reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 49 - Financing of Construction (§§ 821 — 830) › § 821 - Definitions

The following terms shall have the following meanings as used or referred to in this chapter, unless the context shall otherwise clearly indicate:
(a) University. — Shall mean the University of Puerto Rico.
(b) Council. — Shall mean the Puerto Rico Higher Education Council or any other board or body in which the government of the University of Puerto Rico shall be vested by law.
(c) Cost. — As applied to a project shall include the cost of acquisition or construction, the cost of all labor, materials and equipment, the cost of all lands, property, rights and easements acquired, financing charges, interest prior to and during construction and, if deemed advisable by the Council, for one year after completion of construction, cost of plans and specifications, surveys and estimates of cost and of revenues, cost of engineering and legal services, and all other expenses necessary or incident to such acquisition or construction, administrative expense, and such other expenses, including reasonable provision for initial operating expenses, as may be necessary or incident to the financing herein authorized. Any obligation or expense incurred by the University or the Council prior to the issuance of bonds under the provisions of this chapter in connection with any of the foregoing items of cost may be regarded as a part of such cost.
(d) Project. — Shall mean and shall include any one or more buildings, structures and facilities of a capital nature, necessary or advisable to the efficient functioning of the University as an institution of higher learning, including, but not limited to, administration buildings, classrooms and lecture halls, laboratories, libraries, dormitories, houses and other housing facilities, dining rooms and their facilities, medical service buildings, gymnasiums, auditoriums or theaters, warehouses, stadiums, student-center buildings, bookstores, recreational facilities, and any enlargements or improvements thereof, or additions thereto, including parking facilities and parking buildings, gardens, and any other necessary devises on any land or campus of the University of Puerto Rico, together with the necessary land and equipment.
(e) Existing facilities. — Shall mean any buildings, structures and facilities included within the definition of the word “project” on any campus of the University existing prior to the issuance of any bonds hereunder.
History —June 18, 1958, No. 50, p. 88, § 1; Jan. 20, 1966, No. 3, p. 106, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 49 - Financing of Construction (§§ 821 — 830) › § 823 - Rentals; student quotas; bylaws

The Council may fix, and may revise from time to time, rentals and other charges for the services or facilities to be furnished by any project for which any bonds shall be issued under the authority of this chapter or to be furnished by any existing facilities or for the right to use any such project facilities or existing facilities or to receive any such services.
The Council may also establish, and may revise from time to time, such tuition and other student fees as it may determine, to be collected from any or all students of the University. Any such rentals and other charges and any such tuition and other student fees pledged to the payment of any such bonds shall be fixed and revised so that the revenues received by the University therefrom, together with any other available funds, will be at least sufficient at all times to pay the principal of and the interest on the bonds for the payment of which such revenues are pledged and to provide reserves therefor, and, if determined by the Council, to pay all or any part of the cost of maintaining, repairing and operating such project or projects and any existing facilities whose revenues are pledged as herein authorized, including reserves for such purposes.
The Council is further authorized to make and enforce and to contract to make and enforce parietal rules to assure the maximum use of any project or existing facilities.
History —June 18, 1958, No. 50, p. 88, § 3; Jan. 20, 1966, No. 3, p. 106, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 49 - Financing of Construction (§§ 821 — 830) › § 825 - Moneys received as trust funds

All moneys received pursuant to the power conferred herein shall be considered as trust funds to be withheld and applied solely as provided in this chapter. The resolution authorizing the bond issue or the trust contract guaranteeing the said bonds shall provide that any officer, bank, trust company or fiscal agent to whom said moneys are paid shall act as trustee of said moneys and shall withhold and apply the same for the purposes set forth, subject to the regulations provided by the resolution or trust contract.
History —June 18, 1958, No. 50, p. 88, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 49 - Financing of Construction (§§ 821 — 830) › § 826 - Actions by bondholders; trustees

Any holder of revenue bonds issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, or of any coupons pertaining thereto, and the trustee under any trust contract, except to the extent the rights herein conferred may be limited by the resolution authorizing the issuance of said bonds or said trust contract, may, in law or equity, sue, bring action, institute a mandamus or any other proceeding to protect and enforce any and all the rights under the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or conferred by the provisions of this chapter or according to said resolution or trust contract, and may put into effect and enforce performance of all the duties required by this chapter or by said resolution or trust contract to be performed by the University or the Council or by any officer thereof, including the fixing, imposition and collection of rentals and other charges and of student quotas.
History —June 18, 1958, No. 50, p. 88, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 49 - Financing of Construction (§§ 821 — 830) › § 827 - Funding of issued bonds; conversion revenue bonds

