reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 96A - Act to Designate Municipalities with Green Initiatives (§§ 1055 — 1055v) › § 1055v - Promotion of this chapter

(a) The Department of Natural and Environmental Resources shall carry out a campaign to raise awareness on this chapter in all municipalities. The campaign shall be aimed at providing information about the scope of the chapter and promoting plans, projects, and programs that municipalities can adopt to meet the evaluation criteria. The campaign shall be conducted twelve (12) months prior to the year of designation and shall not exceed (2) months, with the exception of the first year of designation, in which the campaign shall be conducted in municipalities only in November of 2010.
(b) The Department of Natural and Environmental Resources is hereby authorized to accept, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any donation or monetary contribution from any natural or juridical person, whether public or private, necessary and convenient to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.
History —Dec. 21, 2010, No. 213, §§ 23.01, 23.02.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 97 - Municipal Police Corps (§§ 1061-1061p — 1079) › §§ 1061—1061p - Repealed. Act May 5, 2014, No. 57, § 7.03(b), eff. May 5, 2014

History —May 12, 1977, No. 19, p. 33, § 1; May 22, 1996, No. 45, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 97 - Municipal Police Corps (§§ 1061-1061p — 1079) › § 1062 - Definitions

The following terms and phrases shall have the meanings set forth:
(a) Corps.— Means the Municipal Police established by authority of this chapter.
(b) Member or members of the Municipal Police.— Means the personnel directly charged with performing the tasks leading to maintaining order and protecting the life and property of the citizens and the municipality, as well as those other duties assigned to the corps by virtue of this chapter and its regulations.
(c) Mayors.— Means the Chief Executives of the municipalities of Puerto Rico.
(d) Officer or officers.— Means the commanders, inspectors, captains, lieutenants, and sergeants.
(e) Superintendent.— Means the Superintendent of the Puerto Rico Police.
(f) Commissioner.— Means the Commissioner of the Municipal Police.
(g) Municipal Guards.— Means all the personnel that is a member of the Municipal Police, that has been duly certified by the Police Superintendent.
(h) Deputy Guard.— Means every member of the Municipal Police prior to the approval of this act, who has not been certified by the Superintendent as a member of the Municipal Police Corps.
(i) Cadet.— Means every member of the Municipal Police who has not fulfilled the basic training requirement. The Police Superintendent shall guarantee through regulations the right of Corps members to receive classification benefits ensuing training, when for reasons of service said members are unable to attend the Academy on the date closest to their recruitment.
History —May 12, 1977, No. 19, p. 33, § 2; May 15, 1985, No. 8, p. 30, § 1; May 22, 1996, No. 45, § 2; Sept. 30, 2004, No. 533, § 1, eff. 60 days after Sept. 30, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 97 - Municipal Police Corps (§§ 1061-1061p — 1079) › § 1065 - Regulations

The mayor is hereby empowered to determine by regulations, the organization and administration of the Municipal Police, the duties, responsibilities and conduct of its members, compliance of the provisions of § 1077 of this title, and any other matter needed for its functioning.
The Superintendent of the Commonwealth Police shall ratify the regulations within a term of not more than sixty (60) days. When the regulations have not been ratified by the Superintendent, he/she shall be bound to state the reasons and corrective actions needed to ratify the same. The mayor shall have a term of not more than thirty (30) days to introduce amendments to the regulations and submit them it to the Superintendent for ratification. The municipal legislature shall approve the regulations submitted by the mayor for these purposes within a term of not more than thirty (30) days, with the vote of two thirds (2 / 3) of its members. Provided, That the corps known as the Municipal Police shall not become effective until said regulations are approved and ratified by the Superintendent. The mayor is hereby authorized to introduce amendments to the regulations following the same norms and procedures previously established for the approval thereof. The Superintendent shall notify the mayor from time to time of those changes that must be incorporated to the Municipal Police Regulations, in order to adjust them to the changes made through a general or special order regarding the procedures the Municipal Police are authorized to perform. The mayor shall have thirty (30) days to incorporate the corresponding changes, and submit them to the Superintendent and the municipal legislature within the terms established in the previous paragraphs.
History —May 12, 1977, No. 19, p. 33, § 5; May 22, 1996, No. 45, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 97 - Municipal Police Corps (§§ 1061-1061p — 1079) › § 1068 - Faults, classification

