reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 16A - Citizen’s Orientation Office Against Obscenity and Child Pornography in Radio and Television (§§ 343 — 343g) › § 343d - Director—Duties

The Director shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
(a) Establish the internal organization of the Office and the adequate systems for is operation, with the approval of the Secretary.
(b) Plan, direct and supervise the functions of the Office and represent the same in forums and acts as required to comply with the purposes of this chapter and in those others as delegated by the Secretary.
(c) Prepare the drafts of the rules and regulations and amendments thereto that must be approved to comply with the purposes of this chapter and submit the same to the Secretary for his/her consideration and approval.
(d) Recommend to the Secretary the appointment of the personnel needed for the operation of the Office and assign their work and responsibilities based on criteria to allow the most effective use and greatest productivity of its human resources, as well as the best quality and most effective rendering of its services.
(e) Compile statistical and informational data to conduct studies on obscenity, child pornography, and cyber privacy violations, and make them available to the general public.
(f) Carry out orientations and educational campaigns on recent findings regarding the issues of obscenity, child pornography, cyber privacy, identity theft, and improper access and disclosure of personal information.
(g) Advise and provide to the Department of Education the expert and technical assistance needed to hold at least one (1) educational activity during each school semester in every educational facility in order to orient parents, teachers and students on the harmful effects of obscene material and child pornography on the social and emotional development of people.
(h) Recommend to the Secretary the contracting of the professional technical services needed to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(i) Perform all duties assigned in this chapter, as well as any others entrusted by the Secretary.
(j) Render an annual report on the activities of the Office during the year corresponding to the report to the Legislature, through the Secretary.
History —Aug. 9, 2002, No. 142, § 5; Oct. 7, 2009, No. 112, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 16A - Citizen’s Orientation Office Against Obscenity and Child Pornography in Radio and Television (§§ 343 — 343g) › § 343e - Transfers

The Director may request and receive from any department, administration, agency, public corporation, board, commission, municipality, or instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the assignment, loan or transfer of any property or equipment needed to comply with the purposes of this chapter. Said public entities are hereby authorized to do so, provided none of their essential programs or services is affected.
History —Aug. 9, 2002, No. 142, § 6, eff. Jan. 1, 2003.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 16A - Citizen’s Orientation Office Against Obscenity and Child Pornography in Radio and Television (§§ 343 — 343g) › § 343f - Interagency cooperation

The Director may request and obtain, through the Secretary, the temporary assignment of any regular employee of any department, administration, agency, public corporation, board, commission, municipality, or instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to render services at the Office. Any temporary assignment of an employee shall be governed by the rules and regulations of the public entity from which he/she proceeds. However, the request and obtaining of services from the regular employees referred to in this section shall be conditioned to the fact that the temporary assignment of said employees shall not affect the service he/she renders in the entity that authorizes the assignment.
Likewise, the Director may request the collaboration or assistance of said public entities to conduct any study, investigation, or activity of the Office necessary and convenient to comply with the purposes of this chapter.
History —Aug. 9, 2002, No. 142, § 7, eff. Jan. 1, 2003.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 16A - Citizen’s Orientation Office Against Obscenity and Child Pornography in Radio and Television (§§ 343 — 343g) › § 343g - Construction

The words and phrases in this chapter shall be construed within the context and meaning commonly used. The words in this chapter that are in the present tense also include the future tense; those of masculine gender also include the feminine and neutral genders, except in cases where such construction would be absurd; the singular number includes the plural and the plural includes the singular insofar as such construction does not contravene the purpose of the provision.
History —Aug. 9, 2002, No. 142, added as § 10 on Oct. 7, 2009, No. 112, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 351 - Short title

Sections 351—362, 366—377 and 381—385 of this title shall be known and designated by the name of “Department of Agriculture and Commerce Act.”
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 1, eff. 90 days after Apr. 25, 1940.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 352 - Meaning of Secretary and Department

Whenever the word “Secretary” is used in §§ 351—362, 366—375 and 381—385 of this title, it shall be understood to refer to the Secretary of Agriculture of Puerto Rico. Whenever the word “Department” is used it shall be understood to apply to the Department of Agriculture of Puerto Rico.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 2, eff. 90 days after Apr. 25, 1940.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 353 - Objective of Department

