reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 161 - Tourist Residences (§§ 6951 — 6951t) › § 6951n - Advertisements and publications

(a) Any advertisement, contract, correspondence, document, card, sign, or any other kind of publicity shall indicate the full name, street address, and telephone number of the main office of the vacation home development business responsible for the development of the project.
(b) A copy of any kind of publicity of the vacation home project in question to be used in and outside of Puerto Rico shall be filed with the DACO before use, at which time it shall be included in the vacation home developer’s file, although the DACO shall not pass judgment on those materials except to corroborate compliance with the provisions of this section.
History —Dec. 16, 2009, No. 181, § 17.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 161 - Tourist Residences (§§ 6951 — 6951t) › § 6951o - Books and records

Any vacation home developer shall keep copies of its corporate books and records in a designated office in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, whose address shall be notified to the DACO. As part of such books, the vacation home developer shall keep the following in the office:
(a) Printed or digital copies of the plans and specifications approved by the Planning Board, ARPE, or any government entity that by law substitutes the same in their functions, and/or by an autonomous municipality, and of permits received from any other agency with jurisdiction with regards to a vacation home project;
(b) as for the provisions of the preceding paragraph, records of change approved by the appropriate agencies;
(c) accounting books that reflect the actual costs of construction of each vacation home project;
(d) with regards to any vacation home project developed by a vacation home developer, paper or electronic copies (scanned in PDF or an equivalent format) of the escrow account agreements, reservation contracts, exempt reservation contracts, purchase agreements, and exempt purchase agreements, as well as paper or electronic copies (scanned in PDF or an equivalent format) of the deed of sale executed by the parties;
(e) original copies of bond or insurance documents required by this chapter, or copies thereof when the originals have been filed with the DACO or with a third party, and
(f) records of established special escrow accounts.
History —Dec. 16, 2009, No. 181, § 18.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 161 - Tourist Residences (§§ 6951 — 6951t) › § 6951p - Filings

Any document required by this chapter or its regulations to be filed with the DACO or the Tourism Company may be filed in the format provided in the regulations.
History —Dec. 16, 2009, No. 181, § 19.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 161 - Tourist Residences (§§ 6951 — 6951t) › § 6951q - Fines

The DACO and the Tourism Company may establish, through regulations, any fines for violations of this chapter, which shall not be greater than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000). Every day that elapses without the situation being corrected may be considered to be a separate violation.
History —Dec. 16, 2009, No. 181, § 20.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 161 - Tourist Residences (§§ 6951 — 6951t) › § 6951r - Jurisdiction

The Courts of Puerto Rico and the DACO shall have concurrent jurisdiction to hear any controversy between a vacation home developer and a buyer regarding their rights and obligations under the terms of a special escrow account agreement, reservation contract, or purchase agreement, including claims related to construction defects.
History —Dec. 16, 2009, No. 181, § 21.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 161 - Tourist Residences (§§ 6951 — 6951t) › § 6951s - Effect of other laws

The provisions of § 501 et seq. of Title 17, as amended, and its corresponding regulations, except for § 508 of Title 17, shall not apply to the activities regulated by this chapter. The provisions of § 3054(11) of Title 20, shall not apply to the activities regulated by this chapter.
History —Dec. 16, 2009, No. 181, § 22.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 161 - Tourist Residences (§§ 6951 — 6951t) › § 6951t - Savings clause

Likewise, none of the provisions of this chapter shall relieve the vacation home developer from complying with bonds or insurance for an amount not greater than ten percent (10%) of the sales price of a residential unit to guarantee the expenditures related to repairs and correction of construction defects, as established in § 508 of Title 17.
None of the provisions of this chapter shall be construed as a restriction, limitation, or waiver of the right that, pursuant to the Civil Code of Puerto Rico or any other law, is granted in case of claims covered by this chapter.
History —Dec. 16, 2009, No. 181, § 23.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 162A - Nautical Tourism Act of 2010 (§§ 6971 — 6971k) › § 6971 - Definitions

