reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 51 - Commemorative Days, Weeks and Months; Special Campaigns (§§ 5001 — 5289) › § 5273 - Puerto Rican Deaf Citizens’ Rights Awareness Week

(a) The last week of September is hereby declared “Puerto Rican Deaf Citizens” Rights Awareness Week”.
(b) The Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, through a proclamation, shall encourage the people of Puerto Rico to join in the observance of said week and, within it, of September twenty-eight (28) as “National Day of the Deaf”.
(c) The Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Department of Labor and Human Resources, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Persons with Disabilities Advocacy Office shall, together with the appropriate state government agencies and educational and non-profit organizations, adopt the necessary measures to achieve the purposes of this section by organizing and carrying out an educational and awareness campaign in the different state and municipal instrumentalities during “Deaf Citizens” Rights Awareness Week”. The employees of these agencies, the deaf community, and the public in general shall receive information and be made aware during said week about deafness, sign language, the public services available to this population, and the rights that they have as members of our society.
(d) To achieve the purposes of this section, all agencies, instrumentalities, public corporations, and other government entities of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall coordinate efforts among themselves and contract or coordinate resources, efforts, and activities with the different organizations that provide services and/or represent the deaf in Puerto Rico in order to make known the services or aid that they provide or that are available for the deaf community in the Island.
History —Oct. 29, 2014, No. 181, §§ 1–4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 51 - Commemorative Days, Weeks and Months; Special Campaigns (§§ 5001 — 5289) › § 5279 - La Hermosura Plantation—Agricultural Reserve

(a) February of each year is hereby declared as the “Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico”.
(b) The third Monday of February of each year is hereby declared as the “Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Day in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico”.
(c) The Governor of Puerto Rico shall fulfill the purposes of this section and, through a proclamation to such effect, shall encourage the People of Puerto Rico to hold activities every year during said month to raise awareness of the importance of educating, informing, and raising awareness of human trafficking prevention and the effects thereof in Puerto Rico.
(d) The Department of Education and the Department of the Family are hereby empowered and designated as the government entities in charge of joining efforts to educate, inform, and raise the people’s awareness of human trafficking prevention and the effects thereof in Puerto Rico through fairs, workshops, seminars, presentations, and prevention programs.
History June 17, 2015, No. 87, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 51 - Commemorative Days, Weeks and Months; Special Campaigns (§§ 5001 — 5289) › § 5281 - Human Papillomavirus Prevention and Awareness Week

(a) The first week of August of every year is hereby declared as the “Human Papillomavirus Prevention and Awareness Week”.
(b) At least ten (10) days prior to the first week of August of every year the Secretary of Health, in conjunction with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, shall issue a proclamation to raise awareness of and educate the Puerto Rican people about this medical condition.
(c) The Secretary of Health, in coordination with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as the departments, public entities, and municipalities of the Island, shall adopt the necessary measures to achieve the purposes of this section by organizing and holding activities to observe and promote the first week of August of every year as the Human Papillomavirus Prevention and Awareness Week. Furthermore, such activities shall show the importance of greater awareness of the Human Papillomavirus among physicians, healthcare professionals, and the general public. Citizen and private entity participation in activities held during said week to further the cause for HPV awareness and prevention shall be promoted.
(d) A copy of the proclamation shall be distributed to the media for publication and broadcast.
History —June 19, 2015, No. 91, §§ 1–4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 51 - Commemorative Days, Weeks and Months; Special Campaigns (§§ 5001 — 5289) › § 5284 - Luis Palés-Matos Birthday

(a) March 20 th of each year is hereby declared as the “Luis Palés-Matos Birthday”.
(b) Every year, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, through a proclamation to such effect, shall encourage all Puerto Ricans to remember and pay homage to Don Luis Palés-Matos’ memory on such day.
(c) The Department of Education, the Municipal Government of Guayama, and the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture shall adopt the necessary measures to achieve the purposes of this section by organizing and holding activities in remembrance of this illustrious Puerto Rican. Likewise, they shall encourage the involvement of private entities in activities that help raise awareness of the life and works of Don Luis Palés-Matos.
History —July 15, 2015, No. 113, §§ 1—3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 51 - Commemorative Days, Weeks and Months; Special Campaigns (§§ 5001 — 5289) › § 5285 - Elderly Population Awareness Week

