reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 32A - Body Piercing (§§ 550 — 550r) › § 550g - Prohibition

No person shall perform body piercing upon a minor under sixteen (16) years of age, or to [sic] a mentally disabled person. The verbal or written consent from the parent with custody or legal guardian of the minor or mentally disabled person shall not exempt from criminal liability for violations against of [sic] this section.
The performance of body piercing upon minors under eighteen (18) years of age is prohibited without the written authorization of a parent custodian, or legal guardian, by means of a sworn statement, at the time of performing the body piercing. The body piercer shall be responsible for requiring the necessary documents to ascertain the identity of the parent, custodian, or legal guardian of the minor and the respective consent of same by means of a sworn statement. Violations against this rule trigger the indefinite revocation of the license pursuant to the provisions set forth in § 550o of this title.
Any person who falsely declares to be the parent, custodian, or legal guardian of the minor, for a minor under eighteen (18) years of age to undergo a body piercing, incurs in a misdemeanor, and may be sanctioned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in § 550r of this title.
Body piercing may be performed on persons eighteen (18) years of age and older without the written authorization of the minor’s parent with legal custody or the legal guardian.
History —Feb. 8, 2003, No. 73, § 9, eff. 90 days after Feb. 8, 2003.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 32A - Body Piercing (§§ 550 — 550r) › § 550h - Studio—License; generally

No natural person acting independently or jointly with another, nor business, corporation or association shall operate a body piercing studio, be it in a residential, or commercial, rural, or urban area, if same does not have a license issued by the Department of Health so authorizing, and any other pertinent operation or zoning permit required by law.
History —Feb. 8, 2003, No. 73, § 10, eff. 90 days after Feb. 8, 2003.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 32A - Body Piercing (§§ 550 — 550r) › § 550i - Studio—License; application and fees

(a) The license application for the operation of a body piercing studio shall be filed on the form provided by the Department, according to the provisions of this chapter.
(b) The application shall include the location and address of the establishment where the studio shall operate, and the owner or administrator’s address with the following information:
(1) Official proof that the owner or administrator is of legal age;
(2) the criminal record certificate of the owner and the administrator of the establishment;
(3) a list with the name of all the owners or persons who have fifty percent (50%) participation or more in the corporation that shall operate the studio;
(4) a fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150);
(5) a list of all the studio’s equipment and instruments;
(6) a description of the procedure and nature of the services to be rendered, and of the health and safety measures that shall be taken for the benefit of clients and employees, and
(7) any other document required by the Department by means of regulation.
History —Feb. 8, 2003, No. 73, § 11; Aug. 30, 2006, No. 169, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 32A - Body Piercing (§§ 550 — 550r) › § 550j - Studio—License; term and renewal

The body piercing studio license shall be valid for a term of three (3) years and must be renewed before the end of the term by means of the payment of a seventy-five-dollar ($75) fee.
History —Feb. 8, 2003, No. 73, § 12, eff. 90 days after Feb. 8, 2003.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 32A - Body Piercing (§§ 550 — 550r) › § 550k - Studio—Change of owner or locale

The studio owner or administrator shall notify the Department in writing of any change of owner or locale of the body piercing studio. Change of the studio’s owner will imply the cancellation of the license, which must the[n] be returned to the Department.
History —Feb. 8, 2003, No. 73, § 13, eff. 90 days after Feb. 8, 2003.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 32A - Body Piercing (§§ 550 — 550r) › § 550l - Studio—Inspections

Body piercing studios shall be inspected before a license is granted, while same is in effect, and upon its renewal. Authorized representatives of the Department may enter the studio, at reasonable hours, to inspect and to investigate compliance with the requirements set forth in this chapter, and in the regulations to be issued by the Department of Health.
To hinder the entrance of authorized representatives into the studio shall constitute sufficient reason to deny or revoke the license. If the Department representatives understand that the studio does not comply with the requirements set forth by this chapter and by the Department, the Secretary may deny or revoke the license. A new license application may not be filed before six (6) months from the date of denial or revocation.
History —Feb. 8, 2003, No. 73, § 14, eff. 90 days after Feb. 8, 2003.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 32A - Body Piercing (§§ 550 — 550r) › § 550m - Studio—Management