(a) Nautical tourism activities.— Means the ensemble of services to be rendered making water contact to nautical tourists, which include, but are not limited to:
(1) Leasing or chartering nautical tourism vessels to tourists for leisure, recreation, or for educational purposes, including tours;
(2) leasing small vessels, jet skis, kayaks, sailboats or other similar watercraft, whether motorized or non-motorized, to tourists, as the Company may establish by regulation, and
(3) operating an integrated watercraft leasing program.
(b) Certification.— Shall mean the certification issued by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company to companies engaged in nautical tourism activities or operators of tourist marinas that meet the requirements established in this chapter and the Company by regulation.
(c) Commission.— Means the Public Service Commission of Puerto Rico, created under §§ 1001 et seq. of Title 27.
(d) Company.— Means the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.
(e) Concession.— Shall mean the decree issued by the Company under the Tourism Development Act §§ 6341 et seq. of this title, as defined in said Act.
(f) DNER.— Means the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.
(g) Nautical tourism watercraft.— Means motor or sail boats with capacity for six (6) or more people, operated by tour companies or available for rental, to be used in nautical tourism activities, when the Company deems it pertinent, without it being construed as a limitation of this definition.
(h) Marina.— Means a facility that offers water docks, including mooring buoys, for 10 or more vessels, restrooms with showers, and trash receptacles. As part of its operations, it includes dry docks.
(i) Tourist marina.— Means a marina that provides areas, services, and docks for:
(1) Leasing or chartering nautical tourism watercraft,
(2) vessels under a foreign flag or registered with the United States Coast Guard, owned and held by a nonresident of Puerto Rico, or
(3) any other nautical tourism activity, as the Tourism Company establishes through regulation.
(j) Tourist mega yachts.— Means nautical tourism watercraft, whether motor or sail boats, with a length of eighty (80) feet, which are devoted to leisure, or recreational activities, or for educational purposes that cater to tourists in exchange for compensation, which activities are carried out in waters in and outside of Puerto Rico.
History —Dec. 30, 2010, No. 241, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 162A - Nautical Tourism Act of 2010 (§§ 6971 — 6971k) › § 6971a - Transitory provisions

The Company is hereby empowered to regulate, promote, and intervene in all matters relative to the quality and development of the services that are offered or could be offered to tourists by persons or juridical entities that operate nautical tourism watercraft and/or engage in nautical tourism activities, including tourist marinas.
History —Dec. 30, 2010, No. 241, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 162A - Nautical Tourism Act of 2010 (§§ 6971 — 6971k) › § 6971b - Nautical tourism activity certification

(a) All persons or juridical entities engaged in nautical tourism activities shall obtain from the Company a certification to operate as such. The Company may establish the promotion and marketing programs in which persons or entities engaged in nautical tourism activities may participate after having obtained their certification.
(b) Any certification application shall pay the fees prescribed by the Company through regulation and shall be effective for two (2) years, to be renewed through the procedure established by the Company though regulation.
(c) Upon filling out the certification application as per the requirements provided by regulation, the Company shall have a maximum term of thirty (30) working days to evaluate such application.
History —Dec. 30, 2010, No. 241, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 162A - Nautical Tourism Act of 2010 (§§ 6971 — 6971k) › § 6971d - Tourist marina

(a) Any tourist marinas devoted to nautical tourism activities that provide areas, services, and docks for the leasing or chartering of nautical tourism watercraft or any nautical tourism activity, without it being construed as a limitation, shall obtain a certification from the Company to such effect. The Company shall provide by regulation the requirements to obtain such certification. The Company may also establish the promotion and marketing programs in which tourist marinas may participate after having obtained their certification.
(b) Any marina operating under a Company concession under §§ 6001 et seq. of this title, better known as the “Tourism Development Act of 1993”, shall be exempt from applying for the tourist marina certification. The concession shall not be affected if the marina fails to comply with the certification provided herein; however, at the time of renewing or applying for a new concession, such concession shall be contingent upon obtaining a tourist marina certification from the Company, as provided in this chapter and its regulations.
(c) Any certification applications shall pay the fees prescribed by the Company through regulation and be effective for five (5) years, to be renewed through the procedure established by the Company through regulation.
(d) Upon filling out the tourist marina certification application, as per the requirements provided by regulation, the Company shall have a maximum term of sixty (60) working days to evaluate such application.
History —Dec. 30, 2010, No. 241, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 162A - Nautical Tourism Act of 2010 (§§ 6971 — 6971k) › § 6971e - Powers of the Tourism Company

