reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 31 - Advisory Board for the Protection and Strengthening of the Family (§§ 701 — 708) › § 703 - Compensation

The Board members, other than ex-officio members, shall receive as compensation, per diems that shall not exceed fifty dollars ($50) for each meeting they attend or for each day they perform such duties as may be needed to comply with the provisions of this chapter, as assigned by the Board or its President. They shall also be reimbursed for travelling expenses and per diems according to the applicable regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury.
Ex-officio members of the Board shall not receive any compensation whatsoever for their functions and services.
History —Sept. 12, 1990, No. 85, p. 501, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 31 - Advisory Board for the Protection and Strengthening of the Family (§§ 701 — 708) › § 704 - Quorum; meetings; regulations

Nine (9) members shall constitute a quorum for the Board meetings. The agreements shall be adopted by a majority of the members present. The Board shall hold the necessary regular and special meetings which will be properly summoned. The Board shall adopt the norms and regulations needed for its internal operations and for executing what is provided by this chapter.
History —Sept. 12, 1990, No. 85, p. 501, § 4; Aug. 19, 2001, No. 127, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 31 - Advisory Board for the Protection and Strengthening of the Family (§§ 701 — 708) › § 706 - Hearings

The Board may hold public and private hearings when deems it convenient in order to compile the information needed to carry out its functions. The procedure provided by the Board through regulation, will be followed at the hearing.
History —Sept. 12, 1990, No. 85, p. 501, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 31 - Advisory Board for the Protection and Strengthening of the Family (§§ 701 — 708) › § 707 - Information requested

The departments, agencies, offices and political subdivisions of the Commonwealth shall supply to the Board, free of charges and fees, all official information, copies of books, booklets or publications, certified copies of documents, statistics, compilation of data and evidence that the Board may request for its official use.
History —Sept. 12, 1990, No. 85, p. 501, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 31 - Advisory Board for the Protection and Strengthening of the Family (§§ 701 — 708) › § 708 - Resources and facilities

The Department of the Family shall provide the Board with offices, personnel, equipment and materials and shall defray all necessary expenses for the functioning of the Advisory Board pursuant to what is provided by this chapter.
If requested by the Board, the government agencies will place at its disposal the resources and facilities needed to comply with the purposes of this chapter.
History —Sept. 12, 1990, No. 85, p. 501, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 32 - Act for the Improvement of Family Assistance and for the Support of the Elderly (§§ 711 — 748) › § 715 - Special fund

A special fund is hereby created under the Administrator’s administration, which shall be known as: “Special Fund for Services and Representation of Support for the Elderly Cases”.
The funds that the Program receives for services rendered, donations, incentives, income, fines, charges, interest, penalties, expenses, costs, fees, or appropriations to carry out the objectives of this chapter and other funds originating from any other item authorized in this chapter, shall be accounted for in the books of the Secretary of the Treasury, separate from any other funds received by the Department in order to expedite their identification, administration and use by the Program.
The Administrator shall use the resources of this special fund for the purposes and ends authorized in this chapter, subject to applicable conditions and restrictions, including the payment of necessary expenses in the rendering of elderly support services to the persons who thus request them.
Said funds shall be accounted for without a specific fiscal year and shall be governed pursuant to the norms and regulations adopted by the Secretary in harmony with the provisions in effect for the administration of similar funds.
History —Aug. 12, 2000, No. 168, § 7, renumbered as § 6 and amended on Aug. 17, 2002, No. 193, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 32 - Act for the Improvement of Family Assistance and for the Support of the Elderly (§§ 711 — 748) › § 716 - Functions of the Secretary

The Secretary is the official responsible for the faithful compliance of the public policy set forth in this chapter to handle in an integral and efficient manner, the matters related to the legal obligation to provide support to the elderly. The Secretary shall have the following powers and functions:
(a) Advise the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and make the corresponding recommendations to the Legislature in the drafting of the public policy related to the responsibility of the support of elderly persons.
(b) Supervise, evaluate, audit, and oversee the implementation of the public policy set forth in this chapter.
(c) Approve the internal organization of the Program.
(d) Approve the personnel system and the administrative and operational support systems of the Program.
(e) Establish the norms, criteria and mechanisms to coordinate the administrative and operational functions of the Program with those of the other components of the Department.
(f) Provide for the organization of the rendering of the services of the Program at different levels in coordination with the other components of the Department.
(g) Supervise, evaluate and audit the functioning and the operations of the Program.
(h) Require all those reports that are deemed pertinent to comply with his/her responsibilities.
(i) Perform any other acts that are necessary and convenient to achieve the purposes of this chapter.
History —Aug. 12, 2000, No. 168, § 8, renumbered as § 7 and amended on Aug. 17, 2002, No. 193, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 32 - Act for the Improvement of Family Assistance and for the Support of the Elderly (§§ 711 — 748) › § 719a - Deputy Administrator

