reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 28 - Puerto Rico Energy Transformation and RELIEF Act (§§ 1051 — 1056) › Subchapter IV - Creation, Structure, Operation, Budget, and General Powers of the Puerto Rico Energy Administration and the Energy Commission (§§ 1054 — 1054rr) › § 1054oo - Director of the ICPO

(a) The Director shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate for a term of six (6) years, and the Governor shall fix his/her compensation using as guideline the salary established for heads of agency or departments with functions of similar complexity as the ICPO. The Director shall be an attorney-at-law duly licensed to practice under the laws of Puerto Rico, with at least five (5) years of experience, of recognized probity and resident of Puerto Rico. The Governor shall appoint the Director of the ICPO by selecting from a list of ten (10) candidates resulting from a public and open job announcement to nonprofit nongovernmental organizations whose mission is to represent consumers or customers, small business, the elderly or low-income persons, to submit their recommendations for nomination. Once the term provided for such nongovernmental organizations to nominate candidates for the position of Director of the ICPO, the Office of the Governor shall publish on its website the list of all the proposed candidates and shall specify the nongovernmental organization that nominated each candidate.
(b) The Director may be removed from office by the Governor only for just cause and after notice and opportunity to be heard.
(c) The Director and the members of his/her family unit, as defined in §§ 1854 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Government Ethics Act of 2011”, shall not have any direct or indirect interest in, nor contractual relation whatsoever with PREPA and/or any other electric power company certified in Puerto Rico, nor in entities within or outside Puerto Rico affiliated to or with interest in PREPA or said companies.
(d) The Director may not participate in any matter or dispute in which any natural or juridical person with which he/she has had a contractual, professional, labor, or fiduciary relation within two (2) years prior to his/her appointment is a party thereto. Moreover, once his/her functions have ceased, the Director shall not represent any juridical person or entity before said Commission in relation to any issue in which he/she participated while serving on the Commission as Director, or with respect to any other issue within two (2) years after separation from office.
History —May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 6.42; renumbered as § 6.41 on Feb. 16, 2016, No. 4, § 27.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 28 - Puerto Rico Energy Transformation and RELIEF Act (§§ 1051 — 1056) › Subchapter IV - Creation, Structure, Operation, Budget, and General Powers of the Puerto Rico Energy Administration and the Energy Commission (§§ 1054 — 1054rr) › § 1054pp - Organization of the Independent Consumer Protection Office

(a) PREA shall ensure that the ICPO has the proper office space and facilities for its operations. PREA shall have the duty to hire the professional personnel and services of the ICPO at the request of the Director, subject to the provisions of the laws, regulations, or executive orders of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and subject to the limits of the budget to be appropriated to the ICPO.
(b) No employee of the Office, whether a career or trust employee, may be related within the fourth degree of consanguinity and second of affinity to the Director of the Office or any commissioner of the Energy Commission.
(c) Any action of the Director and the personnel of the Office shall be subject to the restrictions provided §§ 1854 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Government Ethics Act of 2011”.
History —May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 6.43; renumbered as § 6.42 on Feb. 16, 2016, No. 4, § 27.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 28 - Puerto Rico Energy Transformation and RELIEF Act (§§ 1051 — 1056) › Subchapter IV - Creation, Structure, Operation, Budget, and General Powers of the Puerto Rico Energy Administration and the Energy Commission (§§ 1054 — 1054rr) › § 1054rr - Budget of the office

The Office shall receive an annual appropriation equal to ten percent (10%) of the amount appropriated to the Energy Commission in accordance with subsection (c) of § 1054o of this title. This appropriation shall originate from the same financing source as the Commission.
History —May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 6.45; renumbered as § 6.44 on Feb. 16, 2016, No. 4, § 27.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 28 - Puerto Rico Energy Transformation and RELIEF Act (§§ 1051 — 1056) › Subchapter V - General Transitory Provisions (§§ 1055 — 1056) › § 1055 - Transition between created and eliminated agencies

