13, 1994.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 3 - Business Regulations Generally (§§ 2001-2016 — 4196) › Chapter 220 - Regulation of Personal Property Lease Contracts Act (§§ 2401 — 2426) › § 2404 - Lease contract—Notice

The contract shall include the following notice, which shall be written in the space immediately above the buyer’s signature, in thirteen (13) point type:
“This is not a retail installment sale contract. Its cancellation shall bring about penalties.
“Do not sign this contract without reading it or if it has blank spaces. You are entitled to a copy of this contract”.
History —Aug. 13, 1994, No. 76, § 6, eff. 60 days after Aug. 13, 1994.