(a) The first week of October of every year is hereby declared as the “Sensibility Towards Puerto Rico’s Elderly Population Awareness Week”.
(b) The Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, through a proclamation, shall encourage Puerto Ricans to observe such week and specifically October 7 as the “National ‘Old Man, I love you’ Day” in Puerto Rico within said week.
(c) The Department of Health, the Department of the Family, the Department of Education, and the government entity concerned primarily with advocating the rights of the elderly in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall adopt in conjunction with the pertinent state agencies, as well as educational and nonprofit organizations, the necessary measures to achieve the purposes of this section during the “Sensibility Towards Puerto Rico’s Elderly Population Awareness Week” by organizing and launching an educational and awareness campaign in the various state and municipal entities. During said week, the employees of such agencies and citizens in general shall be educated and made aware of the needs of Puerto Rico’s elderly population, the public services available to them, and the rights they are entitled to as part of our society.
(d) In order to achieve the purposes of this section, all agencies, instrumentalities, public corporations, and other entities of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico are hereby directed to coordinate efforts during the aforesaid week with organizations that service or represent the elderly in the Island in order to disclose the services and aid that each of said organizations provide or has available for said population.
History —Oct. 8, 2015, No. 173, §§ 1—4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 51 - Commemorative Days, Weeks and Months; Special Campaigns (§§ 5001 — 5289) › § 5289 - Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day

(a) March 30 of each year is hereby designated as “Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day”.
(b) At least ten (10) days before March 30, the Secretary of the Department of Health, in coordination with the Administrator of the Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration (ASSMCA), shall issue a proclamation to raise awareness and educate the Puerto Rican people about this medical condition.
(c) The Secretary of the Department of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and the Administrator of the Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration (ASSMCA), and together with the public and municipal instrumentalities and entities of Puerto Rico, shall take measures as necessary to achieve the purposes of this section. They may do so by organizing and holding activities to promote and observe March 30 as “Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day”. Furthermore, such activities shall show the importance of raising awareness of bipolar disorder among physicians, healthcare professionals, and the general public. Citizen and private entity participation in the activities held on that day shall be promoted.
(d) A copy of the annual proclamation shall be distributed to the mass media for broadcasting.
History —Feb 26, 2016, No. 9, §§ 1–4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 1 - Meetings of Legislative Assembly

The Legislature of Puerto Rico shall meet at the head of the government at the time established by the legislative bodies by regulation, with the exception of the first session following a general election, in which the Senate of Puerto Rico shall meet at eleven in the morning, and the House of Representatives at two in the afternoon, the second Monday of January of each year, and when the Governor convokes a special session.
History —Political Code, 1902, § 19; Mar. 11, 1915, No. 15, p. 44, § 1; Aug. 29, 2000, No. 211, § 1; Apr. 7, 2001, No. 8, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 1a - Duration of regular sessions

The first regular annual session of the Legislature shall commence on the second Monday of January of each year and adjourn on June 30 of the same year. The second shall commence on the third Monday of August and adjourn on the Tuesday prior to the third Thursday of November. During the fifteen (15) remaining weeks the Committees shall continue working full time, and the prior approval of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be required to hold meetings outside of working days. Provided, That in those years in which a general election is held, the Legislature shall not assemble to hold the Second Regular Session.
History —Apr. 9, 1954, No. 9, p. 124, § 1; July 22, 1988, No. 138, p. 576, § 1; Oct. 29, 1990 No. 2, p. 1428, § 1; Mar. 2, 1997 No. 2, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 2 - Meeting of Senate; election of officers

On the day and at the hour prescribed in § 1 of this title the Senate shall meet; and the members thereof shall present their oath of office. The Senate may thereupon, if a quorum be present, proceed to elect its officers.
History —Political Code, 1902, § 21.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 3 - Meeting of House; election of officers

On the day and hour prescribed in § 1 of this title the Clerk of the House, or in his absence or disability, then the senior member-elect present, shall take the chair, call the members-elect of the House of Representatives to order, and call over the roll of election districts, and as the same are called the members-elect must present their certificates and take the oath of office. The House of Representatives may thereupon, if a quorum be present, proceed to elect its officers.
History —Political Code, 1902, § 22.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 5 - Oaths; duties of officers and employees