(a) The powers and duties of the Puerto Rico Renewable Energy Commission created by virtue of §§ 8121 et seq. of Title 12, in connection with any energy-related matter shall be transferred to the Energy Commission created herein. The employees of the Puerto Rico Renewable Energy Commission holding a career position shall be transferred to CEPPO, and their job classifications shall be similar to, and their salaries and benefits shall not be lower or less than what they enjoyed while serving in the Puerto Rico Renewable Energy Commission.
(b) The Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office shall be the legal successor of all administrative rights and obligations of the Energy Affairs Administration. The budget, documents, records, materials, equipment, and any other real and personal property of the Energy Affairs Administration are hereby transferred to CEPPO. CEPPO shall assume and be responsible for any financial debt, obligation, or liability of the Energy Affairs Administration and, in turn, shall assume and be the holder of any asset, right, or power of the Energy Affairs Administration beyond those specifically listed in this chapter. The Executive Director of CEPPO is hereby empowered to establish through administrative orders all the norms deemed necessary to guarantee a swift and orderly transition process, including all that pertains to the employee transition process.
(c) All employees of the Energy Affairs Administration holding a career position shall become employees of CEPPO. All such employees shall hold a position and job classification similar to that held at the Energy Affairs Administration and their salaries and benefits shall not be lower or less than what they enjoyed while serving in the Energy Affairs Administration.
(d) The Executive Director of CEPPO shall determine and identify those employees of the Energy Affairs Administration holding a trust or transitory position who may be transferred as employees of the Office.
History —May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 7.01.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 28 - Puerto Rico Energy Transformation and RELIEF Act (§§ 1051 — 1056) › Subchapter V - General Transitory Provisions (§§ 1055 — 1056) › § 1056 - Inconsistent provisions

(a) In the event that the provisions of this chapter are in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of any other law, the provisions of this chapter shall prevail.
(b) Sections of this title, shall not limit, impair, or hinder the powers and duties of the Energy Commission in exercising its authority.
History —May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 7.04.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 30 - Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Revitalization Act (§§ 1071 — 1084) › § 1071 - Title

This chapter shall be known as the “Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Revitalization Act”.
History —Feb. 16, 2016, No. 4, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 30 - Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Revitalization Act (§§ 1071 — 1084) › § 1072 - Declaration of public policy on the revitalization of the Electric Power Authority

The transformation and reform of our energy sector has been necessary to ensure the competitiveness and economic development of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. However, said reform had to be framed taking into account the Authority’s financial reality, and understanding that its finances, operations, and governance require an evaluation and subsequent transformation. Since our main goal is to maintain the Authority as an entity of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, we have entered into an integrated agreement with the creditors lenders thereof (Creditors” Agreement), the implementation of which requires the approval of this chapter. The main purpose of implementing these agreements is to benefit all customers with a just, reasonable, and transparent rate that shall, in turn, allow the Authority to meet its obligations and provide a world-class service in the medium- and the long-term. For such purposes, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Revitalization Act is hereby approved.
History —Feb. 16, 2016, No. 4, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 30 - Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Revitalization Act (§§ 1071 — 1084) › § 1078 - Use of proceeds of restructing bonds

The proceeds of the restructuring bonds shall be used only to pay or fund upfront financing costs. The remaining proceeds, if any, shall be contributed to or on behalf of the Authority or otherwise applied to approved restructuring costs, as provided in the restructuring resolution. Restructuring bonds may also be issued without such issuance generating any proceeds to defease a portion of the Authority’s outstanding debt. Upon payment or defeasance of all restructuring bonds and all related financing costs, all amounts held or receivable by the Corporation or any financing entity shall be used to make a refund or credit to Customers in the manner provided by the Commission. Any failure by any person to apply the proceeds of the restructuring bonds in a reasonable, prudent, and appropriate manner or otherwise comply with any of the provisions of this chapter (including any restructuring resolution or applicable trust agreement or any agreement between the Corporation and the Authority) shall not invalidate, impair, or affect any restructuring property, transition charge, or restructuring bonds.
History —Feb. 16, 2016, No. 4, § 36.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 30 - Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Revitalization Act (§§ 1071 — 1084) › § 1079 - Restructing bonds shall be without recourse to credit or assets of entities

Restructuring bonds shall be without recourse to the credit or any assets of the Corporation, the Authority, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any third-party biller, any servicer, escrow agent, or other financing entity, other than the restructuring property, and other assets and revenues specified in the applicable restructuring resolution, trust agreement, or other corresponding security document.
History —Feb. 16, 2016, No. 4, § 37.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 30 - Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Revitalization Act (§§ 1071 — 1084) › § 1080 - Standing

