reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VI - Registration, Enforcement and Modification of Support Order (§§ 1371 — 1386) › § 1376 - Procedure to contest validity or enforcement of registered support order

(a) A nonregistering party seeking to contest the validity or enforcement of a registered order in Puerto Rico shall request a hearing within the time required by § 1375 of this title. The nonregistering party may seek to vacate the registration, to assert any defense to an allegation of noncompliance with the registered order, or to contest the remedies being sought or the amount of any alleged arrearages pursuant to § 1377 of this title.
(b) If the nonregistering party fails to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered support order in a timely manner, the order is confirmed by operation of law.
(c) If a nonregistering party requests a hearing to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order, the registering tribunal shall schedule the matter for hearing and give notice to the parties of the date, time, and place of the hearing.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 606.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VI - Registration, Enforcement and Modification of Support Order (§§ 1371 — 1386) › § 1377 - Contest of registration or enforcement

(a) A party contesting the validity or enforcement of a registered support order or seeking to vacate the registration has the burden of proving one or more of the following defenses:
(1) The issuing tribunal lacked personal jurisdiction over the contesting party;
(2) the order was obtained by fraud;
(3) the order has been vacated, suspended, or modified by a later order;
(4) the issuing tribunal has stayed the order pending appeal;
(5) there is a defense under the law of Puerto Rico to the remedy sought;
(6) full or partial payment has been made;
(7) the statute of limitation under Section 604 of this Act precludes enforcement of some or all of the alleged arrearages; or
(8) the alleged controlling order is not the controlling order.
(b) If a party presents evidence establishing a full or partial defense under subsection (a) of this section, a tribunal may stay enforcement of a registered support order, continue the proceeding to permit production of additional relevant evidence, and issue other appropriate orders. An uncontested portion of the registered support order may be enforced by all remedies available under the law of Puerto Rico.
(c) If the contesting party does not establish a defense under subsection (a) of this section to the validity or enforcement of a registered support order, the registering tribunal shall issue an order confirming the order.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 607.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VI - Registration, Enforcement and Modification of Support Order (§§ 1371 — 1386) › § 1378 - Confirmed order

Confirmation of a registered support order, whether by operation of law or after notice and hearing, precludes further contest of the order with respect to any matter that could have been asserted at the time of registration.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 608.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VI - Registration, Enforcement and Modification of Support Order (§§ 1371 — 1386) › § 1379 - Procedure to register child-support order of another state for modification

A party or support enforcement agency seeking to modify, or to modify and enforce, a child-support order issued in another state shall register that order in Puerto Rico in the same manner provided in §§ 1371—1378 of this title if the order has not been registered. A petition for modification may be filed at the same time as a request for registration, or later. The pleading must specify the grounds for modification.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 609.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VI - Registration, Enforcement and Modification of Support Order (§§ 1371 — 1386) › § 1380 - Effect of registration for modification

A tribunal of Puerto Rico may enforce a child-support order of another state registered for purposes of modification, in the same manner as if the order had been issued by a tribunal of Puerto Rico, but the registered support order may be modified only if the requirements of § 1381 or 1383 of this title have been met.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 610.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VI - Registration, Enforcement and Modification of Support Order (§§ 1371 — 1386) › § 1381 - Modification of child-support order of another state

