reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 38 - General Services Administration (§§ 931 — 934d) › Subchapter III - Functions and Programs of the Administration (§§ 933 — 933m) › § 933m - Investigations

The Administrator is hereby empowered to carry out any kind of studies and investigations on matters affecting the Administration, and for such purposes, the Administrator may request such information as may be necessary, pertinent and essential to achieve such purposes and approve such rules and regulations as may be necessary and reasonable. The Administrator may issue summons requiring the appearance of witnesses and the introduction of data or information to carry out the purposes of this chapter. He may further, personally or through his duly authorized agent, administer oaths and receive testimony, data or information. If a summons issued by the Administrator is not properly obeyed, the Administrator may appear before the Court of First Instance of Puerto Rico and request that compliance with the summons be ordered. The Court of First Instance shall give priority to the prosecution and dispatch of said petition and may enter orders compelling the appearance of witnesses or the presentation of the data or information previously required by the Administrator. The Court of First Instance shall have power to punish for contempt the noncompliance of such orders. No person shall refuse to comply with a summons of the Administrator or of his agent, or to produce the evidence required of him, or refuse to answer any question in connection with any study or investigation or because the evidence required could incriminate him or place him in jeopardy of a criminal prosecution or that he be discharged or suspended in his work, profession or occupation; but the testimony or evidence produced by said person, at the request of the Administrator or his agent, or by virtue of a judicial order, shall not be used or presented as proof against him in any criminal prosecution or in civil or administrative proceedings which could result in the removal, suspension of work, profession or occupation, after having claimed his privilege not to testify against himself, except that said person who may so testify shall not be exempted from prosecution or punishment for perjury in so testifying.
History —July 23, 1974, No. 164, Part 1, p. 752, § 28.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 38 - General Services Administration (§§ 931 — 934d) › Subchapter IV - General Provisions (§§ 934 — 934d) › § 934 - Transfers

The functions of the General Services Administration created by Reorganization Plan No. 2 (Substitute) of 1971, App. I of this title, except as otherwise provided in other provisions of this chapter, are hereby vested on the Administration and for such purposes, the Administration shall be in charge of:
(a) Every property or any interest therein; records, files and documents; appropriations, funds and resources that are or may be available, including surplus, shares, assets and increments, of any kind; obligations and contracts executed pursuant to law, which shall remain in full force and effect; fees, exemptions and privileges of any kind; licenses, permits and other authorizations, as well as all the liabilities of the Operating Fund, created by Act No. 96 of June 29, 1954, as amended, and of the Industrial Capital Fund created by Act No. 49, Aug. 4, 1947, as amended; and all such matters as, at the time this act takes effect, may be under the authority of the General Services Administration created by Substitute Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1971.
(b) The personnel, who at the effective date of this act are rendering services to the General Services Administration, shall retain all the vested rights on said date, as well as the rights, privileges, obligations, and status with respect to any pension, retirement or savings and loans fund system or systems to which they may be affiliated.
(c) The regulations governing the operation of the functions and programs of the General Services Administration created by Reorganization Plan No. 2, existing at the time this act takes effect, and which may be compatible with the same, shall prevail until they may be substituted, amended or repealed by the Administrator.
History —July 23, 1974, No. 164, Part 1, p. 752, § 29.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 38 - General Services Administration (§§ 931 — 934d) › Subchapter IV - General Provisions (§§ 934 — 934d) › § 934a - Freight expenses of surplus federal property

The Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized to advance to the General Services Administration, from unencumbered funds, up to a maximum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) to pay freight expenses of surplus federal property donated to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from abroad to Puerto Rico.
The agencies and municipalities that are benefited by said property shall reimburse to the Administration for the expenses incurred in the transportation and the latter shall refund them to the Commonwealth Treasury.
History —July 23, 1974, No. 164, Part 1, p. 752, § 30.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 38 - General Services Administration (§§ 931 — 934d) › Subchapter IV - General Provisions (§§ 934 — 934d) › § 934b - Issuance of documents

Any document issued in the Administration authenticated by the official seal and certified by the Administrator, or his authorized agent, shall be admitted in evidence, and shall have the same validity as its original.
History —July 23, 1974, No. 164, Part 1, p. 752, § 31.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 38 - General Services Administration (§§ 931 — 934d) › Subchapter IV - General Provisions (§§ 934 — 934d) › § 934c - Penalties