(a) Subject to the limitations set forth in the restructuring resolution or related trust agreement, the Corporation or any other owner of restructuring property, or the applicable trustee, (1) shall be authorized to hire consultants, attorneys, and other Persons and enter into such agreements as the Corporation, other owner, or Trustee deems necessary to enforce and collect the transition charge revenues or protect the restructuring property and include the cost thereof as a financing cost, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, and (2) shall be hereby expressly authorized to (A) bring actions against any owner of the System Assets, any servicer, or any other person authorized to bill or collect transition charges, any customers or any other person for failure to bill, pay, or collect any transition charges constituting part of the restructuring property then pledged as security for such restructuring bonds, (B) enforce any other provision of this chapter or action taken by the Corporation with respect thereof, (C) take any other action as the Corporation, other owner of restructuring property, or the trustee may deem necessary to enforce and collect the transition charge revenues, or (D) protect the restructuring property in accordance with the terms of the restructuring resolution related thereto and the applicable restructuring bonds, regardless of whether an event of default has occurred. No action may be brought by the Corporation, the trustee, or the party to any ancillary agreement or on their behalf (other than through the Authority or any successor servicer) against any customer for failure to pay any transition charge insofar as the Authority or any successor servicer is fulfilling with its obligations under the servicing agreement with respect to the enforcement of any collection of charges (including transition charges) due from such customer.
(b) Any court shall have jurisdiction over any actions for failure to bill, pay, or collect any transition charges or for enforcement of any provision of this chapter.
(c) The restructuring property may be transferred, sold, conveyed, or assigned (including by a foreclosure action on the restructuring property) to any person, subject to the terms of any trust agreement, even after the occurrence of an event of default, and while such agreement is in effect with respect to the restructuring bonds.
History —Feb. 16, 2016, No. 4, § 38.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 30 - Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Revitalization Act (§§ 1071 — 1084) › § 1081 - Corporation shall not be deemed electric power company

The Corporation shall not be deemed to be an electric power company, electric power service company, or electric power generation company (as such terms are defined in §§ 1051 et seq. of this title), public utility or person providing utility service.
History —Feb. 16, 2016, No. 4, § 39.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 30 - Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Revitalization Act (§§ 1071 — 1084) › § 1082 - Corporate existence

The corporate existence of the Corporation shall continue until terminated by law, but no such law shall take effect while the Corporation has bonds, notes, or other obligations outstanding, unless it has been provided for the payment thereof in accordance with the terms said act.
History —Feb. 16, 2016, No. 4, § 40.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 31 - Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority Revitalization Act (§§ 1091 — 1104) › § 1091 - Title

This chapter shall be known as the “Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority Revitalization Act”.
History —July 12, 2016, No. 68, § 2.1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 31 - Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority Revitalization Act (§§ 1091 — 1104) › § 1092 - Declaration of public policy

To ensure the rendering of water and sewer services to our people while meeting the highest standards of quality and efficiency is an urgent and irreplaceable commitment for the Government. Therefore, it is necessary to provide the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority with mechanisms that enable it to have the resources required to continue fulfilling, now and in the future, the primary role of overseeing and guaranteeing the rendering of essential services such as the distribution of drinking water and the provision of sewer services. For all of the foregoing, it is hereby declared as the public policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to provide the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority with the necessary tools to maximize its potential as an entity, boost the economic development of our society through the performance thereof, and accomplish its social mission for the benefit of our people. None of the provisions of this chapter, of future agreements entered into with Authority’s creditors, or of any lawful business conducted by the Corporation prior and subsequent to the effective date of this act shall be binding upon or create obligations between the Customers or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the creditors of the Corporation and the Authority.
History —July 12, 2016, No. 68, § 2.2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 31 - Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority Revitalization Act (§§ 1091 — 1104) › § 1099 - No recourse

Bonds shall be without recourse to the credit or any assets of the Corporation, the Authority, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any third-party biller, any servicer, co-servicer, escrow agent, or other financing entity, other than the financing property, and other assets and revenues specified in the applicable financing resolution, trust agreement, or other applicable security document.
History —July 12, 2016, No. 68, § 2.9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 31 - Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority Revitalization Act (§§ 1091 — 1104) › § 1100 - Legal standing

