reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 7 - Legal Holidays (§§ 71 — 85) › § 84 - Transfer of holidays

The holidays listed below shall be observed as follows:
(1) Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday shall be observed on the third Monday of January.
(2) George Washington’s birthday, Presidents” Day, and Puerto Rican Illustrious Persons Day, that is: Eugenio María de Hostos, José de Diego, Luis Muñoz-Rivera, José Celso Barbosa, Ramón Emeterio Betances, Román Baldorioty de Castro, Luis Muñoz-Marín, Ernesto Ramos-Antonini, and Luis A. Ferré, shall be observed on the third Monday of February.
(3) Abolition Day shall be observed on March 22.
(4) Memorial Day shall be observed on the last Monday of May.
(5) Independence Day shall be observed on July 4.
(6) Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Constitution Day shall be observed on July 25.
(7) Columbus Day shall be observed on the second Monday of October.
(8) Labor Day shall be observed on the first Monday of September.
(9) Veterans Day shall be observed on November 11.
(10) Discovery of Puerto Rico and Puerto Rican Culture Day shall be observed on November 19.
The University of Puerto Rico and other private institutions of higher education may, alternatively, observe the holidays mentioned in subsections one (1) through nine (9) on the Friday immediately preceding the days in question.
The Governor, or the person he designates, may establish through a proclamation that a certain holiday shall be observed on the Monday or Friday closest to such holiday whenever the need to maintain the continuous operation of the Government so requires. Provided, That said proclamation shall be issued annually, not later than the fifteenth (15th) of January, and the same shall contain all the holidays listed in this section. In case any of them is omitted, or if the proclamation is not issued within the aforesaid term, the days contained herein shall be understood to prevail.
History —June 27, 1969, No. 88, p. 246; July 30, 1974, No. 260, Part 2, p. 298; July 26, 1979, No. 8, p. 945; June 13, 1980, No. 129, p. 487; Dec. 24, 1991, No. 121, § 1; July 11, 1994, No. 39, § 1; July 6, 1995, No. 76, § 1; Dec. 1, 2010, No. 182, § 1; July 29, 2014, No. 111, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 7 - Legal Holidays (§§ 71 — 85) › § 85 - Puerto Rican Illustrious Persons Day

The third Monday of February of each year is hereby designated as a holiday in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, to be known as “Puerto Rican Illustrious Persons Day in honor of Eugenio María de Hostos, José de Diego, Luis Muñoz-Rivera, José Celso Barbosa, Ramón Emeterio Betances, Román Baldorioty de Castro, Luis Muñoz-Marín, Ernesto Ramos-Antonini, and Luis A. Ferré”.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, and even though they shall not constitute a holiday, the following shall be observed in memory of our illustrious persons:
(1) January 11, in memory of Eugenio María de Hostos
(2) April 16, in memory of José de Diego.
History —July 29, 2014, No. 111, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 11 - Commission of Civil Rights (§§ 151 — 161) › § 151 - Creation

A Civil Rights Commission is hereby created which shal1 be composed of five (5) members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. No official or employee of the Commonwealth Government and its instrumentalities and municipalities shall be a member of the Commission, with the exception of the teachers of the Department of Education and the professors of the University of Puerto Rico.
The members of the Commission shall be appointed for a term of six (6) years, and except for a duly-justified cause, after a hearing of the party concerned, no member of the Commission shall be removed from office before the expiration of the term for which they have been appointed. The first appointed members shall hold office as follows: one for two (2) years; one for three (3) years; one for four (4) years, and two for six (6) years. A person appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term of any of the members of the Commission shall hold office for the remainder of the term of the member replaced.
Three (3) members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the business of the Commission, but the Commission may delegate on one or more of its members and its Executive Director the function of hearing testimonies or receiving any other evidence for the Commission.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 102, p. 267, § 1; Dec. 19, 1997, No. 173, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 11 - Commission of Civil Rights (§§ 151 — 161) › § 152 - Election of chairman, vice-chairman and secretary

Once the Commission has been constituted, its members shall elect from among their number a chairman, a vice-chairman, and a secretary.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 102, p. 267, § 2, eff. July 1, 1965.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 11 - Commission of Civil Rights (§§ 151 — 161) › § 153 - Functions