The Council is hereby authorized to issue from time to time conversion revenue bonds of the University for the purpose of funding any revenue bonds of the University heretofore or hereafter issued in connection with any project or projects or any existing facilities, including the payment of any redemption premium therefor and any interest accrued or to be accrued up to the redemption date of such bonds. The Council is hereby further authorized to issue from time to time conversion revenue bonds of the University for the combined purpose of:
(a) Funding any revenue bonds or refinancing bonds of the University heretofore or hereafter issued in connection with any project or projects or any existing facilities, including the payment of any redemption premium thereon and any interest accrued or to be accrued up to the redemption date of such bonds, and
(b) to pay in full or in part the cost of acquisition or construction of any additional project or projects.
The issuance of such bonds, the maturity thereof, and other pertinent details, the rights and remedies of bondholders, and the rights, powers, privileges, duties and obligations of the University and of the Council with regard thereto, shall be governed by the above-mentioned provisions of this chapter insofar as applicable.
History —June 18, 1958, No. 50, p. 88, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 49 - Financing of Construction (§§ 821 — 830) › § 828 - Gifts; tax exemption of bonds

The Council is hereby authorized to accept in the name of the University grants of money or materials or properties of any kind for any project or existing facilities from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or the United States of America or any agency thereof, or from any private agency, corporation or individual, under the terms and conditions that may be imposed by the Commonwealth or the United States of America or any agency thereof, or by said private agency, corporation or individual. The bonds issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and the income derived therefrom shall at all times be exempt from the payment of income tax.
History —June 18, 1958, No. 50, p. 88, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 49 - Financing of Construction (§§ 821 — 830) › § 829 - Construction with other laws

It shall be understood that this chapter provides for an additional and alternative method to effectuate the things herein authorized and shall be held to be supplementary and additional to all powers conferred by other laws, and not as revoking or repealing any powers now existing under any other law; Provided, however, That the issuance of revenue bonds or conversion revenue bonds under the provisions hereof shall be subject to the provisions of §§ 581—595 of Title 7, but shall not have to comply with the requirements of any other law applicable to the issuance of bonds.
History —June 18, 1958, No. 50, p. 88, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 49 - Financing of Construction (§§ 821 — 830) › § 830 - Ratification of existing bonds

All bonds heretofore issued by or in the name of the University for the purpose of paying all or any part of the cost any project or existing facilities are hereby ratified, affirmed and approved.
History —June 18, 1958, No. 50, p. 88, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 55 - Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico (§§ 852 — 852m) › § 852 - Statement of public policy

This chapter has the purpose to grant the functions of licensing and accrediting public and private higher education institutions in Puerto Rico to the Council on Higher Education hereby created. This chapter is adopted for the following ends:
(1) Separate the functions of licensing and accrediting private university institutions from the functions corresponding to the governing of the University of Puerto Rico.
(2) Establish an unbreachable environment of institutional autonomy to safeguard the public and private universities and colleges from official interferences which impair their academic freedom or attempt against it.
(3) Propitiate the strengthening, growth and development of higher education institutions.
(4) Empower the Council on Higher Education to implement and administer the public policy set forth in this chapter.
The functions assigned to the Council shall be limited to what is expressly stated in the statute. In other words, this chapter confers the Council only such powers that are indispensable to exercise official functions in an area vested with great public interest such as higher education.
It is a legislative function to add what is lacking in this chapter, or correct its deficiencies. When it is time to rectify, the Legislature must act exactly as it is doing now. All this done with the greatest respect for the autonomy of public and private universities and colleges which is essential for the flow of free thought and intellectual and educational initiatives which contribute to the social, cultural and economic betterment of our people.
Respect to said autonomy must be a cardinal principle of the public policy in Puerto Rico. The application of this chapter and the interpretation of its provisions must be in harmony with this principle.
It shall be the obligation of all public and private higher education institutions to respect and recognize the fundamental civil rights of students, professors and non-teaching personnel that are compatible with the rights of the public and private higher education institutions under the Constitutions of the United States of America and of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
History —June 16, 1993, No. 17, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 55 - Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico (§§ 852 — 852m) › § 852a - Definitions