(a) If § 1383 of this title does not apply, upon petition a tribunal of Puerto Rico may modify a child-support order issued in another state which is registered in Puerto Rico if, after notice and hearing, the tribunal finds that:
(1) The following requirements are met:
(A) Neither the child, nor the obligee who is an individual, nor the obligor resides in the issuing state;
(B) a petitioner who is a nonresident of Puerto Rico seeks modification; and
(C) the respondent is subject to the personal jurisdiction of the tribunal of Puerto Rico; or
(2) Puerto Rico is the residence of the child, or a party who is an individual is subject to the personal jurisdiction of the tribunal of Puerto Rico, and all of the parties who are individuals have filed consents in a record in the issuing tribunal for a tribunal of Puerto Rico to modify the support order and assume continuing, exclusive jurisdiction.
(b) Modification of a registered child-support order is subject to the same requirements, procedures, and defenses that apply to the modification of an order issued by a tribunal of Puerto Rico and the order may be enforced and satisfied in the same manner.
(c) A tribunal of Puerto Rico may not modify any aspect of a child-support order that may not be modified under the law of the issuing state, including the duration of the obligation of support. If two or more tribunals have issued child-support orders for the same obligor and same child, the order that controls and must be so recognized under § 1307 of this title establishes the aspects of the support order which are nonmodifiable.
(d) In a proceeding to modify a child-support order, the law of the state that is determined to have issued the initial controlling order governs the duration of the obligation of support. The obligor’s fulfillment of the duty of support established by that order precludes imposition of a further obligation of support by a tribunal of Puerto Rico.
(e) On the issuance of an order by a tribunal of Puerto Rico modifying a child-support order issued in another state, the tribunal of Puerto Rico becomes the tribunal having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction.
(f) Notwithstanding subsections (a) through (e) of this section and § 1301(b) of this title, a tribunal of Puerto Rico retains jurisdiction to modify an order issued by a tribunal of Puerto Rico if:
(1) One party resides in another state; and
(2) the other party resides outside the United States.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 611.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VI - Registration, Enforcement and Modification of Support Order (§§ 1371 — 1386) › § 1382 - Recognition of order modified in another state

If a child-support order issued by a tribunal of Puerto Rico is modified by a tribunal of another state which assumed jurisdiction pursuant to UIFSA, a tribunal of Puerto Rico:
(1) May enforce its order that was modified only as to arrears and interest accruing before the modification;
(2) may provide appropriate relief for violations of its order which occurred before the effective date of the modification; and
(3) shall recognize the modifying order of the other state, upon registration, for the purpose of enforcement.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 612.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VI - Registration, Enforcement and Modification of Support Order (§§ 1371 — 1386) › § 1383 - Jurisdiction to modify child-support order of another state when individual parties reside in Puerto Rico

(a) If all of the parties who are individuals reside in Puerto Rico and the child does not reside in the issuing state, a tribunal of Puerto Rico has jurisdiction to enforce and to modify the issuing state’s child-support order in a proceeding to register that order.
(b) A tribunal of Puerto Rico exercising jurisdiction under this section shall apply the provisions of §§ 1291 a 1311 of this title, this subchapter, and the procedural and substantive law of Puerto Rico to the proceeding for enforcement or modification. Subchapters III, IV, V, VII y VIII.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 613.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VI - Registration, Enforcement and Modification of Support Order (§§ 1371 — 1386) › § 1384 - Notice to issuing tribunal of modification

Within thirty (30) days after issuance of a modified child-support order, the party obtaining the modification shall file a certified copy of the order with the issuing tribunal that had continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over the earlier order, and in each tribunal in which the party knows the earlier order has been registered. A party who obtains the order and fails to file a certified copy is subject to appropriate sanctions by a tribunal in which the issue of failure to file arises. The failure to file does not affect the validity or enforceability of the modified order of the new tribunal having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 614.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VI - Registration, Enforcement and Modification of Support Order (§§ 1371 — 1386) › § 1385 - Jurisdiction to modify child-support order of foreign country

(a) Except as otherwise provided in § 1401 of this title, if a foreign country lacks or refuses to exercise jurisdiction to modify its child-support order pursuant to its laws, a tribunal of Puerto Rico may assume jurisdiction to modify the child-support order and bind all individuals subject to the personal jurisdiction of the tribunal whether the consent to modification of a child-support order otherwise required of the individual pursuant to § 1381 of this title has been given or whether the individual seeking modification is a resident of Puerto Rico or of the foreign country.
(b) An order issued by a tribunal of Puerto Rico modifying a foreign child-support order pursuant to this section is the controlling order.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 615.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VI - Registration, Enforcement and Modification of Support Order (§§ 1371 — 1386) › § 1386 - Procedure to register child-support order of foreign country for modification

A party or support enforcement agency seeking to modify, or to modify and enforce, a foreign child-support order not under the Convention may register that order in Puerto Rico under §§ 1371—1378 of this title if the order has not been registered. A petition for modification may be filed at the same time as a request for registration, or at another time. The petition must specify the grounds for modification.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 616.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VII - Support Proceeding Under Convention (§§ 1391 — 1403) › § 1391 - Definitions