The owner or manager of a body piercing studio shall comply with the sanitary rules established by the Department, as well as with the following norms:
(a) Equipment. — If the studio’s managing owner were not the licensed body piercer, same shall provide to the latter the sterilized individual equipment to be used with each client and shall ensure that the body piercer complies with the duty of keeping the equipment sterile.
The equipment used in body piercing shall be cleaned and sterilized with an ultrasonic cleaner. The equipment shall be immersed in this solution for ten (10) minutes. The solution shall be changed daily and the tank shall be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol at seventy percent (70%) at each solution change.
(b) Sterilization procedure. — The body piercing studio must have the necessary sterilization equipment to contain all the instruments used. The sterilization procedure shall be performed scientifically, including the cleaning and removal of tissue or blood before sterilizing the equipment.
(c) Body piercing norms and procedures. — Prepare and maintain a manual of rules and procedures containing instructions and guidelines on sanitary norms, information and statements, equipment and sterilization procedures, and other items required by this chapter or by the Department regulations, subject to review by the Department’s inspectors.
History —Feb. 8, 2003, No. 73, § 15, eff. 90 days after Feb. 8, 2003.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 32A - Body Piercing (§§ 550 — 550r) › § 550n - License—Denial

The Secretary may deny the granting of a license, after notifying the interested party and providing an opportunity to be heard, when such party:
(a) Has illegally operated a body piercing studio, or has illegally practiced body piercing in Puerto Rico.
(b) Has been convicted of a crime or of a misdemeanor implying moral turpitude, or crimes involving battery or sexual assault; setting forth hereby that the Secretary may deny a license under this subsection when it can be shown that the crime committed is substantially related to the qualifications, tasks and duties of the practice regulated by this chapter.
(c) Has incurred manifest incompetence, damaging third parties in the practice of body piercing.
(d) Has been declared mentally incompetent by a court with jurisdiction, or if incapacity is established through medical expertise.
(e) Is a drug addict or an alcoholic; Provid[ed], That the license may be granted as soon as the person proves that same has become competent through participation of same in a rehabilitation program, accredited and certified by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or one of its instrumentalities, agencies, dependencies or subdivisions, if in compliance with the other requirements established in this chapter.
History —Feb. 8, 2003, No. 73, § 16, eff. 90 days after Feb. 8, 2003.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 32A - Body Piercing (§§ 550 — 550r) › § 550o - License—Suspension and revocation

The Secretary may temporarily or permanently deny, revoke or suspend a license issued according to the provisions of this chapter, after notifying the interested party and providing an opportunity to be heard, when such party:
(a) Has been convicted of a crime or of a misdemeanor implying moral turpitude.
(b) Has attempted to obtain a body piercing license or to operate a body piercing studio by means of fraud or deceit.
(c) Has incurred gross negligence in the performance of his professional duties to the prejudice of a third party.
(d) Has been declared mentally incompetent by a court with jurisdiction or if incapacity is established through medical expertise; [Provided, That] the license may be granted as soon as the person is declared to be competent again by means of participation in a rehabilitation program accredited and certified by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or one of its instrumentalities, agencies, dependencies or subdivisions, if in compliance with the other requirements established in this chapter.
(e) Is a drug addict or an alcoholic; [Provided, That] the license may be granted as soon as the person proves to have become competent through participation in a rehabilitation program accredited and certified by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or one of its instrumentalities, agencies, dependencies or subdivisions, if in compliance with the other requirements set forth in this chapter.
History —Feb. 8, 2003, No. 73, § 17, eff. 90 days after Feb. 8, 2003.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 32A - Body Piercing (§§ 550 — 550r) › § 550p - Client registry

The owner or manager of a body piercing studio shall keep a written list of each procedure performed upon a client where the following information shall be included:
(a) Client’s full name, address, telephone number, age and date of birth;
(b) location on the body where the perforation was made;
(c) jewelry or objects used;
(d) equipment used;
(e) date when body piercing was performed;
(f) name of the body piercer who performed the perforation, and
(g) client’s signature.
Said information shall be entered in the client registry that shall be kept in duly bound books with successively numbered pages of no more than five hundred (500) pages, which shall be available for inspection at any time by the Secretary of the Department or his authorized representatives.
The client registry shall be kept while the studio is in operation. If the studio ceases to exist, the owner or manager of same must deliver the complete registry to the Department.
History —Feb. 8, 2003, No. 73, § 18, eff. 90 days after Feb. 8, 2003.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 32A - Body Piercing (§§ 550 — 550r) › § 550q - Biomedical waste elimination

The elimination of biomedical waste shall be made according to the norms and regulations established by the Environmental Quality Board for such type of waste.
History —Feb. 8, 2003, No. 73, § 19, eff. 90 days after Feb. 8, 2003.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 32A - Body Piercing (§§ 550 — 550r) › § 550r - Penalties

