2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART II - Economic Development (§§ 231-241 — 695i) › Chapter 30A - Sustainable Development Commission (§§ 501 — 508) › § 508 - Commission—Powers and duties

The Commission shall have the following duties, powers and functions among others:
(a) Prepare and present to the Governor and the Legislature the report mentioned in § 504 of this title.
(b) Coordinate with the Department of State of Puerto Rico and ensure the active participation of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, in accordance with the foreign policy of the United States, in regional and worldwide sustainable development proceedings and efforts, particularly those pertaining to small island developing states and Caribbean countries. The Commission shall select and appoint the persons who shall be part of delegations, special commissions or groups when it is required or convenient to have a delegation, special commission or group of persons from Puerto Rico in such activities. Moreover, the Commission may delegate on any agency or public instrumentality the participation in certain sustainable development activities.
(d) Issue recommendations on the economic development vision to harmonize the same with our island context and within the framework of the sustainable development of Puerto Rico, as well as to integrate social development, environmental protection and the conservation of natural resources.
(e) Promote and monitor that government agencies produce reliable and up dated information and data.
(f) Establish procedures and requirements to ensure the most effective coordination of government activities germane to sustainable development in consultation with other public agencies, departments, corporations and instrumentalities, including prevention of duplication of government efforts, inconsistencies or conflicts among government actions.
(g) Develop, in coordination with other public agencies, departments, corporations and instrumentalities, and monitor the application of sustainable development indicators to facilitate and support decision-making and to also periodically supervise the progress made toward the fulfillment of the intention and goals of this chapter.
(h) Require and obtain information and data from the public or private agencies and instrumentalities it deems necessary for compliance with its duties and responsibilities. To analyze and interpret said information and data to determine whether the conditions and trends are interfering or may interfere with the fulfillment of the policy established in the purpose note under § 501 of this title, and compile and submit to the Governor the studies pertaining to such conditions and trends.
(i) Revise [sic] and evaluate the different Government programs and activities pursuant to the policy established in the purpose note under § 501 of this title to determine the extent to which such programs and activities contribute to the fulfillment of said policy and to make recommendations to the Governor regarding this matter.
(j) Develop and recommend public policies, programs and actions to encourage and promote the sustainable development of Puerto Rico to the Governor.
(k) Carry out and submit studies, reports on said studies, and recommendations regarding matters of policy and legislation as requested by the Governor.
(l) Accept, receive and administer donations or funds from public, quasipublic or private entities or from the Government of the United States or any of its instrumentalities, or from regional and international entities in order to fulfill the purposes of this chapter. All the monies received by the Commission in the fulfillment of its duty to implement this chapter shall be covered into the Special Account of the Environmental Quality Board, created by former §§ 1121—1140a of Title 12, for the exclusive use of the Commission, or any sub-account thereof.
(m) The Environmental Quality Board shall collect the corresponding fees for copies of its publications or studies so as to recover the expenses incurred in their printing or reproduction. The proceeds from the above stated shall be covered into the Special Account of the Environmental Quality Board, created by former §§ 1121—1140a of Title 12, or any subaccount thereof. However, the Board and the Commission, with the authorization of the Board, may, at their discretion, distribute free copies of said publications to the persons or entities it may deem convenient.
(n) To solicit, accept and obtain cooperation and technical and economic assistance of federal, state, or municipal agencies, industries, regional or international organizations, other similar commissions or agencies from other countries, or other individual entities, as set forth in the applicable laws and regulations to comply with the purposes of this chapter.
(o) The Commission may direct any person or entity under its jurisdiction to file before it the reports required for the implementation of this chapter.
(p) The Commission may hold public hearings to obtain or discuss information and data germane to its operations, if deemed convenient or necessary.
(q) To require from any government body the necessary assistance to comply with this chapter and/or its regulations.
(r) The Environmental Quality Board may enter into agreements with any political subdivision, department, agency, authority, public corporation educational institution or instrumentality of the Government of Puerto Rico or the United States of America, and with regional or international private corporations or entities, or other similar commissions or agencies from other countries to obtain or provide professional services or of any other nature, and to obtain or provide facilities to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The agreements shall specify the services and facilities to be obtained or provided and the reimbursement or payment for said services or facilities, or whether the services are to be rendered free of charge. The refunds or payments received for the services or facilities provided shall be covered into the General Fund of the Commonwealth Treasury, except that in the cases of authorities, instrumentalities or public corporations whose funds are not under the custody of the Secretary of the Treasury, such refunds or payments shall be covered into the funds of the body that provided the service or facilities. In the case of the Commission, such refunds or payments shall be covered into the Special Account of the Commission and in the case of the Environmental Quality Board, they shall be covered into the Special Account of the Environmental Quality Board.
(s) The Environmental Quality Board shall contract the professional services of attorneys, economists, planners, sociologists, scientists, engineers, agronomists, or other experts and professionals that may be necessary to advice or represent it, or to carry out activities needed to comply with its responsibilities, and to fix their corresponding compensation.
(t) Plan and carry out sustainable development trainings, conferences, congresses or other similar activities at national, regional or international level.
(u) Produce, reproduce and distribute literature or other educational materials on sustainable development.
(v) Adopt rules for its organization and internal procedures.
(w) Consult with representatives of science, industry, agriculture, labor, conservation organizations, municipal governments and other groups, as deemed necessary and convenient.
(x) To use the services, facilities and information (including statistics) of public or private agencies and organizations, as well as individuals, to the greatest extent possible, in order to prevent the duplication of efforts and expenses.
History —Sept. 10, 2004, No. 267, § 10.