The President in office, or pro tem, of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively may take [sic] be sworn into office or may swear into office any member of the Senate or House of Representatives, and any officers and employees of their respective bodies. The members of any committee may administer oaths to witnesses in any matter under examination.
The Secretaries of the House of Representatives and the Senate are authorized to administer oaths on the financial reports that must be filed by the members of the Legislature and other officers of said government branch or of the Office of Government Ethics according to Act No. 12 of July 24, 1985, as amended, and the codes of ethics and regulations that each body adopts. The oaths shall have a consecutive and continuous numbering, and shall be headed by the corresponding number, which shall correlate to that of the registration in the registry established subsequently.
Each Secretary of both legislative bodies shall keep a register of the oaths administered to such effects. Said registry shall be kept with concise notes signed by the Secretary, dated, numbered and sealed, that state the name of the affiant and a brief account of his personal information.
The Secretary of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate shall be the legal custodians of said registry, which shall be kept in duly bound books with their pages successively numbered.
The officers and employees of both legislative bodies shall perform such duties as are required by the regulations or orders of the respective bodies.
History —Political Code, 1902, § 23; Feb. 16, 2000, No. 47, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 6 - Entry and form of oaths

Any entry of the oath taken by the members of the Legislative Assembly must be made on the journals of the respective Houses. The form of oath shall be as prescribed in § 601 of Title 3.
History —Political Code, 1902, § 24.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 7 - Election of officers; majority vote

In all elections of officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives a majority of all the votes cast is necessary to a choice.
History —Political Code, 1902, § 28.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 8 - Election of officers; oaths

The officers of each House shall be elected by a roll call vote of the members thereof, at such time after the meeting of each House as the members thereof shall deem proper, and they shall be required to take and subscribe the oath prescribed in § 601 of Title 3.
History —Political Code, 1902, § 29.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 9 - Removal of officers

It shall be competent at any time during a session of the Legislative Assembly for either House by a majority vote to remove from office any of its officers or employees, unless otherwise provided by law.
History —Political Code, 1902, § 30.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 10 - Joint Session; Governor’s message

At the hour of ten o’clock a.m. on the day following the day specified in § 1 of this title, the Senate and the House of Representatives shall meet in joint session. The President of the Senate, or in the case of his absence or disability, the Speaker of the House shall preside, and immediately inform the Governor that the Legislative Assembly is prepared to receive any message which he may see fit to deliver.
History —Political Code, 1902, § 25.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 11 - Compelling attendance of members

Whenever at the commencement of or during the regular or special sessions of the Legislative Assembly, upon a call of either House it is found that no quorum of members is present, or if any member or members are found to be absent upon any such call, the members present are authorized to direct the sergeant-at-arms of such House, and in his absence, then any other person, to compel the attendance of any or all of the absentees. If the House refuse to excuse such absentee, he is not entitled to any per diem during such absence, and is liable for the expenses incurred in procuring his attendance.
History —Political Code, 1902, § 26.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 12 - Members’ privileges and immunities—Words spoken in debate

No member of the Legislative Assembly shall be questioned in any other place, nor shall he be liable in any civil or criminal action whatever for words spoken in debate in either House.
History —Feb. 21, 1902, p. 212, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 13 - Member’s privileges and immunities—Arrest; attendance as witness; hearing of proceedings in which member is interested

Members of the Legislature in all cases, except treason, felony or breach of the peace, shall be privileged from arrest during the session of the Legislature, and for fifteen days next before the commencement and next after the termination thereof; nor shall any member during the same period be summoned to attend as a witness in any court except with the consent of the House of the Legislature of which he is a member. If any member of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico is interested in any matter, action or proceeding, whether as a party, necessary witness, or one of not more than two attorneys of record for one of the parties, such matter, action or proceeding shall not be set for hearing, argument or trial while the Legislature is in session, nor within the twenty days preceding or succeeding said session, and the setting of any hearing contrary to the provisions of §§ 12—19 of this title shall be null, unless such member of the Legislature shall have given his express consent therefor. In all cases the court in which said action or proceeding is pending shall immediately suspend the hearing or argument set, on petition of any person entitled to this privilege.
History —Feb. 21, 1902, p. 212, § 2; Mar. 9, 1911, No. 32, p. 117, § 1; Mar. 11, 1915, No. 34, p. 64, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 14 - Members’ privileges and immunities—Power to punish as contempt