The Administrator, pursuant to § 932(j) of this title, is hereby empowered to adopt regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter, which shall have the force of law. The regulations shall prevail once they are approved by the Administrator and promulgated pursuant to Act No. 112, June 30, 1957, as amended, known as the “Regulations Act of 1958”.
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter, or of the regulations issued hereunder, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not less than fifty dollars ($50), nor more than two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) or imprisonment for a term not less than one (1) month nor more than six (6) months, or both, in the discretion of the court.
History —July 23, 1974, No. 164, Part 1, p. 752, § 32.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 38 - General Services Administration (§§ 931 — 934d) › Subchapter IV - General Provisions (§§ 934 — 934d) › § 934d - Injunctions

No injunction shall be issued to enjoin the application of this chapter or of any part thereof.
History —July 23, 1974, No. 164, Part 1, p. 752, § 33.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 38A - Energy Conservation in the Government (§§ 935-935e — 935e) › § 935—935e - Repealed. Act May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 7.03(c), effective May 27, 2014

History —June 8, 1979, No. 69, p. 145, § 1; Repealed. Act.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 39 - Official Publications and Documents (§§ 941 — 957) › § 941 - General reports in English and Spanish; publication and distribution

All general reports, whether annual or otherwise of the Governor or heads of departments of government, or of any bureau or division thereof, which are published in English, shall also be published in Spanish. Copies thereof shall be distributed when not otherwise provided by law, to the several departments of the government, to each member of the Legislative Assembly, and two (2) copies to each [mayor].
History —Political Code, 1902, § 185.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 39 - Official Publications and Documents (§§ 941 — 957) › § 942 - Authenticated records as admissible in evidence

Copies of any books, records, papers, or documents in any of the departments of the Commonwealth Government authenticated under the seals of such department respectively, shall be admitted in evidence equally with the originals thereof.
History —Political Code, 1902, § 199.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 39 - Official Publications and Documents (§§ 941 — 957) › § 947 - Publication of public notices—Definitions

Whenever used in §§ 946 and 947 of this title, the following terms shall have the meaning stated hereinbelow:
(a) Agency.— Shall mean all the agencies of the Executive Branch of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, public corporations, boards, municipalities, and all other entities under the jurisdiction of this Branch.
(b) Artist.— Shall mean a singer, dancer, comedian, magician, illusionist, folkloric musician, actor, presenter, announcer, host, model, reciter, extra, or any other person engaged, whether individually or as a group under the same professional name, in entertaining the public through any artistic performance for financial compensation.
(c) General circulation.— Shall mean the distribution by subscriptions or through vendors of not less than three thousand (3,000) copies of each issue among a diversified group of persons in the majority of the municipalities of the Commonwealth.
(d) Daily.— Shall mean any newspaper printed all work days of the year and which contains news and notices of interest for the community in general.
(e) Literary writer.— Refers to any person engaged in literature, including writers, novelists, poets, playwrights, critics, essayists, screenplay writers, humanists, and men of letters.
(f) Musician.— Shall mean any person whose work consists of playing a musical instrument or singing as part of an orchestra, ensemble, band, or any other type of musical group that is engaged in performing in dances, concerts, artistic or musical shows, and parties, or in playing alongside artists in exchange for financial compensation.
(g) Producer.— Shall mean a natural or juridical person who carries out the production or postproduction of a television or radio program, play, literary work, or show. The term shall also include technical talent such as editors, heads of production, camera and sound technicians, assistant directors, lighting personnel, set designers, cinematographers, prop masters, and makeup and hair designers who provide support to the production.
(h) Magazine.— Shall mean any publication of a general character which is published and distributed monthly.
(i) Puerto Rican talent.— Shall mean any artist, director, author, performer, music composer, set designer, director of photography, musician, literary writer, or producer who:
(1) If a juridical person, shall be incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(2) In the case of a natural person, was born in Puerto Rico or is the child of a Puerto Rican domiciled in Puerto Rico; or
(A) Is a U.S. citizen domiciled in Puerto Rico; or
(B) is a foreigner with legal residence in the United States and domiciled in Puerto Rico.
History —Apr. 29, 1949, No. 141, p. 376, § 1; June 19, 1961, No. 79, p. 156, § 1; May 12, 1964, No. 23, p. 68; Aug. 6, 1994, No. 52, § 1; Sept. 27, 2013, No. 88, § 1, eff. 60 days after July 29, 2013.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 39 - Official Publications and Documents (§§ 941 — 957) › § 948 - Conservation of public documents—Survey