The Commission shall have the following functions:
(a) To educate the entire population on the significance of the fundamental rights and the means of respecting, protecting and exalting them.
(b) To seek with individuals and before the government authorities protection of the human rights and strict enforcement of the laws protecting such rights.
(c) To carry out surveys and investigations on the effectiveness of the fundamental rights, including complaints and grievances by any citizen in connection with the violation of those rights.
(d) To render an annual report and any special reports to the Governor, the Supreme Court and the Legislature, with such recommendations as it may deem necessary for the continuous and effective protection of such rights. After the first annual report, the Commission shall include at the end of its annual reports a summary of the recommendations previously made by it and a statement of the action taken on said recommendations. The Commission shall publish its reports not later than five (5) days after they have been sent to the Governor, the Supreme Court and the Legislature. The Commission may also publish the studies and monographs submitted by its consultants and advisers.
(e) To evaluate the laws, standards and acts of the Commonwealth and municipal governments in connection with the civil rights, and to suggest reforms in respect to same.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 102, p. 267, § 3; June 29, 1966, No. 136, p. 438.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 11 - Commission of Civil Rights (§§ 151 — 161) › § 154 - Bylaws

The Commission shall formulate the necessary bylaws for the carrying out of its functions, as established in this chapter. Said bylaws shall make the necessary provisions for the fulfillment of the following procedural requirements:
(1) The holding of public hearings at least twice a year.
(2) Notices for public hearings shall be published ten days in advance in two newspapers of general circulation, and shall set forth in detail the purposes of and the business to be considered at such hearings.
(3) At the opening of the hearings in each city, the chairman shall explain the ends and purposes and the norms of the Commission. Each participant shall be furnished with a copy of the rules of procedure governing the hearings.
(4) All oral testimony shall be heard in public meetings except that when the Commission shall consider that the evidence or testimony to be presented at a hearing may tend to discredit, degrade or incriminate any person, it may then choose to receive said testimony in an executive meeting. The Commission, in rendering its report on the matter, may make public any testimony or evidence received in the executive meeting.
(5) Each witness may, if he so deems it convenient, be assisted by counsel. He shall also have the right not to be photographed without his consent; to be examined by his attorney within the norms of the hearing, and the application thereof by the chairman; to review the transcription of his testimony for exactness and to copy said transcription; to submit in writing brief sworn statements for the record of the hearing.
(6) If the Commission determines that any evidence tends to discredit or incriminate any person, it shall afford said person opportunity to appear in person or in writing.
(7) The Commission shall determine the other rules of procedure for the public hearings, including those that refer to the admissibility of evidence and to the exclusion of persons who violate the standards of respect and decorum that must prevail in a hearing.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 102, p. 267, § 4, eff. July 1, 1965.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 11 - Commission of Civil Rights (§§ 151 — 161) › § 155 - Investigations

The Commission shall not have the authority to adjudicate individualized cases nor remedies, but it is empowered to participate as amicus curiae in any stage of a process. The Commission shall not intervene in any process of a penal nature. To authorize the intervention of the Commission as amicus curiae in a process, it must have the approval of a majority of its members.
In order to conduct its functions, the Commission shall establish and organize an office adequate to its needs, which is attached but is not part of the Legislature, and may use its administrative services only if necessary in order to expedite its work. It shall also designate an Executive Director who shall be responsible for organizing and directing the tasks assigned to the office, and with the prior approval of the Commission, who shall appoint the office personnel, that shall not be subject to the provisions of the Personnel Laws of the Government of Puerto Rico and its regulations. Likewise, the Director may contract the services of experts and advisors. The Director shall administer the budget and be accountable for his actions before the Commission, through its President.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 102, p. 267, § 5; Sept. 3, 1996, No. 186, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 11 - Commission of Civil Rights (§§ 151 — 161) › § 156 - Oaths, testimonies and witnesses

The Commission and its Executive Director shall have authority to administer oaths and receive testimonies, and to subpoena witnesses to appear for testifying and producing any papers, books, documents or other evidence, through subpoena.
Should a witness summoned by the Commission fail to appear and testify, or to produce the required evidence, or refuse to answer any question in connection with any study or investigation being conducted by the Commission in the discharge of its functions, the chairman of the Commission may request assistance from the San Juan Part of the Court of First Instance of Puerto Rico to compel such witness to appear and testify, or to produce the required evidence, as the case may be. The Secretary of Justice shall tender to the Commission the necessary legal assistance for said purposes.
Once the petition is filed in the San Juan Part of the Court of First Instance of Puerto Rico, said Court shall subpoena the witness to appear and testify or to produce the evidence requested, or both, before the Commission; disobedience of the order issued by the Court shall be punished by said court as civil contempt.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 102, p. 267, § 6, eff. July 1, 1965.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 11 - Commission of Civil Rights (§§ 151 — 161) › § 157 - Office; executive director