In this subchapter:
(1) Application.— Means a request under the convention by an obligee or obligor, or on behalf of a child, made through a central authority for assistance from another central authority.
(2) Central Authority.— Means the entity designated by the United States or a foreign country described in § 1291(5)(d) of this title to perform the functions specified in the convention.
(3) Convention support order.— Means a support order of a tribunal of a foreign country described in § 1291(5)(d) of this title.
(4) Direct request.— Means a petition filed by an individual in a tribunal of Puerto Rico in a proceeding involving an obligee, obligor, or child residing outside the United States.
(5) Foreign Central Authority.— Means the entity designated by a foreign country described in § 1291(5)(d) of this title to perform the functions specified in the convention.
(6) Foreign support agreement.—
(a) Means an agreement for support in a record that:
(i) Is enforceable as a support order in the country of origin;
(ii) has been:
(I) Formally drawn up or registered as an authentic instrument by a foreign tribunal; or
(II) authenticated by, or concluded, registered, or filed with a foreign tribunal; and
(iii) may be reviewed and modified by a foreign tribunal; and
(b) includes a maintenance arrangement or authentic instrument under the Convention.
(7) United States Central Authority.— Means the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 701.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VII - Support Proceeding Under Convention (§§ 1391 — 1403) › § 1392 - Applicability

This subchapter applies only to a support proceeding under the convention. In such a proceeding, if a provision of this subchapter is inconsistent with §§ 1291—1386 of this title, this subchapter controls.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 702.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VII - Support Proceeding Under Convention (§§ 1391 — 1403) › § 1393 - Relationship of ASUME to United States Central Authority

ASUME is recognized as the agency designated by the United States Central Authority to perform specific functions under the convention.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 703.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VII - Support Proceeding Under Convention (§§ 1391 — 1403) › § 1394 - Initiation by ASUME of support proceeding under convention

(a) In a support proceeding under this subchapter, ASUME shall:
(1) Transmit and receive applications; and
(2) initiate or facilitate the institution of a proceeding regarding an application in a tribunal of Puerto Rico.
(b) The following support proceedings are available to an obligee under the convention:
(1) Recognition or recognition and enforcement of a foreign support order;
(2) enforcement of a support order issued or recognized in Puerto Rico;
(3) establishment of a support order if there is no existing order, including, if necessary, determination of parentage of a child;
(4) establishment of a support order if recognition of a foreign support order is refused under § 1398(b)(2), (4) or (9) of this title;
(5) modification of a support order of a tribunal of Puerto Rico; and
(6) modification of a support order of a tribunal of another state or a foreign country.
(c) The following support proceedings are available under the convention to an obligor against which there is an existing support order:
(1) Recognition of an order suspending or limiting enforcement of an existing support order of a tribunal of Puerto Rico;
(2) modification of a support order of a tribunal of Puerto Rico; and
(3) modification of a support order of a tribunal of another state or a foreign country.
(d) A tribunal of Puerto Rico may not require security, bond, or deposit, however described, to guarantee the payment of costs and expenses in proceedings under the convention.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 704.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VII - Support Proceeding Under Convention (§§ 1391 — 1403) › § 1395 - Direct request

(a) A petitioner may file a direct request seeking establishment or modification of a support order or determination of parentage of a child. In the proceeding, the law of Puerto Rico applies.
(b) A petitioner may file a direct request seeking recognition and enforcement of a support order or support agreement. In the proceeding, §§ 1396—1403 of this title apply.
(c) In a direct request for recognition and enforcement of a convention support order or foreign support agreement:
(1) A security, bond, or deposit is not required to guarantee the payment of costs and expenses; and
(2) an obligee or obligor that in the issuing country has benefited from free legal assistance is entitled to benefit, at least to the same extent, from any free legal assistance provided for by the law of Puerto Rico under the same circumstances.
(d) A petitioner filing a direct request is not entitled to assistance from ASUME.
(e) This subchapter does not prevent the application of laws of Puerto Rico that provide simplified more expeditious rules regarding a direct request for recognition and enforcement of a foreign support order or foreign support agreement.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 705.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VII - Support Proceeding Under Convention (§§ 1391 — 1403) › § 1396 - Registration of convention support order