The Department of Agriculture of Puerto Rico shall promote, further and develop the agricultural, industrial and commercial interests of Puerto Rico. It shall likewise seek to manage the agricultural matters in the Island as an issue of food security and that Puerto Rico has the production needed to satisfy to the extent possible the regular local consumption of our entire population and that which shall be necessary during the future times of global scarcity. The general production, distribution and availability of products such as cereals, sugar, starches, garden vegetables, legumes, eggs, milk and its byproducts, coffee, meat, fruits, spices, fish, seafood, fats, and oils shall be promoted.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 3; July 29, 2008, No. 133, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 354 - Duties of Secretary

The Secretary of Agriculture shall be the Chief in charge of the direction, administration and general supervision of the Department, and shall promote the development of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and livestock farming industry and commerce, including agro-tourism or rural tourism, as well as handcraft industries; he/she shall compile and publish statistics and all kinds of information relative thereto; he/she shall direct the investigations necessary for the improvement of agriculture, cattle raising, and industries and their economy; he/she shall obtain and distribute information in regard to the promotion of zootechny; he/she shall regulate the exportation and importation of plants, seeds and animals; he/she shall take such measures for veterinary policing as may be necessary for the protection of Puerto Rican cattle, and he/she shall also cooperate with all institutions and associations of good repute that may be formed for the promotion of agriculture, industry and commerce.
That he/she deems necessary to achieve the promotion, development, bolstering, and subsistence of agriculture in Puerto Rico in all its aspects, based on the premise that said actions are vested with the highest public interest and that the same are intrinsically linked to our food security.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 4; Aug. 21, 2003, No. 195, § 1; July 29, 2008, No. 133, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 355 - Organization of Department

The Department of Agriculture shall consist of the following divisions, bureaus and services:
(a) Office of the Secretary.
(b) Division of Property and Accounts.
(c) Departmental Museum.
(d) Division of Publicity, Library and Publications.
(e) Plant Quarantine Service.
(f) Fertilizer, Cattle-Feed, Insecticide and Fungicide Inspection Service (Anticryptogamic Substances).
(g) Division of Ornithology and Pisciculture.
(h) Division of inspection of Chemical Laboratories.
(i) Division of Inspection and Regulation of the Sale of Coffee.
(j) Commonwealth Forest Service.
(k) Division of Animal Industries.
(l) Division of Tobacco.
(m) Division of Industrial Investigations and Development.
(n) Division of Agricultural Development.
(o) Division of Agricultural and Industrial Economics.
(p) Bureau of Commerce.
(q) New York Office.
(r) Seven Regional Offices.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 5; Aug. 26, 1994, No. 104, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 356 - Office of the Secretary

The Office of the Secretary shall be organized as follows:
(a) The Secretary.
(b) An Assistant Secretary of Agriculture.
(c) [Omitted].
(d) All such employees as may be necessary for the good service of the office.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 6, eff. 90 days after Apr. 25, 1940.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 357 - Assistant Secretary of Agriculture

The Assistant Secretary of Agriculture shall be under the direction of the Secretary of Agriculture, shall assist the latter in his duties, and shall have charge of the supervision of such divisions, bureaus, services, offices and dependencies of the Department as the Secretary may assign to him; he may substitute the Secretary in case of absence, sickness or resignation, and he shall also perform all the duties and obligations assigned to him by the Secretary.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 7, eff. 90 days after Apr. 25, 1940.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 359 - Division of Property and Accounts

The Division of Property and Accounts shall have charge of the custody and filing of all the property of the department and shall keep a complete and detailed record thereof; it shall keep a statement in regard to the movement of personnel, as well as exact and detailed accounts of the funds of the department and its dependencies, informing the Secretary in regard thereto each month.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 9, eff. 90 days after Apr. 25, 1940.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 360 - Departmental museum

The Department shall organize and support a museum which shall maintain exhibits in ethnology, paleontology, numismatics, biology, mineralogy, the flora and the fauna of Puerto Rico, and such other exhibits as may be advisable and historical; it shall organize a commercial section, principally concerning the agricultural and industrial products of Puerto Rico.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 10, eff. 90 days after Apr. 25, 1940.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 361 - Division of Publicity, Library and Publications