The Administrator shall designate a Deputy Administrator for the [Support for the Elderly Program] with the consent of the Secretary. The Deputy Administrator shall assist the Administrator in the performance of his/her functions regarding the Program, and his/her salary shall be paid from the budget items of the Program. Pursuant to other provisions of this chapter, the Administrator may delegate on the Deputy Administrator of the [Support for the Elderly Program] all his/her duties in order to fulfill the functions, obligations, and responsibilities of the Administrator.
In the event of the absence or temporary disability of the Administrator, he/she shall substitute him/her as Acting Administrator of the [Support for the Elderly Program] and shall perform all duties in order to fulfill the functions, obligations, and responsibilities of said office as provided by this chapter. The Deputy Administrator of the [Support for the Elderly Program] shall perform as Acting Administrator exclusively in matters regarding the Program created by this chapter during his/her absence or disability, or when said office becomes vacant, until the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints an Administrator and the latter takes office.
History —Aug. 12, 2000, No. 168, added as § 9 on Aug. 17, 2002, No. 193, § 11.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 32 - Act for the Improvement of Family Assistance and for the Support of the Elderly (§§ 711 — 748) › § 720 - Deputy Advocate—Powers

The Deputy Advocate for the Support of the Elderly shall be appointed by the Administrator to work full-time for the term to be determined by the latter, which may be extended for following and subsequent terms according to the needs of the Program.
The Deputy Advocate for the Support of the Elderly shall have the following powers and faculties, without it being understood as a limitation:
(a) Take oaths and sworn statements, and order under penalty of contempt, the appearance of witnesses and the production of books, letters, documents, papers, files and all other objects that are needed for a complete understanding of the matters under investigation related to his/her jurisdiction and duties.
(b) Conduct all types of pertinent and necessary investigations of the persons and entities, and of the documents related to the matters related to his/her jurisdiction and duties for which he/she shall have access to the records and files of all agencies of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and its municipalities.
(c) Require the collaboration of government agencies and instrumentalities, and coordinate with them the furnishing of any resource or assistance deemed necessary for the effective compliance of his/her duties.
(d) Inspect, obtain or use the original or copy of any income tax return pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations to fulfill the objectives of this chapter.
(e) Represent the Program in all the matters authorized by this chapter in which it is a party or has an interest, and in all appeals before the Commonwealth and federal courts.
The Deputy Advocate for the Support of the Elderly shall be empowered to resort to the court and request that any person who refuses to disclose the required information as provided in this section be held in civil or penal contempt of the court, as in the case of any other violation of law related to his/her functions.
History —Aug. 12, 2000, No. 168, § 12, renumbered as § 10 and amended on Aug. 17, 2002, No. 193, § 12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 32 - Act for the Improvement of Family Assistance and for the Support of the Elderly (§§ 711 — 748) › § 721 - Purchases and supplies

All purchases and contract for supplies and services made by the Program shall be conducted pursuant to the regulations adopted by the Department of the Family for the acquisition of equipment, materials, and non-professional services of the Department.
The Administrator shall reserve the right to acquire the formal award in a public bid based on objective and reasonable considerations other than price.
History —Aug. 12, 2000, No. 168, § 13, renumbered as § 11 and amended on Aug. 17, 2002, No. 193, § 13; renumbered as § 12 on May 18, 2011, No. 75, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 32 - Act for the Improvement of Family Assistance and for the Support of the Elderly (§§ 711 — 748) › § 735a - Repealed. Act May 18, 2011, No. 75, § 1, effective May 18, 2011

History —Aug. 12, 2000, No. 168, added as § 13 on Aug. 17, 2002, No. 193, § 16; Repealed. Act.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 32 - Act for the Improvement of Family Assistance and for the Support of the Elderly (§§ 711 — 748) › § 735c - Mediator—Powers and duties