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, a party who is an individual or a support enforcement agency seeking recognition of a convention support order shall register the order in Puerto Rico as provided in §§ 1371—1386 of this title.
(b) Notwithstanding §§ 1331 y 1372(a) of this title, a request for registration of a convention support order must be accompanied by:
(1) A complete text of the support order or an abstract or extract of the support order drawn up by the issuing foreign tribunal, which may be in the form recommended by the Hague Conference on Private International Law;
(2) a record stating that the support order is enforceable in the issuing country;
(3) if the respondent did not appear and was not represented in the proceedings in the issuing country, a record attesting, as appropriate, either that the respondent had proper notice of the proceedings and an opportunity to be heard or that the respondent had proper notice of the support order and an opportunity to be heard in a challenge or appeal on fact or law before a tribunal;
(4) a record showing the amount of arrears, if any, and the date the amount was calculated;
(5) a record showing a requirement for automatic adjustment of the amount of support, if any, and the information necessary to make the appropriate calculations; and
(6) if necessary, a record showing the extent to which the applicant received free legal assistance in the issuing country.
(c) A request for registration of a convention support order may seek recognition and partial enforcement of the order.
(d) A tribunal of Puerto Rico may vacate the registration of a convention support order without the filing of a contest under § 1397 of this title only if, acting on its own motion, the tribunal finds that recognition and enforcement of the order would be manifestly incompatible with public policy.
(e) The tribunal shall promptly notify the parties of the registration or the order vacating the registration of a convention support order.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 706.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VII - Support Proceeding Under Convention (§§ 1391 — 1403) › § 1397 - Contest of registered convention support order

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, §§ 1375—1378 of this title apply to a contest of a registered convention support order.
(b) A party contesting a registered convention support order shall file a contest not later than thirty (30) days after notice of the registration, but if the contesting party does not reside in the United States, the contest must be filed not later than sixty (60) days after notice of the registration.
(c) If the nonregistering party fails to contest the registered convention support order by the time specified in subsection (b) of this section, the order is enforceable.
(d) A contest of a registered convention support order may be based only on grounds set forth in § 1398 of this title. The contesting party bears the burden of proof.
(e) In a contest of a registered convention support order, a tribunal of Puerto Rico:
(1) Is bound by the findings of fact on which the foreign tribunal based its jurisdiction; and
(2) may not review the merits of the order.
(f) A tribunal of Puerto Rico deciding a contest of a registered convention support order shall promptly notify the parties of its decision.
(g) A challenge or appeal, if any, does not stay the enforcement of a convention support order unless there are exceptional circumstances.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 707.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VII - Support Proceeding Under Convention (§§ 1391 — 1403) › § 1398 - Recognition and enforcement of registered convention support order

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, a tribunal of Puerto Rico shall recognize and enforce a registered convention support order.
(b) The following grounds are the only grounds on which a tribunal of Puerto Rico may refuse recognition and enforcement of a registered convention support order:
(1) Recognition and enforcement of the order is manifestly incompatible with public policy, including the failure of the issuing tribunal to observe minimum standards of due process, which include notice and an opportunity to be heard;
(2) the issuing tribunal lacked personal jurisdiction consistent with § 1301 of this title;
(3) the order is not enforceable in the issuing country;
(4) the order was obtained by fraud in connection with a matter of procedure;
(5) a record transmitted in accordance with § 1396 of this title lacks authenticity or integrity;
(6) a proceeding between the same parties and having the same purpose is pending before a tribunal of Puerto Rico and that proceeding was the first to be filed;
(7) the order is incompatible with a more recent support order involving the same parties and having the same purpose if the more recent support order is entitled to recognition and enforcement under this chapter in Puerto Rico;
(8) payment, to the extent alleged arrears have been paid in whole or in part;
(9) in a case in which the respondent neither appeared nor was represented in the proceeding in the issuing foreign country:
(A) If the law of that country provides for prior notice of proceedings, the respondent did not have proper notice of the proceedings and an opportunity to be heard; or
(B) if the law of that country does not provide for prior notice of the proceedings, the respondent did not have proper notice of the order and an opportunity to be heard in a challenge or appeal on fact or law before a tribunal; or
(10) the order was made in violation of § 1401 of this title.
(c) If a tribunal of Puerto Rico does not recognize a convention support order under clause (2), (4), or (9) of subsection (b) of this section:
(1) The tribunal may not dismiss the proceeding without allowing a reasonable time for a party to request the establishment of a new convention support order; and
(2) ASUME shall take all appropriate measures to request a child-support order for the obligee if the application for recognition and enforcement was received under § 1394 of this title.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 708.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VII - Support Proceeding Under Convention (§§ 1391 — 1403) › § 1399 - Partial enforcement

