reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 27 - Oath of Office and Official Bonds (§§ 601 — 615) › § 601 - Oath of office—Form

All members of the Legislature of Puerto Rico and all executive, administrative and judicial officers, and all employees of the Government of Puerto Rico, its dependencies, boards, commissions, and organizations created by law, shall, before they enter upon the duties of their respective offices or employments, take and sign the following oath or affirmation, to wit:
“Oath of Allegiance and of Office “I, ______________________ __________, (Name of office or employment) (age) appointed _____________________, do solemnly swear (Name of office or employment) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office or employment on which I am about to enter. So help me God. (Officer or employee) “Sworn to and subscribed before me __________ in and for _________ this day of ______________ of the year. “(Officer administering the oath)”
The violation of this oath shall be sufficient cause for the removal of the officer or employee. Every officer or employee who at the time this section takes effect is holding his office or employment shall proceed to take the oath above prescribed not later than January 31, 1953, and any officer or employee who shall refuse to take the oath shall immediately cease in his office or employment.
History —Political Code, 1902, § 186; May 13, 1936, No. 93, p. 490, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 27 - Oath of Office and Official Bonds (§§ 601 — 615) › § 602 - Oath of office—University employees

The Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor and all the deans of the University of Puerto Rico, as well as the directors of the Experimental Station and the Agricultural Extension Service of the University of Puerto Rico are hereby empowered to administer to the employees of the University the oath of office prescribed by § 601 of this title.
History —Apr. 17, 1952, No. 70, p. 150, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 27 - Oath of Office and Official Bonds (§§ 601 — 615) › § 602a - Corporate powers of the University

The University of Puerto Rico shall have all the authorities, prerogatives, responsibilities, and duties germane to a corporate entity in charge of higher education, which shall be exercised by the Governing Board. It shall have authority to sue and be sued, acquire and possess assets and real property, mortgage, sell, or otherwise alienate the same; contract debts; enter into contracts; invest its funds in a manner compatible with the goals and purposes of this Act; adopt and use an official seal; accept and administer donations, estates, and bequests. It shall have custody of, as well as govern and administer all of its assets of any class, and of all its funds, established in § 602(h)(2) of this title.
History —Jan. 20, 1966, No. 1, p. 85, added as § 3.1 on Apr. 30, 2013, No. 13, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 27 - Oath of Office and Official Bonds (§§ 601 — 615) › § 603 - Oath of office—Legislative officers and employees

The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as the Secretaries of both legislative houses, are hereby authorized to administer the oath of office to the members and employees of their respective bodies and to the officers and employees of the joint committees and of the joint-service offices of both houses. Other officers or employees may take the oath of office before any officer authorized to administer oaths.
History —Political Code, 1902, § 187; June 9, 1956, No. 30, p. 90.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 27 - Oath of Office and Official Bonds (§§ 601 — 615) › § 610 - Duplicate checks

Whenever the original of any check issued by any disbursing officer of the Commonwealth is lost, stolen, or destroyed, or not received, or is so mutilated as to be nonnegotiable, said disbursing officer is authorized to issue the corresponding duplicate check upon request of the interested party, and within a period of six (6) months following the date of issue; Provided, That satisfactory evidence that the check has not been received, or of the loss, substraction, theft, destruction or mutilation of such check, shall first be presented to and approved by the disbursing officer, who shall direct the stop payment of the original check.
In any case that the claimant is not the original owner of the check, the disbursing officer shall require clear and satisfactory evidence of the legitimate possession by said claimant at the time of the loss, substraction, theft, destruction or mutilation of such check. In such cases the duplicate check shall be issued to the account of the original payee, but shall bear an endorsement by the disbursing officer, directing payment thereof to the order of the legitimate owner of the check.
If the original check is received or recovered after the owner has requested the stop payment thereof, but before the disbursing officer has issued the duplicate, the disbursing officer shall invalidate said stop payment.
The Secretary of the Treasury may issue the necessary regulations for the issuing of the duplicate checks.
History —Political Code, 1902, § 190; Apr. 21, 1950, No. 72, p. 176, § 1; May 9, 1969, No. 3, p. 4; May 6, 1983, No. 37, p. 61.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 27 - Oath of Office and Official Bonds (§§ 601 — 615) › § 612 - Outstanding checks on death, resignation or removal