The terms that are listed and defined hereinafter (and their [derivatives]) shall have the meaning indicated, unless a different meaning clearly arises from the context. The words, terms, phrases and other expressions used in this chapter and which are not defined in this section, shall have the usual meaning given to them in the academic community except when a different meaning clearly arises from the context.
(1) Council. — Shall mean the Council on Higher Education.
(2) Higher education institution. — Means a public or private educational institution, which has as a requirement for admission, a high school certificate or diploma, or its equivalent, and whose academic offerings lead to, at least, an associate degree.
(3) License of authorization. — Means the authorization issued by the Council on Higher Education to an institution to begin operations in Puerto Rico as a higher education institution, with the academic offerings and in the place or places indicated in the license, or the certification of the Council which complements it.
(4) Renewal license. — Means the authorization to continue operating higher education institutions in Puerto Rico as provided in the license of authorization.
(5) Accreditation. — Means the official recognition granted by an accrediting entity duly recognized by the Department of Education of the United States and the Council, or by the Council itself, recognizing an institution or any of its programs specifically, for operating on levels of performance, quality and integrity identified by the academic community as superior to the minimum required to hold the license.
(6) Substantial change. — Means any action of an institution which constitutes a modification or alteration to its structure, academic offerings, or the manner or scope of its operations that are not authorized, contemplated or foreseen in the license which allows it to operate as a higher education institution.
History —June 16, 1993, No. 17, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 55 - Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico (§§ 852 — 852m) › § 852b - Application

(1) The provisions of this chapter shall apply to any natural or judicial person, or group thereof, that operates a higher education institution in Puerto Rico; or that somehow states, promises advertises or expresses its intention to grant degrees, diplomas, certificates, or other higher education official academic recognition in Puerto Rico.
(2) This chapter shall not apply to courses and programs leading to religious degrees, whose sole purpose is to prepare students to obtain positions or perform work in the religion or sect to which they are oriented.
(3) The Council shall not exercise jurisdiction on the offerings of institutions which provide educational services leading to higher education degrees in military establishments of the United States Armed Forces located in Puerto Rico, if the same are circumscribed to students in active military service and their dependents; but it shall exercise it when they are offered to other civilians. In the latter cases, on exercising its jurisdiction, the Council shall observe the policy established to such respect by the Congress of the United States.
History —June 16, 1993, No. 17, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 55 - Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico (§§ 852 — 852m) › § 852c - Creation and composition

(1) The Council on Higher Education is hereby created, composed of the Secretary of Education, who shall be an ex officio member and eight (8) additional members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate of Puerto Rico, who shall represent the public interest and the public policy established in this chapter for higher education, as adequately as possible.
(2) The members of the Council shall be American citizens residents of Puerto Rico, over eighteen (18) years of age. They shall be covered by §§ 1801 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Government Ethics Act”. They shall hold office for the term of their appointment and until their successors take office. A member of the Council may only be dismissed from office through a determination of just cause, upon filing of charges.
(3) No member of the Legislature of Puerto Rico, nor any person who holds an office or full-time job in the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, in the Government of the United States of America, in any instrumentality or public corporation thereof, or in a higher education institution, may be appointed to be a member of the Council.
(4) The members of the Council on Higher Education created by §§ 601 et seq. of this title, shall become a part of the Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico created hereby, until the term for which each one of them was appointed has expired. Their successors shall be appointed for a term of six (6) years.
(5) Any vacancy in the Council shall be filled by an appointment made by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate and shall be for the remainder of the term for which the person was appointed.
History —June 16, 1993, No. 17, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 55 - Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico (§§ 852 — 852m) › § 852d - Operation