Every person who breaches this chapter commit a misdemeanor, and if convicted, shall be sanctioned with a fine of no more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or a jail term not to exceed six (6) months, or both penalties at the discretion of the court and with the suspension or revocation of the pertinent license.
History —Feb. 8, 2003, No. 73, § 21, eff. 90 days after Feb. 8, 2003.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 34 - Sexually-Transmitted Diseases (§§ 571 — 583) › § 571 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms will have the definition hereinafter expressed:
(a) Sexually-Transmitted Disease (STD). — Are those, according to scientific research, transmitted by sexual contact or needle exchange. These include: syphilis, gonorrhea, inguinal granuloma, veneral lymphogranuloma, chancroid, nonspecific urethritis, vaginitis trichomoniasis, crab-lice, genital herpes simplex Type I, genital herpes simplex Type II, hepatitis Type B, hepatitis Type C, scabies (mange), genital warts, Chlamydia Trachomatis, bacterial vaginosis, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and any other that the Secretary may include in the future as sexually transmitted disease or infection.
(b) Department. — Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(c) Secretary. — Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico.
(d) Program. — Sexually-Transmitted Disease Control Program of the Department of Health.
(e) Laboratory. — Any public or private laboratory, or any other institution duly authorized by the Department of Health, where tests are processed for the diagnosis or confirmation of sexually-transmitted diseases.
(f) Epidemiology technician. — A person who by virtue of his academic preparation, training or experience, renders professional public contact services in the investigation, location of the origin, and focus of infection of sexually-transmitted diseases. If on the effective date of this act, or at any time thereafter, the practice of epidemiology technicians is regulated by law, a license issued by the Epidemiology Technicians Examining Board of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico will also be required.
(g) Physician. — Person authorized to practice medicine and surgery in Puerto Rico upon obtaining a license issued by the Board of Medical Examiners of Puerto Rico.
(h) Health professional or representative. — Shall include a person certified by the Department of Health and/or the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta to render preventive counseling services on HIV/AIDS.
(i) Sexually-transmitted infections. — An infection that, according to scientific research, is transmitted by sexual contact or needle exchange. These include: the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Infection.
History —June 4, 1983, No. 81, p. 180, § 1; July 22, 1988, No. 129, p. 532, § 1; Apr. 6, 2008, No. 36, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 34 - Sexually-Transmitted Diseases (§§ 571 — 583) › § 572 - Laboratories—Confidential report on positive results of diagnostic tests

Every person in charge of a laboratory, or any person or laboratory where tests are processed for the diagnosis or confirmation of sexually-transmitted diseases, shall report all positive or reactive results of said tests to the Program within five (5) days following the test. Said report shall be written on the forms specially provided by the Department, and shall contain that information that the Department deems necessary for the epidemiological study of the sexually-transmitted diseases. The report will include the name, age, sex and residential address of the patient, as well as the name and address of the physician who recommended the test.
All these reports shall be placed in envelopes marked “CONFIDENTIAL” and kept in the files of the laboratory, and identified by serial numbers or codes to that effect; and only the nature of the analysis and the results thereof shall be sent to the Program under the identification number affixed thereto.
History —June 4, 1983, No. 81, p. 180, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 34 - Sexually-Transmitted Diseases (§§ 571 — 583) › § 573 - Laboratories—Weekly reports

Every person in charge of a laboratory that processes tests for the diagnosis or confirmation of sexually-transmitted diseases shall submit weekly reports of positive or negative cases to the Program.
History —June 4, 1983, No. 81, p. 180, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 34 - Sexually-Transmitted Diseases (§§ 571 — 583) › § 574 - Confidential reports on diagnoses

Any physician who diagnoses a case of sexually-transmitted disease shall submit a report to the Program within the five (5) days following the diagnosis, indicating the name, age, date of birth, sex and residential address and type of disease, telephone number of the patient and name, telephone numbers and address of the physician who ordered the test. This information shall be deemed confidential and will be marked as such in the Program.
History —June 4, 1983, No. 81, p. 180, § 4; Apr. 6, 2008, No. 36, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 34 - Sexually-Transmitted Diseases (§§ 571 — 583) › § 575 - Physicians, health professionals or representatives, and persons in charge of a laboratory—Civil liability