(a) To draft regulations that shall govern nautical tourism activities and activities relative to tourist marinas.
(b) To keep a public register of companies engaged in nautical tourism activities and tourist marinas.
(c) The DNER may not grant or renew any concession if the natural or juridical person applying therefor has not obtained a tourism activity or tourist marina certification from the Company. The Company and the DNER may regulate and execute understanding or collaboration agreements to guarantee the implementation of this chapter and the quality of the transportation, management plans or tours in zones designated as natural reserves. The Company may not establish exclusivity concessions or decrees between nautical tourism watercraft, companies engaged in nautical tourism activities, or tourist marinas. No provision in this section should be construed as limiting the powers of the DNER to establish requirements or criteria, as per the authorities conferred to the DNER by law.
(d) To conduct investigations and interventions to require any kind of information as necessary to exercise its authorities; to order or issue orders to cease and desist, impose administrative fines, revoke any concession or permit and/or petition the courts to order the ceasing of activities or acts that jeopardize the purposes stated in this chapter; to impose and order the payment of fair and reasonable fees and expenses, as well as the payment of expenses for other professional and consulting services incurred for investigations, hearings, and proceedings conducted before the Company; and to order that an act be conducted to comply with the provisions of this chapter.
(e) To require that companies engaged in nautical tourism activities and tourist marinas present attesting evidence of the fact that they are insured or bonded. The coverage may be required to the extent deemed necessary by the Company to secure payment for any damages caused to any person or property as a result of negligent or culpable acts or omissions.
(f) The Company is hereby empowered to require any document or report it may deem necessary and pertinent to fulfill the purposes of this chapter.
History —Dec. 30, 2010, No. 241, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 162A - Nautical Tourism Act of 2010 (§§ 6971 — 6971k) › § 6971f - Liability

Compliance with this chapter does not exempt any company engaged in offering nautical tourism activity services or tourist marina from liability for noncompliance with any other applicable law, including, without it being construed as a limitation, navigation, safety, and environmental protection laws.
History —Dec. 30, 2010, No. 241, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 162A - Nautical Tourism Act of 2010 (§§ 6971 — 6971k) › § 6971g - Penalties

The Company is hereby empowered to establish fines not greater than five thousand dollars ($5,000) and to revoke or suspend the certification of any company engaged in nautical tourism activities that fail to comply with its regulation. None of the above prevents the Company from imposing the penalty it may deem pertinent if it should find any violation of this chapter or regulation thereunder.
The DNER is hereby empowered to use its resources to enforce this chapter, including, but not limited to, imposing fines or penalties pursuant to its authorities as conferred under §§ 151 et seq. of Title 3, better known as the “Department of Natural and Environmental Resources of Puerto Rico Organic Act”.
History —Dec. 30, 2010, No. 241, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 162A - Nautical Tourism Act of 2010 (§§ 6971 — 6971k) › § 6971h - Jurisdiction

The courts of Puerto Rico shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear any controversy between a company engaged in offering nautical tourism activity services and a user or client.
History —Dec. 30, 2010, No. 241, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 162A - Nautical Tourism Act of 2010 (§§ 6971 — 6971k) › § 6971i - Coordination with the Public Service Commission of Puerto Rico

Any concession, license, or permit of any kind issued by the Commission to water transportation companies shall be deemed to be in effect and there shall be no need for a certification from the Company in order to operate until its expiration date. Once such concession, license, or permit expires, the company engaged in nautical tourism activities shall apply for a certification before the Company. The Executive Director of the Company may request additional information to the Commission in relation to such application or any other information as he/she may deem pertinent and the Commission shall furnish the same.
Any claim and/or investigation, administrative or adjudicative proceeding initiated by the Commission prior to the approval of this act shall be deemed to be outside of the Company, provided, however, that nothing shall prevent the Commission from continuing the aforementioned proceedings relative to any process that has begun prior to the approval of this act.
History —Dec. 30, 2010, No. 241, § 11.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 162A - Nautical Tourism Act of 2010 (§§ 6971 — 6971k) › § 6971j - Rulemaking authority

The Company and the DNER, as well as any other pertinent agency, shall be required to draft and/or amend any applicable regulation to enforce this act within sixty (60) days as of the approval thereof. Once the sixty (60)-day period has elapsed, the aforementioned agencies shall sent a copy to the Legislative Assembly of the new regulation and/or amendments to current regulations, enclosed with a detailed report of the enforcement of this chapter and its progress.
History —Dec. 30, 2010, No. 241, § 12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 162A - Nautical Tourism Act of 2010 (§§ 6971 — 6971k) › § 6971k - Abrogation of contracts