(1) The Council shall be convoked by the Secretary of Education for its inaugural meeting, and in the same, a Chairman and any other officers deemed necessary to perform its duties shall be elected from among its members. The Council shall fix the term of service of these officials through regulations. None of these offices shall be held by the Secretary of Education.
(2) The Council shall meet in regular monthly sessions according to its calendar which it shall approve and publish annually. It may hold special meetings, called by the Chairperson or by petition of a majority of the members. The agreements and resolutions of the Council shall be taken by a majority of the members present, but all agreements or resolutions shall be adopted with the affirmative vote of at least five (5) of its members.
(3) The members of the Council, excluding the Secretary of Education, shall receive per diems of seventy-five dollars ($75) a day, except the Chairperson of the council, who shall receive a per diem of one hundred dollars ($100) a day, for the time devoted to his/her duties in duly convoked meetings or by special assignment of the Council.
History —June 16, 1993, No. 17, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 55 - Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico (§§ 852 — 852m) › § 852f - Coordination and agreements with accrediting entities

In the performance of its licensing and accrediting duties, and taking into consideration the opinion of the institutions to be evaluated, the Council may enter agreements with national, regional and professional accrediting entities, in order to:
(1) Validate the accreditation of such entities as equivalent to the renewal license.
(2) Use the findings and determinations of such entities for their evaluation purposes.
(3) Make joint evaluation visits.
History —June 16, 1993, No. 17, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 55 - Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico (§§ 852 — 852m) › § 852g - License and Accreditation Office

The Council shall establish a License and Accreditation Office and shall appoint such managerial and technical personnel as is needed to carry out the technical and administrative functions of licensing and accrediting the public and private higher education institutions in Puerto Rico.
History —June 16, 1993, No. 17, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 55 - Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico (§§ 852 — 852m) › § 852h - Consulting Boards

The functions of the Council on Higher Education of licensing and accrediting the public and private higher education institutions in Puerto Rico shall be carried out with the participation of the Consulting Boards.
The Consulting Boards shall be composed of the personnel of the License and Accreditation Office and by educators selected from among the members of the duly accredited public and private higher education institutions existing in Puerto Rico. The Council may include professionals, technicians and administrators of university level [on] the Consulting Board. The composition of each Board shall be determined by the Council, taking into consideration the nature and complexity of the institution to be evaluated. No member of the Board may hold an office or position in the institution to be evaluated.
The Consulting Board shall render a written report of findings to be remitted to the evaluated institution, within thirty (30) working days after the conclusion of the evaluation hearing of the applying institution. The institution shall have thirty (30) working days to remit to the Consulting Board, through the Council, a report of reaction, in which it shall state its position regarding the indications made. The Board shall then submit its final report to the Council within thirty (30) working days upon receiving the report of reaction from the institution. In case the hearing is not necessary, the thirty (30) day period shall start counting from the date on which the License and Accreditation Office certifies that the institution to be evaluated has submitted all the documents required by regulations.
History —June 16, 1993, No. 17, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 55 - Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico (§§ 852 — 852m) › § 852i - License to operate in Puerto Rico

(1) No natural or juridical person shall operate a higher education institution of academic, professional or technical level in Puerto Rico, that declares, promises, advertises or states the intention to grant certificates, diplomas, degrees or licenses, without the authorization of the Council on Higher Education.
(2) The processing of a license shall not exceed one hundred and twenty (120) working days from the date the corresponding application is filed. This term may be extended for just cause. After the expiration of said term the license shall de deemed as granted unless a decision to the contrary has intervened.
(3) The Council shall require the payment of a fee for each application for a license or amendment of a license that is filed by a higher education institution. For each authorization license or license renewal application, there shall be a basic fee of five thousand dollars ($5,000) plus an additional fee of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each of the institutional units included in the application. A fee shall be required for each amendment application, to be established by the Council, between one thousand dollars ($1,000) and five thousand dollars ($5,000), for each substantial change that the institution requests to amend its license. The fee for the issuing or amendment of a license shall be revised at least every three (3) years.
The authorization license shall be issued for a period that shall not exceed five (5) years. The renewed license shall be issued for a period that shall not exceed ten (10) years. The length of the term of a license shall be established by the Council taking in consideration the results of the evaluation made. It is hereby provided that the length of the term of the renewed license shall be determined by the level of compliance with the evaluation criteria established in § 852k of this title. The license shall be renewed when the term for which the same was issued expires, in accordance with the procedure established therefor by the Council.
(4) The authorization license and the subsequent renewal shall be granted by the Council to every institution that requests it, and meets all the requirements of the laws and regulations. The license renewals shall be granted for the offerings and in the place or places indicated in the license, or in the certification of the Council which complements said license.
(5) The license may also be suspended, cancelled or modified for any institution which fails to comply with the terms established in the license issued by the Council on Higher Education, or with the requirements of this chapter.
History —June 16, 1993, No. 17, § 11; Dec. 26, 1997, No. 190, § 1; Nov. 1, 2007, No. 154, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 55 - Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico (§§ 852 — 852m) › § 852j - Penalties