(a) The mediator shall have the power to:
(1) Hold joint or separate meetings with the participants;
(2) obtain the counsel of other experts regarding the technical matters of the controversy, upon his/her own initiative or at the request of any of the parties, and require the payment of such services, provided the parties are consulted prior to the contracting;
(3) keep order in the mediation procedure and require the participants to comply with the rules of mediation agreed on at the beginning of the process;
(4) provide for the rules of procedure that he/she deems appropriate to expedite the achievement of the objectives of the mediation, subject to the rules of procedure approved by the Administrator;
(5) postpone the sessions as he/she may deem appropriate or pertinent taking into account the interests of the parties, and
(6) terminate the mediation at any moment, pursuant to the criteria, conditions, and procedure[s] established in the regulations approved by the Administrator.
(b) The mediator has no authority to compel the parties in controversy to reach any specific agreement.
(c) The mediator shall maintain an impartial position towards all parties involved in the controversy. He/she shall help all parties equally to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement without advocating the interests of any of the parties in the process for the solution of the dispute.
History —Aug. 12, 2000, No. 168, added as § 15 on Aug. 17, 2002, No. 193, § 18.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 32 - Act for the Improvement of Family Assistance and for the Support of the Elderly (§§ 711 — 748) › § 736 - Forms of payment

The payment of support for the elderly shall be made, among others, from the wages or salary; from other income, whether periodic or not, received by the obligor from other sources that are not the proceeds of his work such as revenues and interest. The non-financial contribution of the obligor may be included or imposed in the elderly support as an optional payment.
The parties, or the court shall determine the manner in which the obligors shall make the payment of the financial contribution of support for the elderly. The payment may be made, without being construed as a limitation, directly to the obligee, to any other obligor, or by deposit to a bank account.
History —Aug. 12, 2000, No. 168, § 28, renumbered as § 16 and amended on Aug. 17, 2002, No. 193, § 19.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 32 - Act for the Improvement of Family Assistance and for the Support of the Elderly (§§ 711 — 748) › § 738 - Attorney’s fees

In any judicial procedure under this chapter for the fixing or modification of support for the elderly or to execute an elderly support order, the court shall impose on the obligor(s) the payment of reasonable attorney fees in behalf of the elderly-obligee, if any, when the latter prevails.
History —Aug. 12, 2000, No. 168, § 30, renumbered as § 17 and amended on Aug. 17, 2002, No. 193, § 20.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 32 - Act for the Improvement of Family Assistance and for the Support of the Elderly (§§ 711 — 748) › § 748 - Penalties; administrative fines

Any violation of this chapter, or the regulations adopted hereunder for which no express penalty has been provided, shall constitute a misdemeanor. The court shall also retain the authority to impose civil or criminal contempt charges for noncompliance with the orders issued by the court, the Administrator or the Administrative Judge.
The Administrator may impose fines up to a maximum of five thousand dollars ($5,000), compensation, interest, late charges, expenses, costs, fees, penalties, or up to three (3) months of community service for violating the provisions of this chapter, the laws administered by the Program, or the regulations or orders issued by the Administrator and civil or criminal contempt by request of the court.
The money collected for the imposition of penalties or administrative fines shall be deposited in the Special Fund.
History —Aug. 12, 2000, No. 168, § 40, renumbered as § 18 and amended on Aug. 17, 2002, No. 193, § 23; Sept. 16, 2004, No. 375, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 33 - Development of Establishments for the Elderly in the Special Communities of Puerto Rico (§§ 761 — 765) › § 761 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms below shall have the meaning that follows:
(a) Special communities.— Means those communities that have been identified and recognized as such, pursuant to the criteria established in §§ 962–967 of Title 21.
(b) Establishments for the elderly.— Shall include the following modalities: institution, day care center, multiple activities center, foster home, and day care home, as such terms are defined in the Establishments for the Elderly Act, §§ 351–365 of this title.
(c) The Special Communities Socio-Economic Development Fund of Puerto Rico.— Is the fund that was created by virtue of §§ 962–967 of Title 21.
(d) The Establishments for the Elderly Act.— Is §§ 351–365 of this title.
(e) The Older Americans Act.— Is Public Law 89-73, as amended, approved by the United States Congress on July 12, 1965.
(f) The Federal Community Reinvestment Act.— Is Public Law 95-128, as amended, which was approved by the United States Congress on October 12, 1977.
(g) The Office of the General Coordinator for Socio-Economic Financing and Self Management.— Is the government agency of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico created by virtue of §§ 962–967 of Title 21.
History —Sept. 23, 2004, No. 475, § 3, eff. Jan 1, 2005.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 33 - Development of Establishments for the Elderly in the Special Communities of Puerto Rico (§§ 761 — 765) › § 763 - Regulations