If a tribunal of Puerto Rico does not recognize and enforce a convention support order in its entirety, it shall enforce any severable part of the order. An application or direct request may seek recognition and partial enforcement of a convention support order.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 709.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VII - Support Proceeding Under Convention (§§ 1391 — 1403) › § 1400 - Foreign support agreement

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, a tribunal of Puerto Rico shall recognize and enforce a foreign support agreement registered in Puerto Rico.
(b) An application or direct request for recognition and enforcement of a foreign support agreement must be accompanied by:
(1) A complete text of the foreign support agreement; and
(2) a record stating that the foreign support agreement is enforceable as an order of support in the issuing country.
(c) A tribunal of Puerto Rico may vacate the registration of a foreign support agreement only if, acting on its own motion, the tribunal finds that recognition and enforcement would be manifestly incompatible with public policy.
(d) In a contest of a foreign support agreement, a tribunal of Puerto Rico may refuse recognition and enforcement of the agreement if it finds:
(1) Recognition and enforcement of the agreement is manifestly incompatible with public policy;
(2) the agreement was obtained by fraud or falsification;
(3) the agreement is incompatible with a support order involving the same parties and having the same purpose in Puerto Rico, another state, or a foreign country if the support order is entitled to recognition and enforcement under this chapter in Puerto Rico; or
(4) the record submitted under subsection (b) of this section lacks authenticity or integrity.
(e) A proceeding for recognition and enforcement of a foreign support agreement must be suspended during the pendency of a challenge to or appeal of the agreement before a tribunal of another state or a foreign country.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 710.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VII - Support Proceeding Under Convention (§§ 1391 — 1403) › § 1401 - Modification of convention child-support order

(a) A tribunal of Puerto Rico may not modify a convention child-support order if the obligee remains a resident of the foreign country where the support order was issued unless:
(1) The obligee submits to the jurisdiction of a tribunal of Puerto Rico, either expressly or by defending on the merits of the case without objecting to the jurisdiction at the first available opportunity; or
(2) the foreign tribunal lacks or refuses to exercise jurisdiction to modify its support order or issue a new support order.
(b) If a tribunal of Puerto Rico does not modify a convention child-support order because the order is not recognized in Puerto Rico, § 1398(c) of this title applies.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 711.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VII - Support Proceeding Under Convention (§§ 1391 — 1403) › § 1402 - Personal information; limit on use

Personal information gathered or transmitted under this subchapter may be used only for the purposes for which it was gathered or transmitted.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 712.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VII - Support Proceeding Under Convention (§§ 1391 — 1403) › § 1403 - Record in original language; English translation

A record filed with a tribunal of Puerto Rico under this subchapter must be in the original language and, if not in English, must be accompanied by an English translation.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 713.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VIII - Interstate Rendition (§§ 1411 — 1412) › § 1411 - Grounds for rendition

(a) For purposes of this subchapter, “governor” includes an individual performing the functions of governor or the executive authority of a state covered by this chapter.
(b) The Governor of Puerto Rico may:
(1) Demand that the governor of another state surrender an individual found in the other state who is charged criminally in Puerto Rico with having failed to provide for the support of an obligee; or
(2) on the demand of the governor of another state, surrender an individual found in Puerto Rico who is charged criminally in the other state with having failed to provide for the support of an obligee.
(c) A provision for extradition of individuals not inconsistent with this chapter applies to the demand even if the individual whose surrender is demanded was not in the demanding state when the crime was allegedly committed and has not fled therefrom.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 801.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter VIII - Interstate Rendition (§§ 1411 — 1412) › § 1412 - Conditions of rendition