Any natural or juridical person that operates a higher education institution in Puerto Rico without due authorization, or offers educational programs not covered by the license, shall incur an administrative fault and shall be subject to the payment of a minimum fine of five thousand dollars ($5,000) and a maximum fine of ten thousand dollars ($10,000); subsequent infractions shall be penalized with a minimum fine of five thousand dollars ($5,000) and a maximum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).
History —June 16, 1993, No. 17, § 12; Nov. 1, 2007, No. 154, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 55 - Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico (§§ 852 — 852m) › § 852k - Elements of evaluation

(1) The norms approved by the Council to evaluate higher education institutions on considering applications for licenses, application for renewal or amendments to licenses, or other actions that require evaluation, shall include the minimum requirements to ensure adequate offerings, program continuity, teaching quality and continuity, health protection, safety and the compliance of its commitments with the students. The norms shall cover the following areas, at least, with respect to each institution:
(a) Their physical facilities;
(b) the experience and credentials of the administrators;
(c) their financial capacity;
(d) the sufficiency and level of the study programs to develop the skills and knowledge they wish to teach the students;
(e) the experience and academic credentials of the faculty and their fitness with respect to the courses offered by the institution.
(f) their library resources;
(g) laboratories and teaching aid equipment
(h) services for students, and
(i) guarantees of personal safety for students and the academic community.
(2) The institutions shall provide the information requested by the Council regarding the evaluation of applications for licenses or amendments to licenses, as well as any other data pertinent to the steps taken by the Council in the performance of its functions and within the prerogatives assigned to it in this chapter.
History —June 16, 1993, No. 17, § 13.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 55 - Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico (§§ 852 — 852m) › § 852l - Reconsideration procedures

Any person or juridical entity covered by this chapter that is the subject of an adverse determination of the Council, shall be entitled to reconsideration pursuant to the provisions of §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Puerto Rico Uniform Administrative Procedures Act”.
History —June 16, 1993, No. 17, § 14.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 55 - Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico (§§ 852 — 852m) › § 852m - Registry of fraternities, sororities and other associations

(a) Every educational or university institution of the country is hereby directed to establish a registry of fraternities, sororities and associations of any type that group, recruit or accept the association of any student enrolled in said institution as a member or associate, or engage in activities therein.
The Council on Higher Education and the General Council on Education is hereby empowered and authorized to regulate all matters related to the establishing of the registry, including its form and contents, location, custody, and conservation. Provided, That said registry shall include, at least, the following information:
(1) Name of the fraternity, sorority or association.
(2) Its purposes and objectives.
(3) The composition of its Board of Governors or Directors, and the names of the members and their respective positions.
(4) A brief description of the initiation ceremony or process for joining the same.
(5) The names of all its affiliates.
(b) The Council on Higher Education and the General Council on Education shall impose and collect the fines for violations of this section. Provided, That the violation of this section shall constitute an administrative fault, and the infraction and noncompliance do not provoke a violation of Article 97A of the Penal Code of Puerto Rico in which case it shall be prosecuted as provided therein.
(c) Any educational or university institution that does not establish the registry pursuant to the provisions of this section, or the regulations promulgated by virtue thereof, shall be imposed a fine of one thousand [dollars] ($1,000) to five thousand dollars ($5,000) at the discretion of the Council, in addition to the penalty established in Article 97A of the Penal Code of Puerto Rico, if prosecuted.
History —July 30, 1999, No. 179, § 1, eff. 120 days after July 30, 1999.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 55A - Higher Education and Documents Center (§§ 855 — 855c) › § 855 - Creation and budget