The Office of Management and Budget is empowered to make a survey for the conservation and filing of the documents and papers of the departments and agencies of the Government of Puerto Rico.
History —May 10, 1952, No. 378, p. 744, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 39 - Official Publications and Documents (§§ 941 — 957) › § 949 - Conservation of public documents—Personnel

The Office of Management and Budget may contract for the technical and office personnel and may incur in any other expenses it may deem necessary to comply with the purposes of §§ 948 et seq. of this title. The personnel so contracted for such purposes shall not be subject to the Personnel Act.
History —May 10, 1952, No. 378, p. 744, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 39 - Official Publications and Documents (§§ 941 — 957) › § 950 - Conservation of public documents—Access to information and records

The departments and agencies shall provide to the Office of Management and Budget all the information it may request and shall permit the Office to examine any books, documents, papers, records or files in the possession of said departments and agencies.
History —May 10, 1952, No. 378, p. 744, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 39 - Official Publications and Documents (§§ 941 — 957) › § 951 - Conservation of public documents—Regulations

The Governor of Puerto Rico may designate an officer or agency to draw up regulations for the conservation and filing of the documents and papers of the departments and agencies, and said regulations shall, after approved by the Governor, be binding on all the departments, agencies and officers of the Government of Puerto Rico.
History —May 10, 1952, No. 378, p. 744, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 39 - Official Publications and Documents (§§ 941 — 957) › § 952 - Fees for certified documents

That in all cases where no other fees are fixed by law, the following shall be charged:
(1) For every certified copy of an official document or record issued by any department, bureau or branch of the Commonwealth Government, or by any court or municipal judge, twenty-five cents (25¢) per page; and fifty cents (50¢) for the certificate of the officer issuing the same. Provided, That in no case shall an amount less than one dollar ($1) be charged for any copy, in addition to the fee for the certificate. In cases in which the Department of Transportation and Public Works issues documents certifying the number of automobile accidents a person has had while driving a motor vehicle, the total fee to be collected shall be fifty cents (50¢). Provided, also, That each certificate issued by the Department of the Treasury in connection with a declaration of property, or payment of taxes, shall refer to the property embodied or described in one (1) single tax receipt or shall certify to the total value of the property of one (1) taxpayer in a single municipality. No certificate shall include more than one (1) municipality nor more than one (1) owner. A fee of one dollar ($1) shall be charged for such certificates.
History —Mar. 12, 1908, p. 144, § 1; June 9, 1961, No. 29, p. 63, § 1; July 20, 1979, No. 144, p. 339.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 39 - Official Publications and Documents (§§ 941 — 957) › § 953 - Fees for certified documents—Payment by internal revenue stamps

All fees accruing under §§ 952—954 of this title shall be paid by affixing to the document the required amount in internal revenue stamps, which shall be cancelled by writing with ink, the date and the initials of the officer issuing the document.
History —Mar. 12, 1908, p. 144, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 39 - Official Publications and Documents (§§ 941 — 957) › § 954 - Fees for certified documents—Exemptions

The Secretary of Education is hereby exempted from the obligation of collecting the fees fixed in § 952 of this title for certified copies of official documents or records issued with his authorization for students of the public schools of Puerto Rico.
No public official shall collect any fee whatsoever for rendering any of the services mentioned in § 952 of this title when it is required by a court or an official of the Commonwealth Government for official use.
History —Mar. 12, 1908, p. 144, § 3; June 2, 1976, No. 117, p. 345.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 40A - Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics Act (§§ 971 — 985) › § 972 - Creation