(a) Before making a demand that the governor of another state surrender an individual charged criminally in Puerto Rico with having failed to provide for the support of an obligee, the Governor of Puerto Rico may require a prosecutor of Puerto Rico to demonstrate that at least sixty (60) days previously the obligee had initiated proceedings for support pursuant to this chapter or that the proceeding would be of no avail.
(b) If, under this chapter or a law substantially similar to this chapter, the governor of another state makes a demand that the Governor of Puerto Rico surrender an individual charged criminally in that state with having failed to provide for the support of a child or other individual to whom a duty of support is owed, the governor may require a prosecutor to investigate the demand and report whether a proceeding for support has been initiated or would be effective. If it appears that a proceeding would be effective but has not been initiated, the governor may delay honoring the demand for a reasonable time to permit the initiation of a proceeding.
(c) If a proceeding for support has been initiated and the individual whose rendition is demanded prevails, the governor may decline to honor the demand. If the petitioner prevails and the individual whose rendition is demanded is subject to a support order, the governor may decline to honor the demand if the individual is complying with the support order.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 802.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter IX - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1421 — 1422) › § 1421 - Uniformity of application and construction

In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 901.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 46 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 1291 — 1422) › Subchapter IX - Miscellaneous Provisions (§§ 1421 — 1422) › § 1422 - Transitional provision

This chapter applies to proceedings begun on or after the effective date of this act to establish a support order or determine parentage of a child or to register, recognize, enforce, or modify a prior support order, determination, or agreement, whenever issued or entered.
History —July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 902.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 1 - Construction and Maintenance of Roads (§§ 1-8 — 42) › § 9 - Reconstruction of Commonwealth roads

The Secretary of Transportation and Public Works is hereby authorized and empowered, whenever in his judgment it shall be for the best interests of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and there shall be funds available for the purpose, to reconstruct any section of a road, already built and under maintenance, in order to lighten the grade, ease the curvature, eliminate obstructions, obtain an easier or more direct route, or in any other way improve the location, alignment or general conditions of the said road.
History —Apr. 12, 1917, No. 18, p. 134, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 1 - Construction and Maintenance of Roads (§§ 1-8 — 42) › § 10 - Reconstruction of Commonwealth roads—Acquisition of land for new section; disposal of old

For the purpose of acquiring the land needed for the right of way of the proposed new section of road to be built in accordance with the provisions of § 9 of this title, the Secretary of Transportation and Public Works is hereby authorized and empowered, with the approval of the Governor, to exchange for, or to give in payment, in whole or in part, of the purchase price of the land needed for the aforesaid right of way, any portion or all of the land occupied by and included within the right of way owned by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico of the section of road to be abandoned after the aforesaid new section shall have been completed and opened to traffic; Provided, however, That the Secretary of Transportation and Public Works is hereby authorized and empowered to sell the land occupied by the abandoned section of road and its right of way, or any portion of it, upon terms and conditions to be approved by the Governor; and Provided, further, That the land occupied by the abandoned section of road and its right of way, or any portion of it, shall not be exchanged with, or sold or surrendered to any person or persons other than owners of land abutting upon the section of road thus abandoned and surrendered.
History —Apr. 12, 1917, No. 18, p. 134, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 1 - Construction and Maintenance of Roads (§§ 1-8 — 42) › § 11 - Reconstruction of Commonwealth roads—Execution of deeds

The Secretary of Transportation and Public Works is hereby authorized and empowered to execute or accept, in the name of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, whatever deeds may be necessary to carry into effect any exchange, sale or transfer of title of lands in pursuance of the provisions hereof.
History —Apr. 12, 1917, No. 18, p. 134, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 1 - Construction and Maintenance of Roads (§§ 1-8 — 42) › § 12 - Maintenance of Commonwealth roads running through urban zones

The Secretary of Transportation and Public Works is hereby directed to maintain for account of his Department the sections of road running through the urban zones of the towns.
History —Dec. 1, 1917, No. 49, p. 356, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 1 - Construction and Maintenance of Roads (§§ 1-8 — 42) › § 13 - Maintenance of Commonwealth roads running through urban zones—Jurisdiction