In case of the death, resignation, or removal of any disbursing officer under the Commonwealth Government, it shall be the duty of the head of the proper department in which such disbursing officer was employed immediately to serve notice of the fact on the depositary with whom the funds of such disbursing officer are kept, giving the date of his death, resignation, or removal, and to send a like notice to the Secretary of the Treasury. The head of such department shall also direct that a certified list of all outstanding checks of such disbursing officer be prepared, a copy of which he shall transmit immediately to the bank where the funds of said official are on deposit, with instructions that no check be paid which does not appear in said list. The original thereof shall be transmitted to the Secretary of the Treasury. The Secretary of the Treasury shall verify the list and shall thereupon call upon the depositary with whom the funds of such disbursing officer are kept for a statement of the balance standing to his official credit. The amount of outstanding checks shall be deducted from the balance standing to the credit of such disbursing officer. The Secretary of the Treasury shall direct such depositary to issue a draft in favor of the Secretary of the Treasury of Puerto Rico for the difference. The Secretary shall issue the proper receipt which shall be credited to the disbursing officer when liquidating his accounts.
Also, at the end of each month, or as soon thereafter as possible, the head of the department shall direct to be prepared, and he shall certify, a complete and exact list of all the checks issued in favor of public creditors by the employee who has ceased in his functions as disbursing officer and which have remained unpaid for a year or over. The head of the department shall transmit to the depositary bank a copy of said list, with instructions not to pay any check appearing thereon. The original of the list shall be transmitted to the Secretary of the Treasury for verification. The Secretary of the Treasury shall direct the depositary to issue a draft in favor of the Secretary of the Treasury of Puerto Rico for the amount of such list. The Secretary shall issue the proper receipt, which shall be credited to the account “Outstanding Liabilities”.
History —Political Code, 1902, § 192; Mar. 27, 1950, No. 13, p. 58, § 1; Mar. 13, 1951, No. 25, p. 50, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 27 - Oath of Office and Official Bonds (§§ 601 — 615) › § 613 - Outstanding checks on death, resignation or removal—Settlement warrant for insufficient funds

In the event that the list of outstanding checks required by § 612 of this title should be incomplete, or in case of any error therein by reason of which there should not be sufficient funds, remaining with the depositary to pay all outstanding checks of any such disbursing officer, all such checks not paid for want of funds in the hands of the depositary, shall be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, whose duty it shall be to state an account in favor of the owner of such check, and issue a settlement warrant in his favor for payment of the amount thereof, which shall be charged to the account of the disbursing officer by whom such check was drawn.
History —Political Code, 1902, § 193.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 27 - Oath of Office and Official Bonds (§§ 601 — 615) › § 614 - Checks lost, destroyed; method of liquidation

Whenever any check issued by a disbursing officer of the Commonwealth Government who has died or is no longer in the service as disbursing officer, is lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated to such an extent that it is not negotiable, the Secretary of the Treasury, within the six (6) months following the date of issue of the original check, may notify the bank of the depository, so that the amount of the check is drawn to his account, chargeable to the disbursing officer’s funds. The Secretary of the Treasury shall issue a cashier’s receipt for the amount of the check, accredited to the “Outstanding Liabilities Account” in favor of the respective interested party. The liquidation of the claim shall be carried out pursuant to the provision of § 252 of this title.
History —Political Code, 1902, § 194; Apr. 24, 1950, No. 88, p. 212, § 1; May 6, 1983, No. 32, p. 54.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 685 - Inventions by residents; report to Committee

Any resident of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico who may discover or invent any process or device that may in his/her opinion, have the possibility of obtaining a patent from the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. due to its originality and usefulness, shall inform in writing about his/her scientific discovery or invention to the Committee hereinafter created, including in said report blueprints, drawings, photographs, models, prototypes or any other illustration which will enable the Committee to understand its operation, requesting that a patent for the same be applied for in his name and for the benefit of the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company and of said person at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C.
History —Mar. 20, 1951, No. 35, p. 84, § 1; Jan. 24, 1968, No. 1-A, p. 3, § 2; July 23, 1974, No. 163, Part 1, p. 745, § 2; June 4, 1982, No. 48, p. 98, § 1; Sept. 22, 2004, No. 436, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 686 - Committee for Promotion of Patents and Registration of Discoveries