For the purpose of promoting changes in the data and statistics compilation systems for these to be more complete, reliable, and swiftly and universally accessible, the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics is hereby created, henceforth “the Institute”, as an autonomous administrative and fiscal entity of the Executive Branch. In order to ensure and promote the abovementioned independence, which is necessary to exercise the sensitive functions entrusted to the same, the Institute shall be exempted from §§ 1001 et seq. of this title, known as the “Public Documents Administration Act”, §§ 8161 et seq. of this title, known as the “Act for Regulating Certain Government Financing and Personal Property Leasing Contracts”, §§ 1461 et seq. of this title, known as the “Public Service Human Resources Administration Act of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico”, §§ 1451 et seq. of this title, known as the “Puerto Rico Public Service Labor Relation Act”, §§ 283—283p of this title, known as the “Puerto Rico Government Accounting Act”, §§ 931 et seq. of this title, known as the “General Services Administration Act”, and from the Register for Bidders attached to such Administration, and §§ 458 et seq. of Title 1, known as the “Transitional Process of Government Act”.
The Institute shall have the power to adopt, promulgate, amend, and repeal any rules, orders, and regulations to govern the processes related to the management, contracting or recruiting of its human capital, the property, and the administration of its budget, among others, as it may deem necessary and appropriate in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties. In the exercise of this power, the Institute may incorporate any progressive administrative principles that ensure the contracting, selection and recruitment of persons that meet the criteria of personal and professional integrity, excellence, competence, and objectivity; promote professional development, the protection of rights, and the granting of benefits deemed appropriate for the personnel; maximize resources; and guarantee the proper and prudent use of public property and funds.
The main mission of the Institute is to coordinate the Statistical Production Service of the government bodies of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, require information from both the public and private sector, within the parameters defined in this chapter, and draft, in coordination with the Executive Power and the Legislature, the policy on the development of public government statistics.
The fiscal operations of the Institute shall be audited and examined by the Office of the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, at least once every two (2) years.
The Institute shall have its own juridical personality, and shall be able to sue and be sued. In addition, it shall be able to acquire, for value or for free, the equipment, materials and services necessary to comply with this chapter.
History —Aug. 28, 2003, No. 209, § 3; Aug. 9, 2008, No. 217, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 40A - Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics Act (§§ 971 — 985) › § 973 - Statistical system

The statistical system of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall be comprised by the statistical units of the different government organisms. Since this shall be a decentralized system, the government organisms shall continue to carry on with their duties regarding information and the statistical activities that they are bound to perform subject to the applicable laws.
In the exercise of the responsibility conferred by this chapter, the Institute shall establish by means of regulation, the criteria and norms that shall govern the data and statistics gathering and analysis processes originated by government agencies and private entities; prepare the guidelines and nomenclature to be used by all government agencies; validate and approve the methods and procedures for the gathering, analysis, interpretation and disclosure of the economic, social, environmental, health, and public safety statistics, as well as those of any other sector pertaining to government and private endeavors. The norms, guidelines or regulations adopted by the Institute for the implementation of this chapter shall be binding for all government organisms. Regulations shall be adopted pursuant to the provisions of §§ 2101 et seq. of this title, known as the “Uniform Administrative Procedures Act”.
History —Aug. 28, 2003, No. 209, § 4; July 27, 2004, No. 170, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 40A - Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics Act (§§ 971 — 985) › § 976 - Board of Directors—Creation

The Institute shall be governed by a Board of Directors consisting of seven (7) members, which shall be constituted by six (6) persons who shall be of acknowledged personal and professional integrity, objectivity and competence in any field of statistics, economics and planning, and a government official, to be designated by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.
The initial appointments of the members of the Board of Directors shall be three (3) for a term of two (2) years, two (2) for three (3) years, and the remaining members for five (5) years. The appointments of the subsequent terms shall be five (5) years. The appointments to fill vacancies shall be extended only for the remaining portion of the term to be filled. Five (5) members shall constitute quorum and the decisions shall be reached by majority vote.
The members, in the six (6) months immediately preceding their designations, shall not have been employees of any government organism, nor candidates to any elective office, whether in primaries, special elections or general elections. This shall not apply to professors of the University of Puerto Rico system, whom due to their knowledge and expertise in the area of statistics, may share their knowledge with this Board. The Governor may remove members of the Board of Directors from office for just cause after bringing charges and granting the opportunity to be heard. Board members shall discharge their office ad honorem and shall only have the right to receive the payment of a per diem of not more than seventy-five dollars ($75) per day of attendance to meetings or when carrying out official duties pertaining to their office. In no case shall they receive an amount over six thousand dollars ($6,000) in per diems per year. In the event the public official appointed by the Governor is a head of agency, said person shall not receive any per diem.
The Board shall adopt by majority vote the internal organization guidelines to be followed for the performance of its duties under this chapter in an effective and efficient manner, and shall meet not less than once per month.
History —Aug. 28, 2003, No. 209, § 7; July 27, 2004, No. 170, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 40A - Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics Act (§§ 971 — 985) › § 977 - Board of Directors—Powers and duties