Any agreement, covenant, contract, or obligation executed from the date of the approval of Act No. 179 of December 16, 2009 to the effective date of this act shall be rendered null.
History —Dec. 30, 2010, No. 241, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 163 - Medical Tourism Act (§§ 6981 — 6981k) › § 6981 - Definitions

For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning stated below:
(a) Tourist activity.— Such facilities or premises that, due to a special attraction or feature, stimulate tourism.
(b) Advisory Council.— An entity created under the provisions of this chapter, attached to the Tourism Company, and responsible for advising the Consultative Board in aspects related to health and tourism, among others. The Advisory Council shall be appointed by the Executive Director of the Tourism Company, and shall be composed of, but not limited to representatives from the Puerto Rico College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Puerto Rico Medical Association, the Professionals, and the Department of State, as well as the Department of the Treasury and the Director of the Puerto Rico Infrastructure Financing Authority, as the Executive Director deems fit.
(c) Executive Director.— The Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.
(d) Medical endorsement.— A certification issued by the Secretary of Health recognizing a facility or premise as having complied with the applicable criteria, standards, and procedures established by the Department of Health as well as with this chapter and the regulation promulgated thereunder.
(e) Tourist endorsement.— A certification issued by the Executive Director of the Tourism Company recognizing a tourist activity as having complied with applicable criteria, standards, and procedures pursuant to this chapter, §§ 6001 et seq. of this title, known as the “Puerto Rico Tourist Development Act”, the regulations promulgated thereunder, and successor laws.
(f) Consultative Board.— An entity created under the provisions of this chapter, attached to the Tourism Company, and responsible for the implementation and development of the public policy, parameters, criteria, certifications, licenses, evaluations, reports, and regulations to enforce the provisions of this chapter, including the formulation of recommendations to the Executive Director, the appropriation of resources for the development of the industry, and the supervision of the implementation of the provisions of this chapter. It shall be composed of the Secretary of Health, the Secretary of Economic Development and Commerce, and the Executive Director of the Tourism Company, who shall be the Chair.
(g) Eligible business.— Any new or existing business engaged in a medical tourism activity and which is duly certified and accredited.
(h) Secretary.— The Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico.
(i) Medical tourism.— Any trip by patients from other jurisdictions to Puerto Rico with the intent of obtaining medical care and treatment in or through certified and accredited medical facilities or premises in Puerto Rico.
History —Dec. 15, 2010, No. 196, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 163 - Medical Tourism Act (§§ 6981 — 6981k) › § 6981a - Terms used

Any word used herein in the singular form shall also be understood to include the plural form when so justified by its use, and likewise shall the masculine form include the feminine form, or vice versa.
History —Dec. 15, 2010, No. 196, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 163 - Medical Tourism Act (§§ 6981 — 6981k) › § 6981c - Consultative Board

To ensure that Puerto Rico’s offer in the area of medical tourism is excellent and able to successfully compete with similar offers at the national and international level, a Consultative Board to foster medical tourism is hereby created and attached to the Tourism Company, which shall be its Chair. Said Board shall be charged with the implementation and development of the public policy, parameters, criteria, certifications, licenses, evaluations, reports, and regulation to enforce the provisions of this chapter. Likewise, the Board shall gather information on patients, such as: origin, type of service rendered, cost, time of stay, and number of companions, insofar as the Board complies with the requirements of the HIPPA [sic]. Moreover, the Board shall be responsible for establishing metrics to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of services. The Consultative Board shall arrange for hospitals to grant privileges, insofar as the Licensure Board has issued a provisional license to the physician coming from the United States. The metrics shall include a patient satisfaction survey and it shall be the responsibility of the Board to carry out the pertinent arrangements with hospitals, so that they may grant privileges to physicians from the United States who accompany their patients for medical care and treatment [sic]. The Board shall make recommendations to the Executive Director about priorities, resource appropriation for the development of the industry, and implementation of the powers and duties contained herein. The Board shall be composed of the Secretary of Health, the Secretary of Economic Development and Commerce, and the Executive Director of the Tourism Company. The Board shall be constituted not later than ninety (90) days after this act takes effect and shall hold its first meeting within such term to draft and approve a work plan for implementing the provisions of this chapter. Not later than one hundred and eighty (180) days from having been duly constituted, the Board shall recommend the parameters for the development of the industry; requirements, standards, and criteria required from the activities, facilities, and premises to be certified as pertaining to medical tourism; the proposed regulation; and requirements to grant licenses and authorization to service providers and activity, facility, and premise operators of the industry. Not later than ninety (90) days after such one hundred and eighty (180)-day term has elapsed, the Executive Director shall render a report to the Legislative Assembly on the compliance with the provisions of § 6981b if this title.
History —Dec. 15, 2010, No. 196, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 163 - Medical Tourism Act (§§ 6981 — 6981k) › § 6981d - Financial Incentives for Medical Tourism Activities and Facilities