A Committee for the Promotion of Invention Patents and Registration of Discoveries in Puerto Rico is hereby created, to be composed by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Puerto Rico Campus in Mayagüez, the Director of the Agricultural Experimental Station, the Director of the Science and Technology Office of the Industrial Development Company, the Patents and Registers Engineer, the Director of the Educational Inventions and Innovations Center of the Department of Education or their designated representatives. The Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company is hereby empowered and authorized to create the Office of the Patents and Registers Engineer and to assign to the same the qualified personnel, specifying the functions of the Patent Engineer and providing the technical and administrative assistance needed to carry out the duties of his/her office.
History —Mar. 20, 1951, No. 35, p. 84, § 2; Jan. 24, 1968, No. 1-A, p. 3, § 3; July 23, 1974, No. 163, Part 1, p. 745, § 3; July 6, 1978, No. 97, p. 294, § 1; Sept. 22, 2004, No. 436, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 687 - Committee for Promotion of Patents and Registration of Discoveries—Chairman; hearings; release if valueless

The Director of the Science and Technology Office who shall be the Chairperson of said Committee, shall call a meeting at least once every two months or before, if the number of inventions submitted for evaluation so merits, to evaluate the applications received on invention patents or registration of discoveries. The Patent Engineer shall summon by mail the person who has made the application to a private hearing before the Committee in which the latter shall succinctly explain his/her invention or discovery and leave the plans and description of the process or device with the Committee or the Patent Engineer for study. The Committee shall decide, no later than thirty (30) days after the hearing has been held, whether the invention or discovery merits participation in the Patent Promotion Program created by §§ 685—695b of this title. It is decided that the invention or discovery does not merit participating in the Patent Promotion Program, the interested party shall be so informed, who may then personally take the necessary steps to patent his/her invention or register his/her discovery. In such a case, the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company would have no share in the profits received by the inventor or discoverer.
History —Mar. 20, 1951, No. 35, p. 84, § 3; Jan. 24, 1968, No. 1-A, p. 3, § 4; July 23, 1974, No. 163, Part 1, p. 745, § 4; July 6, 1978, No. 97, p. 294, § 2; Sept. 22, 2004, No. 436, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 688 - Committee for Promotion of Patents and Registration of Discoveries—Employee free if Committee fails to act

If for any reason the Committee is unable to make a decision within 30 days after the hearing is held, the inventor shall be at liberty to act by himself and he may then take the necessary steps for patenting his invention or discovery; if he secures the patent certificate, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico would then have no right or share in the invention or discovery.
History —Mar. 20, 1951, No. 35, p. 84, § 4, eff. 90 days after Mar. 20, 1951.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 689 - Committee for Promotion of Patents and Registration of Discoveries—Share in patent and royalties

Should the Committee resolve that the invention or discovery merits participation in the Patent Promotion Program, then it shall determine that the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company shall defray all expenses necessary to try to obtain a patent for the invention for up to the maximum permitted by law, including any steps taken in favor of the invention or discovery in question; it being understood that the inventor or discoverer shall have to defray the costs in excess of said maximum permitted by law.
The inventor or discoverer shall reimburse to the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company 25% of all royalties or other revenues derived from the use or other disposition of the patent, until he/she has settled his/her debt with the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company; Provided, further, That the inventor may reimburse to the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company the total expenses incurred during any stage in the process for obtaining the patent, should the inventor decide to do so.
Until the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company has recovered all expenses incurred for obtaining the patent through a reimbursement by the inventor, during any stage in the process for obtaining the patent, or recovered from royalties or other revenues, the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company shall have a lien on the invention or discovery and on any application or patent describing or claiming the invention.
No sale, assignment or license of the invention or discovery shall be valid without the written consent of the Committee until the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company has recovered all expenses incurred for obtaining said patent.
The inventor shall subscribe a promissory note for the amount of the expenses the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company has incurred for obtaining the patent. Said contract shall be executed using the form provided for such purpose by the Industrial Development Company, which shall be suitable for registration with the Patent Office in Washington, D.C.
History —Mar. 20, 1951, No. 35, p. 84, § 5; Jan. 24, 1968, No. 1-A, p. 3, § 5; July 23, 1974, No. 163, Part. 1, p. 745, § 5; June 4, 1982, No. 48, p. 98, § 2; Sept. 22, 2004, No. 436, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 690 - Committee for Promotion of Patents and Registration of Discoveries—Preparation of application for patent