The physician, health professional or representative certified by the Department of Health and/or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to intervene in Preventive Counseling on HIV, and persons in charge of a laboratory shall be relieved of civil liability upon remitting to the Program the confidential information requested on the forms provided for such purpose by the Department.
History —June 4, 1983, No. 81, p. 180, § 5; Apr. 6, 2008, No. 36, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 34 - Sexually-Transmitted Diseases (§§ 571 — 583) › § 575-1 - Testing of convicted persons

It shall be required that all persons convicted to serve a prison term be subjected to the laboratory tests needed to determine whether they suffer from some sexually transmitted disease so that they may receive the necessary orientation and treatment and thus prevent its propagation, particularly the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), transmitter of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS):
(a) At the time in which they enter the penal system, and
(b) prior to the date on which they are released.
History —June 4, 1983, No. 81, added as § 6 on Aug. 15, 1999, No. 235, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 34 - Sexually-Transmitted Diseases (§§ 571 — 583) › § 575a - Confidentiality of information

The identity of and the information provided by the patients and their sexual contacts shall be of a confidential nature and may not be revealed by the Program except when the patient or the sexual contact so authorizes, or when the patient is a convict or a minor who has incurred the conduct described in § 576 of this title, whose diagnosis is positive or reactive to the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), in which case the victim shall be notified of the laboratory test results. The spouse or consensual partner of a convict may be notified of the results of the tests to which said convict has been subjected to detect the presence of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) with the prior authorization of the latter.
History —June 4, 1983, No. 81, p. 180, added as § 6 on July 2, 1985, No. 50, p. 177, § 1; July 22, 1988, No. 129, p. 532 § 2; July 27, 1993, No. 31, § 1; renumbered as § 7 and amended on Aug. 15, 1999, No. 235, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 34 - Sexually-Transmitted Diseases (§§ 571 — 583) › § 575b - Physicians, health professionals or representatives—Inadmissibility as evidence

The testimony and any documents of the Program that could identify patients and their sexual partners shall be inadmissible as evidence except in those cases in which the patient or sexual partner so authorizes. Provided, That the physician, health professional or representative shall be prevented from disclosing the content of the information they have become aware of as a result of his/her intervention with the patient or the patient’s sexual partner.
History —June 4, 1983, No. 81, p. 180, added as § 7 on July 2, 1985, No. 50, p. 177, § 1; renumbered as § 8 on Aug. 15, 1999, No. 235, § 3; Apr. 6, 2008, No. 36, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 34 - Sexually-Transmitted Diseases (§§ 571 — 583) › § 576 - Investigation and examination of suspected sufferers

Health physicians shall employ all means available to determine the existence[sic]. Medical health officials shall employ all means available to determine the existence of sexually transmitted diseases, as well as the source of said diseases.
The health physician who has reasonable grounds to believe that a person who suffers from or has been infected with any sexually transmitted disease that could infect or be the source of infection for any other person, must require that said person submit to a medical examination and have a sample of his/her blood or other bodily secretions taken so as to conduct the laboratory tests needed to establish the presence or absence of said disease or infection.
Provided, That the required examination shall be conducted by a health physician or, at the option of the person to be examined, by a licensed physician who, in the opinion of the health epidemiology technician, is qualified to perform this work and who has his/her approval. The licensed physician who conducts said examination shall render a report thereon to the health epidemiology technician of the Department of Health, but shall not issue a certificate of immunity. Provided, further, That the health epidemiology technician may request the court to order the person suffering a sexually transmitted disease to attend any of the clinics of the Program to receive treatment. The Department of Health shall provide medical assistance to any medically indigent person suffering from any sexually transmitted disease.
In every case of rape, conjugal sexual assault, incest, sodomy or lewd or indecent acts when committed by contact between the mouth and the penis, the mouth and the vagina or the mouth and the anus, the judge may order that the convict be subjected to the tests to detect the HIV virus, transmitter of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Likewise, the judge may order that said tests be performed on minors who incur offenses equal to the abovementioned crimes.
History —June 4, 1983, No. 81, p. 180, § 6, renumbered as § 8 on July 2, 1985, No. 50, p. 177, § 4; July 22, 1988, No. 129, p. 532, § 3; July 27, 1993, No. 31, § 2; renumbered as § 9 and amended on Aug. 15, 1999, No. 235, § 4; Apr. 6, 2008, No. 36, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 34 - Sexually-Transmitted Diseases (§§ 571 — 583) › § 577 - Examination or treatment of minors or persons with disabilities; relief from civil liability