The Division of Publicity, Library and Publications shall be divided into the following sections:
(a) Section of Publicity.— This section shall supervise and edit all the departmental publications; shall prepare and release all information for the press and shall be in charge of the section of industry and commerce of the Revista de Agricultura, Industria y Comercio of Puerto Rico.
(b) Section of Library and Publications.— This section shall be in charge of publishing and distributing the Revista de Agricultura, Industria y Comercio and all other publications that the department may prepare, and of receiving, cataloging, and filing books, bulletins, pamphlets, and publications received or purchased by said department.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 11, eff. 90 days after Apr. 25, 1940.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 366 - Fertilizer, Cattle-feed, Insecticide and Fungicide Inspection Service (anticryptogamic substances)

The Fertilizer, Cattle-Feed, Insecticide and Fungicide Inspection Service (anticryptogamic substances) shall inspect all fertilizers, raw materials for fertilizers, soil amendments, insecticides, fungicides (anticryptogamic substances), and cattle-feed, which are brought into, or manufactured, sold, handled, or used in, Puerto Rico; it shall keep a register in which shall be entered all the trademarks in regard to commercial or mixed fertilizers, raw materials for fertilizers, or soil amendments, as well as all concentrated feed for domestic animals, sold or imported for use in Puerto Rico; it shall take official samples of all the above-mentioned products for the purpose of their subsequent analysis in the chemical laboratory which the Department of Agriculture has for those purposes, and it shall perform all such acts and take all such steps as may be necessary to carry out the laws and regulations that may be promulgated for the regulation of the use, sale, handling, manufacture, etc., of fertilizers, soil amendments, cattle-feed and fungicides in Puerto Rico.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 13, eff. 90 days after Apr. 25, 1940.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 367 - Division of Ornithology and Pisciculture

The Division of Ornithology and Pisciculture shall have charge of regulating hunting, of protecting the wild birds and animals of Puerto Rico and securing their increase and development in the island by establishing bird refuges on government lands as well as by taking steps for the creation of such refuges in private areas, with the consent of their owners, but under the care, watchfulness, and management of the Secretary of Agriculture, so that the birds may breed and multiply under adequate protection; it shall also make general investigations and surveys in regard to the protection of birds, tending towards the preservation and propagation of those species that have economic importance, as well as such others as have esthetic value. This Division shall also be in charge of protecting and promoting the breeding of fish; of regulating fishing in order to obtain their increase and development in Puerto Rico waters; of installing, developing and maintaining fish hatcheries so as to use the fishes as breeders to stock the various streams in this island, and to make investigations regarding the establishment and development of fishing industries in Puerto Rico.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 14, eff. 90 days after Apr. 25, 1940.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 368 - Division of Inspection of Chemical Laboratories

The Division of Inspection of Chemical Laboratories shall discharge the following functions: it shall investigate the legal ability of the chemists employed in the different public and private laboratories in Puerto Rico, keeping a record of all persons practicing as chemists or chemical engineers in the laboratories, industrial establishments, and professional centers of Puerto Rico; it shall test the weighing and measuring apparatus in use in the said laboratories, determining whether the equipment used is adequate for the work for which it is used; it shall take and analyze any sample of juice extracted from cane belonging to any colono and ground in any sugar central of the island, in order to check the analysis made in the laboratory of said sugar factory, and shall calculate the probable yield of the cane, for the purpose of awarding to the colono the share to which he is entitled under the contract between the two parties; it shall compile the weekly, fortnightly, or monthly factory reports of all sugar factories in Puerto Rico in order to prepare statistical tables in regard to the grinding and processing of cane, showing the average results obtained in each district and, in all, in the island of Puerto Rico; it shall verify the estimated factors to be used by the sugar centrales for making liquidation to the colonos, and it shall engage in such other activity in harmony with the spirit of §§ 351—362, 366-375 and 381-385 of this title as the Secretary of Agriculture may assign it.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 15, eff. 90 days after Apr. 25, 1940.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 369 - Division of Inspection and Regulation of the Sale of Coffee