As soon as it has studied the invention or discovery and decided that the former merits to be patented and the latter to be registered, the Committee shall notify the inventor or discoverer so that they may, as soon as possible, prepare the statements, the corresponding documents and the necessary diagrams and details to be remitted to the patents consultant contracted by the Industrial Development Company so the latter may study the case and file the necessary documents with the United States Patent Office in Washington, D.C.
In case the inventor or the discoverer requests technical assistance from the Committee to prepare all the documents needed to patent the invention or to register the discovery, the Committee may employ for this purpose the services of the employees of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, its agencies, instrumentalities and public corporations, or may provide that the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company defray all expenses needed to assist the inventor or discoverer for up to the maximum permitted by law, in preparing said documents as part of the assistance to be provided to patent the inventions or register the discovery.
History —Mar. 20, 1951, No. 35, p. 84, § 6; Jan. 24, 1968, No. 1-A, p. 3, § 6; July 23, 1974, No. 163, Part 1, p. 745, § 6; Sept. 22, 2004, No. 436, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 691 - Committee for Promotion of Patents and Registration of Discoveries—Expenses authorized

The Committee shall approve the expenses incurred in each case, which shall be audited and verified by the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company. In no case may the Committee be able to approve expenses in excess of eight thousand dollars ($8,000) for any one (1) invention or discovery and authorize expenses of up to twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) in exceptional cases, with the express approval of the Patent Committee in a simple majority vote.
The Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company, with the prior approval of the Committee, shall pay, from the special fund hereinafter created, for the expenses incurred to patent the invention or register the discovery.
History —Mar. 20, 1951, No. 35, p. 84, § 7; Jan. 24, 1968, No. 1-A, p. 3, § 7; July 23, 1974, No. 163, Part 1, p. 745, § 7; Sept. 22, 2004, No. 436, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 692 - Committee for Promotion of Patents and Registration of Discoveries—Sale of patent rights; hearing for inventor

Whenever the Committee receives an offer to sell or make any transaction with the patent rights or registrations obtained according to § 689 of this title, by permitting their use or utilization by other persons or entities, in agreement with the inventor or discoverer, it shall negotiate the terms and conditions of the transaction according to the stipulations in §§ 685—695b of this title and the lien that may exist on the patent granted.
History —Mar. 20, 1951, No. 35, p. 84, § 8; Jan. 24, 1968, No. 1-A, p. 3, § 8; July 23, 1974, No. 163, Part 1, p. 745, § 8; Sept. 22, 2004, No. 436, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 693 - Committee for Promotion of Patents and Registration of Discoveries—Special Fund

The Special Fund for the Promotion of Invention Patents and Registration of Discoveries in Puerto Rico is hereby created in the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company, into which shall be covered all profits or revenues obtained by the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company for royalties, the sale of or other disposition of the patented inventions and the registered discoveries.
History —Mar. 20, 1951, No. 35, p. 84, § 9; Jan. 24, 1968, No. 1-A, p. 3, § 9; July 23, 1974, No. 163, Part 1, p. 745, § 9; Sept. 22, 2004, No. 436, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 694a - Committee for Promotion of Patents and Registration of Discoveries—Inventions or discoveries by government employees

(a) The provisions of §§ 685-695b of this title shall not be made extensive to employees of the agencies, dependencies, instrumentalities or public corporations of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, who, by the nature of their corresponding offices or employments, are devoted to research and technical or scientific analysis for the discovery or invention of new processes or devices, or for the development or improvement of discoveries or inventions already existing.
(b) Any process or device invented or discovered by any of the above-mentioned employees in the discharge of his public office or employment shall be the exclusive property of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and all profits or income obtained from the royalties, sale or other disposition or use, except those mentioned in subsection (c) of this section, shall form part of the Special Fund for the Promotion of Invention Patents and Registration of Discoveries in Puerto Rico, or of the special fund which for those purposes may exist in the agency, dependency, instrumentality or public corporation for which the employee works.
(c) The Committee shall determine the share which the employees shall be entitled to for their inventions or discoveries, which shall not be greater than 33 1 / 3 percent of the profits or income obtained from royalties, sale or other disposition or use of the rights in the invention or discovery. Upon making such determination, the Committee shall consider such factors as the complexity of the invention or discovery, the knowledge required for the discovery, the time spent by the employee and the socio-economic success that may be obtained from the commercial operation of the same invention or discovery.
(d) The agencies, dependencies, instrumentalities or public corporations shall reimburse the expenses incurred by the Committee in patenting or registering any invention or discovery of their employees as a prerequisite to the enjoyment of the income or profits mentioned in subsection (b) of this section.
(e) It shall be the duty of the employees mentioned in subsection (a) to tender the necessary assistance in processing before the Committee and the proper authorities the patents of their inventions or the registration of their discoveries. Said employees shall tender like assistance in case it is decided to sell or otherwise dispose or use the processes or devices on which they have worked.
History —Mar. 20, 1951, No. 35, p. 84, added as § 10 on July 23, 1974, No. 163, Part 1, p. 745, § 11.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 695 - Committee for Promotion of Patents and Registration of Discoveries—Rules and regulations