In order to conduct its functions, the Commission shall establish and organize an office adequate to its needs, which is attached but not part of the Legislature, and may use its administrative services only if necessary in order to expedite its work. It shall also designate an Executive Director who shall be responsible for organizing and directing the tasks assigned to the office, and with the prior approval of the Commission, shall appoint the office personnel, which shall not be subject to the provisions of the personnel laws of the Government of Puerto Rico and its regulations. Likewise, the Director may contract the services of experts and advisors. The Director shall administer the budget and be accountable for his actions before the Commission, through its chairperson.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 102, p. 267, § 7; Sept. 23, 2004, No. 474, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 11 - Commission of Civil Rights (§§ 151 — 161) › § 158 - Cooperation of Government Bodies

The Commission may use the services and facilities offered by persons or private institutions. The Department of Education, the University of Puerto Rico, the Department of the Family, the Corrections Administration and the Puerto Rico Police, among other government bodies, shall provide their facilities for the educational activities of the Civil Rights Commission, in general.
Government of Puerto Rico’s radio and television stations shall assign, free of cost, a permanent time slot, of at least one hour a month, to broadcast information on civil rights.
The Commission may contract or appoint any official or employee of the Government of Puerto Rico or of any of its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, bodies or political subdivisions, with the consent of the nominating authority of the government organization where said official or employee is rendering services. In such a case, it shall be the duty of the nominating authority to retain the positions or employment of said officials or employees while the Commission is using their services.
The Commission is also authorized to contract the services of any official or employee of the Government of Puerto Rico or any of its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, bodies or political subdivisions, and to pay for the additional services rendered to the Commission after their regular working hours without being subject to the provisions of § 551 of Title 3.
The Commission may, with the approval of the Governor, entrust to any department, agency, bureau, division, authority, instrumentality, body or political subdivision of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, to perform any study or investigation, or any phase or part thereof, or to perform any other kind of work that is necessary for the discharge of its functions. The government body so entrusted shall give every priority possible to the completion of such study investigation or work. The government organization entrusted with such a study, investigation or work, may request and obtain from the Commission, if, in its judgment, it is necessary, upon prior authorization of the Governor, a transfer of funds in the amount the Commission may deem reasonable.
The Commission may appoint Advisory Committees in each of the municipalities of the country, constituted by citizens of those municipalities.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 102, p. 267, § 8; Sept. 3, 1996, No. 186, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 11 - Commission of Civil Rights (§§ 151 — 161) › § 159 - Per diems and reimbursement of expenses

The members of the Commission, with the exception of the teachers of the Department of Education and the professors of the University of Puerto Rico, shall be entitled to a per diem of twenty-five dollars ($25) for each meeting they attend, or for each day they engage in businesses entrusted to them by the Commission or its Chairperson with regard to the duties imposed on them by this chapter.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 102, p. 267, § 9; Dec. 19, 1997, No. 173, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 11 - Commission of Civil Rights (§§ 151 — 161) › § 160 - Administration of funds

The Commission is hereby authorized to receive and administer funds derived from legislative appropriations, funds transferred from other agencies or dependencies of the government, and donations of any kind.
For its normal functioning, in accordance with its work program, the corresponding annual appropriations shall be made in specific items within the general budget of expenses of the government.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 102, p. 267, § 10, eff. July 1, 1965.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 11 - Commission of Civil Rights (§§ 151 — 161) › § 161 - Penalties

(1) Any person who shall voluntarily disobey, hinder or obstruct the Commission or its authorized agents in the discharge of their duties under this chapter, or who shall obstruct the holding of a hearing conducted in accordance with this chapter, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or by imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or by both penalties, in the discretion of the court.
(2) Without the consent of the Commission no evidence or testimony offered in an executive meeting will be published. Any person violating this provision shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or by imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or by both penalties, in the discretion of the court.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 102, p. 267, § 11, eff. July 1, 1965.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 12 - Investigation, Prosecution and Appeal Commission (§§ 171 — 185) › § 171 - Commission—Creation and integration