The Board of Directors shall be the governing body that shall set forth the administrative policy of the Institute and shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) Approve the programming of the Statistics Fund created by this chapter.
(b) Ratify the collaboration agreements subscribed by the Director with government, federal government, foreign, and international organisms.
(c) Ratify the information procurement orders issued by the Institute.
(d) Solve in a final manner the disputes regarding statistical matters between government organisms with the prior written consent of both parties.
(e) Adjudicate the duly filed recourses of affected parties objecting an information procurement order issued by the Director.
(f) Advise the Director on any matters requested by same or that the Institute deems convenient.
(g) Approve the budget of the Institute.
(h) Approve the regulations.
(i) Approve the acquisition of equipment, materials and services whose value exceeds $36,000.
(j) Approve the Annual Statistical Information Plan.
(k) Approve the Annual Report on Statistics Service before submitting it to the Governor, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
History —Aug. 28, 2003, No. 209, § 8; July 27, 2004, No. 170, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 40A - Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics Act (§§ 971 — 985) › § 978 - Board of Directors—Elective office prohibited

Neither the members of the Board, nor its Executive Director shall have occupied any elective office during at least five (5) years prior to their designation.
History —Aug. 28, 2003, No. 209, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 40A - Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics Act (§§ 971 — 985) › § 979 - Board of Directors—Executive Director; designation

The Board of Directors shall also be responsible for the designation of an Executive Director who shall be in charge of the administration, execution and overseeing compliance with the public policy set forth by the Board, and shall be an ex officio member of same. The Executive Director shall be appointed for a term of ten (10) years and shall only be removed by the Board of Directors for just cause, with prior bringing of charges and granted the opportunity to be heard.
Only persons who are, as with the members of the Board, of acknowledged personal and professional integrity, objectivity and competence in any field of statistics, economics and planning [may be appointed to the office of Executive Director].
History —Aug. 28, 2003, No. 209, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 40A - Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics Act (§§ 971 — 985) › § 980 - Board of Directors—Executive Director; powers and duties

The Executive Director shall take any action necessary or convenient for the exercise of the powers and duties of the office, pursuant to the purposes of this chapter, including the following:
(a) Set forth the internal organization of the Institute, manage and supervise the operations of same.
(b) Appoint the necessary personnel for the execution of the purposes of this chapter, as well as assign duties and fix remuneration for same.
(c) Prepare and manage the annual budget of the Institute and the appropriated funds.
(d) Identify and procure alternate sources for obtaining funds and other resources in other state agencies, municipal governments, the federal government, and the private sector, for the design and implementation of the Statistics Production Service of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(e) Acquire materials, supplies, equipment and the necessary goods for the operations of the Institute and to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(f) Contract technical and professional services from natural or juridical persons as necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, subject to the applicable norms and regulations.
(g) Incorporate students or graduates from statistics or related sciences programs from local universities to collaborate ad honorem with the work and studies of the office, the service, the system and the network [of the Internet].
(h) Represent or make recommendations to representatives of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in committee meetings, seminars, study centers, and in state, federal and international conferences and congresses on statistical matters in which the Government of Puerto Rico or its organisms participate as organizers, members, observers or in any other manner.
(i) Formalize collaboration agreements with government organisms, federal government organisms, as well as with international and foreign governments organisms.
(j) Receive donations and submit proposals for the obtainment of funds. The monies collected by such means shall be deposited in the operational expenses budget of the Institute.
(k) Render special reports to the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and to the Legislature when so requested.
(l) Delegate duties, powers and tasks, as well as powers conferred by this chapter as deemed prudent and convenient, upon the officials of the Institute, except for the power to approve regulations or to appoint or terminate personnel.
(m) Formulate and adopt the necessary regulations to govern the activities of the Institute.
(n) Perform any other duties requested by law or by the Governor of Puerto Rico, pursuant to its authority and jurisdiction.
History —Aug. 28, 2003, No. 209, § 11; July 27, 2004, No. 170, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 40A - Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics Act (§§ 971 — 985) › § 981 - Reports

All statistical programs or activities of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico government organisms which are totally financed by federal funds and therefore subject to compliance with statistical guidelines and norms set forth by federal provisions or regulations shall be bound to submit a report indicating the diverse proposals, items and proposed uses of such federal funds to the Office on or before February 1st of each year.
History —Aug. 28, 2003, No. 209, § 12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 40A - Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics Act (§§ 971 — 985) › § 982 - Confidentiality; fines