Each House of the Legislative Assembly has power and authority to punish as a contempt by fine or imprisonment, or either of them, the offense of knowingly arresting a member in violation of his privilege; of assaulting or threatening to assault a member, or threatening to do him any harm in person or property, for anything said or done in either House, as a member thereof; of attempting, by menace or other corrupt means, to control or influence a member in giving his vote, or to prevent his giving it; or disorderly or contemptuous conduct, tending to disturb its proceedings; of refusing to attend, or to be sworn, or to be examined as a witness before either House or a committee, when duly summoned; of assaulting or preventing any person going to either House or its committee by order thereof, knowing the same; or rescuing or attempting to rescue any person arrested by order of either House, knowing such arrest; and of knowingly injuring any officer of either House in the discharge of his duties as such.
History —Feb. 21, 1902, p. 212, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 15 - Members’ privileges and immunities—Imprisonment for contempt

Imprisonment for contempt of either House shall not exceed the unexpired time of the legislative session and shall be in a penal institution of the district in which the Legislative Assembly may then be sitting, or if there be no such penal institution then in one of the nearest penal institutions.
History —Feb. 21, 1902, p. 212, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 16 - Members’ privileges and immunities—Fines

Should a fine be imposed for any offense mentioned in §§ 12—15 of this title, it shall not exceed one hundred dollars ($100) for the first offense or two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) for a subsequent offense.
History —Feb. 21, 1902, p. 212, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 17 - Members’ privileges and immunities—Procedure for imposing fines and imprisonment

Fines and imprisonment shall be imposed only by virtue of an order of the proper House, entered on its journals, stating the grounds therefor. Imprisonment shall be effected only upon a warrant, under the hand of the presiding officer, for the time being, of the House ordering it, countersigned by the clerk of the House, running in the name of the People of Puerto Rico and directed to the chief of the Police of Puerto Rico or municipal police; and under such warrant the officer of the House, chief of the Police of Puerto Rico or municipal police shall arrest and detain the person.
History —Feb. 21, 1902, p. 212, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 18 - Members’ privileges and immunities—Collection of fines

Fines shall be collected by virtue of a similar warrant, directed to any proper judicial officer of the district in which the offender has property, and executed in the same manner as executions for fines issued by courts of justice, and the proceeds shall be paid into the Commonwealth Treasury.
History —Feb. 21, 1902, p. 212, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 19 - Members’ privileges and immunities—Other civil or criminal proceedings not barred

Punishment for contempt as in §§ 12—19 of this title provided is no bar to any other proceeding, civil or criminal, for the same offense.
History —Feb. 21, 1902, p. 212, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 20 - Membership incompatible with other offices

(a) The office of the member of the Legislature of Puerto Rico is hereby declared incompatible: (1) with any public office whose compensation is paid out of municipal, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and federal government funds; and (2) with any public office, whether held by administrative appointment or by popular election with civil jurisdiction attached thereto, with the exercise of authority either individually or in a representative capacity as a member of any board, corporation or other public body; Provided, That said incompatibility does not apply to professionals exercising municipal functions by virtue of their profession.
(b) During the term for which they were elected, the Senators or Representatives shall not hold any position in the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico created during the term for which they were elected or designated.
(c) Any Senator or Representative who, after resigning their legislative office, is appointed to any other position in the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, shall be barred from enjoying raises in salary legislated during the term for which he/she was elected or designated. Upon the expiration of the term for which he/she was elected, the Senator or Representative may enjoy said raise in salary that corresponds to the position.
History —Political Code, 1902, § 16; Nov. 30, 1917, No. 37, p. 328, § 1; Apr. 1, 1992, No. 5, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 21 - Substitutes on boards for President of Senate and Speaker of House

The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives are hereby authorized to designate members of the respective bodies over which they preside to act as substitutes for them on all boards of which they constitute members in cases where they are unable to attend the meetings of said boards, or otherwise to participate in the work of said board. Said designations of substitutes shall be in writing, and the President or Secretary of said boards shall in all cases be furnished with a copy of the documents making such designations.
History —Mar. 12, 1908, J.R., p. 190, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 23 - Payment to widow or children of deceased member

The Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized and directed to pay, from any unencumbered funds in the Commonwealth Treasury, to the widow or widower, or in lieu thereof, to the minor or disabled children of a deceased member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico, a sum equivalent to a year’s salary of said deceased member, provided the death occurs during the term for which he was elected or appointed.
History —May 9, 1950, No. 260, p. 678, § 1; June 28, 1969, No. 118, p. 332, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 23a - Payments to widow, widower or minor children; payment for disability