A Puerto Rican Higher Education Studies and Documents Center, attached to the Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico, is hereby created and is appropriated the sum of four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) recurrently from the General Fund.
Once the Department of the Treasury disburses the corresponding funds at the beginning of each fiscal year, the Council shall cover the same into a special account separate from any other funds it administers.
History —Aug. 28, 2003, No. 213, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 55A - Higher Education and Documents Center (§§ 855 — 855c) › § 855a - Functions, duties and powers

The Council shall be the governing and policy-making body and its main functions with regard to said Center shall be as follows:
(1) Establish the public policy of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as set forth in the purpose note under § 855 of this title.
(2) Approve the standards, requirements and procedures it deems necessary to implement this chapter.
(3) Receive, have custody of, administer and distribute the funds available to implement this chapter.
(4) Organize the Center, appoint the personnel and/or contract the services that are needed to strengthen the technological and investigative infrastructure of the Council to achieve the purposes of this chapter.
(5) Ensure that the studies conducted in the Center propitiate [sic] the broadest and most objective disclosure of information and critical analysis based on rigorous academic investigation and statistical techniques criteria.
(6) Approve, condition or reject the proposals of projects that are submitted by the members of the academic community and graduate programs of higher education institutions on the basis of the established requirements and priorities.
(7) Establish long- and short-term objectives that shall orient the members of the academic community and the graduate programs in the drafting of proposals.
(8) Evaluate the projects under development to determine their effectiveness in achieving its objectives and their compliance with the applicable norms, requirements and procedures.
(9) Establish the necessary coordination with other government dependencies, especially with those related to the issues subject of investigation.
(10) Adopt the standards, requirements and procedures needed for its internal, operational and administrative organization.
(11) Accept funds and execute agreements or other transactions with any state or federal government dependency, higher education institution or private entity, pursuant to the purpose of this chapter.
History —Aug. 28, 2003, No. 213, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 55A - Higher Education and Documents Center (§§ 855 — 855c) › § 855b - Term to organize

The Council shall organize the Center and approve the norms, requirements and procedures needed to implement this act within the term of one (1) year counting from its date of effectiveness.
History —Aug. 28, 2003, No. 213, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 55A - Higher Education and Documents Center (§§ 855 — 855c) › § 855c - Reports

The Council shall render an annual report which shall contain information on the operations of the Center and the research projects underway or completed, to the Office of the Governor and the Legislature on or before December 31 of each year.
History —Aug. 28, 2003, No. 213, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 56 - Mutual Cooperation for the Investigation and Study Regarding Youths (§§ 856 — 856b) › § 856 - Definitions

The following terms and phrases contained in this chapter shall have the meaning stated hereinbelow:
(a) Mutual cooperation. — Shall mean the establishment of cooperation protocols between the University of Puerto Rico, the Department of Education, and the Office of Youth Affairs of the Office of the Governor.
(b) Research. — Shall mean the effort to understand by applying oneself to learning things about youth.
(c) Investigations. — Shall mean profound empirical study of all areas of social and individual endeavors of youth.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 418, § 2; Aug. 30, 2006, No. 170, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 56 - Mutual Cooperation for the Investigation and Study Regarding Youths (§§ 856 — 856b) › § 856a - Creation

The University of Puerto Rico and the Department of Education of Puerto Rico, in coordination with the Office of Youth Affairs of the Office of the Governor, shall adopt regulations that evince the establishment of collaboration between both agencies to achieve a cooperation protocol within mutually acceptable frameworks and directed to offering the expected results to the youths. The conceptual framework for its design, implementation and operation shall be organized and attuned to the applicable regulations of the Office of Youth Affairs, as well as to the realities and needs of our youth.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 418, § 4; Aug. 30, 2006, No. 170, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART II - University of Puerto Rico (§§ 601 — 856b) › Chapter 56 - Mutual Cooperation for the Investigation and Study Regarding Youths (§§ 856 — 856b) › § 856b - Duties and responsibilities