The town roads, which by virtue of §§ 12—18 of this title, are maintained by the Department of Transportation and Public Works shall be considered to be part of state highways and subject to the provisions of law for the conservation and public street police of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Municipalities shall have jurisdiction over the two (2) urbanized zones, on both sides of the road, and may establish the alignment for construction of buildings and sidewalks in accordance with the provisions of the municipal ordinances. In the Municipality San Juan, the Department of Transportation and Public Works shall have jurisdiction over the street and sidewalks of José de Diego Avenue, in Puerto Nuevo, from the intersection with Franklyn Delano Roosevelt Avenue to the intersection with Jesús T. Piñeiro Avenue, in the Municipality of San Juan.
In the municipality of San Juan, exclusive jurisdiction over the thoroughfares and sidewalks of the stretch of De Diego Avenue from the bridge over Las Americas Expressway in the San Francisco Urbanization sector up to Violeta Street and over Verbena Street in San Francisco Urbanization, is hereby temporarily transferred to the Department of Transportation and Public Works to convert them into a boulevard. The term “boulevard” is defined as “an urban thoroughfare in a residential area whose development favors the speed reduction of vehicles passing through it up to a maximum of 25 miles per hour and which has landscaped areas that stimulate pedestrian use,” pursuant to the Territorial Ordinance Plan in effect in the Municipality of San Juan approved by the Planning Board of Puerto Rico.
The Department of Transportation and Public Works shall coordinate the necessary works to comply with this objective with the government agencies and corporations. Once the conversion into a boulevard is completed, jurisdiction over the sections of these thoroughfares thus transformed shall revert to the Municipality of San Juan.
History —Dec. 1, 1917, No. 49, p. 356, § 2; Jan. 10, 2004, No. 49, § 1; Sept. 16, 2004, No. 335, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 1 - Construction and Maintenance of Roads (§§ 1-8 — 42) › § 14 - Maintenance of Commonwealth roads running through urban roads—Maintenance; use of bituminous materials

The Secretary of Transportation and Public Works shall maintain said sections of roads in the same manner as other roads, and in case the means at his disposal permit he may direct the use of bituminous material in the maintenance of any or all such sections of roads as he may deem advisable.
History —Dec. 1, 1917, No. 49, p. 356, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 1 - Construction and Maintenance of Roads (§§ 1-8 — 42) › § 15 - Maintenance of Commonwealth roads running through urban roads—Exemption from maintenance

Such sections of roads through urban zones of municipalities which declare that they do not desire to accept intervention of the Department of Transportation and Public Works in the maintenance of such sections may be exempted from the provisions of §§ 12—18 of this title. Such declaration shall be transmitted to the Secretary of Transportation and Public Works through the Secretary of State.
History —Dec. 1, 1917, No. 49, p. 356, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 1 - Construction and Maintenance of Roads (§§ 1-8 — 42) › § 16 - Maintenance of Commonwealth roads running through urban roads—Time to assume maintenance

The Secretary of Transportation and Public Works shall take charge of the maintenance of the aforesaid sections or roads on any date subsequent to the expiration of ninety (90) days from the date on which §§ 12—18 of this title take effect and prior to six (6) months counting from said date of approval.
History —Dec. 1, 1917, No. 49, p. 356, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 1 - Construction and Maintenance of Roads (§§ 1-8 — 42) › § 17 - Maintenance of Commonwealth roads running through urban roads—Assignment to municipality

In case that any municipality comprised within the benefits of §§ 12—18 of this title decides to pave the said sections of roads or to provide a macadam of better quality than that which may be constructed by the Department of Transportation and Public Works, the Secretary may turn over to the municipality the said sections of roads. The assignment or transfer of such sections by the municipalities to the Secretary of Transportation and Public Works, or vice-versa, shall be entered upon the minutes of the meeting held for the purpose by the municipal legislature. The said minutes shall also be signed by the representative of the Secretary of Transportation and Public Works, making the delivery or receiving the said sections or roads, and a copy of said minutes shall be transmitted to the Secretary of Transportation and Public Works and to the Secretary of State.
History —Dec. 1, 1917, No. 49, p. 356, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 1 - Construction and Maintenance of Roads (§§ 1-8 — 42) › § 18 - Maintenance of Commonwealth roads running through urban roads—Municipalities to mark crossing of Commonwealth roads

For the purposes of §§ 12—18 of this title, all municipalities crossed by Commonwealth roads shall mark the points where said sections begin and end, in accordance with the Department of Transportation and Public Works.
History —Dec. 1, 1917, No. 49, p. 356, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 1 - Construction and Maintenance of Roads (§§ 1-8 — 42) › § 28 - Planting of fruit trees along the roads of Puerto Rico