(a) Subject to the limitations set forth in the financing resolution or related trust agreement, the Corporation or any other holder of financing property, or the applicable trustee, (1) shall be authorized to hire consultants, attorneys, and other persons and enter into such agreements as the Corporation, other holder, or trustee deems necessary to enforce and collect the revitalization charge revenues or protect the financing property and include the cost thereof as a financing cost, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, (2) shall be hereby expressly authorized to (A) bring legal actions against any owner of the System Assets, any servicer, or any other person authorized to bill or collect revitalization charges, any customers or any other person for failure to bill, pay, or collect any revitalization charges constituting part of the financing property then pledged as security for such bonds, (B) enforce any other provision of this chapter or action taken by the Corporation with respect thereof, (C) take any other action as the Corporation, other holder of financing property, or the trustee may deem necessary to enforce and collect the revitalization charge revenues, or (D) protect the financing property in accordance with the terms of the financing resolution related thereto and the applicable bonds, regardless of whether an event of default has occurred. No action may be brought by the Corporation, the trustee, or the party to any ancillary agreement or on their behalf (other than through the Authority or any successor servicer) against any customer for failure to pay any revitalization charge insofar as the Authority or any successor servicer is fulfilling its obligations under the servicing contract with respect to the enforcement of any collection of charges (including revitalization charges) due from such customer.
(b) Any court shall have jurisdiction over any actions for failure to impose, bill, pay, or collect any financing charges or for enforcement of any provision of this chapter.
(c) The financing property may be transferred, sold, conveyed, or assigned (including an action to foreclose on the financing property) to any person, subject to the terms of any trust agreement, even after the occurrence of an event of default, and while such agreement is in effect with respect to the bonds.
History —July 12, 2016, No. 68, § 2.10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 31 - Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority Revitalization Act (§§ 1091 — 1104) › § 1101 - The Corporation is not a public utility

The Corporation shall not be deemed to be an aqueduct and/or sewer company or a company that produces drinking water or collects and disposes of sanitary sewer waters, public utility or person providing utility services for general use.
History —July 12, 2016, No. 68, § 2.11.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 31 - Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority Revitalization Act (§§ 1091 — 1104) › § 1102 - Termination of Corporation

The corporate existence of the Corporation shall continue until terminated by law, but no such law shall take effect so long as the Corporation shall have bonds, notes, or other obligations outstanding, unless provisions have been made for the payment thereof in accordance with the terms thereof.
History —July 12, 2016, No. 68, § 2.12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1 — 61a) › § 30a - Area facilities for housing developments—General purpose

The purpose of §§ 30a—30g of this title is to ensure that the minimum basic services necessary for everyday living be provided for the new vicinities which are being created alongside of the growing urban areas, including multistory buildings regardless of the zoning district in which located. The slightest observation of the constitution of our old vicinities discloses at once that a vicinity is not merely a conglomerate of dwellings. Services and facilities such as concern education, health, recreation, safety, commerce, cultural and social interchange, and religious expression, have been an indispensable complement to the old vicinities. The anticipation of the need of making such basic services available to the new housing settlements — the new vicinities of the city — is grounded in the facilities and services already available in the existing vicinities, in response to the needs felt. To these ends, the Permit Management Office is hereby authorized to require certain minimum facilities in approving future housing developments and multistory buildings as hereinafter provided.
History —June 8, 1962, No. 25, p. 48, § 1; July 18, 1975, No. 9, p. 587, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1 — 61a) › § 30b - Area facilities for housing developments—Facilities included

The Permit Management Office is hereby authorized to require, prior to the approval of housing developments and multi-story buildings, the following vicinal facilities: the construction of educational, cultural, recreational, commercial and any other facilities that contribute toward the physical, social, moral, religious and cultural development of the community. It may also require the installation of acoustic barriers to reduce noise; however, it shall be compelled to enforce this requirement on all new construction projects of residential urbanizations and buildings in which the land of any housing unit or common area is located fifty (50) meters or less from the any [sic] highway, expressway or primary road thoroughfare easements, whether divided, existing or under construction. No housing development, including multi-story buildings, shall be approved unless it complies with the Vicinal Facilities Regulation; Provided, further, That, in order to enforce the requirement of vicinal facilities, the Permit Management Office shall exercise the powers conferred to it by §§ 30a—30g of this title, following insofar as applicable, the procedures established by the laws and planning regulations in force. Jointly with the requirement of vicinal facilities referred to in this section, the Permit Management Office may require, as part thereof, the construction of shelters for the civil population to furnish protection against natural or man-made disasters.
History —June 8, 1962, No. 25, p. 48, § 2; July 18, 1975, No. 9, p. 587, § 3; Aug. 26, 2005, No. 92, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1 — 61a) › § 30b-1 - Area facilities for housing developments—Deposit on future facilities; distribution of costs; regulations