The Institute shall adopt specific and strict procedures and guidelines by means of regulation, to ensure the confidentiality of the information under its custody. During the auditing, evaluation, review or investigation processes authorized by this chapter, the Institute shall specifically highlight the status of the measures taken by the corresponding government organism to safeguard the confidentiality of the information under its custody.
No part of this chapter shall be construed in prejudice to any higher level of confidentiality protection conferred by any other law, regulation or agreement between a private entity and a government organism.
Any official or employee of the Institute who intentionally discloses or allows the unlawful disclosure or reproduction of confidential information shall be guilty of a felony that shall be punishable by the imposition of a fine of seven thousand dollars ($7,000) or a fixed jail term of up to one (1) year, or both penalties, at the discretion of the court. If there are aggravating circumstances, the penalty may be increased up to a maximum of two (2) years or up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000). If there are extenuating circumstances, the penalty may be reduced to a minimum of six (6) months and one (1) day, or a fine of up to five thousand one dollars ($5,001). In addition, the official shall answer in civil action for the damages caused by the disclosure or allowing to disclose confidential information.
Any official or employee of the Institute who negligently discloses or allows the unlawful disclosure or reproduction of confidential information shall answer personally with his/her own money for any damage caused to the private entity or government organism that provided the information, pursuant to the confidentiality protection contained in this chapter. Neither the Institute nor any other government organism of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall answer any civil action for a negligent disclosure of confidential information.
The penalties described in this section shall also apply to officials and employees of any government organism who disclose or allow the negligent disclosure or reproduction of confidential information.
History —Aug. 28, 2003, No. 209, § 13; July 27, 2004, No. 170, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 40A - Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics Act (§§ 971 — 985) › § 982a - Actions

The Institute may initiate the following actions of a civil nature:
(1) Request that the Court of First Instance, Superior Part, issue an injunction to impede, suspend or stay any action of a government body which may be in violation of the provisions of this chapter.
(2) Appear before the Court of First Instance, Superior Part, to request that all government bodies comply with its orders, requests for information, resolutions, and any other determinations, as such agency is authorized by law and the regulations it may adopt.
(3) Institute actions as pertinent to collect payment on civil sanctions imposed under the powers and duties set forth in §§ 972, 974, 975 and 977 of this title. In any case in which there is failure to comply with any final and binding administrative fine or sanction or with a final and binding civil sanction, the courts shall impose the prevailing legal interest rate over the amount due and the payment of attorney’s fees in favor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Interest shall begin to accrue from the time the sanction becomes final and binding. The moneys collected on account of interest shall be covered into the Special Fund of the Institute, under the custody of the Department of the Treasury, created in § 985 of this title.
(4) In order to exercise these powers and the authority to sue as established in § 972 of this title, the Institute may be represented by its own attorneys in order to attain compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
History —Aug. 28, 2003, No. 209, added as § 14 on Aug. 15, 2008, No. 279, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 40A - Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics Act (§§ 971 — 985) › § 983 - Statistics Coordination Committee—Creation

The Statistics Coordination Committee is hereby created, which shall be the advisory, coordination and participation government organism of the Statistics Production Services. The statistics unit chiefs of said Committee and the work groups organized by the Director of the Institute to comply with the objectives of this chapter shall be members of the government organisms.
The Director of the Institute shall hereby be empowered to convene the plenary Committee or any work group organized in compliance with any activity related to Statistics Production Services when deemed necessary.
History —Aug. 28, 2003, No. 209, § 14, renumbered as § 15 on Aug. 15, 2008, No. 279, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 40A - Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics Act (§§ 971 — 985) › § 984 - Statistics Coordination Committee—Duties

The Committee shall have the following duties:
(a) Ensure the continuous flow of statistical data and information in compliance with this chapter.
(b) Clarify and solve problems pertaining to the flow and access to statistical data and information which may affect the work of government organisms.
(c) Maintain the government organisms up to date regarding matters pertaining to the Statistics Services.
(d) Solve technical problems pertaining to statistical information.
(e) Coordinate statistical information activities that involve more than one government organism.
(f) Propose solutions for administrative problems pertaining to the operations of the statistical units.
(g) Investigate the budgetary and training needs of the statistical units.
(h) Analyze the methodology problems of the statistical units.
(i) Evaluate the norms, methods, procedures, rules and regulations adopted by the Institute for Statistics Services.
(j) Study the Statistical Information Annual Plan and coordinate its preparation.
(k) Serve as forum of first instance for the clarification of disputes pertaining to the methods, procedures, data and disclosure of statistical information prior to submitting same to the consideration of the Institute.
(l) Advise the Director whenever requested by same to do so.
The plenary Committee shall hold at least one meeting every [trimester], during the fiscal year. Attendance to the Advisory Committee meetings shall be obligatory and cannot be delegated.
History —Aug. 28, 2003, No. 209, § 15, renumbered as § 16 on Aug. 15, 2008, No. 279, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 40A - Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics Act (§§ 971 — 985) › § 985 - Special Fund—Creation and appropriation