Any duly certified eligible medical tourism business shall qualify for the benefits and incentives of §§ 6001 et seq. of this title, or similar successor laws, §§ 371 et seq. of Title 13, known as the “Hospital Facilities Tax Exemption Act”, Act No. 120 of October 31, 1994, as amended, known as the “Internal Revenue Code of 1994,” for the eligible incentive activities that under any of such laws, at the choice of the eligible business, and such incentives as may be set forth through regulations [sic]. Provided, That the eligible business may only avail itself of benefits from one of these laws for each incentivized activity. To such effect, it is established that, though one duly certified eligible medical tourism business may benefit from several of the aforementioned laws for the different incentivized activities it may carry out, one eligible activity may not enjoy the benefits of more than one of the aforementioned laws that provide such benefits.
Furthermore, all duly certified eligible medical tourism businesses shall be exempt from the payment of any tax, levy, excise tax, fee, license fee, franchise fee, or any other imposition of the state; or by the municipalities, directly or indirectly related with the construction of or addition to new facilities or premises intended for medical tourism or to the import or acquisition of medical equipment meant to operate in such industry.
History —Dec. 15, 2010, No. 196, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 163 - Medical Tourism Act (§§ 6981 — 6981k) › § 6981e - Certifications, licenses, and endorsements

The Executive Director shall have the power to certify and issue licenses and permits for facilities or premises related to the medical tourism industry; to set forth the rules and requirements for the evaluation of applications and the issuance of such licenses and permits; to supervise the industry’s operators and service providers; and to suspend or revoke licenses and permits in case of noncompliance with the established rules and regulations.
Only those activities, facilities, and premises that comply with the rules, criteria, and requirements established by the Executive Director shall be certified as medical tourism activities, facilities, and premises, and only those may call and advertise themselves as pertaining to medical tourism.
The Secretary of Health shall issue a medical endorsement recognizing an activity as having complied with the quality criteria, the standards set forth by the Department of Health, and the applicable procedures regarding quality and excellence in rendering medical services, and making such facility and premise eligible for the benefits established in this chapter.
The Executive Director shall issue a tourist endorsement recognizing an activity as having complied with the applicable criteria, standards, and procedures regarding quality and excellence in rendering tourist services, and making such activity eligible for the benefits established in this chapter.
None of the provisions of this chapter waive such facilities or premises from the processes of accreditation and licensing at the state or federal level. Moreover, it does not exempt professionals from obtaining the licenses needed to practice health-related professions. Among the minimum requirements for certifying an activity, facility, or premise as pertaining to medical tourism are, without being limited to: accreditation by the Joint Commission, Board Certified medical providers, medical and tourist endorsements, program personnel who command the Spanish and English languages.
History —Dec. 15, 2010, No. 196, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 163 - Medical Tourism Act (§§ 6981 — 6981k) › § 6981f - Infrastructure

The Executive Director shall have the necessary authorities and powers to build, improve, and manage infrastructure in order to facilitate the promotion and development of the medical tourism industry in Puerto Rico, as defined herein. The Executive Director shall coordinate with other government agencies the implementation of the provisions of this chapter and may establish partnerships, agreements, and contracts with government agencies, public corporations, municipalities, cooperative unions, individuals from the private sector, and for-profit or non-profit private corporations for the implementation of the objectives and purposes of this chapter. Entirely private investments shall be permitted for the construction and development of medical tourism facilities and premises, insofar as these comply with the rules, requirements, and parameters established for the same.
History —Dec. 15, 2010, No. 196, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 163 - Medical Tourism Act (§§ 6981 — 6981k) › § 6981g - Duties of the Planning Board