The Permit Management Office require and/or accept that the proponent deposit a sum of money which is sufficient to cover proportionately the totality or part of the future vicinal facilities of the vicinal development [sic]; Provided, That such moneys shall be deposited in a special account in the Department of the Treasury, to be devoted to the provision of the vicinal facilities of the vicinity for which it is reserved.
The determination of the amount of money to be required of the proponent as a deposit to cover proportionately future vicinal facilities of the vicinal development, shall be based on such norms as for the purpose may be expressly set forth in the regulations adopted pursuant to § 30g hereof and shall include an amount of money to cover any increase that may arise in construction costs. The Permit Management Office shall designate a committee for the preparation of such norms, which shall be composed of two members from its membership, two from the Department of Housing designated by the Secretary thereof, and one representing the public interest appointed by the Governor. This committee shall consider, in order to establish the proportion of vicinal facilities to be allotted to each proposed housing development, the number of residential lots and/or housing units of such development, and the construction cost of the vicinal facilities to be required. The norms prepared by the committee and adopted by the Permit Management Office the regulation may be periodically reviewed by the committee itself in order to make the adjustments resulting from the variations due to the increase or decrease of the construction cost. The norms so revised shall be submitted as amendments to the regulation authorized by § 30g hereof.
History —June 8, 1962, No. 25, p. 48, added as § 2.01 on July 18, 1975, No. 9, p. 587, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1 — 61a) › § 30c - Area facilities for housing developments—Educational facilities

The Department of Education shall provide the educational facilities, or else reimburse the constructor of the housing development for the cost of such facilities.
History —June 8, 1962, No. 25, p. 48, § 3; July 18, 1975, No. 9, p. 587, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1 — 61a) › § 30d - Area facilities for housing developments—Cost of cultural and recreational facilities, shelters and acoustic barriers

The cost of the cultural and recreational facilities, as well as the shelters and acoustic barriers shall be taken into account by the developer or constructor in determining the cost of the residential lots and/or housing units, as the case may be, according to the proposed development.
History —June 8, 1962, No. 25, p. 48, § 4; July 18, 1975, No. 9, p. 587, § 6; Aug. 26, 2005, No. 92, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1 — 61a) › § 30e - Area facilities for housing developments—Consultation with other departments and agencies

The Permit Management Office shall consult the other departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in charge of the direction of public and governmental programs and functions related to vicinal facilities in the proposed housing developments, including multistory buildings.
History —June 8, 1962, No. 25, p. 48, § 5; July 18, 1975, No. 9, p. 587, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1 — 61a) › § 30f - Area facilities for housing developments—Exemption of facilities

Taking into account the existing vicinal facilities in adjacent areas, the scope or localization of the proposed housing developments, including multistory buildings, and other analogous factors which may render the requirement unnecessary, the Permit Management Office shall have power to exempt from all or part of such vicinal facilities.
History —June 8, 1962, No. 25, p. 48, § 6; July 18, 1975, No. 9, p. 587, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1 — 61a) › § 30g - Area facilities for housing developments—Regulations; capacity of facilities

The Permit Management Office shall adopt regulations according to the provisions of §§ 71 et seq. of this title, which shall include in its provisions such measures as may be necessary to guarantee that the construction, installation, and operation of the community facilities in any housing and multistory building development is constructed at a faster rate than the construction of the housing units constituting the Project, in order to guarantee that the completion of said community facilities will coincide with the date on which fifty percent (50%) of the total number of housing units projected has been completed; Provided, That the capacity of the community facilities to be required shall be established in proportion to the number of residential lots and/or housing units submitted in the proposed urbanization developments, including multistory buildings, so that such facilities will adjust to the needs, activities, and services of such developments. The regulations of the Permit Management Office shall include provisions regarding the construction of educational, recreational, cultural, and any other facilities that contribute to the physical, social, moral, religious, and cultural development of the community; Provided, That those funds required by the Permit Management Office from the builders and urbanizes for recreational and/or cultural facilities be placed at the disposal of the Sports and Recreation Department for the development, construction, and maintenance thereof.
History —June 8, 1962, No. 25, p. 48, § 7; July 18, 1975, No. 9, p. 587, § 9; July 27, 1996, No. 82, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1 — 61a) › § 42b - Certification of plans—Exemption