An Investigation, Prosecution and Appeal Commission is hereby created to be composed of five Commissioners appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. No officer or employee of the Department of Justice, of the Department of the Treasury nor of the Police of Puerto Rico or of any organization ascribed thereto may be a member of the Commission, except persons who on the date of effectiveness of this chapter are members of the Police Commission, who shall become a part of the Commission herein created, until the expiration of the terms for which they were appointed.
The Commissioners shall discharge their respective offices for a period of three years from the date of their appointment and until their successors have been appointed and qualify and no other compensation shall be given except as provided in § 182 of this title. The Governor shall designate one of the members as Chairman of the Commission. Three Commissioners shall constitute a quorum to carry out agreements.
When one or more of the Commissioners become physically disabled or for any other reason are unable to fulfill the functions of their office, the Governor, with advice and consent, may appoint one or more Commissioners to discharge said office for the remaining term of the corresponding Commissioner or Commissioners who created the vacancy.
History —May 22, 1972, No. 32, p. 60, § 1, eff. 90 days after May 22, 1972.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 12 - Investigation, Prosecution and Appeal Commission (§§ 171 — 185) › § 174 - Effectiveness of other entities

Nothing herein provided shall be construed as invalidating, repealing or limiting any power, duty or faculty of any department, agency, board, commission or any other entity or dependency of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico except the Police Commission, which shall cease to exist on the taking of effect of this act. Section 11 of Act No. 77 of June 22, 1956, is hereby repealed.
History —May 22, 1972, No. 32, p. 60, § 4, eff. 90 days after May 22, 1972.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 12 - Investigation, Prosecution and Appeal Commission (§§ 171 — 185) › § 175 - Oaths, testimonies and summonses

The Commission and each member of the Commission shall be empowered to take oaths and testimonies. In addition, the Commission may require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the presentment of any books, papers, records, documents or other evidence relevant to any matter before its consideration.
Every summons issued by the Commission, its Secretary or by any of its members shall bear the seal of the Commission and may be served anywhere within the Commonwealth. Certificates issued by the Commission on request of interested parties shall bear said seal.
All persons summoned and who duly appear as witnesses shall receive for each day’s attendance a sum equal to that received by witnesses appearing before the courts of justice.
History —May 22, 1972, No. 32, p. 60, § 5, eff. 90 days after May 22, 1972.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 12 - Investigation, Prosecution and Appeal Commission (§§ 171 — 185) › § 176 - Appearance of witnesses; proceedings; civil contempt

Whenever a witness summoned by the Commission fails to appear and testify or to produce the evidence required, or when he refuses to answer any question in connection with any study or investigation carried out by the Commission in the discharge of its functions, the Chairman of the Commission may request the assistance of the San Juan Part of the Court of First Instance of Puerto Rico to require the attendance and the testimony of such witness or the production of the required evidence, as the case may be. The Secretary of Justice shall offer to the Commission the legal assistance necessary for such purposes.
After the petition is filed in the San Juan Part of the Court of First Instance of Puerto Rico, said court shall issue a summons requiring and directing the witness to appear and testify or to produce the evidence requested, or both, before the Commission, and disobedience of the order of the court shall be punished as for contempt.
History —May 22, 1972, No. 32, p. 60, § 6, eff. 90 days after May 22, 1972.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 12 - Investigation, Prosecution and Appeal Commission (§§ 171 — 185) › § 177 - Evidence

At the request of the Commission, the San Juan Part of the Court of First Instance may direct that any evidence produced in any public or private hearing held in connection with any investigation carried out by the Commission be retained by, or be delivered and placed under the custody of the Commission. Said evidence shall not be removed from the custody of the Commission except by another order of the court, issued after five days’ notice to the Commission or at its request, or with its consent.
History —May 22, 1972, No. 32, p. 60, § 7, eff. 90 days after May 22, 1972.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 12 - Investigation, Prosecution and Appeal Commission (§§ 171 — 185) › § 178 - Immunity

The Commission may grant immunity to any person examined during the course of any investigation or hearing held by the Commission, but only after offering the Secretary of Justice the opportunity of expressing the objections which he might have in granting such immunity, and always with his consent.
No person examined under oath in any investigation or hearing held by the Commission, to whom immunity has been granted in accordance with the provisions of the previous paragraph, may refuse to testify or to present any document or other evidence on the basis that his testimony or the presentation of the required evidence would expose him to criminal prosecution. No person to whom the Commission has granted immunity shall be criminally prosecuted because of any transaction, matter or thing in relation with which he has been forced to declare or to present evidence after having claimed his privilege of not having to testify against himself, except that a person who so testifies shall not be exempt from prosecution and punishment, if the proceeding is based on any false statement made in said examination.
History —May 22, 1972, No. 32, p. 60, § 8, eff. 90 days after May 22, 1972.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 12 - Investigation, Prosecution and Appeal Commission (§§ 171 — 185) › § 179 - Use of services and facilities; cooperation