As soon as possible, the Secretary of Agriculture shall direct the technical personnel of his Department to make a study of a practical plan to promote the planting of all species of fruit trees, either native or exotic, that are adaptable to the conditions of the Commonwealth, from the ornamental point of view as well as the nutritive value of its fruit, such as sapodilla, genip, avocado, nammee-apple, mango, custard-apple, tamarind, star-apple, (Inga Laurina), breadfruit, etc., which might be planted along the highways of Puerto Rico, along the coast, or in the interior of the Commonwealth.
History —May 1, 1941, No. 80, p. 676, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 1 - Construction and Maintenance of Roads (§§ 1-8 — 42) › § 29 - Planting of fruit trees along the roads of Puerto Rico—Establishment of nurseries

The Secretary of Agriculture shall be empowered to establish nurseries for the above-mentioned species, for the purpose of promoting the planting of fruit trees on the highways of the Commonwealth as herein stated, and to make experiments in regard to all other species of fruit trees, which, on account of their adaptability can be used to carry out the purposes of §§ 28—30 of this title.
History —May 1, 1941, No. 80, p. 676, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 1 - Construction and Maintenance of Roads (§§ 1-8 — 42) › § 30 - Planting of fruit trees along the roads of Puerto Rico—Cooperation of Secretaries of Transportation and Public Works and Agriculture

The Secretary of Transportation and Public Works shall cooperate with the Secretary of Agriculture in order to obtain the greatest success in the planting of the above-mentioned trees on the highways of Puerto Rico, and for that purpose, he shall adopt the measures necessary for the distribution of the fruit trees supplied by the Secretary of Agriculture in accordance with the provisions of §§ 28—30 of this title, and at the same time provide whatever he may see fit for the protection and maintenance thereof.
History —May 1, 1941, No. 80, p. 676, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 1 - Construction and Maintenance of Roads (§§ 1-8 — 42) › § 38a - Advertisements or signs not in conformity with law—Public nuisance

All such billboards, advertisements or signs as have not been erased, eliminated, or removed within the terms granted by Section 4 of Act No. 427 of May 13, 1951, and by the Zoning Regulations authorized by §§ 62—63j of Title 23, are hereby declared a public nuisance. Likewise, any billboard, advertisement or sign installed, constructed, erected, reconstructed, relocated, altered, or exhibited, on and after the effective date of Act No. 427 of May 13, 1951, and of the Zoning Regulations authorized by §§ 62—63j of Title 23 (Organic Law of the Planning Board) which does not meet the requirements therein prescribed, is hereby declared a public nuisance.
History —Sept. 28, 1961, No. 5, p. 395, § 1; June 24, 1975, No. 80, p. 259, § 3, eff. July 1, 1975.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 1 - Construction and Maintenance of Roads (§§ 1-8 — 42) › § 38b - Advertisements or signs not in conformity with law—Request for removal

The Permit Management Office shall periodically certify to the Department of Transportation and Public Works such advertisements or signs as do not meet the requirements of Act. No. 427 of May 13, 1951 and of the Zoning Regulation. Subject to such certifications and to such suppletory information as he may obtain from the Permit Management Office, or from any other source, the Secretary of Transportation and Public Works shall, through written notice served on them, personally or by registered mail to their last known address, request of:
(1) The owner, lessor, administrator, employee, agent, representative, person in charge by oral or written power, colono, or lessee (whether a natural or a juridical person), of the land, building or structure where an advertisement or sign declared a public nuisance by Act No. 427 of May 13, 1951, may have been installed or erected, and
(2) the advertiser or his agent; that he erase, eliminate, or remove the said advertisement or sign within the term of ten (10) days on and after the date of the notice.
In case it is not possible to serve the required notice on the persons on whom it should be served, a copy of the notice to which this section refers shall be affixed to the advertisement or sign. In such case, the affixing of said copy to the advertisement or sign shall, for all purposes of §§ 38a—38e of this title, constitute sufficient notice. The term of ten (10) days shall be computed, in this case, from the day of the affixing of said copy. This term shall not be interrupted by the fact that the duly affixed copy has come off, or has deteriorated or been destroyed due to natural phenomena or through the acts of persons not authorized to do so. The Secretary of Transportation and Public Works shall certify the day the notice was affixed to the advertisement or sign concerned. This certification shall be transmitted to the Secretary of State, who shall keep it as a public document, for all purposes of law.
History —Sept. 28, 1961, No. 5, p. 395, § 2; July 27, 1974, No. 251, Part 2, p. 250, § 1; June 24, 1975, No. 80, p. 259, § 4, eff. July 1, 1975.