The regulations shall determine, among others, the faults of the members of the Corps entailing disciplinary action. Said faults shall be classified as gross or slight and the corresponding sanctions or penalties shall be provided. The regulations shall prescribe the corresponding action pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
History —May 12, 1977, No. 19, p. 33, § 8; May 22, 1996, No. 45, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 97 - Municipal Police Corps (§§ 1061-1061p — 1079) › § 1069 - Disciplinary action

(a) Disciplinary actions for slight faults shall be established in the regulations, which shall determine which officers and other members of the Corps are empowered to investigate and make recommendations to the Commissioner on the disciplinary action recommended in each case.
(b) If the member of the Corps who is punished or sanctioned for a slight fault does not agree with it, he/she may file the corresponding writ of appeal before the Commissioner. The writ shall be filed within ten (10) days, counted from the date the sanction or punishment was served.
(c) The Commissioner is empowered to set aside or confirm the punishment, or impose any other that he may deem reasonable, after examining and analyzing the record pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or the regulations adopted hereunder.
History —May 12, 1977, No. 19, p. 33, § 9; May 22, 1996, No. 45, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 97 - Municipal Police Corps (§§ 1061-1061p — 1079) › § 1070 - Gross faults, report, decision of case, punishment, suspension

(a) The Commissioner shall prepare a complete report to the mayor on the charges brought against the member or members of the Corps in every disciplinary action for gross faults.
(b) After examining and analyzing the record, and after giving the person accused the opportunity to be hear, the mayor shall decide the case, either by acquitting him/her, or by imposing the punishment he/she deems reasonable, as provided in subsection (d) of this section. If the concerned member or members of the Corps plead guilty, they shall so state it in writing under their signature. The Commissioner shall deliver a copy of the document containing his/her decision to the accused, which shall be evidenced by the mayor’s signature, and shall indicate the date and hour of the decision. The procedure to be followed in these cases shall be determined by regulations.
(c) The charges for gross faults shall be filed in writing and signed by the Commissioner, and a copy thereof shall be delivered to the corresponding member of the Corps.
(d) The penalty to be imposed for gross faults shall be one of the following: permanent expulsion from the Corps, demotion, or suspension from the Corps, without pay, for a period of not more than three (3) months.
(e) The Commissioner, with the prior authorization of the mayor, shall be empowered to temporarily suspend any member of the Corps from work and pay while an investigation of the incompetence, misconduct, or crime of which said member of the Corps is accused is being performed. In such case, the Commissioner shall see that the corresponding charges are filed without undue delay; he/she shall investigate and inform the mayor of such cases within the shortest possible time, so that he/she can impose whatever penalty he/she deems reasonable within the scope of this chapter and its regulations, or provide for the reinstatement of said person, returning the pay withheld during the suspension, or without it, if the facts, in his/her judgment, justify it, pursuant to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section. In the event the member of the Corps who was sanctioned does not agree with such decision, he/she shall have the right to appeal [, whithin then (10) days of having been notified in writing,] before the Board of Appeals of the Personnel Administration System, established by Act No. 5 of October 14, 1975, within ten (10) days after the written notice was served.
(f) When a member of the Corps is suspended from work and pay for any reason, he/she shall be deprived of performing his/her duties as such, and he/she shall not enjoy the rights and privileges granted by law to members of the Corps, during such suspension.
History —May 12, 1977, No. 19, p. 33, § 10; May 22, 1996, No. 45, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 97 - Municipal Police Corps (§§ 1061-1061p — 1079) › § 1072 - Legal representation