The Committee shall adopt those rules and regulations required for the proper enforcement of §§ 685-695 of this title, which rules and regulations shall, after approved by the Governor, have the force of law.
History —Mar. 20, 1951, No. 35, p. 84, § 12, eff. 90 days after Mar. 20, 1951.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 695b - Committee for Promotion of Patents and Registration of Discoveries—Operational regulation; annual report

The Committee as a whole shall prepare and submit an operational regulation and a charter, which shall be registered in the Department of State. It shall annually submit to the Legislature and the Governor of Puerto Rico a report on its activities.
History —July 23, 1974, No. 163, Part 1, p. 745, § 13.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 696 - Transfer of vacation and sick leave between exempt and competitive or noncompetitive services

The transfer of vacation and sick leave accruing to any officer or employee of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico when passing from one position to another within the exempt, competitive, or noncompetitive service of the Government of Puerto Rico, is hereby authorized.
History —May 5, 1953, No. 12, p. 44, § 1; June 23, 1958, No. 84, p. 188, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 697 - Transfer of vacation and sick leave between exempt and competitive or noncompetitive services—Certification and credit of number of days

Whenever any officer or employee of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico passes from one agency to another comprised within the exempt, competitive or noncompetitive service, the agency where he works shall certify and the agency acquiring his services shall accept and credit to said officer or employee the number of days accruing to him on account of vacation and sick leave, in accordance with the leave system in effect in each such service.
History —May 5, 1953, No. 12, p. 44, § 2; June 23, 1958, No. 84, p. 188, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 698 - Transfer of vacation and sick leave between exempt and competitive or noncompetitive services—Maximum leave

The maximum leave thus transferable shall be sixty (60) days in the case of vacation leave and ninety (90) days in the case of sick leave.
History —May 5, 1953, No. 12, p. 44, § 3, eff. 90 days after May 5, 1953.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 699 - Teaching personnel of institutional schools of Commonwealth departments and dependencies—Exempt service

All the teaching personnel of the institutional schools organized by the various departments and dependencies of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is hereby included within the exempt service.
History —Apr. 19, 1955, No. 18, p. 72, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 700 - Teaching personnel of institutional schools of Commonwealth departments and dependencies—Certification, compensation, leave, retirement, and separation

Without impairing the attributes of the appointing authorities with regard to the appointment of the personnel mentioned in § 699 of this title, the said personnel shall be governed as to certification, compensation, leave, retirement, and separation, by the same laws which govern the teaching personnel of the Department of Education of Puerto Rico.
History —Apr. 19, 1955, No. 18, p. 72, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 701 - Employment of public school janitors when classrooms are used for competitive tests

The Director of the Office of Personnel of the Government of Puerto Rico is hereby authorized to contract for the services of such public school janitors as may be necessary during days on which competitive tests are held for positions in the public service, if and when they render their services outside their regular working hours as such janitors or public servants. The Director of the Office of Personnel is hereby authorized duly to compensate such janitors under contract for the services rendered by them to the Office of Personnel outside their regular working hours as public employees, in addition to the compensation they receive for their regular working hours. Said compensation shall be computed on the basis of the salary fixed for the position in the Compensation Plan and shall be proportionate to the duration of the service rendered under their contracts. The positions and contracts to which this section refers shall not be subject to the provisions of Act No. 345 of May 12, 1947, as amended.
History —May 25, 1956, No. 23, p. 66, § 1, eff. July 1, 1956.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 703 - Leaves of absence—Included personnel