The agencies to which this chapter refers shall prepare regulations, subject to §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, as amended, to establish the rules and operating parameters of these agencies for the development and implementation of the pilot project to which this chapter refers, which shall be consistent with all the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the government of the United States of America.
History —Sept. 23, 2004, No. 475, § 5, eff. Jan 1, 2005.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 33 - Development of Establishments for the Elderly in the Special Communities of Puerto Rico (§§ 761 — 765) › § 764 - Receipt and administration of Commonwealth, federal and/or private funds

The agencies indicated in this chapter, as well as the special communities organized as such as juridical entities, may receive and administer funds proceeding from legislative appropriations and from transfers, delegations, contributions and donations of any sort received from agencies, municipal governments and the Government of the United States of America, as well as those received from persons, non-governmental organizations and other private entities, for the design and implementation of projects, programs or services to be conducted or offered by the establishments for the elderly of the Special Communities of Puerto Rico.
Moreover, in order to comply with the provisions of this chapter, among other funds, the agencies indicated in this chapter, as well as the special communities organized as such as juridical entities may request funds from the Special Communities Socio-Economic Development Fund, the Loans Program created by Act No. 212 of August 29, 2000, and the Federal Community Reinvestment Act.
In addition to the aforementioned funds, funds may be requested through the various financing programs of the Economic Development Bank for Puerto Rico, pursuant to the procedures established for such purposes.
Additional funds and services may be requested from the Office for the Affairs of the Elderly, pursuant to the “Older Americans Act”.
In addition to the provisions in the above paragraphs of this section, the Office of the General Coordinator for Socio-Economic Financing and Self Management shall establish a private entity sponsorship program to defray the costs, in whole or in part, for the establishment and operations of the establishments for the elderly in the Special Communities of Puerto Rico.
History —Sept. 23, 2004, No. 475, § 6, eff. Jan. 1, 2005.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 33 - Development of Establishments for the Elderly in the Special Communities of Puerto Rico (§§ 761 — 765) › § 765 - Applicable federal regulations

The provisions of this chapter shall be subject, whenever pertinent, to strict compliance with the applicable federal regulations promulgated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
History —Sept. 23, 2004, No. 475, § 7, eff. Jan. 1, 2005.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 34 - Personal Development Programs (§§ 781 — 782) › § 781 - Interagency Commission

The Personal Development Programs Interagency Commission is hereby created, constituted by the Secretary of the Department of the Family, the Secretary of the Department of Education, who may designate a fixed substitute from among their Assistant Secretaries when they are unable to attend the meetings of the Commission, the Secretary of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and two representatives from personal development and promotion community organizations, who shall serve for an extendable term of five (5) years.
History —Aug. 25, 2000, No. 199, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 34 - Personal Development Programs (§§ 781 — 782) › § 782 - Application of the Sor Isolina Ferré Centers Methods

The Commission created by § 781 of this title shall compile the studies performed regarding the experience and effectiveness of the human development and promotion programs established by the Sor Isolina Ferré Centers, with the purpose of applying the methods of said centers to the work programs of the agencies of the Government of Puerto Rico.
History —Aug. 25, 2000, No. 199, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 35 - Act to Protect the Good Samaritan Who Donates Food (§§ 801 — 806) › § 802 - Exemption from liability

The good faith donor shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability that may arise from the nature, packing or condition of a food with a healthy appearance or from a non-edible product with an adequate appearance, if the donation was made to a collector or nonprofit organization for it to distribute it to needy persons. However, when a needy person suffers harm, or death as a result of using all or part of the non-edible product, or, consuming all or part of the donated food, that person may have a cause of action against the donor, if he/she incurred an act or omission constituting intentional or improper conduct or gross negligence.
History —Aug. 6, 1993, No. 66, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 35 - Act to Protect the Good Samaritan Who Donates Food (§§ 801 — 806) › § 803 - Collector

