2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 149A - BIDA Act (§§ 3561 — 3585) › § 3577 - Responsibilities of municipal governments and Commonwealth agencies

In accordance with the public policy set forth herein, it is hereby declared that the agencies, bodies, and instrumentalities of the Government of Puerto Rico shall be responsible for soliciting, supporting, protecting, facilitating, coordinating, and appropriating funds for the implementation of the public policy in all the previously identified areas, including, but not limited to:
(1) Promoting the production of written materials and information posters to develop awareness campaigns aimed at educating the people on the development stages, the early signs of an autism spectrum disorder, and the steps to be followed upon diagnosis;
(2) disclosing the public policy set forth in this chapter together with the programs and initiatives established thereunder, to the extent feasible;
(3) conducting studies on the needs, demand, availability, and quality of services per type of service and geographic area;
(4) designing, developing, and implementing initiatives and programs geared to implementing the public policy;
(5) identifying and providing fiscal resources as are necessary for the implementation of the public policy, in accordance with the available budget;
(6) Revising/revision of agency’s bylaws to ensure that the regulations, circular letters, and administrative orders issued comply with the principles, postulates, and provisions of this chapter;
(7) designing, developing, and implementing strategies for interagency and intersectoral coordination that guarantees a coherent and efficient service system to satisfy the needs of the autism spectrum disorder population and their families;
(8) making all the necessary efforts to ensure the continuity of services, and
(9) monitoring the implementation of the public policy on the autism spectrum disorder population as provided in this chapter and promoting the ongoing assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of the programs and services designed to satisfy the needs of said population.
Municipal governments shall play a key role in the rendering and coordination of services at the local level. They shall be empowered to coordinate services efficiently, swiftly, and orderly with communities, community and faith- based organizations, and other community components.
In accordance with the public policy set forth herein, it is hereby declared that municipal governments, without impairment to their powers and authorities under the Autonomous Municipalities Act, shall be jointly responsible for the implementation of this public policy, including, but not limited to:
(1) Identifying community services that facilitate the implementation of this public policy.
(2) Assisting in the evaluation of needs in conjunction with the different agencies of the Government of Puerto Rico, as well as with the different programs and community organizations, whether nonprofit, for profit, or faith-based, among others, that offer services to this population.
(3) Developing programs, activities, and initiatives for persons with an autism spectrum disorder and their families within their communities, in the areas identified in this public policy, and in accordance with the principles and provisions of this chapter, to the extent that the available fiscal resources allow.
(4) Participating in strategies that promote the prevention, education, and rendering of quality services to the autism spectrum disorder population in their municipalities.
(5) Providing infrastructure and forming partnerships with community and faith-based organizations, as well as with other institutions within the municipality to facilitate the availability of safe and adequate spaces and facilities and maintenance thereof, to be used and enjoyed by and render services to persons with an autism spectrum disorder.
(6) Assisting in soliciting and requesting fiscal resources from external sources in order to implement this chapter.
(7) Keeping a close coordination and communication with the Commonwealth government, as well as community, faith-based, nonprofit or for profit organizations and higher education institutions of each municipality for the implementation of this public policy.
Each municipality shall devise a work plan for the implementation of this public policy in accordance with its capacities and resources.
Any municipality covered under §§ 4001 et seq. of Title 21, known as the “Autonomous Municipalities Act of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico of 1991”, that develops programs geared to satisfy the educational needs of the autism spectrum disorder population may provide structure therefor and shall be exempt from the requirements established under Section 3.20 of the Planning Regulations No. 5 of September 5, 2002 on the Designation, Registration, and Conservation of Historic Sites and Zones in Puerto Rico of the Planning Board, the jurisdiction of the Office of Historic Conservation, and any other similar successor law or regulation.
History —Sep. 4, 2012, No. 220, § 19.