Any physician or health professional or representative who examines or treats a minor under twenty-one (21) years of age, or a retarded, or mentally disabled person suffering or suspected to be suffering from a sexually transmitted disease, without first obtaining the consent of the parents or the persons legally called upon to give such consent, is hereby relieved from civil liability. The clinics and hospitals which render said services are, likewise, hereby relieved of liability.
History —June 4, 1983, No. 81, p. 180, § 7, renumbered as § 9 on July 2, 1985, No. 50, p. 177, § 4; renumbered as § 10 on Aug. 15, 1999, No. 235, § 5; Apr. 6, 2008, No. 36, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 34 - Sexually-Transmitted Diseases (§§ 571 — 583) › § 578 - Epidemiology technicians; functions

The epidemiology technician shall summon, interview, investigate and offer guidance to any retarded or mentally disabled person, including any minor, who suffers or is suspected of suffering from a sexually transmitted disease, hereby being relieved from civil liability when rendering such services to retarded or mentally disabled minors under twenty-one (21) years of age without the prior consent of the parents or the persons legally called upon to give such consent.
The epidemiology technician, in coordination with the Center for Aid to Rape Victims, shall summon, interview and notify any victim of the conduct described in § 577 of this title, whose assailant has been found to be positive or reactive to infection by the HIV virus and shall offer guidance as to the provisions of this chapter regarding examinations and treatment. With the prior authorization of the convict, the epidemiology [technician], in coordination with Correctional Health, shall summon and notify the spouse or consensual partner of said convict about the results of the tests conducted to detect the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Any person summoned by the epidemiology technician and notified of being diagnosed positive of any sexually transmitted disease, shall be required to submit to examination or treatment at the sexually transmitted disease clinics established by the department within ten (10) days following the notice, or otherwise said person shall be sanctioned as provided in § 583 of this title.
History —June 4, 1983, No. 81, p. 180, § 8, renumbered as § 10 and amended on July 2, 1985, No. 50, p. 177, § 3; July 22, 1988, No. 129, p. 532, § 4; July 27, 1993, No. 31, § 3; renumbered as § 11 and amended on Aug. 15, 1999, No. 235, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 34 - Sexually-Transmitted Diseases (§§ 571 — 583) › § 579 - Clinics; establishment

The Department may establish clinics for the examination and treatment of sexually-transmitted diseases throughout Puerto Rico, and will provide medical assistance to any person regardless of his economic condition, race, color, origin and political or religious beliefs. These services shall be rendered in accordance with the generally accepted professional standards of the medical profession.
History —June 4, 1983, No. 81, p. 180, § 9, renumbered as § 11 on July 2, 1985, No. 50, p. 177, § 4; renumbered as § 12 on Aug. 15, 1999, No. 235, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 34 - Sexually-Transmitted Diseases (§§ 571 — 583) › § 580 - Rapid treatment centers; use of land and buildings

The Secretary of Transportation and Public Works is hereby authorized to designate whatever (unused) land or buildings are available, or to acquire by purchase, rental or any other manner (unused) land, or land and buildings, or buildings, and construct, repair or remodel buildings to be used for the purpose of establishing, maintaining and operating rapid treatment centers and rehabilitation establishments; Provided, That he shall act by virtue of the prior approval of the Secretary of Health.
History —June 4, 1983, No. 81, p. 180, § 10, renumbered as § 12 on July 2, 1985, No. 50, p. 177, § 4; renumbered as § 13 on Aug. 15, 1999, No. 235 § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 34 - Sexually-Transmitted Diseases (§§ 571 — 583) › § 581 - Assistance and donations

The Secretary of Health or the Governor of Puerto Rico, or any person designated by the latter, is hereby authorized to accept or concert those agreements that may be necessary to receive whatever assistance or donations from the federal government or from other sources, that promote the purposes of this chapter.
History —June 4, 1983, No. 81, p. 180, § 11, renumbered as § 13 on July 2, 1985, No. 50, p. 177, § 4; renumbered as § 14 on Aug. 15, 1999, No. 235, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 34 - Sexually-Transmitted Diseases (§§ 571 — 583) › § 582 - Regulations

The Secretary shall have the authority to promulgate those rules or regulations that may be necessary for the implementation of this chapter. Any regulations adopted by virtue of this chapter, that are not of an internal nature, must be approved in accordance with the provisions of Act No. 112 of June 30, 1957.
History —June 4, 1983, No. 81, p. 180, § 12, renumbered as § 14 on July 2, 1985, No. 50, p. 177, § 4; renumbered as § 15 on Aug. 15, 1999, No. 235, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 34 - Sexually-Transmitted Diseases (§§ 571 — 583) › § 583 - Penalties