A person who allows a collector, or paid or unpaid representatives of a nonprofit organization, to fetch food or non-edible products in his/her property, or in one occupied by him/her, shall not be subject to a civil or criminal action that might arise from harm or death suffered by the collector or person from the nonprofit organization as a result of any improper, intentional or grossly negligent effort, act or omission of the donor.
However, he/she may be subject to a cause of action when the collector, or his/her representative suffers harm or death as the result of an improper, intentional or grossly negligent act or omission by that person.
History —Aug. 6, 1993, No. 66, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 35 - Act to Protect the Good Samaritan Who Donates Food (§§ 801 — 806) › § 804 - Defective food

If part or all the donated food or non-edible products have a due expiration date, manufacturing defects, malfunctions or damages and they are used or deteriorated products, the donor shall not be subject to civil or criminal action pursuant to this section, if the collector and/or nonprofit organization receiving the non-edible products or food is notified of the condition of the food or non-edible product by the donor.
The condition of the food or non-edible product shall be conclusively attested to so that no doubt remains in the mind of the consumer or the organization that it is about to acquire a product with a expired expiration date, defects or damage, or that they are used or deteriorated products.
However, said donation shall not be carried out if any agency of the Government of the United States or the Government of Puerto Rico prohibits it, or if the food or non-edible product does not meet the safety and health standards required by said governments or the country of origin of the food or product.
History —Aug. 6, 1993, No. 66, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 35 - Act to Protect the Good Samaritan Who Donates Food (§§ 801 — 806) › § 805 - Regulations

The Secretary of Department of Health is directed to adopt regulations to safeguard the good condition of the donated products and guidelines to orient the recipients of the donations covered by this chapter so that they can distinguish, accept and donate them, or give them adequate use, in the manner and within a prudent period that ensures, as much as possible, their good state for human consumption or use, as the case may be. This does not release the donator who used the food or nonedible products to give them to needy persons from liability with regard to the selection, diligence, conservation, preparation and handling that must be observed concerning to them.
History —Aug. 6, 1993, No. 66, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 35 - Act to Protect the Good Samaritan Who Donates Food (§§ 801 — 806) › § 806 - Disposition of donated assets through payment

Any person who disposes of assets donated pursuant to this chapter, and in contravention thereof, through payment or its equivalent, will have incurred a misdemeanor punishable by a five hundred (500) dollar fine, imprisonment for six (6) months, or both penalties at the discretion of the court.
History —Aug. 6, 1993, No. 66, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 36 - Service Agencies for Persons with Impediments (§§ 811 — 814) › § 811 - Interpreters for the hearing disabled

(a) All government agencies shall provide an interpreter to assist persons with hearing disabilities that impede oral communication, who visit the agency. To such effects, the interpreting service shall be provided through the Central Personnel Administration Office, through the training it offers employees of the agencies.
(b) It shall be understood that the term “government agencies” used in subsection (a) of this section includes what is provided by subsection (c) of § 862a of Title 3, known as the “Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Employees Association Act”.
History —Aug. 13, 1996, No. 136, §§ 1, 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 36 - Service Agencies for Persons with Impediments (§§ 811 — 814) › § 814 - Sign language and closed caption

(a) It is herein provided that sign language or the system known as closed captioning be used in at least one of the TV news programs broadcast from Monday to Friday, in the evening, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM by each of the local TV stations, whether shown on public or private TV stations.
(b) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the meaning expressed below:
(1) Closed captioning.— Means an assistive technological format, designed to provide hearing-impaired persons with access to information, which is transmitted through a codified signal and deciphered through a TV set, which is seen in the form of subtitles on the TV screen.
(2) Sign language.— Means a visual-gestural language, that has its own semantic and syntax structure and that is used by deaf or hypoacusic (partially deaf) people.
(3) TV News.— Means any specialized program transmitted by a TV station located in Puerto Rico, where local news is offered.
(4) Advocate.— Is the advocate for disabled persons.
(5) Office.— Means the Office of the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities.
(c) All local TV stations, whether public or private, shall implement the system known as closed captioning, visual display or open captioning for all emergency alert system bulletins, when the alert system is activated by an emergency situation.
(d) For the purposes of this section, the Disabled Persons Investigating Official may enter into collaborative agreements with local television stations, whether public or private, for the establishing of the systems, and the implementation of this section.
(e) The Disabled Persons Investigating Official is hereby empowered to use his/her faculties and powers vested by virtue of §§ 532 et seq. of Title 3, to enable the application of this section; and shall also assist, advise or direct regarding the claims of any person with a disability or of his/her parents or custodian, before the local television channels or their distributors, and if necessary, before the Federal Communications Commission, for noncompliance of the established federal regulations.
History —June 9, 2002, No. 80, §§ 1–5; Oct. 17, 2003, No. 289, §§ 1–3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 36A - Assistive Technology Program (§§ 831 — 837) › § 832 - Creation