The Division of Inspection and Regulation of the Sale of Coffee shall be composed of the following sections:
(a) A Section to Prevent the Adulteration and Smuggling of Coffee, which shall be in charge of putting into effect and enforcing Act No. 3, approved July 11, 1935, entitled “An Act to regulate the sale of coffee in Puerto Rico and to require certain duties of coffee growers, importers, exporters, dealers, and handlers in Puerto Rico, and of retailers of coffee; to charge the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce with the carrying out of this chapter; to impose penalties for violations, and for other purposes,” as amended by Act No. 248, approved May 15, 1938, and such laws as may hereafter be promulgated for the same or similar purpose.
(b) A Section to Regulate the Selling Price of Coffee, which shall be in charge of putting into effect and enforcing the provisions of Act No. 255, approved May 15, 1938, entitled “An Act to fix the minimum and maximum prices at which coffee shall be sold in Puerto Rico; to impose certain duties on coffee agriculturists, purchasers and dealers in the island; to establish consumption quotas for coffee farms in Puerto Rico; to vest the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce with certain powers to carry out the purposes of this chapter; to impose penalties for violations hereof, and for other purposes,” and the provisions of any other legislation that may be hereafter approved for the same end.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 16, eff. 90 days after Apr. 25, 1940.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 370 - Commonwealth Forest Service

The Commonwealth Forest Service shall be in charge of the development and guarding of the forests and mangrove swamps that are under the custody of the department; it shall take care of the development, protection, and distribution of trees for public and private purposes; it shall be its duty to replant the forests of the Government of Puerto Rico, and it shall import foreign trees and shrubs.
This service shall establish, develop, and maintain a forest station and as many substations as may be necessary for the performance of the duties imposed upon it by §§ 351—362, 366—375 and 381—385 of this title.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 17, eff. 90 days after Apr. 25, 1940.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 371 - Division of Animal Industries

The Division of Animal Industries shall consist of the following sections:
(a) Veterinary Section.— This Section shall be in charge of taking such measures for veterinary policing as may be necessary for the protection of Puerto Rican cattle; of preventing the introduction and dissemination of infectious-contagious diseases of animals in Puerto Rico; of controlling, eradicating, checking and treating pests and diseases of domestic animals in this island, as well as of diagnosing said diseases by making clinical and bacteriological examinations, and of putting in force all the laws and regulations that may be promulgated for the purpose.
(b) Section of Zootechny.— This Section shall be in charge of studying all the problems connected with animal industry and of promoting its development.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 18, eff. 90 days after Apr. 25, 1940.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 372 - Division of Industrial Investigation and Development

The Division of Industrial Investigation and Development shall consist of the following sections:
(a) Section of Investigations.— Which shall be in charge of the investigations connected with the industrial processes that need to be tried out on a semicommercial scale before being recommended to industrials, and shall have charge of the establishment and operation of industrial testing plants.
(b) Section of Industrial Development.— Which shall be in charge of putting into practice the industrial processes or discoveries developed in the Section of Investigations of this Division, preparing specifications for constructions and estimates of production costs and maintenance, as well as of the cost of the necessary equipment and its installation for factories on a commercial scale, and of furnishing to the public useful data and information for the establishment of new industries in this Island; it shall promote handcrafts industries, and shall also attend to the inquiries made by the industrials of the country, helping them to solve the problems that affect the good progress of industries in Puerto Rico.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 19, eff. 90 days after Apr. 25, 1940.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 373 - Division of Agricultural Development

The Division of Agricultural Development shall be in charge of the general development of Puerto Rican agriculture, establishing and developing centers for the production of seeds and plants of a superior quality, and centers for the raising of animals of selected breeds; it shall be in charge of the organization of farm bureaus for the purpose of assisting in the most economical operation of properties, giving such bureaus direct assistance in the form of agricultural implements and machinery, through the propagation of nurseries, and in any other manner that the means of its disposal may permit; and it shall also be in charge of the organization of agricultural cooperatives.
It shall likewise give priority to the agricultural development in Puerto Rico in all necessary areas that guarantee the total daily food sustenance of all Puerto Ricans, in such a way so as to produce that which is necessary to ensure our survival in times of scarcity.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 20; July 29, 2008, No. 133, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 374 - Division of Tobacco