The provisions relative to leaves of absence contained in the Personnel Rules adopted pursuant to Act No. 345 of May 12, 1947, as amended, shall be extended to the officers and employees who up to the present have not been subject to said rules, except the officers of the Executive Branch appointed by the Governor, those of the Legislative Branch and those covered by special laws or by special regulations or collective agreements of instrumentalities or public corporations in connection with accumulation, granting and use of leaves of absence.
History —June 10, 1967, No. 125, p. 384, § 1, eff. July 1, 1967.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 703a - Leaves of absence—Lump payment upon removal from service

Every officer or employee of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, except the officers of the Executive Branch appointed by the Governor and of the instrumentalities and public corporations shall be entitled to be paid, and there shall be paid a lump sum of money for the leaves of absence he may have accumulated up to a maximum of sixty (60) working days on his removal from service for any cause; and for sick leave he may have accumulated up to a maximum of ninety (90) working days, on his removal from service in order to avail himself of a retirement, if he is a participant of any retirement system sponsored by the Government and if he is not, on his final removal from service, if he has rendered at least ten (10) years of services. This lump sum for both leaves shall be paid at the rate of the salary earned by the officer or employee at the time of his removal from service, independently of the days he has enjoyed said leaves during the year. The provisions of this section are applicable to prosecutors and property registrars.
The appointing officers are hereby empowered to make such payment.
Upon ceasing the rendering of services, the office which has been held by the officer or the employee shall be considered vacant, and the period subsequent to the date on which the rendering of the services ceased shall not be considered as equivalent in leave time to said final payment.
If the removal from service should be due to the demise of the officer or employee, there shall be paid to his beneficiaries the sum corresponding to the deceased person, by reason of the unused leave of absence, in accordance with the provisions of this section.
It is hereby provided, further, that the official or employee may exercise the option to transfer the lump sum payment authorized by this chapter or part thereof to the Department of the Treasury, in order for the same to be credited as total or partial payment of any income tax debt he or she has at the time of exercising the option to transfer.
History —June 10, 1967, No. 125, p. 384, § 2; June 19, 1968, No. 92, p. 166, § 1; May 25, 1972, No. 37, p. 79, § 1; July 23, 1974, No. 198, Part 2, p. 81; Dec. 13, 1990, No. 40, § 7; Aug. 30, 2000, No. 237, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 703b - Leaves of absence—Regulations

The Governor shall regulate all matters regarding the granting and enjoyment of leave and the amount of the final compensation payments including the payment to the beneficiaries in case of death, to the officials designated by the Governor, with the exception of the members of the Judiciary, the district attorneys, prosecutors and registrars of deeds. To the effects of the final compensation payment including the payment to the beneficiaries in case of death, [sic] which shall never exceed the equivalent of six (6) months salary. The Governor shall take into consideration, among others, factors such as the needs of the service, duration of the term in office, and the fiscal status of the government agency or entity, the nature of the functions performed, and the credits for accrued vacation leave from previous Government employment but not taken upon transferring to positions by designation of the Governor. Those officials designated by the Governor who served for a term of less than a quadrennium, shall receive a final compensation as authorized by §§ 703—703e of this title, which shall not exceed two (2) months per each year of service, up to a maximum of six (6) months. Those persons who receive a final compensation payment pursuant to the provisions of §§ 703—703e of this title, shall be bound to reimburse the amount so received if, due to acts that took place during the exercise of their public office, they are convicted for crimes of misappropriation, embezzlement or theft of public funds; crimes against the public treasury or public office, as typified in the Penal Code of 1974.
The Presidents of both Legislative Bodies shall regulate matters pertinent to officials and employees of the Legislature with regard to the granting and enjoyment of leave, and such matters concerning the payment of the final compensation shall be adjusted according to the provisions of § 733 of this title.
History —June 10, 1967, No. 125, p. 384, § 3; June 19, 1968, No. 92, p. 166, § 2; June 19, 1969, No. 55, p. 99; Dec. 13, 1990, No. 40, § 7; Sept. 3, 2003, No. 247, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 703d - Leaves of absence—Payment not subject to deductions