Every engineer or architect licensed under the laws of Puerto Rico who prepares or makes any plan or project of construction, reconstruction, alteration or enlargement of any work and which plan or project is filed, shall certify that said plan or project is in conformity with the applicable laws and regulations. Said certification shall be accompanied by the regulatory endorsements required for the work. Applicable regulations shall be understood to be those promulgated and approved by the governmental organizations of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and published in accordance with law. Works not constituting a risk to life, safety or public property shall be exempted from compliance with this requirement, as may be provided in the regulation authorized by §§ 42a-42i of this title.
History —June 15, 1967, No. 135, p. 437, § 2; June 27, 1968, No. 144, p. 416, § 1; Oct. 26, 1973, No. 5, p. 861, § 3; Oct. 6, 1975, No. 1, p. 707, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1 — 61a) › § 42c - Certification of plans—Issuance of permits; violations

When an engineer or architect licensed under the laws of Puerto Rico submits a plan or project to the Permit Management Office with the purpose of obtaining a construction, reconstruction, alteration or enlargement permit of a work covered by the provisions of § 42b of this title, said Office shall issue the corresponding permit based on the compliance with the regulation provided in § 42a of this title and in the certificate submitted by said engineer or architect, and shall file a copy of said permit together with the plans and other documents, required in accordance with the regulation provided in §§ 42a—42i of this title.
The Permit Management Office shall have authority to investigate all matters relative to the transaction or granting of said permit and as to the veracity of the facts stated in the certificate submitted and as to the development of the work and may take such administrative or judicial action as may correspond. In case the Permit Management Office determines that someone attempted to obtain or has obtained a construction or use permit in violation of the applicable laws and regulations, it shall so report to the Secretary of Justice of Puerto Rico for the proper action. When it is determined that the permit was obtained in violation of the applicable laws or regulations and the construction of the work has not begun, the Permit and Management Office may proceed to revoke said permit, upon a hearing called for the purpose. The Permit Management Office may delegate one of its officials to act as examiner in said hearing. The examiner shall submit for the decision of the Permit Management Office his recommendation together with a statement of the evidence and his findings of fact and issues of law and any considerations relevant to the case. The Permit Management Office shall report such action to the Boards of Examiners of Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects of Puerto Rico for the proper action.
The issuance by the Permit Management Office of a permit of use, construction, reconstruction, alteration or enlargement of any work in accordance with §§ 42a—42i of this title does not bind it for construction defects in said work for which such permit has been issued.
History —June 15, 1967, No. 135, p. 437, § 3; June 27, 1968, No. 144, p. 416, § 1; Oct. 26, 1973, No. 5, p. 861, § 3; Oct. 6, 1975, No. 1, p. 707, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1 — 61a) › § 42e - Certification of plans—Supervision of works

(a) Every construction, reconstruction, alteration or enlargement of works covered by the provisions of § 42b of this title shall be under the inspection of an engineer or architect licensed under the laws of Puerto Rico. The engineer or architect who inspects the work shall file, upon completion of the construction, reconstruction, enlargement or alteration work, a written certificate before the Permit Management Office, setting forth that it was inspected by him and that it complied with the permit granted on the basis of the certified plans. The certificate, by reason of the periodical nature of the inspection, shall befit the intensity and frequency with which the latter is carried out, which shall never be less than as required by §§ 42a—42i of this title or the regulation authorized thereby.
The contractor or builder or his employees may not certify the inspection of a work constructed by themselves.
Works not constituting a risk to life, safety or public property may be exempted from compliance with the requirements of this certificate, as may be provided in the regulation authorized by §§ 42a—42i of this title.
(b) The contractor or builder under whose direction the work was performed shall submit to the Permit Management Office a certificate under oath, accrediting that same was performed in accordance with the plans and specifications under which the construction permit was granted. In the case of more complex works, as defined in the regulation hereby authorized, the aforesaid certificate shall also be signed by the professional in charge of the construction project.
History —June 15, 1967, No. 135, p. 437, § 5; June 27, 1968, No. 144, p. 416, § 1; Oct. 26, 1973, No. 5, p. 861, § 3; Oct. 6, 1975, No. 1, p. 707, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1 — 61a) › § 42f - Certification of plans—Use permit; prior requirements