The President of the University of Puerto Rico, the Secretary of the Department of Education of Puerto Rico and the Executive Director of the Office of Youth Affairs shall have the individual duties and responsibilities as stated hereinafter:
(a) To identify, gather, develop and implement the complete work plan pertaining to the creation, development and enforcement of this chapter. For such purposes, they shall prepare a questionnaire for adolescents to express their ideas, suggestions and concerns.
(b) To render an annual report to the Legislature regarding the creation and progress of what is proposed in this chapter. Said report shall also contain the ideas, suggestions and concerns expressed by the majority of the youths in answering the questionnaire to be established by the agencies. The aforementioned report shall be available to the public on the official [web page] of the Office of Youth Affairs, of the Office of the Governor.
(c) To implement the cooperation protocol between the agencies, attuned to the public policy established in this chapter.
(d) To enter agreements with private university institutions, high schools as well as the agencies, corporations and public instrumentalities for research, studies and other services germane to the achievement of the goals and objectives for which this chapter is approved.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 418, § 5; Aug. 30, 2006, No. 170, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART III - Educational Activities Generally (§§ 861-866 — 1597b) › Chapter 61 - Scholarships (§§ 861-866 — 910v) › § 879a - Municipal scholarships and leaves with pay—Authorization

The municipalities are hereby authorized to grant leaves with pay to their officers and employees, and scholarships to these and to persons meeting the requirements hereinafter set forth, for pursuing higher studies in any duly recognized university educational center of Puerto Rico or abroad, to develop educational and training programs and to pay tuition for municipal officials and employees, chargeable to public funds available to them. The studies which may be pursued by municipal officers and employees shall be on subjects of municipal public utility application.
History —June 25, 1962, No. 99, p. 256, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART III - Educational Activities Generally (§§ 861-866 — 1597b) › Chapter 61 - Scholarships (§§ 861-866 — 910v) › § 879b - Municipal scholarships and leaves with pay—Regulations; grants

The municipalities shall put into effect the necessary regulations for the effectuation of the purposes of §§ 879a—879e of this title by adopting norms similar to those governing the training programs administered by the Personnel Office of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. With regard to scholarships, the same shall not exceed one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200) a year in Puerto Rico or two thousand four hundred dollars ($2,400) a year abroad for each student, such scholarships to be paid monthly. The said scholarships may be renewed annually for a period not exceeding the term prescribed for the corresponding academic degree in the curriculum of the educational center. Where the educational center is located outside of Puerto Rico, the municipality may pay the trip of the scholarship grantee from Puerto Rico to the educational center, and, inversely, his return ticket.
In the case of educational and training programs for officers and employees, the municipality shall only pay tuition fees and expenses actually incurred for transportation and per diems. Leaves with pay may be granted for a period which shall not exceed two (2) years, and shall be granted only to municipal officers and employees. Scholarship grantees and employees availing themselves of the benefits of the leaves with pay to pursue studies must work for the municipality granting the scholarship or leave with pay for at least a period of time equivalent to double their study terms, should their services be required during the six (6) months following the termination of their studies. Scholarship grantees and the employees thus benefited shall be bound to reimburse to the municipality the totality of the money paid in each case, if, upon completion of their studies, they fail to comply with the requirement of working for a period of time equivalent to double their study term, as prescribed in this section.
History —June 25, 1962, No. 99, p. 256, § 2; June 16, 1964, No. 58, p. 160.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART III - Educational Activities Generally (§§ 861-866 — 1597b) › Chapter 61 - Scholarships (§§ 861-866 — 910v) › § 879c - Municipal scholarships and leaves with pay—Qualifications; limitation on credits taken

Candidates for the scholarships authorized by §§ 879a—879e of this title must be persons of good repute with an academic index of not less than B or its equivalent in their high school or university studies, as the case may be. Where two or more candidates are equally worthy of having a scholarship awarded to them, the benefited one shall be the student with the lowest income. Officers and employees availing themselves of the educational and training programs through tuition paid by the municipality must be rendering satisfactory services to the municipality, and shall not be authorized to go in for more than six (6) university credits in any one school semester or summer course; Provided, That during the last semester of studies of the officer and/or employee there shall be authorized the payment of tuition for the number of university credits that may be necessary for completion of the course he is pursuing.
History —June 25, 1962, No. 99, p. 256, § 3; June 16, 1964, No. 58, p. 160.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART III - Educational Activities Generally (§§ 861-866 — 1597b) › Chapter 61 - Scholarships (§§ 861-866 — 910v) › § 879d - Municipal scholarships and leaves with pay—Withdrawal of benefits