The lump payment authorized by §§ 703-703e of this title shall not be subject to deductions by reason of savings and contributions to the retirement systems of government employees, but shall be subject to other deductions authorized by law, such as obligations of taxable nature and those voluntarily incurred by the officer or employee by reason of loans from the Employees Association, the government retirement systems or the credit cooperative associations of public employees or deduction for affiliation fees to employees associations authorized by law.
History —June 10, 1967, No. 125, p. 384, § 5, eff. July 1, 1967.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 703e - Leaves of absence—Item in budget

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget is hereby authorized to create in the Executive Budgets or in other details of the budget, the corresponding item to effectuate the payments authorized by §§ 703-703e of this title, when in his judgment it may deem necessary.
History —June 10, 1967, No. 125, p. 384, § 6; June 18, 1980, No. 147, p. 645, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 703f - Emergency service voluntary leave—Title

Sections 703f to 703f-6 shall be known as the “Emergency Service Voluntary Leave Act”.
History —Aug. 11, 1994, No. 58, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 703f-1 - Emergency service voluntary leave—Definitions

Commonwealth agency.— Means all the departments, officials, officers, commissions, boards, institutions, public corporations, members and officers of the Judiciary Branch, the House of Representatives, the Senate, their Committees and the municipalities.
Disaster.— Shall mean emergency situations caused by hurricanes, storms, floods, earthquakes, fires and situations of “force majeure” that require emergency services.
History —Aug. 11, 1994, No. 58, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 703f-2 - Emergency service voluntary leave—Paid leave concession

Every Commonwealth agency employee, who is certified as an American Red Cross disaster services volunteer, may absent him/herself from work with paid leave, for a period that shall not exceed thirty (30) calendar days within a twelve (12)-month period, to participate in American Red Cross specialized disaster functions.
History —Aug. 11, 1994, No. 58, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 703f-3 - Emergency service voluntary leave—Requirements for granting paid leave

The leave shall be granted as long as the services of the officer are requested by the American Red Cross, and after being approved by the agency where the officer performs his/her work. The American Red Cross shall issue a certification of services rendered and their duration to the employee.
History —Aug. 11, 1994, No. 58, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 703f-4 - Emergency service voluntary leave—Granting of leave shall not impair other employee rights

This leave shall be granted to the officer without impairing his/her pay, compensatory time, vacation and sick leave and the principle of seniority.
History —Aug. 11, 1994, No. 58, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 703f-5 - Emergency service voluntary leave—Compensation

The agency concerned shall compensate every officer who takes this leave with the same financial remuneration for the regular working hours the officer is absent from his/her work at the Agency.
History —Aug. 11, 1994, No. 58, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 703f-6 - Emergency service voluntary leave—Applicability

This leave shall be applicable to service in disasters that occur in the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth.
History —Aug. 11, 1994, No. 58, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 703g - Leave to donate blood

(a) A leave with pay is hereby granted, for a period of four (4) hours a year to donate blood or to register as a potential bone marrow donor, to all employees on probation, or regular, confidential or transitory employees, or to officials of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or its instrumentalities and public corporations or municipalities that so request it.
All public officials or employees, as defined in the above paragraph, may enjoy a period of four (4) hours a year from their whole work day to register as a bone marrow donor. In order for said period not to be deducted from any other leave, they must present evidence of such registration to their employer.
The period to register in the Bone Marrow Donor Registry shall be enjoyed only once per employee.
(b) The nominating authority may corroborate by any means that the license granted had been used for the purposes established in this section. The unlawful use of this license may lead to disciplinary sanctions, pursuant to the personnel regulations of the nominating authority.
(c) The employee shall provide the nominating authority supportive evidence that he or she used the period granted for the purposes established by this section.
History —Aug. 11, 2000, No. 154, §§ 1-3; June 23, 2004, No. 153, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 704 - Transfer of personnel between agencies

The Governor of Puerto Rico is hereby authorized by executive order when deemed necessary to transfer personnel from one agency into another for the rendering of services.
History —July 23, 1974, No. 222, Part 2, p. 158, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 704a - Petition of agencies

The Governor may issue an executive order to transfer personnel, whenever at the request of an agency or motu proprio, through information received from said agency, from the Office of Personnel or from the Office of Management and Budget, he may determine that, on account of the budgetary limitations or of unforeseen necessities that may arise, said agency is in need of additional personnel, and no additional funds may be appropriated to solve the problem. Through the information required from another or other agencies, from the Office of Personnel or from the Office of Management and Budget, he shall determine the personnel that may be transferred from these agencies, without prejudice to their operations, so as to render services in the agency in need of such personnel.
History —July 23, 1974, No. 222, Part 2, p. 158, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 704b - Transfer without discrimination or hardship; consent of personnel