The Planning Board shall instruct the Regulations and Permits Administration to give priority to any initiative from the public or private sector for the development of medical tourism infrastructure, facilities, or premises when granting construction permits, according to the parameters for the same. In case of a public emergency, the state may request that the Board examine and issue the necessary permits according to the law to carry out any urgent public work related to medical tourism infrastructure, facilities, and premises. In case that the Governor declares an emergency, the state’s agencies may overlook the provisions of this chapter when granting permits, certifications, and licenses related to medical tourism infrastructure, facilities, and premises.
History —Dec. 15, 2010, No. 196, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 163 - Medical Tourism Act (§§ 6981 — 6981k) › § 6981h - Parameters for the development of medical tourism in Puerto Rico

For the purposes of this chapter and in order for a world-class medical tourism industry to be established and developed in Puerto Rico, the Executive Director and the Consultative Board shall be guided by the following parameters, among others:
(a) The planning and marketing of medical tourism activities shall have as their main goal to achieve excellence in offering products and services in Puerto Rico and to meet the expectations of current and potential tourists from international markets who seek offers in such industry, as well as to take into consideration the existing and emerging trends in the local, national, and international markets for this type of tourism.
(b) The certification and development of medical tourism infrastructure, facilities, and premises shall aim for efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness when offering products and services to current and potential tourists seeking services of this kind, without disregarding other tourist and recreational activities that may complement such offer.
(c) Medical tourism activities and offers shall aim for the best and most efficient use of available resources in Puerto Rico for this type of tourism, combined with other offers and activities of a tourist, cultural, recreational, and educational nature, and shall include an educational program to promote knowledge of the resources and offers available in this area, as well as the best and most efficient use thereof. The Medical Sciences Campus may participate in these initiatives according to its availability of resources to such effect.
(d) Any development of medical tourism activities, facilities, and premises shall take into consideration the needs of the local community, and the evaluation and granting of certifications, licenses, endorsements, and permits for the same shall include, as part of such processes, a series of consultations to gauge the community’s opinion.
(e) Any development of medical tourism activities, facilities, and premises shall include a periodic evaluation, supervision, and follow-up process in order to determine its impact on and benefit to the community
History —Dec. 15, 2010, No. 196, § 11.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 163 - Medical Tourism Act (§§ 6981 — 6981k) › § 6981i - Advisory Council

An Advisory Council is hereby created, which shall be attached to the Consultative Board. The Advisory Council shall deal with health and tourism matters, among others, and its members shall be appointed by the Executive Director of the Tourism Company. Among the members to be appointed by the Executive Director are, without being limited to: representatives from the Medical Discipline and Licensure Board, the Puerto Rico College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Puerto Rico Medical Association, the Puerto Rico Hospitals Association, the Puerto Rico Hotels Association, the Medical Sciences Campus of the University of Puerto Rico, the College of Nursing Professionals, and the Department of State, as well as the Department of the Treasury and the Director of the Puerto Rico Infrastructure Financing Authority, as the Executive Director deems fit.
History —Dec. 15, 2010, No. 196, § 12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 163 - Medical Tourism Act (§§ 6981 — 6981k) › § 6981j - Prohibitions, fines, and penalties

Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter or the regulation created for its implementation, in addition to being imposed any administrative fine, may be prosecuted for a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000), or forty (40) hours of community service, or both punishments, at the discretion of the court. Community service shall be carried out under the supervision of the Secretary of Health and the administrative offenses and procedures shall be subject to the provisions of the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3.
History —Dec. 15, 2010, No. 196, § 13.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 163 - Medical Tourism Act (§§ 6981 — 6981k) › § 6981k - Funds