Persons availing themselves of the benefits of §§ 879a—879e of this title may have the same withdrawn at any time for reasons of ill health, low grades, misbehavior, irregular attendance to class, noncompliance with the norms, regulations and other requisites of the educational center where enrolled.
History —June 25, 1962, No. 99, p. 256, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART III - Educational Activities Generally (§§ 861-866 — 1597b) › Chapter 61 - Scholarships (§§ 861-866 — 910v) › § 879e - Municipal scholarships and leaves with pay—Scholarship board

A scholarship board is hereby created in each municipality availing itself of §§ 879a—879e of this title, to be composed of the school supervisor and two (2) more members appointed by the mayor with the approval of the municipal legislature. Such board shall award the scholarships according to the regulations in force in the municipality and to the provisions of §§ 879a—879e of this title.
History —June 25, 1962, No. 99, p. 256, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART III - Educational Activities Generally (§§ 861-866 — 1597b) › Chapter 61 - Scholarships (§§ 861-866 — 910v) › § 884 - Teaching scholarships by municipalities

The municipal legislatures of Puerto Rico are hereby authorized to grant scholarships in the University of Puerto Rico, with the approval of the Secretary of Education, chargeable to the school funds at their disposal, to persons who may be in need of financial assistance in order to continue their studies and who have shown special aptitude for teaching and are eligible for admission to the course for the preparation of normal teachers, established by the Higher Education Council of the University in the Normal Department of the University of Puerto Rico.
History —May 11, 1939, No. 146, p. 708, § 1, eff. 90 days after May 11, 1939.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART III - Educational Activities Generally (§§ 861-866 — 1597b) › Chapter 61 - Scholarships (§§ 861-866 — 910v) › § 885 - Teaching scholarships by municipalities—Number, amount, and length of scholarships

The municipal legislatures of the municipalities of San Juan, Ponce, Mayagüez, and Arecibo may make the necessary provision for two (2) scholarships, and all other municipalities for one (1). The annual amount to be used from municipal school funds for the maintenance of said students shall reach three hundred dollars ($300) for each student, with scholarships payable in ten (10) monthly installments, the first installment to be paid to the student when he leaves his home to enter the University. In the case of each student, said scholarships shall remain in force for a period of two (2) university years, unless sooner revoked for justified cause.
History —May 11, 1939, No. 146, p. 708, § 2, eff. 90 days after May 11, 1939.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART III - Educational Activities Generally (§§ 861-866 — 1597b) › Chapter 61 - Scholarships (§§ 861-866 — 910v) › § 886 - Teaching scholarships by municipalities—Qualifications of applicant

The applicants for the scholarships created by §§ 884-889 of this title must be at least seventeen (17) years of age, enjoy good health and possess a stainless moral reputation; and they shall have obtained high grades during the year immediately preceding their appointment.
History —May 11, 1939, No. 146, p. 708, § 3, eff. 90 days after May 11, 1939.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART III - Educational Activities Generally (§§ 861-866 — 1597b) › Chapter 61 - Scholarships (§§ 861-866 — 910v) › § 887 - Teaching scholarships by municipalities—Cancellation of scholarship

The support hereby prescribed may be withdrawn at any time for inability to succeed in the prescribed schoolwork, by reason of incorrect conduct, or because of failure to comply with all the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the University.
History —May 11, 1939, No. 146, p. 708, § 4, eff. 90 days after May 11, 1939.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART III - Educational Activities Generally (§§ 861-866 — 1597b) › Chapter 61 - Scholarships (§§ 861-866 — 910v) › § 888 - Teaching scholarships by municipalities—Time of appointments

The original appointments shall be made on or before September 1, but such vacancies as occur may be filled on any other date.
History —May 11, 1939, No. 146, p. 708, § 5, eff. 90 days after May 11, 1939.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART III - Educational Activities Generally (§§ 861-866 — 1597b) › Chapter 61 - Scholarships (§§ 861-866 — 910v) › § 889 - Teaching scholarships by municipalities—Agreement to serve as teacher

The students with scholarships granted under §§ 884-889 of this title shall bind themselves in writing, before beginning their studies, to serve as normal teachers in Puerto Rico for a period of not less than two (2) years.
History —May 11, 1939, No. 146, p. 708, § 6, eff. 90 days after May 11, 1939.