The Permit Management Office shall not issue any use permit whatsoever for a work without the provisions of § 42e of this title having first been complied with.
History —June 15, 1967, No. 135, p. 437, § 6; Oct. 26, 1973, No. 5, p. 861, § 3; Oct. 6, 1975, No. 1, p. 707, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1 — 61a) › § 42g - Certification of plans—False information; penalties

Every engineer or architect who, upon submitting a certificate of a plan or project, willfully offers false information, or the design of the work does not conform to the regulations, or who states facts or dimensions which are not true or correct, or furnishes to the Permit Management Office false information or facts, or conceals information for the purpose of obtaining the issuance of a construction or use permit, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisonment in jail for a term not exceeding six (6) months, or both penalties, in the discretion of the court. In addition, the court shall establish a period of not less than three (3) months nor more than three (3) years during which said person shall be disqualified to submit certificates for the purposes of §§ 42a—42i of this title.
History —June 15, 1967, No. 135, p. 437, § 7; Oct. 26, 1973, No. 5, p. 861, § 3; Oct. 6, 1975, No. 1, p. 707, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1 — 61a) › § 42h - Certification of plans—Improper alteration; penalties

(a) Every natural or juridical person who willfully alters the construction of a work in such a way that varies the blueprints or project as it was certified by the engineer or architect, pursuant to the provisions of §§ 42a—42i of this title, and that by doing so adversely affects the structural stability of the work, or the health or public safety, shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereof, shall be sanctioned with a penalty of not less than six (6) months of imprisonment nor more than one (1) year, or a fine of not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both penalties, at the discretion of the court.
(b) If as a result of the conduct set forth in § 42g of this title, or in subsection (a) of this section, the death of a human being occurs, the originator shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction punished by imprisonment for a term of not less than one (1) nor more than five (5) years.
(c) Sections 42a—42i of this title do not limit the provisions of the laws which regulate the professions of engineer or architect, or any trade, as to disciplinary action for violations thereof, independently of any criminal action brought hereunder. The court shall notify any sentence imposed for violations of §§ 42a—42i of this title to the College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors of Puerto Rico, the Board of Examiners of Engineers, or any administrative entity concerned.
(d) Nothing that is provided in §§ 42a—42i of this title shall be construed as to repeal, alter or modify the provisions of the Civil Code of Puerto Rico and of §§ 501—519 of Title 17 regarding the civil liability of the person who designs or of the builder. Should a juridical person alter the construction of the work in such a way as to vary the blueprints or the project as it was certified and said variation is in detriment and not in benefit of the work, the natural persons that were responsible for the alteration may not resort to the defense that they are exempted from liability for the limitation established in the laws for stockholders, directors and partners of corporations and partnerships, respectively.
(e) The contractor or builder of a work shall be bound to make alterations and reconstructions, or to return to its design pursuant to the certified plans as required of him by the governmental organizations of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico concerned, to correct such construction blemishes or defects, or deviations from the design appearing in the certified plans, as may have been committed in violation of the permit granted and of the applicable regulations.
History —June 15, 1967, No. 135, p. 437, § 8; June 27, 1968, No. 144, p. 416, § 1; Oct. 26, 1973, No. 5, p. 861, § 3; Oct. 6, 1975, No. 1, p. 707, § 10; Jan. 1, 2003, No. 4, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1 — 61a) › § 42i - Certification of plans—Prescription of penal action

For the purposes of the prescription on penal liability established in §§ 42g and 42h of this title, it is hereby provided that said prescription shall commence as of the date in which the act which constituted a violation occurred. If as a result of the conduct prohibited by §§ 42g and 42h of this title, the death of a human being occurs, penal liability shall commence as of the date in which the death occurred. In no case may an action be initiated five (5) years after the date on which the act which gave place to the violation occurred or which caused the death.
History —June 15, 1967, No. 135, p. 437, added as § 9 on Aug. 17, 1999, No. 269, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1 — 61a) › § 43-1 - Regulations—Outfitting areas to breastfeed and change diapers