(a) Whenever a member of the Legislature of Puerto Rico becomes totally or permanently disabled during the tenure of his office, his wife or her husband, or in lieu thereof his or her children or minor or disabled dependents shall be entitled to receive payment of a sum equivalent to the difference between the salary that said legislator would have been entitled to receive during the remainder of his office and the benefits that for such disability he may be entitled to receive during said tenure under the applicable local and federal legislation.
(b) It shall be the duty of the House to which the legislator belongs to determine, for the purposes of §§ 23 and 23a of this title, whether or not he is totally and permanently disabled. Such determination shall be made based on the actual expert medical evidence showing that the legislator is totally and permanently disabled.
(c) Payment of the sum indicated in subsection (a) shall be made by monthly installments accrued and by the House to which the legislator belongs.
History —May 9, 1950, No. 260, p. 678, added as § 2A on June 28, 1969, No. 118, p. 332, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 27a - Constitutional base

Sections 27a—37 of this title are hereby established as an exercise and in recognition of the power granted to the Legislature by Section 9 of Article Ill of the Constitution of Puerto Rico, presented in Title 1, to adopt regulations for its internal government and in order to establish a uniform standard for both legislative bodies on a matter of public interest.
History —June 19, 1968, No. 97, p. 186, added as § 1 on Dec. 16, 1995, No. 235, § 1, eff. Jan. 2, 1997.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 29 - Salaries and emoluments to members—Per diems during sessions

The members of the Legislative Assembly shall receive per diems for each day they attend a meeting of the Legislative Body to which they belong. As of January 2, 2013, the amount of the per diems shall continue to be that in effect at the time of the approval of this act, established after the adjustment made in 2005, and which remained unaltered during the 2009-2012 government administration by virtue of Act No. 118-2008. No legislation that increases the per diems of the members of the Legislative Assembly shall take effect until the expiration of the term of the Legislative Assembly that approves the same.
For the purposes of this section, attendance at a committee which is at work by permission of the proper Legislative Body while that Body is in session shall be considered as attendance to any legislative session. The Secretary or Clerk shall not certify attendance to a session of a Legislative Body of any legislator who is absent during the roll call before the session adjourns. In the case a legislator is present at a session, but, for justified cause is compelled to leave before it adjourns, he/she shall be deemed to be present for the purposes of this provision, provided, that he/she has obtained authorization from the Presiding Officer, who shall report it to the Legislative Body.
A ten percent (10%) tax shall be levied at source on all per diems to be paid to the members of the Legislature for attending to sessions and/or committees. This withholding shall be remitted on a monthly basis to the Curable Catastrophic Illnesses Services Fund.
History —June 19, 1968, No. 97, p. 179, § 2; May 20, 1974, No. 44, Part 1, p. 196; July 9, 1985, No. 98, p. 319; renumbered as § 3 on Dec. 16, 1995, No. 235, § 3; July 29, 2005, No. 35, § 1; July 17, 2008, No. 118, § 1; Aug. 14, 2012, No. 163, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 30 - Salaries and emoluments to members—Per diem when houses are not in session

When the Senate or the House of Representatives is not convened in either regular or special session, or when either House is not sitting, any committee may meet with the previous approval of the presiding officer of the legislative body concerned, or of both, if it is a joint committee, provided there is an express mandate for the committee to study or investigate a specific matter, or a matter of extraordinary importance comes up which requires immediate attention, in the opinion of the presiding officer of the House concerned. The Secretary of the Senate or of the House of Representatives, or both, as the case may be, shall be notified of the convening of every meeting so called.
For attendance to committee meetings when the Senate or the House of Representatives is not in regular or special session, or when neither House is sitting, the legislator shall receive a per diem as provided in § 29 of this title. When such committees meet outside of the Capital, the per diem to be received shall be determined according to the distance between the town where the legislator resides and the town where the committees are to meet. Attendance at each meeting shall be certified to the Secretary of the House to which said committee belongs by the chairman of the committee concerned.
History —June 19, 1968, No. 97, p. 179, § 3, renumbered as § 4 on Dec. 16, 1995, No. 235, § 3, eff. Jan. 2, 1997.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 31 - Salaries and emoluments to members—Per diem and expenses for trips outside of Puerto Rico