The Special Fund for the Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico is hereby created, under the custody of the Secretary of the Treasury of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, who shall be its administrator, pursuant to the norms set forth for the administration of similar funds, and shall be used for the financing of projects for the improvement of statistical methodologies, processes or products of the government organisms. The monies collected for administrative fines for violations against any provision [of this chapter] shall be deposited in this Fund.
The amount of two million dollars ($2,000,000) is hereby appropriated as the initial budget for the Special Fund for the Institute of Statistics, to be charged against the State Treasury or other revenues. The Fund shall be distributed pursuant to the programming of projects contained in the Annual Plan, as approved by the Board of Directors.
History —Aug. 28, 2003, No. 209, § 16, renumbered as § 17 on Aug. 15, 2008, No. 279, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 40B - Electronic Government (§§ 991 — 998) › § 991 - Definitions

The following terms and phrases contained in this chapter shall have the meaning stated below:
(a) Electronic government. — Means the incorporation of information technologies into the government endeavor, with the purpose of transforming and imparting greater agility to the relations of the Government with citizens and businesses, in addition to government relations, in order for the Government to become more accessible, effective and transparent for citizens.
(b) Agencies. — Means all bodies or instrumentalities [and entities] of the Executive Branch of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, such as departments, boards, commissions, administrations, offices, subdivisions and public corporations under the control of said Branch.
(c) Document. — Means any letter, writing, form, application, contract, report, photograph, recording, official record, book, map, memorandum, microfiche, paper, electronic register and any other document, regardless of its physical form or particular characteristics, that has been prepared, utilized, received or which has been in the possession or under the custody of an agency and which is related to the matters, information or documents that this chapter seeks to make available to the citizenry over the Internet.
History —June 22, 2004, No. 151, § 2; June 6, 2006, No. 113, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 40B - Electronic Government (§§ 991 — 998) › § 992 - Implementation

The Office of Management and Budget shall be responsible, pursuant to the public policy established in the present chapter, for managing the information systems and for implementing the standards and procedures relative to the use of information technologies at the government level, while offering advice to agencies, updating and developing electronic government transactions, and ascertaining the proper working order thereof.
History —June 22, 2004, No. 151, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 40B - Electronic Government (§§ 991 — 998) › § 993 - Functions

The Office of Management and Budget, [in accordance] with the present chapter, shall have the following functions:
(a) Attain, through the application of the new working methods offered by information technologies, a more accessible, effective and transparent government for citizens.
(b) Promote a coordinated approach to the issues posed by the new information and communications technologies.
(c) Direct and manage the Electronic Government Program and establish the strategic plan thereof.
(d) Develop execution measures sensitive enough to measure how the electronic government and the different service components further the objectives proposed.
(e) Consider the impact of the development of the use of information technologies at the government and the electronic government levels in various legislations in effect and seek that they are harmonious with one another.
(f) Stimulate the development of innovative solutions that lead to the optimization of the services and procedures of the electronic government and the use of information technologies at the government level.
(g) Develop and maintain, whether directly or through contracting, an infrastructure capable of satisfying the technological needs of the Government and which allows for the adequate offering of services and information for citizens.
(h) Incorporate the best practices of the technological sector into government operations through licensing and global trainings or other advantageous schemes at the government level.
(i) Develop a framework that guarantees effective controls regarding the safety of the information systems that support the government operations and assets.
(j) Facilitate the communication among the diverse technologies in existence in Government institutions, in order to achieve the cooperation and coordination necessary to ensure the success of the electronic government.
(k) Develop, promote, collaborate, procure and direct technology projects at the interagency level which lead to better government operations and the broadening of services to citizens and businesspersons.
(l) Provide technical support, data storage and Internet access services to government agencies.
(m) Project the usefulness of information technologies in preventing accidents and preparing contingency plans that allow the government to react properly in the event of a crisis for reestablishing systems and data in the least amount of time possible in the event of a disaster.
(n) Evaluate and advise, pursuant to the criteria previously adopted, the electronic processing and interconnection systems of the Government, in order for the same to propitiate, facilitate, and impart agility to interagency processes.
History —June 22, 2004, No. 151, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 40B - Electronic Government (§§ 991 — 998) › § 996 - Duty to inform the public