(1) The Permit Management Office is hereby empowered and directed to adopt regulations, which shall provide that in shopping malls, ports, airports and public service government centers there shall be accessible areas designed for breastfeeding and diaper changing of children. The accessible areas designed for breastfeeding referred to in this section shall guarantee privacy, security and hygiene for the breastfeeding mother. Such areas shall not coincide with the area or physical space destined for sanitary services, commonly known as bathrooms.
(2) Every existing shopping mall that has a commercial area greater than one hundred thousand (100,000) square feet, shall be bound to provide areas for breastfeeding and diaper changing within twelve (12) months from the date of approval of this act. The strip centers or groups of abutting stores without common access that exist at the time of approval of this act, shall not be required to comply with this legislation. Every new shopping mall to be built, regardless of its classification, must provide areas for breastfeeding and diaper changing in their premises.
(3) All Commonwealth or municipal, public service government centers shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter, and in the case of the existing centers, they shall provide areas outfitted to breastfeed and change diapers within twelve (12) months from the date of its approval. All terminals in Luis Muñoz-Marín Airport, Juan Morell-Campos (Mercedita) Airport in Ponce, and Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla, and all maritime terminals in San Juan, Cataño, Fajardo, Vieques and Culebra shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter, and shall provide areas for breastfeeding and diaper changing within twelve (12) months from the approval of this act. Those airports and maritime port terminals not indicated herein are expressly excluded from the effects of this chapter. However, any new terminal to be built in airports that have four (4) or more boarding exits shall comply with the provisions of this chapter.
(4) [Provided, That] and reaffirming that every breastfeeding mother has the right to nurse her children in any place of public access, whether or not in these places are areas designated for breastfeeding.
History —May 4, 1949, No. 168, p. 530, added as § 1A on Jan. 10, 1999, No. 32, § 1; Sept. 23, 2004, No. 456, § 1; June 3, 2005, No. 17, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1 — 61a) › § 43a - Regulations—Adoption of standards

Any standards on the quality of construction materials, on the best and latest engineering practices accepted or related to acceptable methods of testing the durability or resistance of materials, parts or assemblies to stress or fire; and electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire prevention, hurricane-wind resistance, refrigeration, elevator and escalator codes, may be adopted as supplements to the regulations authorized in § 43 of this title whether they are written in Spanish or English.
History —May 4, 1949, No. 168, p. 530, added as § 2 on July 26, 1979, No. 192, p. 540, § 3; Jan. 5, 2002, No. 21, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1 — 61a) › § 44 - Regulations—Public hearings; technical conferences

Before adopting or amending the regulations authorized in §§ 43—50 of this title, the Permit Management Office shall hold public hearings to discuss the special provisions comprised in subsection (b) and the administrative provisions comprised in subsection (c) of § 43 of this title. Even though the technical provisions and their amendments, included in subsection (a) of § 43 and in § 43a of this title, may be adopted without being discussed in public hearings, it shall be necessary to hold a technical conference on the need, scope and other outstanding facts of said provisions, in which private citizens, entities, associations or schools related to the construction industry and which may be affected by the proposed technical provisions can participate. If possible, such conference shall be held jointly with the public hearings required by this section. The public hearings and the conference shall be held after public notice is given of the date, place and nature of both activities.
History —May 4, 1949, No. 168, p. 530, § 2; July 18, 1975, No. 10, p. 591, § 3; renumbered as § 3 and amended on July 26, 1979, No. 192, p. 540, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1 — 61a) › § 45 - Regulations—Approval by Planning Board

Once the procedures established in the previous section have been followed, the Permit Management Office shall proceed to officially adopt the regulations or the amendments thereto, as the case may be, and to remit a copy of the documents thus adopted to the Puerto Rico Planning Board for their approval. The revision thereof by the Board shall be limited to the special and administrative provisions discussed in the public hearings, without amending or repealing the technical provisions stated in §§ 43, 43a and 44 of this title.
History —May 4, 1949, No. 168, p. 530, § 3; July 18, 1975, No. 10, p. 591, § 4; renumbered as § 4 and amended on July 26, 1979, No. 192, p. 540, § 5.