The Commission, in the discharge of its duties, may use the services and facilities offered by private institutions and persons as well as by the departments, agencies, instrumentalities and other organizations of the Government of Puerto Rico, the municipalities and its political subdivisions. All such government entities shall cooperate with and shall offer their services and facilities to the Commission, at its request or at the petition of the Governor.
Likewise, the Commission may contract or appoint any officer or employee of the Government of Puerto Rico or of any of its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, organizations or political subdivisions where said officer or employee is rendering service. It shall be the duty of the appointing authority, in such case, to retain for said officers or employees, their offices or employments as long as the Commission makes use of their services.
The Commission is further authorized to contract, without being subject to the provisions of § 551 of Title 3, the services of any officer or employee of the Government of Puerto Rico or of any of its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, organizations or political subdivisions, and to pay for their additional services which they may render to the Commission outside of their regular hours of service.
The Commission, with the approval of the Governor, may entrust any department, agency, bureau, division, authority, instrumentality, organization or political subdivision of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, to carry out any study or investigation, or any phase or part thereof, or to perform any other kind of work which might be necessary in the discharge of its functions. The government organization receiving such commission shall give the greatest priority as possible to the execution of the study, investigation or work which has been entrusted to it. The government organization which has been entrusted to carry out the study, investigation or work may request from the Commission and obtain from the latter, if in its judgment it is deemed necessary, upon the previous authorization of the Governor, a transfer of funds for the amount deemed reasonable by the Commission.
History —May 22, 1972, No. 32, p. 60, § 9; Aug. 30, 2000, No. 238, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 12 - Investigation, Prosecution and Appeal Commission (§§ 171 — 185) › § 180 - Regulations

The Commission shall adopt the necessary regulations for the proper carrying out of its functions, in accordance with the provisions of §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, which shall include the rules on the procedures for the presentation of charges and appeals.
History —May 22, 1972, No. 32, p. 60, § 10, eff. 90 days after May 22, 1972.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 12 - Investigation, Prosecution and Appeal Commission (§§ 171 — 185) › § 181 - Office of the Commission; Executive Director

To carry out its functions, the Commission shall establish and organize an office appropriate to its needs. It shall also appoint an Executive Director who shall be responsible for organizing and directing the work of the office, and who, upon the previous authorization of the Commission, shall appoint the office personnel. The Executive Director shall be comprised within the Non-Competitive Service of the Commonwealth Government.
Furthermore, the Director may contract, upon the previous approval of the Commission, the service of experts and consultants. The Director shall administer the budget and shall be responsible to the Commission for its management, through its Chairman.
History —May 22, 1972, No. 32, p. 60, § 11, eff. 90 days after May 22, 1972.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 12 - Investigation, Prosecution and Appeal Commission (§§ 171 — 185) › § 182 - Per diems and reimbursements

The members of the Commission shall be entitled to a per diem equal to the minimum per diem established in §§ 28 et seq. of Title 2, for the members of the Legislature, for each meeting they attend or for each day in which they conduct any official business entrusted by the Commission or its Chairperson in relation to the duties imposed by this chapter.
All members of the Commission shall furthermore be entitled to be reimbursed for the expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of their official duties, subject to the regulations established to that effect by the Commission and the applicable regulations of the Department of the Treasury.
Any member of the Commission who receives a pension or annuity from any retirement system of the Government of Puerto Rico or from any of its agencies, dependencies, public corporations or political subdivisions, may receive the per diem without his/her right to the retirement pension or annuity being affected.
History —May 22, 1972, No. 32, p. 60, § 12; Jan. 22, 1999, No. 50, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 12 - Investigation, Prosecution and Appeal Commission (§§ 171 — 185) › § 183 - Appropriations

The Commission is hereby authorized to receive and administer funds derived from legislative appropriations, from the transfer of funds, from other agencies or dependencies of the Government and from contributions of any kind.
For its normal operations, in accordance with its work program, the corresponding appropriations shall annually be made within the general budget of expenses of the Government.
History —May 22, 1972, No. 32, p. 60, § 13, eff. 90 days after May 22, 1972.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 12 - Investigation, Prosecution and Appeal Commission (§§ 171 — 185) › § 184 - Penalties