When a member of the Corps is sued in a civil action originating and arising as a result of his/her acts in the performance of his/her duty, or of an incident that originates while acting in his/her official capacity, and within the scope of his/her functions, the Commissioner shall request, and the mayor shall assign an attorney to assist him/her during the proceedings, or to represent him/her in the suit, or otherwise, the member of the Corps may seek legal counsel at his/her own expense. This provision shall not apply when a disciplinary procedure is instituted against a member of the Corps.
In any instance in which a Corps member is sued in a civil action originating and arising from acts while not on duty, but in being present when a crime is committed and he/she intervenes, such member shall be accorded the same protections applicable to Corps members on duty. If the facts should take place within the geographical jurisdiction where he/she serves, the corresponding municipality shall assume any legal representation costs that must be incurred. However, if the facts should take place outside his/her geographical jurisdiction, it shall be the responsibility of the Government of Puerto Rico to assume legal representation costs by operation of the provisions of §§ 3077 et seq. of Title 32, known as the “Claims and Suits against the Commonwealth Act”.
History —May 12, 1977, No. 19, p. 33, § 12, renumbered as § 11 and amended on May 22, 1996, No. 45, § 11; July 29, 2010, No. 107, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 97 - Municipal Police Corps (§§ 1061-1061p — 1079) › § 1073 - Official uniform

The official uniform of the Corps and the equipment therefor shall be determined by regulations. The color of the uniform and the insignia shall differ from those authorized for the Commonwealth Police. Provided, further, That the Superintendent shall approve a distinctive element for the uniform which will differentiate a Deputy Guard from a Certified Municipal Guard. All wearing apparel and equipment that constitute the official uniform shall be furnished, free of charge, by the corresponding municipality to the members of the Corps.
No Municipal Guard Corps, nor any of its members shall wear the insignia or distinctive element that identifies them as Municipal Police, unless they are duly certified as such by the Police Superintendent. The use of the uniform or any combination of the wearing apparel that is a part thereof by any person who is not a member of the Municipal Police, is also forbidden. Any violation of the above provisions shall be deemed a misdemeanor. It shall be deemed a misdemeanor when this apparel is worn in the commission of a crime against life and/or property.
Upon the death in the active service of any member of the Municipal Police who has served honorably for fifteen (15) years to the Corps, the badge number shall be retired and shall not be assigned to any other person as a means to honor the police officer who died while in active service. Furthermore, said badge shall be delivered to his/her surviving spouse, and in its default, to his/her parents or dependents. If the deceased Municipal Police officer has any descendant in the Municipal Police, the possibility of said descendant to receive the badge number of his/her parent shall be considered. Provided, That if two or more descendants coincide, he who has more years of service in the Municipal Police shall be given priority. Any person who uses said badge as a distinctive element or as an active Municipal Police identification number shall incur in misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished with a fine of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) or imprisonment for up to ninety (90) days or both at the discretion of the court.
History —May 12, 1977, No. 19, p. 33, § 13, renumbered as § 12 and amended on May 22, 1996, No. 45, § 12; Aug. 6, 2008, No. 167, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 97 - Municipal Police Corps (§§ 1061-1061p — 1079) › § 1074 - Bearing arms

Any member of the Corps who has passed the training in the use and handling of firearms given at the Police Academy of Puerto Rico, can have, possess, bear, transport and convey whichever regulation weapon is assigned to him/her by the Commissioner. This determination shall be made in all cases upon prior authorization of the Commonwealth Police Superintendent.
The authorization to bear the regulation weapons by the Municipal Police members issued by the Puerto Rico Police Superintendent, shall contain an express statement that the weapons may be borne in any place within the jurisdictional limits of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
None of the provisions of this chapter shall be understood to authorize the members of the Municipal Police Corps per se to bear forbidden arms.
History —May 12, 1977, No. 19, p. 33, § 14; Dec. 8, 1990, No. 30, § 14; renumbered as § 13 and amended on May 22, 1996, No. 45, § 13.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 97 - Municipal Police Corps (§§ 1061-1061p — 1079) › § 1075 - Forbidden activities, penalties