The transfers of personnel ordered by the Governor through executive order shall be made maintaining the greater fairness in the proceedings, to avoid prejudice and having due consideration of the security and protection given by the Personnel Act to the Government personnel.
No personnel may be transferred when said transfer may result in a more onerous situation for the personnel transferred. The new duties required of said personnel may not receive a lower compensation, neither shall require to perform duties of a higher classification, or that may require skills different or superior than those of his former office or position; or the necessity of moving his home, or rendering his services at an unreasonable distance as compared to the distance travelled to and from his former office. In these cases, there shall be needed the consent of the personnel to be transferred.
History —July 23, 1974, No. 222, Part 2, p. 158, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 704c - Retention of rights and status

The personnel transferred shall maintain all the rights or status that they had in their former office or position under the rules and classifications in force pursuant to the personnel laws of Puerto Rico with regard to employment or reimbursement in the Government service that they had at the time they were transferred. Likewise, if they are the beneficiaries of any pension, retirement or savings fund and loans system or systems, they shall withhold the rights, privileges, obligations and status with respect as same were prescribed by law for the personnel of the agency from where they were transferred.
History —July 23, 1974, No. 222, Part 2, p. 158, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 704d - Regulations

The Governor, or the person whom he may delegate, shall prepare, with the advice of the Office of Personnel, a regulation for the enforcement of §§ 704-704e of this title, which shall take effect as soon as the requirements of Rules and Regulations Act of 1958 are complied with.
History —July 23, 1974, No. 222, Part 2, p. 158, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 704e - Definitions

For the purposes of §§ 704—704e of this title, the following terms shall have the meaning hereinbelow stated, unless otherwise indicated from its context.
Agency.— Means a department, division, bureau or office of the Commonwealth Government whose posts or positions fall under the same nominating authority. Both the Judicial and Legislative Branches are excluded from the scope of this concept.
Personnel.— Means any person holding an office or position in an agency on a partial or full-time status.
The terms when used in singular shall include the plural.
History —July 23, 1974, No. 222, Part 2, p. 158, § 6; Nov. 13, 2001, No. 156, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 705 - Quotas for associations, federations or unions of pensioners of the government, deductions

(a) Pensioners of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, including all its agencies, public corporations and instrumentalities, who, in the exercise of their constitutional rights, become organized as a bona fide group of public pensioners, for the purpose of promoting their social and economic progress, as it may be certified by the Secretary of State, may authorize the fund or the retirement system from which they receive their pension, to deduct from said pension the necessary amount for the payment of the quotas corresponding to them as members of the group of pensioners. Every manager of the Retirement System of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall see that the amount of the authorized quotas appear in the payrolls, and that the same be deducted from the pensions of the pensioners who so authorize in writing. The amount of the quotas shall be such as the Secretary of the pertinent group of pensioners shall certify.
(b) The authorizations granted hereunder by the pensioners of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may be revoked one year after their effective date.
(c) The Secretary of the Treasury or the officer responsible for making the payment of the pensions in the departments, agencies, public corporations and instrumentalities shall deliver to the officer designated by the pertinent group of pensioners the amount of the deductions authorized by the pensioners pursuant to this section. For such purpose the officer designated by the group of pensioners shall give bond as custodian of the funds of the group of public pensioners.
History —Mar. 8, 1975, No. 3, p. 4, §§ 1-3, eff. July 1, 1975.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 29 - Government Personnel (§§ 641 — 706) › § 705a - Definitions

For the purposes of §§ 705a—705d of this title, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings indicated below:
(a) Attorney.— Is a person who holds a Juris Doctor degree and has passed the general revalidation examination administered by the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(b) Bar Association.— Means the Puerto Rico Bar Association.
(c) Members fee.— Is the current fee that attorneys must pay to the Bar Association annually.
(d) Contract services.— Those attorneys, who are not employees of an office or department and charge for their services when they complete a specified number of hours, or for services rendered, and are not classified as career employees, as defined in Act No. 5 of October 14, 1975, as amended, known as the “Puerto Rico Public Service Personnel Act”.
History —Jan. 13, 2004, No. 53, § 2, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2004.