Every legislator shall be entitled to per diem and reimbursements for all such trips made outside of Puerto Rico in official functions. In the case of the presiding officers of the Houses, the legislative body to which he belongs shall determine the amount of such per diem and the reimbursement for transportation, communication and representation expenses incurred. For the other legislators the per diem and the reimbursement for the expenses incurred in each trip shall be fixed by the presiding officer of the proper House.
History —June 19, 1968, No. 97, p. 179, § 4, renumbered as § 5 on Dec. 16, 1995, No. 235, § 3, eff. Jan. 2, 1997.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 32 - Salaries and emoluments to members—Telephone service

Each legislator shall be entitled to an allowance which shall not exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) per year to defray the cost of telephone calls made from any part of the Island outside of the Capitol. Once the limit of the allowance and the transfer of items established in § 36 of this title has been covered, the cost of the calls made from outside the Capitol by any member of the Legislature in excess of said amount shall be reported to the Secretary of the Treasury by the secretary or official with authority of the corresponding body and the former shall deduct such cost from any subsequent payment to be made to said legislator on any account.
History —June 19, 1968, No. 97, p. 179, § 5; June 18, 1971, No. 40, p. 120; May 20, 1974, No. 44, Part 1, p. 196, § 1; July 20, 1979, No. 157, p. 403, § 1; July 9, 1985, No. 98, p. 319; Nov. 29, 1990, No. 10, p. 1456, § 1; renumbered as § 6 on Dec. 16, 1995, No. 235, § 3, eff. Jan. 2, 1997.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 33 - Salaries and emoluments to members—Postage

Each legislator shall be provided one thousand dollars ($1,000) per fiscal year in post office stamps for the postage of his/her official mail. Each legislator may also use up to two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) from any unencumbered funds for annual expenses of telephone and postage, chargeable to the appropriation for operating expenses of his/her office made by the President of the corresponding body. Provided, That the remainder of the two thousand dollar ($2,000) annual appropriation per legislator for transportation and communication expenses in the current budget, shall be transferred to the Curable Catastrophic Illnesses Services Fund, attached to the Department of Health.
History —June 19, 1968, No. 97, p. 179, § 6; June 18, 1971, No. 40, p. 120; May 20, 1974, No. 44, Part 1, p. 196, § 1; July 20, 1979, No. 157, p. 403, § 1; July 2, 1981, No. 25, p. 139; July 9, 1985, No. 98, p. 319; Apr. 8, 1995, No. 35, § 1; renumbered as § 7 on Dec. 16, 1995, No. 235, § 3; Aug. 19, 1996, No. 150, § 21.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 34 - Salaries and emoluments to members—Mileage

Each legislator shall be entitled to reimbursement for one round trip weekly during legislative sessions, from their respective homes to the Capitol, at a rate of thirty (30) cents per kilometer traveled, but no member of the Legislature shall receive less than twenty dollars ($20) by reason of such reimbursement. He shall likewise be entitled to a similar reimbursement for not more than one (1) trip a week to attend meetings of committees to which he belongs, convened as hereinabove provided when the Houses have not convened in either regular or special session and, when these meetings are convened outside of San Juan, the legislators who attend same shall be entitled to reimbursement of mileage to and from the meeting point of each committee. When the attendance is to meetings of more than one committee during the same week and two or more days have elapsed between the meeting of one committee and the other, the legislator attending shall be entitled to a reimbursement for mileage for the attendance to each committee.
History —June 19, 1968, No. 97, p. 179, § 7; May 20, 1974, No. 44, Part 1, p. 196, § 1; renumbered as § 8 on Dec. 16, 1995, No. 235, § 3, eff. Jan. 2, 1997.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 35 - Salaries and emoluments to members—Office and clerk services

Each legislator shall be furnished office space, clerk services, printed forms, material and office equipment in accordance with the budget of the House to which he belongs and the office he holds.
History —June 19, 1968, No. 97, p. 179, § 8, renumbered as § 9 on Dec. 16, 1995, No. 235, § 3, eff. Jan. 2, 1997.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 36 - Salaries and emoluments to members—Transfer of items

Each legislator may make transfers between the items consigned in §§ 32 and 33 of this title, from item to item, or to another legislator if so requested from the official with authority of the corresponding body. The legislator may also request transfers for those purposes, regardless of the limits fixed in other provisions of §§ 28 et seq. of this title, of any unencumbered amounts within the budget appropriated to him/her for operating expenses of his/her office. The prior authorization of the President of the corresponding body shall be required to these effects.
History —June 19, 1968, No. 97, p. 179, § 9; Nov. 29, 1990, No. 10, p. 1455, § 2; renumbered as § 10 on Dec. 16, 1995, No. 235, § 3, eff. Jan. 2, 1997.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 1 - Legislative Assembly and its Members (§§ 1 — 37) › § 37 - Salaries and emoluments to members—Appropriation of funds