Considering the special nature of the services that shall be rendered by the members of the Municipal Police Corps, the following provisions are hereby established as invariable policies of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and made a part of this chapter:
(a) When exercising their right to vote, the members of the Corps shall not boast about, nor show preference for any political party or candidate, nor promote or engage in any activity for or against such parties or candidates while in the performance of their duties.
(b) The members of the Corps shall not organize labor unions nor affiliate to organizations of a like nature, nor shall they have the right to strike or to picket. This prohibition does not have the scope of forbidding the affiliation of the members of the Corps to organizations germane to their profession, for any lawful purpose, pursuant to the provisions of the laws.
(c) Any effort on the part of the members of the Corps to obtain transfers, promotions, or any other personal benefit for which there are standards provided by law or regulations, through the use or employment of extraneous influences, is hereby forbidden.
(d) Any fault due to the violation of the proceeding subsections (a), (b) and (c) shall be deemed to be a gross fault.
History —May 12, 1977, No. 19, p. 33, § 15, renumbered as § 14 and amended on May 22, 1996, No. 45, § 14.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 97 - Municipal Police Corps (§§ 1061-1061p — 1079) › § 1076a - Contracting of municipal police services

Municipalities may contract security services in addition to the services already rendered by provision of this chapter, with the departments, instrumentalities, and public corporations of the Government of Puerto Rico; likewise, municipalities may contract security services from private businesses. Contracting these services with private businesses, such as owners and licensees of artistic, cultural, or entertainment shows, may only be executed when such act does not affect the regular services of the Municipal Police. Services involving labor- management conflicts or bodyguard services may not be contracted.
The necessary funds to defray the services to be rendered pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be paid or secured in whole and in advance when executing the agreement that covers the same. The procedure and the rate to be paid for contracting such security services shall be established by regulation. Such regulation shall be promulgated by a municipal ordinance.
The funds generated from the provisions of this section shall be used to buy materials and equipment and for the operation of the corresponding Municipal Police Corps.
History —May 12, 1977, No. 19, p. 33, added as § 15-A on July 29, 2010, No. 107, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 97 - Municipal Police Corps (§§ 1061-1061p — 1079) › § 1077 - Financial assistance

The mayor is empowered to accept financial assistance of any sort, including gift, whether in cash, technical services or equipment, from non-profit institutions of the Government of the United States of America, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any instrumentality, agency or political subdivision of said governments, for the purpose of achieving the objectives of this chapter.
History —May 12, 1977, No. 19, p. 33, § 17, renumbered as § 16 and amended on May 22, 1996, No. 45, § 16.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 97 - Municipal Police Corps (§§ 1061-1061p — 1079) › § 1078 - Employees performing vigilance and security duties

Those municipal employees who, at the time of the creation of the Municipal Police Corps authorized in this chapter, are performing vigilance and security duties, shall comply with the eligibility and admission requirements in force for persons wishing to belong to the Corps, within the year following the approval of this act.
History —May 12, 1977, No. 19, p. 33, § 18, renumbered as § 17 and amended on May 22, 1996, No. 45, § 17.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 97 - Municipal Police Corps (§§ 1061-1061p — 1079) › § 1079 - Medal of Valor

Every year medals shall be awarded to the members of the Municipal Police and citizens who excel for acts of valor during the preceding year or when a police officer falls in the line of duty. The highest awards shall consist of gold medals, other medals shall be of silver, but shall be considered equal in merit. The winners shall be elected by a Commission composed of the mayor or his/her representative and the Municipal Police Commissioner. The mayor or his/her representative shall preside over the Commission. The municipalities shall regulate the process and the criteria for awarding the Medal of Valor. After examining the record and performance of the submitted candidates, the Commission shall award the medals. The medals shall be awarded on May 19 of every year on the occasion of the celebration of the Municipal Police Day.
History —May 12, 1977, No. 19, p. 33, added as § 19 in Aug. 6, 2008, No. 166, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 100 - Municipal Usufruct of Urban Lots (§§ 1093 — 1093k) › § 1093 - Short title