For the implementation of this chapter and its public policy, the Tourism Company shall use its own annual funds and resources, without disregarding any other additional contributions made through special appropriations, fund transfers, and contributions or gifts from government agencies, public corporations, municipalities, and natural and juridical persons from the private sector. Any appropriated funds for the implementation of this chapter, regardless of their origin, may be matched with funds from any other source from the public or private sector without major limitations other than those imposed by applicable laws and regulations.
Provided, further, that the Executive Director shall be authorized to use the human and fiscal resources of the Tourism Company, recognizing medical tourism as a niche market to which priority shall be given when resources are appropriated.
History —Dec. 15, 2010, No. 196, § 14.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 164 - Act for Development of a Country Brand (§§ 6982 — 6982i) › § 6982 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms and phrases shall have the meaning stated hereinbelow:
(a) Committee.— Means the “Standing Committee on the Creation, Development, Implementation, and Maintenance of a Country Brand”.
(b) Company.— Means the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.
(c) Department.— Means the Department of Economic Development and Commerce of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(d) Government instrumentality.— Means any department, board, commission, public corporation, bureau, agency, or any other political or administrative subdivision of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(e) Country brand.— Means a base strategy that proves the various unique values of a nation, region, or city which are interrelated to establish comparative and competitive advantages for the purpose of placing the services, sites, and products of a country. It translates into any name, term, sign, symbol, slogan, or design or combination thereof used for the purpose of identifying the qualities, attributes, services, and strengths of a country that distinguishes a country from others.
History —July 23, 2013, No. 70, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 164 - Act for Development of a Country Brand (§§ 6982 — 6982i) › § 6982a - Obligations of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce together with the Tourism Company

(a) To have the responsibility and obligation of assessing, conceptualizing and officially adopting the “country brand” to be used in the plans and programs of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to promote and market the island’s image within Puerto Rico and abroad and as an investment destination. Neither the “country brand” nor any phrase established in this chapter shall be the same as nor similar to any logo used by any political party or candidate as part of the campaign.
(b) To oversee the standard use of the “country brand” to be adopted, in any program, action or initiative of the government instrumentalities.
(c) To oversee the integrity and proper use of the “country brand” to be adopted.
(d) To conduct any necessary campaigns and activities to disclose the “country brand” thus adopted.
(e) To coordinate, together with any other government instrumentality, any collaborative agreement or partnerships to further the purposes of this chapter.
(f) To enter into any contract, compact, collaborative agreement or partnership with any private company, nonprofit organization or cooperative that allows for the optimum use of the adopted brand.
(g) To exercise any other power or legal authority as deemed reasonable and necessary to achieve the purposes of this section.
(h) To execute instruments as are necessary and convenient to exercise any of its powers.
History —July 23, 2013, No. 70, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 164 - Act for Development of a Country Brand (§§ 6982 — 6982i) › § 6982b - Standing Committee on the Creation, Development, Implementation, and Maintenance of a Country Brand

The “Standing Committee on the Creation, Development, Implementation, and Maintenance of a Country Brand” is hereby created to discharge the obligations of the Department.
History —July 23, 2013, No. 70, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 164 - Act for Development of a Country Brand (§§ 6982 — 6982i) › § 6982c - Standing Committee on the Creation, Development, Implementation, and Maintenance of a Country Brand—Composition

Said Committee shall be composed of the following fifteen (15) members:
(a) The Secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce, who shall be the Chair of the Committee;
(b) The Executive Director of the Tourism Company;
(c) One (1) representative of the Executive Committee of the Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association;
(d) One (1) representative of the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau.
(e) Three (3) representatives of the entrepreneurial, industrial, and business sector of Puerto Rico;
(f) One (1) representative of the cultural and patrimonial sector of Puerto Rico with over ten (10) years of experience;
(g) Two (2) representatives of the academia, one representative of a private university and one representative of the public university both from different disciplines within the marketing, hotel, and/or tourism fields;
(h) One (1) representative of the Puerto Rico Sales and Marketing Executives Association;
(i) One (1) representative of the Asociación de Paradores de Puerto Rico.
The other three (3) members shall be the Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Trade and Export Company, the Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company, and the Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Film Corporation, who shall be ex officio members. The Committee shall be attached to the Department. Except for the Executive Director of the Department, the Executive Director of the Tourism Company, the Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Trade and Export Company, the Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company, and the Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Film Corporation, all other members shall be appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico with the advice and consent of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for a term of ten (10) years, or until their successors are appointed and take office.
The Committee members shall neither earn a salary for their services nor be entitled to a per diem.
History —July 23, 2013, No. 70, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 164 - Act for Development of a Country Brand (§§ 6982 — 6982i) › § 6982d - Standing Committee on the Creation, Development, Implementation, and Maintenance of a Country Brand—Jurisdiction