Any person who voluntarily disobeys, hinders or obstructs the Commission or any of its authorized agents in the discharge of their duties, obstructs the holding of a hearing, or violates any of the provisions of this chapter or of the regulations adopted pursuant thereto, shall incur in a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine which shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500) or by imprisonment in jail for a term not to exceed six (6) months or by both penalties in the discretion of the court.
History —May 22, 1972, No. 32, p. 60, § 14, eff. 90 days after May 22, 1972.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 12 - Investigation, Prosecution and Appeal Commission (§§ 171 — 185) › § 185 - Transfers

All the personnel, equipment, records and unused funds from the Police Commission are hereby transferred to the Commission.
History —May 22, 1972, No. 32, p. 60, § 15, eff. 90 days after May 22, 1972.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 13 - Southern States Energy Compact (§§ 201 — 204) › § 202 - Request for admission

The Governor of Puerto Rico is hereby authorized to take the necessary steps so that the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may become a member of the Southern States Energy Compact.
History —May 30, 1970, No. 86, p. 224, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 13 - Southern States Energy Compact (§§ 201 — 204) › § 203 - Appropriation

The sum needed to satisfy the contribution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to the Southern States Energy Board shall be included in the Operational Budget of the Commonwealth.
History —May 30, 1970, No. 86, p. 224, § 3; June 26, 1980, No. 10, p. 887, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 13 - Southern States Energy Compact (§§ 201 — 204) › § 204 - Representation of Commonwealth

The Governor of Puerto Rico shall be the representative of the Commonwealth on the Southern States Energy Board. The Governor may designate one or several persons to represent him on the Board, who shall serve at the discretion of the Governor.
History —May 30, 1970, No. 86, p. 224, § 4; June 26, 1980, No. 10, p. 887, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 14 - Organic Act of the Food and Nutrition Commission of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 251 — 260) › § 251 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words, terms and phrases shall have the meaning stated below:
(a) Food.— Shall mean any substance for human consumption that upon being ingested, digested, absorbed and consumed contributes to the development of the body, provides energy to perform its activities, and allows its normal functioning.
(b) Agency.— Shall mean any department, board, commission, office, division, bureau, public corporation or its subsidiary, municipality, or instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(c) Food chain.— Shall mean the processes that intervene in the diet that include the stages of production, importing, distribution, marketing and availability, preparation and consumption of foods, as well as their nutritional component that includes the processes that occur from the acquisition of the food by human beings to their ingestion, digestion and use.
(d) Commission.— Means the Puerto Rico Food and Nutrition Commission.
(e) Private entity.— Means any natural or juridical person, association, partnership, federation, institute, cooperative and any other of a similar nature that operates with, or without pecuniary interest.
(f) Executive Director.— Means the main administrative official of the Commission, appointed pursuant to this chapter.
(g) Nutritional Watch System.— Means the permanent and on-going process of compiling, analyzing, and distributing the information needed to maintain a updated knowledge of the availability, consumption, and best use of food and the nutritional status of the population; identification of the causes, changes and trends; prediction of possible variations, and making timely decisions regarding emergency preventive actions, cures, or rehabilitation to [m]odify the situation encountered, and evaluation of the impact caused by the actions taken.
History —Jan. 8, 1999, No. 10, § 2, eff. July 1, 1999.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 14 - Organic Act of the Food and Nutrition Commission of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 251 — 260) › § 254 - Nutritional Vigilance System

The Food and Nutrition Commission shall have the responsibility of designing the procedures to establish a nutritional vigilance system through which:
(a) The dietary conditions of the population in Puerto Rico are continuously identified and the changes that occur after procedures are applied to improve them, and
(b) give advice in identifying the availability of foodstuffs whose nutritional content would be of great benefit to improve the nutritional status of the population.
The Food and Nutrition Commission shall also be responsible for the establishing of procedures to perform periodic nutritional studies to determine the nutritional condition of the population.
History —Jan. 8, 1999, No. 10, § 6, eff. July 1, 1999.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 14 - Organic Act of the Food and Nutrition Commission of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 251 — 260) › § 255 - Studies and investigations