Any person that violates the provisions of this chapter shall incur a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, will be sanctioned with a penalty of imprisonment that shall not exceed six (6) months, or a fine that shall not exceed one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), or both penalties, at the discretion of the court.
History —June 4, 1983, No. 81, p. 180, § 13, renumbered as § 15 on July 2, 1985, No. 50, p. 177, § 4; renumbered as § 16 on Aug. 15, 1999, No. 235, § 7; Apr. 6, 2008, No. 36, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 35 - Water Pollution Control (§§ 591 — 601) › § 591 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, and as used herein:
(a) Secretary. — Means the Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico.
(b) The Federal Act. — Means the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Public Law No. 845 of the 80th Congress (62 Stat. 1155), approved June 30, 1948.
(c) Surgeon General. — Means the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service of the United States of America.
(d) Person. — Means any individual, public or private corporation, political subdivision, governmental agency, municipality or municipal government, industry, partnership, associate, firm, company, estate, property, or entity.
(e) Waters. — Shall include lakes, harbors, straits, lagoons, dams, springs, wells, rivers, currents, brooks, inlets, swamps, small streams, channels, the sea, the ocean, and any other surface or underground bodies of water, whether natural or artificial, public or private, interior or coastal, or of fresh or salt water.
(f) Sewage, sewer waters. — Mean human and animal wastes, intestinal and others, dragged by water flowing from houses, residences, buildings, industrial establishments and other places, whether alone or mingled with surface or land waters. The mingling of industrial or other wastes with sewage or sewer waters shall be considered included under this term.
(g) Industrial waste. — Is any liquid, gaseous, or solid refuse, or a combination of all, resulting from any industrial, manufacturing, commercial or business process, or from the processing of any raw material or natural wealth.
(h) Others. — In connection with wastes, include garbage, residues, rotten wood, sawdust, filings, lime, ashes, offals, oil, dyes, acids, chemical substances and any other substance that may pollute or cause the pollution of waters.
(i) To pollute. — With reference to waters, means making them in any way noxious to human health, or to that of animals, vegetables or fish, or rendering them ill-smelling or impure, all according to the permissible standards of purity or impurity heretofore or hereafter established as provided herein. “Pollution” has this same meaning.
(j) Discharge. — Means the terminal of a sewer system, large or small, collective or individual, or of a discharge of industrial refuse or any other kind of refuse, where it emerges to be dumped into the waters.
History —May 1, 1950, No. 142, p. 378, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 35 - Water Pollution Control (§§ 591 — 601) › § 592 - Agency

The Department of Health is hereby designated as the water pollution control agency for everything relating to the federal act, and the Secretary is hereby authorized to do all that may be necessary or proper for the purpose of securing for Puerto Rico the benefits of the said federal act.
History —May 1, 1950, No. 142, p. 378, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 35 - Water Pollution Control (§§ 591 — 601) › § 593 - Powers; cooperation; acceptance of aid; approval of projects

In order to enforce the provisions of § 592 of this title, and in addition to any action it may be necessary to take to this end, the Department of Health, and in representation thereof, the Secretary is hereby authorized:
(a) To collaborate with the Surgeon General and other agencies of the federal government in all activities relating to the pollution of waters, including the development of programs for the elimination or abatement of said pollution and to improve the sanitary conditions of the waters.
(b) To apply for and accept, in behalf of the Government of Puerto Rico, such federal funds as may be made available for Puerto Rico under the Federal Act in any agencies of the federal government; Provided, That said funds shall be covered into the Commonwealth Treasury and be at the disposal of the Secretary, to be applied to the enforcement of the purposes of this chapter, and in accordance with the ends for which the grants are made under the federal act and regulations.
(c) To approve the projects for which applications for grants or loans are made by any agency, division or subdivision of the Government of Puerto Rico, under the federal act.
History —May 1, 1950, No. 142, p. 378, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 35 - Water Pollution Control (§§ 591 — 601) › § 594 - Water Pollution Control Advisory Board