This chapter shall be known by the short title of the “Municipal Usufruct for Passive Recreation Parks Act”.
History —June 14, 1980, No. 142, p. 530, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 100 - Municipal Usufruct of Urban Lots (§§ 1093 — 1093k) › § 1093a - Usufruct—Request and requirements

Through a resolution duly approved by its municipal legislature, any municipality may request from the Government of Puerto Rico, its agencies, instrumentalities or public corporations, or from any other government entity which is the titleholder of the lot involved, the gratuitous transfer of the usufruct of any lot or part thereof that is uncultivated or vacant, and located within the urban limits of its municipal boundaries. The term “part” shall be understood to be any piece of land with an area of not less than fifty (50) square meters, nor more than four thousand (4,000) square meters. For the purposes of this chapter, the islands or pieces of land which are part of the highway or street division system, or which are being used by government entities that own them for the purposes provided in their respective organic acts, shall not be considered as uncultivated or vacant lots nor parts thereof.
History —June 14, 1980, No. 142, p. 530, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 100 - Municipal Usufruct of Urban Lots (§§ 1093 — 1093k) › § 1093b - Usufruct—Obligation to grant and grounds for refusal

Once the municipality has informed the government entity involved of the pertinent resolution, the latter must grant the right to usufruct to the municipality, by executing the corresponding legal documents, within sixty (60) days after receiving the request, but it may refuse to grant it, for any of the following reasons:
(a) When the government entity is really going to use said land within five (5) years after the date of approval and effectiveness of the resolution involved.
(b) When the granting of said usufruct would constitute a violation of the contracts entered into with third parties by the government entity from which it is being requested.
(c) That the granting of said usufruct would constitute a violation of the contracts to be entered into with third parties by the government entity from which the usufruct is requested, within five (5) years after the date of approval of said resolution.
(d) When use of the piece of land involved for a passive recreation park would constitute a violation of the federal laws or regulations.
History —June 14, 1980, No. 142, p. 530, § 3; Dec. 30, 2010, No. 223, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 100 - Municipal Usufruct of Urban Lots (§§ 1093 — 1093k) › § 1093c - Usufruct—Automatic annual extinction; extension and refusal

The usufruct in force under the provisions of this chapter shall expire automatically five (5) years from the date it was established, except that the municipality involved may have the option of approving a new resolution to request an extension of the usufruct on the piece of land involved for five (5) additional years, of which the titleholder of the lot must be notified sixty (60) days before the expiration date of the usufruct granted.
During the subsequent five (5) years periods in which the municipality involved requests, through a resolution, the extension of the usufruct of a lot, the government entity which is the titleholder thereof must answer the request of the municipality within thirty (30) days after having been notified in said request, thus automatically extending the duration of the usufruct on the piece of land involved, for an additional period of five (5) years, if the answer of the government entity involved is not negative; but a refusal from the government entity which is the titleholder of the piece of land may only be based on one (1) or several of the reasons set forth in subsections (a)–(d) of § 1093b of this title; or on the fact that the petitioning municipality has not used the piece of land involved during the period of effectiveness of the right to usufruct previously granted for the purposes provided herein.
If, during the last five (5) -year period, the municipality deems it convenient to keep the use of the usufruct for passive recreation and the government entity in question may thus grant it, they may reach an agreement with regard to the usufruct.
History —June 14, 1980, No. 142, p. 530, § 4; Dec. 30, 2010, No. 223, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 100 - Municipal Usufruct of Urban Lots (§§ 1093 — 1093k) › § 1093d - Usufruct—Alternative of owner in case of expiration