The Office of Management and Budget shall be under the obligation of developing orientation campaigns through the different media, through which it shall inform citizens of the available services through the electronic government, the advantages they entail and the way to use them.
History —June 22, 2004, No. 151, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 40B - Electronic Government (§§ 991 — 998) › § 997 - Duty to publish information

The Office of Management and Budget shall render an annual report on the concrete actions taken to enforce the public policy herein established and the progress of the electronic government to the Legislative Assembly and the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Such report shall also include an analysis of the impact of the Electronic Government Program on human resources administration. Said report shall be available to the public through the Government web portal.
History —June 22, 2004, No. 151, § 9; Dec. 24, 2011, No. 273, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 41 - Public Documents, Administration of; General Archives (§§ 1001 — 1023) › § 1001 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning stated below:
(a) Document. — The word document shall include any paper, book, pamphlet, photograph, film, microfilm, magnetic tape, map, drawing, plan, record, video disk or any other material read by machine and any other informative material, regardless of its physical form or characteristics. It also includes materials generated electronically even though they may never be printed on paper or other media different from the originally created one. Publications and bibliographical or museum material acquired for public viewing, consultation, or other related purposes, are not included in the definition of the word document.
(b) Public document. — Any document which originates, or is kept or received in any dependency of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico according to the law or in relation to the management of public affairs and that pursuant to the provisions of § 1002 of this title is required to be permanently or temporarily preserved as evidence of transactions or for its legal value. It includes those documents produced electronically which meet the requirements established by law and regulations.
(c) Private document. — Any document not included in the foregoing definition.
(d) Archives. — The General Archives of Puerto Rico.
(e) Archivist. — The General Archivist of Puerto Rico.
(f) Commonwealth. — The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, including its municipalities.
(g) Dependency. — Shall include every department, agency or corporate entity, board, committee, body, bureau, office and every other government body of the three (3) branches of the Commonwealth Government and the municipalities.
(h) Educational or cultural entity. — Includes, without it being understood as a limitation [an exclusive list], a university, library, foundation, institute, trust, association, partnership or nonprofit corporation devoted to teaching, research or furthering cultural, artistic and scientific development.
(i) Commission. — The General Archives Advisory Commission.
(j) Program Administrator. — The official designated by this chapter to administer and regulate the Public Documents Administration Program in his jurisdiction, and who is empowered to make special appointments of Documents Administrator, after consulting and receiving recommendations from the heads of the dependencies.
(k) Documents Administrator. — The employee who is responsible for administering the Documents Administration Program in his respective dependency.
(l) Documents Administration. — Is the planning, control, direction, organization, training, promotion and other administrative activities related to the creation, use and conservation of documents, as well as to their disposition.
History —Dec. 8, 1955, No. 5, p. 78, § 3; June 4, 1979, No. 63, p. 126, § 1; Aug. 26, 1992, No. 49, § 5; Nov. 10, 1992, No. 91, § 1; Aug. 7, 1998, No. 188, § 29; Oct. 18, 1999, No. 317, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 41 - Public Documents, Administration of; General Archives (§§ 1001 — 1023) › § 1002a - Photographic reproduction of documents

(1) Program Administrators may authorize the heads of dependencies under their respective jurisdiction to reproduce through the process of microphotography, photocopy, miniature photographic reproduction or photographic copy, or any other method of electronic reproduction, any public documents under their custody which merit conservation because of their legal, fiscal, administrative, informational or historic value.
(2) The originals of the documents reproduced in accordance with the subsection (1) may be destroyed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and of the regulations promulgated hereunder.
(3) Reproductions by microphotography, photocopy, miniature photographic reproduction or other photographic copy, or any other method of electronic reproduction of said documents, shall be admitted as evidence and shall have the same value and effect as the originals, provided they are certified by the respective dependency heads in charge of their custody, or their authorized representatives, or by the General Archivist of Puerto Rico in those cases in which the documents have already been transferred to the General Archives of Puerto Rico.
History —Dec. 8, 1955, No. 5, p. 78, added as § 4-A on June 13, 1960, No. 77, p. 132, § 1; June 4, 1979, No. 63, p. 126, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE THREE - Executive (§§ 1 — 9311) › Chapter 41 - Public Documents, Administration of; General Archives (§§ 1001 — 1023) › § 1003 - General Archives of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

The General Archives of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is hereby established.
History —Dec. 8, 1955, No. 5, p. 78, § 5, retroactive to July 1, 1955.