The Puerto Rico Assistive Technology Program, henceforth “the Program”, attached to the University of Puerto Rico, is hereby established to be the government entity that shall lend continuity to the Puerto Rico Assistive Technology Project. The Program shall attend to the needs of all persons with disabilities through the implementation of action plans and projects to promote changes in the systems and support and defense activities in order to provide assistive technology equipment and services to said individuals notwithstanding their age, type of disability, race, nationality, gender or political or religious affiliation.
History —Aug. 31, 2000, No. 264, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 36A - Assistive Technology Program (§§ 831 — 837) › § 833 - Functions

(a) Identify and coordinate the public policy with public and private entities, the government resources and services related to the availability of assistive technology equipment and support services for those persons with disabilities, including the execution of agreements between the agencies, for the purpose of creating a new efficient system for providing assistive technology to disabled persons.
(b) Document and disseminate information related to the field of assistive technology and the sources of financial support for the acquisition of said equipment and services, among the persons with disabilities, their families or representatives and the employees of the government agencies or private entities that are in contact with disabled persons, including insurers.
(c) Coordinate educational campaigns with government agencies and private entities that promote changes in the systems and activities in support or defense of disabled persons.
(d) Develop plans, projects and activities directed at the consumer that would improve the skills, capacities and experiences of persons who work for the Government agencies or for private entities and who render services to the disabled, such as teachers, technicians and any other personnel who participate in the activities of persons with disabilities.
(e) Ensure that the acquisition, availability and access to assistive technology equipment be done within a reasonable length of time.
(f) Give priority to the more marginalized groups of disabled persons, and as provided by regulations, periodically develop and implement a comprehensive action plan based on the results of public hearings and statistical studies.
(g) Coordinate and develop with the agencies and dependencies of the Government of Puerto Rico, the municipalities and private persons and entities, the Assistive Technology Equipment Recycling and Loans Program established in this chapter.
(h) Serve as the research and evaluation resources center for new technologies directed to disabled persons of all ages.
(i) Evaluate the applicability and functionality of new assistive technology systems that meet the needs of disabled Puerto Ricans.
(j) Identify integrated assistive technology solutions that may be useful and cost effective for the public agencies that serve the disabled population.
(k) Create a program for repairing and reusing assistive technology equipment for persons with disabilities.
History —Aug. 31, 2000, No. 264, § 4; Feb. 1, 2007, No. 3, § 1; Oct. 26, 2011, No. 212, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 36A - Assistive Technology Program (§§ 831 — 837) › § 834 - Direction

The program shall be directed by a person appointed by the President of the University and ratified by the Board of Trustees of the University of Puerto Rico, which shall furthermore fix his or her salary or remuneration according to the usual standards of the Government of Puerto Rico for positions of equal or similar nature. The appointee shall be a person of recognized capabilities, moral probity and knowledge in matters related to the disabled and assistive technology.
History —Aug. 31, 2000, No. 264, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 36A - Assistive Technology Program (§§ 831 — 837) › § 835 - Director-—Powers and duties

In order to comply with the purposes of this chapter, the Director shall have the following powers and duties, among others:
(a) Establish the internal organization of the program and the systems needed for its proper operation, as well as take the delegated administrative or managerial actions necessary for the implementation of this chapter;
(b) recommend to the nominating authority the personnel and the technical and professional services deemed necessary to achieve the purposes of this chapter according to the standards established for the use of public funds;
(c) prepare the necessary budgets and administer the funds of the program and the funds that by virtue of any local or federal laws are appropriated or assigned to him or her to administer under the administrative system of the University of Puerto Rico according to the legal provisions that govern the accountability, administration and disbursement of public funds;
(d) arrange for initiatives to promote agreements between the Government of Puerto Rico and the government of the United States so as to provide assistive technology equipment and services for the disabled and administer any programs or funds appropriated for those purposes;
(e) adopt the regulations needed to implement this chapter, and
(f) submit, not later than the 31st of October following the close of every, to the Board of Trustees of the University of Puerto Rico, the Governor and the Legislature of Puerto Rico, a full and detailed report on the activities of the program, its achievements, project, matters attended to, plans, funds from various sources appropriated to or administered by the program during the year corresponding to said report and the disbursements made.
History —Aug. 31, 2000, No. 264, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 36A - Assistive Technology Program (§§ 831 — 837) › § 836 - Recycling, Loans and Reuse Permanent Project