Upon expiration of the right to usufruct obtained by a municipality, pursuant to subsections (a)–(d) of § 1093b of this title, or when the municipality involved has not requested an extension, any government entity that owns a piece of land on which a usufruct has been established pursuant to the provisions of this chapter may choose any of the following alternatives, thirty (30) days before the expiration date of the usufruct:
(a) To accept the piece of land in the same condition it is at the time the right to usufruct expires. In this case, the municipality may remove any of the property it has installed on each piece of land involved.
(b) To request the municipality to return said piece of land to it, in the same condition it was the first time the usufruct was established, except for those changes that have occurred or may occur because of the passage of time and natural deterioration. The costs involved in returning the lot in the same condition it was when the usufruct was established for the first time shall be defrayed by the municipality.
Any of the alternatives chosen by the titleholder of the piece of land must be notified to the mayor of the municipality involved within the term provided in this section.
History —June 14, 1980, No. 142, p. 530, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 100 - Municipal Usufruct of Urban Lots (§§ 1093 — 1093k) › § 1093e - Exercise of municipal power; regulation

In order to exercise the power provided herein, every municipality must have approved regulations for the administration and maintenance of passive recreation areas, in compliance with the requirements and procedures of the other laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that are applicable to the promulgation of those regulations.
History —June 14, 1980, No. 142, p. 530, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 100 - Municipal Usufruct of Urban Lots (§§ 1093 — 1093k) › § 1093f - Use of land; requirements of municipality

Once the usufruct has been established through the execution of the corresponding legal documents, the municipality must devote the piece of land involved to the passive recreation of the citizens, and shall proceed to make the changes it determines, including installation of benches, landscaping, and others clearly meant to comply with the purposes of this chapter.
Administration, construction and maintenance costs, as well as the drafting of the corresponding legal documents and, when applicable, the removal of installations or buildings when the usufruct expires, shall be charged to the municipality involved.
History —June 14, 1980, No. 142, p. 530, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 100 - Municipal Usufruct of Urban Lots (§§ 1093 — 1093k) › § 1093g - Capacity of municipality to contract for properties

Nothing provided herein shall be understood as a limitation to the municipality’s juridical capacity to enter into a contract with said government entities, under different terms and conditions than those previously stated with regard to said properties.
History —June 14, 1980, No. 142, p. 530, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 100 - Municipal Usufruct of Urban Lots (§§ 1093 — 1093k) › § 1093h - Collections and installations prohibited

The municipalities are prohibited from:
(a) Charging the public for admission to the passive recreation parks created under this chapter.
(b) Installing instruments, devices, apparatuses or internal combustion machines, as well as permitting gambling in said parks.
History —June 14, 1980, No. 142, p. 530, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 100 - Municipal Usufruct of Urban Lots (§§ 1093 — 1093k) › § 1093i - Liability for damages

The municipality involved shall be liable for all damages to third persons as a result of the use of the piece of land or the construction work done therein, and said municipality must keep an insurance policy on said piece of land. Nothing provided herein shall be understood to alter the limit of liability for damages provided by other statutes of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, with respect to municipalities or entities holding title to the pieces of land involved.
History —June 14, 1980, No. 142, p. 530, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 100 - Municipal Usufruct of Urban Lots (§§ 1093 — 1093k) › § 1093j - Prohibited acts

No municipality may encumber or in any way alienate the real right to usufruct it may obtain under this chapter.
History —June 14, 1980, No. 142, p. 530, § 11.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 100 - Municipal Usufruct of Urban Lots (§§ 1093 — 1093k) › § 1093k - Expiration of usufruct upon court order

The municipal usufruct provided in this chapter on the piece of land involved shall expire automatically at the time a judicial order to execute on said piece of land a principal obligation whereby the titleholder has given a guarantee to such land, becomes final.
History —June 14, 1980, No. 142, p. 530, § 12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 101 - Regional Animal Shelters (§§ 1094 — 1094g) › § 1094 - Commonwealth Animal Control Office—Creation