The Division of Tobacco shall have charge of the study, promotion, and development of all aspects of the tobacco industry other than laboratory and field experimentation.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 21, eff. 90 days after Apr. 25, 1940.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 375 - Division of Agricultural and Industrial Economics

The Division of Agricultural and Industrial Economics shall consist of the following sections:
(a) Marketing Section.— This Section shall be in charge of everything connected with the organization of markets, either at home or abroad, for Puerto Rican products, organizing a distributing system therefor; it shall collect, compile, and give out data relative to the market for merchandise in the local markets and places where it is sold; and it shall also make investigations in regard to the mechanics of distributing Puerto Rican products in continental markets.
(b) Crop-forecasting Section.— This Section shall be in charge of organizing a system of crop-forecasting that can furnish to farmers, merchants, industrials and the general public an adequate, exact, and timely information in regard to crops as well as in regard to other aspects essential to agriculture.
(c) Statistics Section.— This Section shall be in charge of gathering, ordering, classfying and distributing statistics in regard to agriculture, industry and commerce, and shall prepare any other work of a similar nature that the Secretary may order.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 22, eff. 90 days after Apr. 25, 1940.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 376a - Regional offices

A total of seven (7) regional offices, to be determined by the Department of Agriculture, with the purpose of offering all the services needed by farmers and the agricultural industry, are hereby established; Provided, That for the location of said regional offices the Secretary shall evaluate and preferably consider the location of those already existing taking into consideration the effectiveness of the services rendered by them in the specific areas served, as well as the convenience of their respective locations for the farmers and the agricultural industry comprised within their specific service areas. Each region shall establish an office that shall have representation of all the corporation and service divisions of the Department of Agriculture, taking into consideration the crops or predominant enterprises in the specific area served, and the potential for the establishing of new agro-industrial enterprises.
The Secretary of Agriculture shall be empowered to organize the services rendered by these offices to farmers and agro-industrial entrepreneurs on the basis of the geographic proximity of the municipalities or production areas.
The Secretary shall also be empowered to redistribute the physical, economic and personnel resources of the Department and of the agencies attached thereto, in order to achieve the efficient operation of the offices located in the agricultural regions.
Each of the agricultural regions shall be administered by a Regional Director who shall be of free selection and removal by the Secretary, who shall supervise all the technicians and other personnel assigned to the region, and shall ensure that services are rendered in efficiently and in a reasonable period of time, without taking into consideration other factors such as capital, cre[ed], or political affiliation of the petitioner of the service.
History —April 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, added as § 25 on Aug. 26, 1994, No. 104, § 2; Aug. 8, 2002, No. 136, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 381 - Seal of Department

The Secretary of Agriculture shall have power to design and adopt an official seal for the Department of Agriculture.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 28, renumbered as § 29 on Aug. 26, 1994, No. 104, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 382 - Personnel of Department—Transfers

The Secretary of Agriculture is empowered to transfer the technical or administrative personnel of any division, service, or dependency of the department, provided he does not alter the position or salary as it appears in the budget, to such points or places as he may deem most advisable for the agricultural interests of Puerto Rico.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 29, renumbered as § 30 on Aug. 26, 1994, No. 104, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 383 - Personnel of Department—Number stipulated in budget

When the Secretary of Agriculture prepares the budget of his Department, he shall stipulate the necessary number of clerks, stenographers, typists, janitors, or messengers, or the number of any other employees or personnel that may be necessary for the proper functioning of the Department of Agriculture, its bureaus, divisions, services, sections or dependencies; Provided, That the items for the maintenance of the department, as well as the salaries of its personnel, shall be appropriated annually in the general budget of expenses for the support of the Commonwealth Government.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 30, renumbered as § 31 on Aug. 26, 1994, No. 104, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 384 - Rules and regulations

The Secretary of Agriculture is empowered to adopt any rules and regulations that may be necessary for the interior management of the Department of Agriculture or to carry out the provisions of §§ 351—362, 366—375 and 381—385 of this title and which are not in conflict herewith, and said rules and regulations, after they are promulgated, shall have the force of law.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 31, renumbered as § 32 on Aug. 26, 1994, No. 104, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 385 - Supervision of agencies of Government; principal goal of Department