The Director of the Program is under the obligation of establishing and coordinating the Assistive Technology Equipment Recycling, Loans and Reuse Permanent Project with other Government agencies and corporations, and in collaboration with private entities for the purpose of promoting, fostering, and facilitating the use and reuse of assistive medical and assistive technology equipment for persons with disabilities. In order for agencies and public corporations including, but not limited to the Department of Education, the Department of Health, and the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration of the Department of Labor and Human Resources to carry out their responsibility of providing assistive technology equipment in a more efficient and economic manner, they shall be required to create and implement an assistive technology equipment recycling and reuse program in coordination with the Puerto Rico Assistive Technology Program.
To effectively comply with these provisions, the University of Puerto Rico shall provide the Program with human resources and physical facilities for handling and storing assistive technology equipment for persons with disabilities. To such ends, the Board of Trustees and the President of the University of Puerto Rico shall adopt regulations as necessary to faithfully comply with this chapter.
History —Aug. 31, 2000, No. 264, § 7; Feb. 1, 2007, No. 3, § 2; Oct. 26, 2011, No. 212, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 36A - Assistive Technology Program (§§ 831 — 837) › § 837 - Special fund

The Puerto Rico Assistive Technology Program Special Fund is hereby created in the books of the Department of the Treasury, with no specific, to be governed pursuant to the standards and regulations that after being approved by the Secretary of the Treasury are adopted by the program, in harmony with the provisions in effect for the administration of similar funds. This fund shall be maintained separate from other public funds in its custody. Said fund shall be constituted by the following items:
(a) Appropriations of monies assigned by the Legislature to the special fund herein created;
(b) any other monies donated, transferred or ceded by federal, Commonwealth or municipal bodies or private entities or persons, and
(c) the net income obtained from any activities carried out in benefit of the Puerto Rico Assisted Technology Program.
History —Aug. 31, 2000, No. 264, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 36B - Assistive Technology Equipment Guarantee (§§ 851 — 859) › § 852 - Liability of the manufacturer, supplier, distributor, authorized dealer or authorized lessor

Every manufacturer who sells assistive technology equipment to a consumer or purveyor, whether directly or through a supplier, distributor or authorized dealer, shall provide a written guarantee that includes the equipment as well as its complementary parts and any change or adjustment done thereto. Said express guarantee shall cover a term of no less than a [one (1)] year starting from the time the equipment is delivered to the consumer. The assistive technology equipment shall be covered by the guarantee, even if the manufacturer, supplier, distributor, authorized dealer, or authorized lessor fails to provide the express guarantee. No assistive technology equipment shall be sold or leased if previously returned by a consumer or purveyor in Puerto Rico, the United States and its territories because of a defect thereof.
History —Sept. 9, 2000, No. 402, § 3; July 18, 2008, No. 122, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 36B - Assistive Technology Equipment Guarantee (§§ 851 — 859) › § 853 - Guarantee

(1) Express guarantee.— The express guarantee of assistive technology equipment shall cover any change or adjustment that is done thereto by virtue of the specific needs of a person with a disability. The manufacturer, supplier, distributor, authorized dealer, or authorized lessor, as the case may be, shall honor said guarantee.
(2) Term of the guarantee.— Every manufacturer, supplier, distributor, authorized dealer, or authorized lessor, as the case may be, shall provide a guarantee of not less than one (1) year for parts and labor from the time the equipment is delivered to the consumer.
(3) Compliance with the guarantee.— The manufacturer, supplier, distributor, authorized dealer, or authorized lessor, as the case may be, who receives assistive technology equipment for repair that is covered by an express guarantee, must provide a similar piece of equipment if the repair takes more than three (3) days.
Providing the substitute equipment shall not entail any charge to the consumer. The manufacturer, supplier, distributor, authorized dealer, or authorized lessor, as the case may be, shall provide new equipment to the consumer, within a term of twenty (20) days, when the equipment covered by an express guarantee undergoes three (3) repairs for the same defect. If the manufacturer, supplier, distributor, authorized dealer, or authorized lessor, as the case may be, is unable to replace the defective equipment with one of identical value and operation, he/she shall provide other equipment similar in value and operation.
History —Sept. 9, 2000, No. 402, § 4; July 18, 2008, No. 122, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 36B - Assistive Technology Equipment Guarantee (§§ 851 — 859) › § 854 - Installation and training