(a) To advise the Department in the conceptualization and adoption process of the “country brand” to be used by the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in all campaigns and programs promoting the image of the Island within Puerto Rico and abroad.
(b) To ensure that campaigns promoting the island as a tourist and economic destination, and those related to the development of a “country brand” comply with the parameters established for the development of the “country brand”.
(c) Prior to the adoption of a “country brand” by the Department, the Committee shall guarantee that a marketing and advertising plan has been devised by qualified and knowledgeable staff, including the studies and research provided in subsections (3) and (4) of § 671e of this title, better known as the “Puerto Rico Tourism Company Act”, and that such plan validates the suitability of the brand to be adopted.
(d) The evaluation and approval of a majority constituted by eight (8) out of fifteen (15) members of the Committee shall be required to adopt the “country brand”. Such a majority shall also be required when the Board approves the campaigns to promote island as a tourist and economic destination and those campaigns related to the development of a “country brand”.
(e) The Committee shall conduct surveys and assessments, at least every two (2) years, on the effectiveness of the adopted brand, and recommend that any actions be taken in order to improve the use and effectiveness thereof.
(f) Likewise, in order to change the “country brand” and adopt a new one, the provisions of this section, which regulate the brand’s adoption process, shall be complied with. It shall further include a study, in accordance with the marketing and communications field parameters and requirements that validate the need for the adoption of a new “country brand”.
History —July 23, 2013, No. 70, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 164 - Act for Development of a Country Brand (§§ 6982 — 6982i) › § 6982e - Standing Committee on the Creation, Development, Implementation, and Maintenance of a Country Brand—Functions and powers

The Committee shall have the following functions and powers:
(a) To establish the internal organization and bylaws of the Committee through regulations to be approved by a majority constituted by eight (8) out of fifteen (15) members.
(b) To establish commissions or work groups as are necessary to conduct its functions and procedures.
(c) To administer the budget allocated.
(d) To establish the guidelines for the use of the “country brand” by public agencies and private businesses.
(e) To contract professional and advertising services as are necessary to carry out its functions.
(f) To hold the “country brand” copyrights and oversee the proper use thereof, as well as to be empowered to take the necessary measures to safeguard its integrity and ensure that the brand is used according to the parameters and purposes of this chapter. For such purposes, it may impose fines, as well as initiate any appropriate civil actions to prevent the undue use of the brand and to seek any pertinent remedies.
History —July 23, 2013, No. 70, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 164 - Act for Development of a Country Brand (§§ 6982 — 6982i) › § 6982f - Funds and allocations

The Committee is hereby allocated five percent (5%) of the funds appropriated for advertising and marketing to the following agencies: the Department of Economic Development and Commerce, the Tourism Company, Rums of Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau, the Trade and Export Company, the Industrial Development Company, and the Film Corporation.
The Committee may receive funds from any government instrumentality and private entity for the purposes of this chapter. Furthermore, the Committee may also receive appropriations from the Legislative Assembly of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, whether by law or joint resolution, for or in benefit of the “country brand.”
The budget allocated to the Committee shall be used for the investigation, creation, development, implementation, and evaluation of the “country brand”. The advertising campaigns authorized by the Committee shall be deemed to be analogous to the advertising campaigns of the Tourism Company promoting Puerto Rico as a tourist and economic investment destination, for purposes of the statutes that regulate the advertising campaigns conducted by the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Furthermore, the money shall be set aside in a separate account for such purposes and shall be overseen by, and be under the custody of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce.
History —July 23, 2013, No. 70, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 164 - Act for Development of a Country Brand (§§ 6982 — 6982i) › § 6982g - Reports

The Committee shall file an annual Report with the Governor and both Houses of the Legislative Assembly including an account of the activities conducted during the previous fiscal year, a balance sheet, the work plan for the following fiscal year, and the goals achieved.
History —July 23, 2013, No. 70, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VI - Tourism (§§ 6001 — 6982i) › Chapter 164 - Act for Development of a Country Brand (§§ 6982 — 6982i) › § 6982h - Organizations

Any organization, entity, or private business that receives funds or incentives from the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall be required to include the “country brand” adopted in the promotional campaigns or programs within Puerto Rico and abroad.
History —July 23, 2013, No. 70, § 11.