The Secretary of Agriculture shall have general charge of such bureaus and branches of the Government as may have been or may be legally constituted for the survey, advancement and benefit of agriculture, of commerce, and of other industries; the principal end of this Department being to patronize, encourage and develop agricultural interests and the welfare of the agriculturists of Puerto Rico; to improve their market conditions and to promote their opportunities for selling their products advantageously, and said Secretary shall discharge such other duties as may be prescribed for him by law.
History —Apr. 25, 1940, No. 60, p. 420, § 32, renumbered as § 33 on Aug. 26, 1994, No. 104, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 386 - Fairs and expositions, participation

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to participate in any expositions or fairs which may be held and at which, in the judgment of the Secretary of Agriculture, it may be advisable to exhibit industrial or agricultural products of Puerto Rico.
History —Apr. 21, 1934, No. 17, p. 258, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 387 - Calcspar plants, disposition of income

(a) The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized to dispose of the income deriving from the operation of calcspar plants, for the payment of wages and of rentals on lands leased for quarries, and for the purchase of equipment and materials necessary for the production and distribution of calcspar.
(b) Unencumbered balances remaining as of June 30 of each year from the operation of calcspar plants as provided in this section; shall be covered into the general funds of the Treasury.
History —Oct. 7, 1949, No. 50, p. 112, §§ 1, 2; May 27, 1954, No. 40, p. 216, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 388a - Definitions

For the purposes of §§ 388—388f of this title, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings stated below:
(a) Office.— Means the Coffee Market Supervision and Investigation Office.
(b) Department.— Means the Department of Agriculture of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(c) Director.— Means the Director of the Coffee Market Supervision and Investigation Office.
(d) Secretary.— Means the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture of Puerto Rico.
(e) Act.— Means §§ 320 et seq. of Title 5.
(f) Officer.— Means the agents, inspectors, and employees representatives of the Secretary, duly authorized, who are in charge of carrying out the purposes of §§ 388—388f of this title and watch for the compliance of the regulations, norms and standards approved thereunder.
(g) Coffee.— Means the bush belonging to the Rubiaceae family, coffea type, with perennial, coriaceous, single leaves and opposed aromatic flowers, whose fruit is a berry red, white and yellow in color, which generally contains seeds, from which is produced the beverage known by the same name, among other by-products. It may be in any of it[s] elaboration phases: plantation, cultivation, harvesting or elaboration of coffee.
(h) Coffee farmer or producer.— Means any person who owns, leases, usufructs or is him/herself the middleman, or through his/her agents, representatives, managers, employees or other persons, devotes his/her lands, in whole or in part, to the agricultural activity of sowing, cultivating, harvesting or processing coffee.
(i) Beneficiary.— Means the person who owns, manages, or is in charge of an establishment to receive, purchase and process ripe and green coffee on a commercial scale, to submit it to cleaning, washing and drying process, which leaves it as dry and hulled coffee beans.
(j) Roaster.— Means any person who owns, manages, or is in charge of an establishment to receive, purchase, roast, grind, and sell coffee to be sold to the consumer.
(k) Importer.— Means any person who is devoted to the introduction of processed coffee to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, from any of the jurisdiction.
(l) Purchaser.— Means any person who owns, manages, or is in charge of an establishment for the purpose of buying, processing, classifying and selling dry coffee beans.
(m) Person.— Means any natural or juridical person, including without being limited to, partnership, association, institution, corporation, cooperative or group of persons.
(n) Lot.— Means one or more containers of coffee that may be distinguished or isolated from other similar container or containers.
History —Dec. 31, 2002, No. 311, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 388b - Creation of the Office and appointment of the Director

The Coffee Market Supervision and Investigation Office is hereby created, hereinafter “the Office”. The same shall be attached to the Special Services Area of the Department of Agriculture of Puerto Rico. The Office shall be directed by an agronomist qualified as Agricultural Programs Director.
History —Dec. 31, 2002, No. 311, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 388c - Purposes