The funds to carry out the purposes of §§ 28—37 of this title shall be included in the Budget of General Expenses of the Legislature.
History —June 19, 1968, No. 97, p. 179, § 11, renumbered as § 12 on Dec. 16, 1995, No. 235, § 3, eff. Jan. 2, 1997.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 3 - Officers and Employees (§§ 49 — 51) › § 49 - Persons who may not be appointed as employees of Legislature—Exception

No person who has a relationship to a third degree of consanguinity or second degree of affinity with any of the members of the Legislature may be appointed as an employee or official, nor contracted to render services for any remuneration whatsoever in the Legislature of Puerto Rico, its Committees, dependencies or attached offices. The provisions set forth in this section shall not apply to persons to whom the aforementioned kinship arrives after their appointment or original contracting.
History —May 5, 1941, No. 99, p. 760, added as § 1 on June 26, 1980, No. 9, p. 886, § 1; May 15, 2003, No. 129, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 3 - Officers and Employees (§§ 49 — 51) › § 50 - Persons who may not be appointed as employees of Legislature—Exemptions for good of service

The Presidents of each of the Legislative Houses shall be empowered to exempt from the provisions of § 49 of this title not more than one person for each legislator within the degrees of kinship indicated in this chapter, when it is required for the good of the service and as provided by regulations to be promulgated by the Presidents of the bodies for such purposes.
History —May 5, 1941, No. 99, p. 760, added as § 2 on June 26, 1980, No. 9, p. 886, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 5 - Comptroller (§§ 71 — 100) › § 71 - Office of Comptroller—Creation

The Office of the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is hereby created, the head of which shall be the Comptroller, who shall be principally responsible to the Legislature.
History —July 24, 1952, No. 9, p. 16, § 1, eff. July 25, 1952.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 5 - Comptroller (§§ 71 — 100) › § 72 - Comptroller—Qualifications

No person shall be Comptroller unless he has attained thirty years of age and is a citizen of the United States of America and a citizen and bona fide resident of Puerto Rico.
History —July 24, 1952, No. 9, p. 16, § 2, eff. July 25, 1952.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 5 - Comptroller (§§ 71 — 100) › § 73 - Comptroller—Functions

The functions of the Comptroller shall be those assigned to him in Art. III, § 22, of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and he shall exercise them with regard to the accounts, funds, revenues, disbursements, and properties of the Government as well as those held in trust. In the exercise of these functions the Comptroller may employ any generally accepted norms or any methods in keeping with current practices in the auditing of accounts.
History —July 24, 1952, No. 9, p. 16, § 3, eff. July 25, 1952.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 5 - Comptroller (§§ 71 — 100) › § 73a - Comptroller—Contracting for technical or professional services

The Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may request from the departments, agencies, instrumentalities and any other organization of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, including its municipalities that they provide him temporarily professional and technical personnel, from among its officials and employees, to help his Office in investigations or studies requiring technical or professional knowledge, for the fulfillment of its investigative function, as provided by law. Every government organization, thus requested, shall offer such collaboration.
In the discharge of his investigative function, the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may also entrust any Government department, agency, instrumentality or other organization or political subdivision, with the performance of any study, investigation or work necessary for the fulfillment of his duties. The organization shall give top priority to the accomplishment of said task. The organization so entrusted may request from the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico if, in its judgment, it is necessary, a transfer of funds for the amount the Comptroller deems proper to cover the expenses of such work.
If the organization thus requested is not able to do without the officials or employees asked for by the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or is not able to render the services on the date requested by the latter, the organization shall submit the date or alternate dates on which the officials or employees will be available or the services could be rendered. These dates shall be the earliest possible to cover the needs of personnel or services requested by the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Any department, agency, instrumentality or public corporation of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, including the municipalities, may petition the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to use the services of any of its officials or employees to facilitate or hasten any auditing thereof by the latter. In such case, the official or employee shall perform the proper duty under the jurisdiction and direction of the Office of the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and subject to the conditions agreed upon by both parts.
The Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may contract the services of any kind of private experts to aid in those investigations or studies that, because of their nature, require the services of highly-specialized technical personnel.
History —July 24, 1952, No. 9, p. 16, added as § 3A on May 31, 1973, No. 65, p. 300, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 5 - Comptroller (§§ 71 — 100) › § 73b - Comptroller—Salary