There is hereby created the Water Pollution Control Advisory Board with which the Secretary shall advise and consult in connection with the administration of this chapter. Said Board shall be composed of the Secretary of Health, who shall be the ex officio chairman thereof, the Executive Director of the Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, the Executive Director of the Water Resources Authority, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Chairman of the Planning Board, the Secretary of Justice of Puerto Rico and the Director of the School of Tropical Medicine (or in lieu thereof, the Director of the Hygiene and Public Health Department of the School of Medicine) of the University of Puerto Rico. The Board shall meet on call of the Secretary, but never less than once each year. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to call a meeting of the Board on petition of four (4) or more members; Provided, That any member of the Board may delegate his representation thereon to any official or employee of his agency, upon notice in writing to the Chairman, without losing thereby his rights to attend in person any meeting. The members of the Board or their delegates shall receive no compensation as such. The Board is hereby empowered to adopt bylaws.
History —May 1, 1950, No. 142, p. 378, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 35 - Water Pollution Control (§§ 591 — 601) › § 595 - Prohibition against pollution

It shall be unlawful for any person, directly or indirectly, to throw, discharge, pour or dump, or permit to be thrown, discharged, poured or dumped into the waters, any organic or inorganic matter capable of polluting or of leading to the pollution of said waters in such manner as to place them out of the minimum standards of purity that the Secretary of Health may establish under § 599 of this title.
History —May 1, 1950, No. 142, p. 378, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 35 - Water Pollution Control (§§ 591 — 601) › § 596 - Final order against existing pollution

Any person who upon the taking effect of this act may be throwing, discharging, pouring or dumping sewage or industrial waste or any other refuse into any waters, regardless of whether he started or continued doing so under a former act, shall cease to do so upon receipt of a final order therefor issued by the Secretary; Provided, however, That no such final order shall be issued until after one year from the date the undesirable pollution thus caused was determined, and notice thereof was served on said person to correct the situation; except that the term of one year shall not apply where, in the judgment of the Secretary, there is an urgent menace to the public health.
History —May 1, 1950, No. 142, p. 378, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 35 - Water Pollution Control (§§ 591 — 601) › § 597 - Authorization for discharges

After this act takes effect, no new discharge of sewage, industrial waste or any other refuse, may be made into the waters, except upon specific authorization therefor issued by the Secretary, upon application for the purpose which shall be made according to the regulations the Secretary may prescribe. It shall be unlawful for any person, without having first submitted to the approval of the Secretary plans and other reports, and without having obtained authorization therefor, to construct or install, or in any manner whatever make a discharge to dump or discharge sewage or industrial or any other refuse into the waters, or to change or extend, or to reconstruct, or in any way alter any existing system or part thereof, or to operate a new or already existing system, or one that has been changed, extended, reconstructed or altered without prior authorization.
History —May 1, 1950, No. 142, p. 378, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 35 - Water Pollution Control (§§ 591 — 601) › § 598 - Regulations

The Secretary shall make, according to the procedure fixed in § 179 of Title 3, the necessary regulations to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The regulations thus adopted may limit the potential polluting content in any substance to be thrown, discharged, poured or dumped into any waters, and may prescribe measures to prevent or abate such pollution.
History —May 1, 1950, No. 142, p. 378, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 35 - Water Pollution Control (§§ 591 — 601) › § 599 - Pollution standards

The Secretary shall by regulation fix the maximum pollution standards that will be permitted or tolerated in the waters, according to the public or private use made or that may be made thereof, and shall fix the minimum volume which, under foreseeable normal or abnormal circumstances, may flow in the currents
History —May 1, 1950, No. 142, p. 378, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 35 - Water Pollution Control (§§ 591 — 601) › § 600 - Legal rights

Choses of action resulting from the violation of the provisions of this chapter or its regulations shall inure to the benefit of the Commonwealth only. This chapter shall not be construed in the sense of creating new rights to property owners or private entities, nor of increasing rights already existing. A determination of the Secretary to the effect that there exists a certain pollution or that there is a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or of the regulations hereunder—whether or not the same is liable to prosecution by the Commonwealth—shall not give rise to any issue of law or question of fact for the benefit of any party other than the Commonwealth.
History —May 1, 1950, No. 142, p. 378, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 35 - Water Pollution Control (§§ 591 — 601) › § 601 - Penalties; injunction

Any person who directly or indirectly throws, discharges, pours or dumps, and/or causes or allows to be thrown, discharged, poured, or dumped, into any waters, organic matter capable of polluting or leading to the pollution of said waters, after having received a final order to the effect that he shall cease to do it, as established in § 596 of this title, or who violates any of the provisions of this chapter or its regulations, shall, upon conviction, be punished for each violation by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in jail for a term of not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one year, or by both penalties; Provided, That each day such violation continues to exist or in which a final order is not complied with, shall constitute a distinct and separate violation; and, Provided further, That injunction shall lie against any person who violates the provisions of this chapter or regulations hereunder whenever, in the judgment of the Secretary, the seriousness of the case may so warrant.
History —May 1, 1950, No. 142, p. 378, § 11.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 36 - Registration of Persons with Diabetes Mellitus (§§ 611 — 618) › § 611 - Definitions