In order to allow the consumer to become familiarized with and make better use of the assistive technology equipment, the manufacturer, supplier, distributor, authorized dealer, or authorized lessor, as the case may be, shall provide free of charge to the consumer, directly or through an authorized professional, the installation of the equipment and training on the use and handling thereof.
History —Sept. 9, 2000, No. 402, § 5; July 18, 2008, No. 122, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 36B - Assistive Technology Equipment Guarantee (§§ 851 — 859) › § 856 - Consumer—Rights and duties

The consumer and user of assistive technology equipment shall have the following rights and duties:
(1) To ensure that the manufacturer, supplier, distributor, authorized dealer, or authorized lessor guarantees that the equipment and its components, parts and systems are in working order.
(2) To file petitions or complaints related to the assistive technology equipment he/she acquires or is being provided.
The consumer shall always have the right to seek legal counsel under subsections (g) and (h) of §§ 532g and 532h of Title 3, [known as the] “Office of the Disabled Persons Investigative Official Act”.
(3) The consumer, parent, guardian or person in charge shall be responsible for procuring and obtaining the documents pertaining to the guarantee covering the assistive technology equipment when any such equipment is being transferred.
Should the equipment malfunction in any way within the term of its guarantee, the consumer, parent, guardian or person in charge shall be responsible for notifying said fact to the manufacturer, supplier, distributor, authorized dealer, or authorized lessor.
History —Sept. 9, 2000, No. 402, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 36B - Assistive Technology Equipment Guarantee (§§ 851 — 859) › § 857 - Penalty

Any manufacturer, supplier, distributor, authorized dealer, or authorized lessor who violates the provisions of this chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction, shall be punished with a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), a term of imprisonment of thirty (30) days for the first violation, or both penalties at the discretion of the court. In cases of recidivism, the court may impose a fine of two hundred dollars ($200), a term of imprisonment of sixty (60) days, or both penalties at the discretion of the court. Any manufacturer, supplier, distributor, dealer, or lessor who sells assistive technology equipment to agencies or entities of the Government of Puerto Rico, shall no longer be able to sell said equipment to said entities if found guilty of violating the provisions of this chapter.
History —Sept. 9, 2000, No. 402, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 36B - Assistive Technology Equipment Guarantee (§§ 851 — 859) › § 858 - Special terms for procedures before the Department of Consumer Affairs

(a) The Secretary of Consumer Affairs is hereby directed, pursuant to the Organic Act of the Department, to adopt regulations to enforce compliance with the purposes of this chapter and to set forth a procedure for the disposition of complaints submitted pursuant to same within twenty (20) workdays from the filing of same, unless such a term is waived or extended by written consent from all the parties, or due to a cause that is justified and notified to all concerned parties. If the claimant is not satisfied with the reasons notified by the Department of Consumer Affairs for delays in the resolution of the claim, said claimant may opt for administrative reconsideration and judicial review procedures set forth in the agency regulations, pursuant to the provisions set forth in §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3. The approval of the regulations shall be carried out pursuant to the provisions set forth in §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3.
(b) The party adversely affected by the determination issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs may submit a motion to reconsider to the Department, within a term of ten (10) days from the notification of the determination of the Department. The Department shall consider same within ten (10) days after the filing of same. If any determination were made in its consideration, the term to request a judicial review shall begin on the date in which the copy of the notification of the ruling of the Department resolving the motion is filed in the records. If the Department takes no action regarding the motion to reconsider within ten (10) days of its submittal, it shall be understood that said motion was rejected and the term for the judicial review shall commence on said date.
History —Sept. 9, 2000, No. 402, § 9; Sept. 3, 2003, No. 243, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 36B - Assistive Technology Equipment Guarantee (§§ 851 — 859) › § 859 - Violation of the provisions of this chapter

Violation of the provisions of this chapter shall entail a fine of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or a term of imprisonment of six (6) months.
History —Sept. 9, 2000, No. 402, § 12.