The annual salary of the Comptroller of Puerto Rico is $126,000. The annual raise in salary shall be that which is indicated below:
As of July 1, 2008 $ 0 As of July 1, 2009 $ 0 As of July 1, 2010 $ 0 As of July 1, 2011 $ 0 As of July 1, 2012 $ 0 As of July 1, 2013 $ 2,000 As of July 1, 2014 $ 2,000 As of July 1, 2015 $ 3,000 As of July 1, 2016 $ 3,000 As of July 1, 2017 $ 3,000 As of July 1, 2018 $ 3,000 As of July 1, 2019 $ 3,000.
History —July 24, 1952, No. 9, p. 16, added as § 3B on Sept. 25, 1997, No. 125, § 1; Feb. 24, 2010, No. 19, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 5 - Comptroller (§§ 71 — 100) › § 74a - Comptroller—Acquisition of real property

The Comptroller of Puerto Rico shall acquire, lease, sublease, own, use, and dispose of whatever real property is needed to house the headquarters of the Office. Such real property may be acquired by any lawful means, including, but not limited to, the sale, assignment, exchange, or lease with an option to buy.
Furthermore, the Comptroller shall be empowered to enter into contracts to carry out construction, repair, renovation, improvement, or extensions works for its facilities; and it may finance such transactions through the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico, any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, or through a public or private banking institution. The repayment of any obligation incurred for such purposes with the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico or with any other public or private banking institution shall proceed from the annual budget appropriations received by the Office of the Comptroller of Puerto Rico.
Likewise, the Comptroller shall have the authority to reserve, encumber, or pledge, in whole or in part, the budget appropriations currently used for the payment of the lease of the different real properties that house the headquarters of the Office, so that such appropriations are used for the debt service payment of any obligation incurred under this provision.
The Comptroller is likewise empowered to mortgage, sell, and exchange or otherwise dispose of real property acquired in accordance with this provision. Once the real property is acquired, the Comptroller shall have the authority to lease part of its facilities to public or private entities provided it is proven that such lease would yield a financial benefit necessary and convenient for the operation of the Office of the Comptroller and that the space to be leased is not essential to fulfill the ministerial functions thereof.
Said office shall not be subject to the provisions of §§ 901 et seq. of Title 22, known as the “Public Buildings Authority Act”, and shall adopt the regulations needed to implement the powers conferred herein.
History —July 24, 1952, No. 9, p. 16, added as § 4 on Jan. 10, 1999, No. 38, § 1; Dec. 24, 2011, No. 275, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 5 - Comptroller (§§ 71 — 100) › § 76 - Comptroller—Vacancy; appointment

In the case of the total and permanent disability of the Comptroller, the office shall be declared vacant through a concurrent resolution approved by a majority of the total number of members that compose each body. The Governor shall appoint a new Comptroller pursuant to the procedure established in Art. III, Sec. 22 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It is further Provided, That the person designated to hold the office of Comptroller shall not have been previously appointed to said office.
History —July 24, 1952, No. 9, p. 16, § 6; Sept. 25, 1997, No. 125, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 5 - Comptroller (§§ 71 — 100) › § 77 - Comptroller—Temporary disability; acting

In the case of his sickness or absence, the Comptroller shall designate one of the officers under him to act temporarily as Comptroller for the duration of his illness or absence.
In case the Comptroller becomes temporarily disabled without having designated an acting successor, the Governor shall select an officer from the Office of the Comptroller to act as Comptroller during the temporary disability of the latter. The same procedure shall be followed for appointing someone to act temporarily as Comptroller throughout the time required for appointing a regular Comptroller under the terms of § 76 of this title.
The officer designated pursuant to the provision of this section shall have all the powers and duties of the Comptroller.
History —July 24, 1952, No. 9, p. 16, § 7, eff. July 25, 1952.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWO - Legislature (§§ 1 — 1015) › Chapter 5 - Comptroller (§§ 71 — 100) › § 78 - Application of other laws; budget

The Office of the Comptroller shall be subject to all the laws and regulations generally applying to the Government, except that the Governor shall include the estimated current expenses of the Office in the Model Budget and the Planning Board in the Financial Program, without revision.
History —July 24, 1952, No. 9, p. 16, § 8, eff. July 25, 1952.