This Office has the main purpose of avoiding the illegal import of coffee to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, in coordination with state and federal agencies. In addition, it shall be responsible of adopting and enforcing §§ 320 et seq. of Title 5, as well as it[s] regulations, directed to establish the mechanisms to face the coffee smuggling in Puerto Rico, so the development of the coffee industry is not affected.
History —Dec. 31, 2002, No. 311, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 388d - Appointing or transfer of personnel

The personnel appointed, transferred, or recruited shall be in agreement to the provisions of Act No. 5 of October 14, 1975, known as the “Public Service Personnel Act of Puerto Rico.”
History —Dec. 31, 2002, No. 311, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 388e - Functions, powers, and duties

This office shall be responsible for the compliance with §§ 320 et seq. of Title 5, in addition to enforce the regulations that establish the norms to govern the transactions of coffee in all its phases, production, processing and sale, approved on June 2, 1993.
Its personnel shall be assigned to inspect, investigate, audit, issue detention orders, and collaborate with the Agencies that the Secretary may determine to achieve that natural or juridical persons [who] in a way or the other participate, help, finance, collaborate, hide, or in any way contribute with moving smuggled coffee are taken before the concerning forums. It may participate in the works of this office, officers or employees of other agencies or departments of the Government of Puerto Rico such as agencies devoted to control crime, smuggling, and tax or duties evasion. It shall be [the] responsibility of the officers of the Department of Agriculture to work in close collaboration and coordination with officers of other federal and state agencies who intervene in this type of investigations.
The Office shall organize and coordinate with public safety agencies to attend [to] those claims related to the illegal coffee market in Puerto Rico and take pertinent measures to enforce the applicable laws.
History —Dec. 31, 2002, No. 311, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 17 - Department of Agriculture (§§ 351 — 388f) › § 388f - Additional duties

In addition to the duties assigned by the Secretary, the Director shall have the following functions and responsibilities.
(1) Establish, with the approval of the Secretary and in coordination with the Special Services Deputy Secretary, the internal organization of the Office necessary for its adequate functioning and operation.
(2) Collaborate with the Secretary and the Special Services Deputy Secretary in the identification and execution of strategies directed to fight coffee smuggling and the development of the coffee industry.
(3) Implement and develop administrative actions necessary for the implementation of §§ 388—388f of this title and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(4) With the approval of the Secretary and supervision of the Special Services Deputy Secretary shall plan, coordinate, and supervise all activities, operations, and transactions of the Office and shall represent the same in all acts and agreements it thus requires.
(5) Shall determine the Office needs and shall prepare the Budget Request for the functioning of the same.
(6) Investigating powers.—
(a) In the compliance of the duties imposed by §§ 388—388f of this title, and in the exercise of the faculties it confers upon him/her, the Director may issue summons requiring the appearance of witnesses and the filing of economic data or information he/she may deem necessary for the administration of §§ 388—388f of this title.
(b) The Director or his/her duly authorized representatives may take oaths, testimonies, data, or information in the course of an Office investigation.
(c) If the summon[s] so issued by the Director is not duly complied with, said official shall appear before the First Instance Court to request an order for compliance of said summons. The First Instance Court shall give preference to the course and dispatch of said request and shall have the authority to dictate orders to compel the appearance of witnesses or the presentation of any data or information previously requested by Director. The First Instance Court shall have the power to punish disobedience of said orders or contempt.
(d) No natural or juridical person may refuse to comply with a summons from the Director or with a judicial order so issued, claiming that the testimony, data or information thus requested could incriminate him/her, or lead to the imposition of a penalty, although said person may not be criminally prosecuted regarding any transaction, matter or thing with relation to which said person has given testimony or provided data or information.
(e) Any natural or juridical person who incurs [sic] in perjury at the time of swearing oaths before the Director or his/her duly authorized representative, may be prosecuted and convicted in agreement with the laws of Puerto Rico.
History —Dec. 31, 2002, No. 311, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 18A - Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration (§§ 402 — 402s) › § 402 - Creation

The Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration is hereby created, attached to the Department of Health, with its own juridical personality, and power to sue and be sued, and with fiscal and administrative autonomy. This Administration shall be responsible for programs and services related to mental health, drug and alcohol addiction. This chapter shall be known as the “Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration Act”.
History —Aug. 7, 1993, No. 67, § 1, eff. 60 days after Aug. 7, 1993.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 18A - Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration (§§ 402 — 402s) › § 402a - Definitions

The following terms and phrases shall have the meaning indicated below:
(a) Administration.— Means the Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration, as created by this chapter.
(b) Administrator.— Means the Administrator of the Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration.
(c) Department.— Means the Department of Health.
(d) Secretary.— Means the Secretary of Health.
(e) Biopsychosocial.— Means the physical, biological psychological and social dimensions related to mental disorders or addiction.
(f) Patient.— Means any person who is receiving treatment for a mental condition, including drug or alcohol dependence.
(g) Mental disorder.— Means an illness with psychological manifestations associated [with] the impairment of biological, psychological and social functioning. Each mental disorder has characteristic signs and symptoms.
(h) Rehabilitation.— Is the effort made to relieve an impairment of the biological, social or psychological level of a person who suffers a mental disorder.
(i) Substance dependence.— Includes addiction to and abuse of controlled or not controlled, legal or illegal substances, including alcohol, which negatively affect and endanger the physical, psychological and social welfare of a person.
History —Aug. 7, 1993, No. 67, § 2, eff. 60 days after Aug. 7, 1993.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 18A - Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration (§§ 402 — 402s) › § 402b - Public policy

The Secretary shall be the official responsible for the faithful compliance of the public policy provided in this chapter, with the purpose of wholly and efficiently attending to every matter related to mental health and addiction. The Administration shall be the agency which is responsible for carrying out the programs of the Government of Puerto Rico addressed to complying with said public policy through programs for the prevention, attention, mitigation and solution of problems concerning mental health, or addiction to or dependency on narcotic, stimulant or depressive substances, including alcohol, in order to promote, preserve and restore the biopsychosocial health of the People of Puerto Rico. The Administration shall establish and coordinate programs for the education and orientation of the community, and for the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of the persons thus affected.
The treatment of patients in the addiction, alcoholism, and mental health programs shall focus on the biopsychosocial concept.
The Administration shall provide for community participation in its programs and services.
History —Aug. 7, 1993, No. 67, § 3, eff. 60 days after Aug. 7, 1993.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 18A - Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration (§§ 402 — 402s) › § 402c - Transfer of functions

All personnel; real, movable and intellectual property; treatment, rehabilitation or any other type of centers; programs; unused appropriations or other Commonwealth, federal or any other funds in the hands of, and under the custody of the Department of Addiction Services, are hereby transferred to the Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration; except that all of the functions, faculties and powers conferred on the Department of Addiction Services by §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 24, known as the “Puerto Rico Controlled Substances Act”, to distribute, dispense, manufacture and prescribe controlled substances for medical use; investigate every violation of a criminal or administrative nature of that Act; supervise the manufacture, distribution, dispensing and delivery of any controlled substance included in classifications II through V of these sections, as well as the seizure of controlled substances for medical use and property related to the unauthorized possession of controlled substances for medical use, are hereby transferred to the Secretary of Health.
The funds needed to continue the services contemplated in this chapter, shall be appropriated in the General Budget of Expenses of the Government of Puerto Rico, to the Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration and to the Department of Health, correspondingly.
History —Aug. 7, 1993, No. 67, § 4, eff. 60 days after Aug. 7, 1993.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 18A - Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration (§§ 402 — 402s) › § 402d - Transfer of the Deputy Secretariat of Mental Health

The Secretary of Health is hereby directed and authorized to take the administrative measures needed to transfer to the Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration created hereinunder, all personnel; real, movable and intellectual property; treatment, rehabilitation or any other type of centers; programs; unused appropriations or other Commonwealth, federal or any other funds corresponding to the Deputy Secretariat of Mental Health of the Department of Health. The funds needed to continue the mental health services shall be appropriated in the General Budget of Expenses of the Government of Puerto Rico, to the Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration.
History —Aug. 7, 1993, No. 67, § 5, eff. 60 days after Aug. 7, 1993.