For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning stated hereinbelow:
(a) Diabetes Mellitus.— Comprises a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by the assessment of sugar blood levels. There are four types: Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (Type I DM), Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (Type II DM), Gestational Diabetes (GDM), and Secondary Diabetes Mellitus as the result of another condition.
(b) Diagnosis criteria.— Those established under the Diabetes Management and Control Guidelines drafted by the Department of Health of Puerto Rico, which shall have as basis the criteria established by the World Health Organization and the American Diabetes Association.
(c) Department.— The Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(d) Assistant Secretary.— Assistant Secretary of Family Health, Integrated Services and Health Promotion.
(e) Secretary.— Secretary of the Department of Health.
(f) Registry of Persons suffering from Diabetes Mellitus created by virtue of this chapter.
History —Aug. 11, 2011, No. 175, § 1, eff. 90 days after Aug. 11, 2011.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 36 - Registration of Persons with Diabetes Mellitus (§§ 611 — 618) › § 612 - Creation

The Registry of Persons suffering from Diabetes Mellitus is hereby created, attached to the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program of the Department of Health.
History —Aug. 11, 2011, No. 175, § 2, eff. 90 days after Aug. 11, 2011.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 36 - Registration of Persons with Diabetes Mellitus (§§ 611 — 618) › § 613 - Mandatory notification

(a) It shall be mandatory for all physicians who practice in Puerto Rico and diagnose a new case or provide treatment for Diabetes Mellitus to notify such cases to the Diabetes Registry of the Department of Health on a quarterly basis, after having obtained the patient's consent, pursuant to the “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) of 1996”, (Public Law 104-191).
(b) Every person in charge of a public or private laboratory, including any other facility where tests are performed to confirm the diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus shall notify the Diabetes Registry of the Department of Health after having obtained the patient's consent, pursuant to the “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) of 1996”, (Public Law 104-191), on a quarterly basis, counting from the date of the positive results of said tests, and make them available upon request.
(c) Case reports notified to the Diabetes Registry of the Department of Health, either electronically or manually, through reports that shall be designed and shall contain the information needed to study and follow-up on these cases.
(d) The case reports notified to the Diabetes Registry of the Department of Health by virtue of this chapter shall be “Confidential”. Provided, however, That the same may be used in epidemiological and statistical studies, scientific research, and for educational purposes, insofar as the identity of the patient is not disclosed.
History —Aug. 11, 2011, No. 175, §§ 3–6, eff. 90 days after Aug. 11, 2011.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 36 - Registration of Persons with Diabetes Mellitus (§§ 611 — 618) › § 614 - Diabetes cases

(a) The Diabetes Registry of the Department of Health shall be in charge of establishing and keeping the registry of diabetes cases with the human and financial resources allocated for such purposes. The Diabetes Registry of the Department of Health may request and obtain from physicians, laboratories, or public and private facilities any pertinent information regarding the follow-up of these cases.
(b) When necessary, the Diabetes Registry of the Department of Health shall have trained personnel to search for cases, visit and obtain information regarding said cases at the physicians' offices, laboratories, and other healthcare institutions, as provided in §§ 612 and 613(a) of this title.
History —Aug. 11, 2011, No. 175, §§ 7, 8, eff. 90 days after Aug. 11, 2011.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 36 - Registration of Persons with Diabetes Mellitus (§§ 611 — 618) › § 615 - Reports

The Diabetes Registry of the Department of Health shall file with the Secretary monthly reports on the diabetes cases so notified.
History —Aug. 11, 2011, No. 175, § 9, eff. 90 days after Aug. 11, 2011.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 36 - Registration of Persons with Diabetes Mellitus (§§ 611 — 618) › § 616 - Regulations

The Secretary shall establish rules and regulations as necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter.
History —Aug. 11, 2011, No. 175, § 10, eff. 90 days after Aug. 11, 2011.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART II - Disease Control (§§ 351 — 697) › Chapter 36 - Registration of Persons with Diabetes Mellitus (§§ 611 — 618) › § 617 - Penalties for violations

Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter or the regulations approved thereunder shall be punished by a fine that shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500).
History —Aug. 11, 2011, No. 175, § 11, eff. 90 days after Aug. 11, 2011.