The Food and Nutrition Commission, through an agreement to such effect, shall coordinate the execution of the studies and investigations related to the dietary and nutritional status of Puerto Rico which it deems are necessary and convenient to achieve the purposes of this chapter. The Commission may perform these studies on its own or through an arrangement or agreement with any other public agency or private entity. These studies and investigations shall be public in nature and the Commission shall disclose the results for general knowledge. The reports of said studies and research, as well as all the documents that serve as their background or are otherwise related thereto, shall be available to any natural or juridical person. Only those statements, information and documents that are protected by copyright laws or any other legal provisions of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or the Government of the United States of America that are applicable locally shall be excluded.
The Food and Nutrition Commission may charge for the cost of reproducing copies of investigations, studies, analyses and any other related document as provided by regulations.
The Commission may distribute copies of the results of its investigations, studies and reports, free of charge, to government bodies, institutions of higher learning, and public and private educational, health or family and recreational entities, when, in its judgment, it is necessary or convenient in compliance with the purposes of this chapter.
The Food and Nutrition Commission shall establish, by regulations, the guidelines, conditions and exceptions, which shall govern the distribution and charges for the publications of the investigations, studies and analyses it coordinates.
History —Jan. 8, 1999, No. 10, § 7, eff. July 1, 1999.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 14 - Organic Act of the Food and Nutrition Commission of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 251 — 260) › § 256 - Executive Director—Appointment

The administrative matters of the Commission shall be directed by an Executive Director appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Health, after consulting the members of the Food and Nutrition Commission. The Executive Director shall be a person of recognized capacity and experience in the science of nutrition with knowledge in the areas of administration and management, and shall meet the requirements of §§ 2181 et seq. of Title 20, that regulates the practice of the nutrition and dietetics profession in Puerto Rico. He/she will hold office at the volition of the Secretary of the Department of Health.
The Executive Director shall earn the salary or remuneration fixed by the Secretary of the Department of Health in consultation with the Commission pursuant to the standards that govern in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for offices of equal or similar nature. He/she shall be entitled to the benefits of §§ 761 et seq. of Title 3, which establishes the Retirement System of the Employees of the Government of Puerto Rico and its Instrumentalities.
History —Jan. 8, 1999, No. 10, § 8, eff. July 1, 1999.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 14 - Organic Act of the Food and Nutrition Commission of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 251 — 260) › § 257 - Executive Director—Functions and duties

In order to comply with the purposes of this chapter, the Executive Director shall have the following powers and duties among the others, that the Commission may prescribe:
(a) Draft the minutes of the meetings of the Food and Nutrition Commission, certify and compile them, and certify and circulate the agreements, resolutions, and determinations of the Commission to the members, as needed, and issue certifications and acknowledgements thereof.
(b) Compile the resolutions, agreements and determinations of the Commission, and adequately keep and maintain all its documents and files.
(c) Keep the Food and Nutrition Commission informed on the execution and implementation of the agreements and decisions thereof, and on the progress of all the tasks assigned by it.
(d) Certify the attendance of the members of the Food and Nutrition Commission to the meetings and authorize the payment of the corresponding per diems according to this chapter.
(e) Determine the internal organization of the Office of the Commission, after consulting with the Secretary of the Department of Health and establish the systems that are needed for its adequate operation and functioning, as well as performing the management and administrative procedures that are needed to execute the decisions and agreements of the Food and Nutrition Commission.
(f) Appoint the personnel needed to carry out the purposes of this chapter and establish the rules to govern the management of said personnel with the approval of the Food and Nutrition Commission. The Commission shall be constituted as an individual administrator, as said term is defined in Act No. 5 of October 14, 1975, known as the “Puerto Rico Public Service Personnel Act”. The personnel of the Commission may avail itself of the benefits of §§ 761 et seq. of Title 3, which establishes the Retirement System for the Employees of the Government of Puerto Rico and its Instrumentalities.
(g) Contract the technical and professional services needed to comply with the purposes of this chapter, upon the approval of the Food and Nutrition Commission, and subject to the norms and regulations of the Department of the Treasury.
(h) Acquire the materials, supplies, equipment and property needed for the operation of the Commission and to perform the purposes of this chapter subject to the provisions of §§ 931 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “General Services Administration Act”.
(i) Prepare, administer and submit the budget of said Commission, pursuant to the provisions of §§ 101 et seq. of Title 23, known as the “Management and Budget Office Organic Act”, and establish an accounting system according to the provisions established to such effect in §§ 283—283p of Title 3, known as the “Puerto Rico Government Accounting Act”.
History —Jan. 8, 1999, No. 10, § 9, eff. July 1, 1999.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 14 - Organic Act of the Food and Nutrition Commission of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 251 — 260) › § 258 - Collaboration of public agencies

For the purposes of this chapter, the President of the Commission, with the approval of the Governor, may request the services, facilities and personnel of any public agency, and they may provide and offer them. Any official or employee of a public agency that is transferred temporarily to the Commission by virtue of the provisions of this section shall retain all the rights, benefits, classification and position he/she holds in the original public agency.
The Commission may, likewise, with the approval of the Governor, request any public agency to perform any study, investigation or analysis related to the agency that is deemed necessary or convenient to achieve the purposes of this chapter.
History —Jan. 8, 1999, No. 10, § 10, eff. July 1, 1999.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 14 - Organic Act of the Food and Nutrition Commission of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 251 — 260) › § 259 - Obligations of public agencies regarding the Office

For the purposes of a coordinated implementation of the public policy on foods and nutrition, every public agency that renders, manages or performs any programs, services, benefits and activities related to food and nutrition shall remit to the Commission a complete report on their services, benefits and activities related to food and nutrition, and it shall have the power to require that they furnish a complete report of the services, benefits and activities they perform, indicating the clients, funds assigned, foods provided, frequency of the service, procedures for the selection of beneficiaries or participants, and any other information that the Food and Nutrition Commission determines is necessary. The public agencies shall comply with what has been stated above, within ninety (90) days following the effective date of this act. Subsequently, they shall render this report no later than December 31 of each year.
History —Jan. 8, 1999, No. 10, § 11, eff. July 1, 1999.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 14 - Organic Act of the Food and Nutrition Commission of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 251 — 260) › § 260 - Advisory and investigative powers

In the performance of the advisory, investigative and study functions delegated to it in § 254 of this title, the Food and Nutrition Commission shall:
(a) Request and obtain any information, data, statistics, reports, documents or any other material that is needed to conduct its studies and investigations.
(b) Hold the hearings and on-site inspections needed for the purposes provided in this chapter. Any hearing before the Commission shall be public, but may be private when justified in the public interest.
(c) Inspect the records, inventories of documents and physical facilities of the public agencies or private entities that receive public funds for food and nutrition programs.
History —Jan. 8, 1999, No. 10, § 12, eff. July 1, 1999.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 15A - Office of Procurement for Women (§§ 311 — 329) › Subchapter I - Title of the Act and Definitions (§ 311) › § 311 - Definitions

The following terms shall have the meaning stated below:
(a) Public agency.— Is any department, board, commission, division, office, bureau, administration, public corporation or subsidiary thereof, municipality or instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, including any of its officials, employees, or members that act or purport to act in the performance of their official duties.
(b) Private entity.— Is any association, organization, institute or natural or juridical person, that performs, offers or renders any service or activity, or administers any program that addresses the needs of women and families. It shall also include any association, organization, institute or natural or juridical person in which a woman works; as well as any private, elementary, middle or high school, university, institute, vocational or technical school, whether recognized or not by regulatory bodies which offer study or skill programs for children, youths or adults in Puerto Rico.
(c) Advisory Council.— Is the Women’s Advocate Advisory Council created by virtue of this chapter.
(d) Advocate.— Is the Women’s Advocate of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, position created by virtue of this chapter.
(e) Office or Advocate’s Office.— Is the Commonwealth body created by virtue of this chapter.
(f) Governor.— Is the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(g) Commonwealth.— Is the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
History —Apr. 11, 2001, No. 20, § 2; Aug. 6, 2008, No. 173, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 15A - Office of Procurement for Women (§§ 311 — 329) › Subchapter II - Creation of the Office and the Position of Women’s Advocate (§§ 312 — 313) › § 312 - Creation

The Women’s Advocate Office is hereby created as an independent legal entity, separate from any other public agency or entity. The Office shall be headed by the Women’s Advocate, who shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Women’s Advocate shall be appointed for a term of ten (10) years until her successor is appointed and takes office. Compensation for the office of Advocate shall be fixed by the Governor, which shall never be less than that of a Judge of the Court of Appeals.
The Governor, without impairing his/her constitutional prerogatives, may request and receive recommendations about possible candidates to hold this office from the government sector and from groups that advocate women’s rights and gender equality.
The Governor, after notice and hearing, may declare the office of the Advocate vacant due to physical or mental disability that prevents the Advocate from discharging the functions of her office; negligence in the discharge of her functions; or dereliction of duty.
The appointee to this office shall be a woman of renowned professional capabilities and independent judgment who has stood out for her commitment to the defense of women’s rights and the fight against all manifestations of oppression, marginalization, and discrimination, and for her respect for diversity. She shall also be willing to continuously analyze the situation of women from a gender-based perspective.
History —Apr. 11, 2001, No. 20, § 4; Aug. 9, 2010, No. 124, § 1.