The Commonwealth Animal Control Office (CACO) is hereby created, attached to the Department of Health. This Office shall be charged with the implementation of this chapter according to its provisions, always ensuring that the animals in these shelters are treated ethically. The CACO, attached to the Department of Health under the Environmental Health Program shall follow all administrative guidelines for good government by which this Department is governed.
The Executive Director, appointed by the Secretary of Health, who shall exercise the powers of the CACO, shall be a suitable person with vast knowledge about the behavior, psychology and control of the animal population.
The Executive Director shall study the Animal Control Program as his/her first task, and submit the corresponding work schedule for the approval of the Secretary of Health.
This program covers three (3) basic areas:
(1) Development of a Protocol and Regulations with the advice of experts in the animal control area, the College of Veterinarians, animal protection organizations and interested citizens.
(2) Establishment of a strategy for taking proactive steps for organizing and encouraging the municipalities through the subsidy of funds, so they may pick up and control their stray animals.
(3) Development of an educational program that would function as a CACO public relations resource and tool.
History —May 30, 1984, No. 36, p. 95, added as § 1 on Aug. 30, 2000, No. 242, § 1; Sept. 22, 2004, No. 427, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 101 - Regional Animal Shelters (§§ 1094 — 1094g) › § 1094-1 - Commonwealth Animal Control Office—Authorization

The municipalities of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico are hereby empowered to cooperate and help the CACO to establish, operate, build and become integrated and/or contribute to, through contributions from among the municipalities, in coordination with the Department of Health of Puerto Rico, the regional animal shelters, so as to provide temporary shelter for stray animals and develop a program for picking up strays, an adoption program and animal sterilization clinics.
The municipal programs for picking up stray animals, according to a protocol established by the CACO, shall be the priority provision set forth in this chapter and shall be a requirement in all efforts to implement the same. The other provisions for animal control through sterilization and better treatment through adoption concerning stray animals remain in effect.
These services shall be provided by the municipalities depending on their motivation and commitment in devoting resources for these municipal animal control programs.
History —May 30, 1984, No. 36, p. 95, § 1, renumbered as § 2 and amended on Aug. 30, 2000, No. 242, § 1; Sept. 22, 2004, No. 427, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 101 - Regional Animal Shelters (§§ 1094 — 1094g) › § 1094a - Commonwealth Animal Control Office—Implementation and allocation; available funds

The organization, administration, operation, regulation and integration of the animal shelters referred to in § 1094-1 of this title, may be implemented by the CACO with municipal, Commonwealth, or federal funds or a combination thereof and/or private donations for those purposes. The abovementioned Regional shelters shall be located at each one of the eight regions into which the country is divided for purposes of the Environmental Health Division of the Department of Health.
Each municipality that receives services shall contribute to the support and operation of the shelters according to its population area and the amount of animals tended to in the shelter through contracts.
History —May 30, 1984, No. 36, p. 95, § 2, renumbered as § 3 and amended on Aug. 30, 2000, No. 242, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 101 - Regional Animal Shelters (§§ 1094 — 1094g) › § 1094b - Commonwealth Animal Control Office—Board of Directors

The Executive Director, in consultation with the Secretary of Health, shall appoint a Board of Directors for each region with representation from any entity interested in the protection of animals in Puerto Rico, which may exercise those executive and administrative functions and powers conferred thereto under the provisions of this chapter by delegation of the CACO. Each one of the towns which comprise the different regions must be adequately represented on the corresponding Board of Directors, and it shall be ascertained that there is satisfactory participation of the citizens on the boards. Licensed veterinarians and representatives of government organizations or private entities that carry out duties related to the protection and well being of animals, shall also take part.
History —May 30, 1984, No. 36, p. 95, § 3, renumbered as § 4 and amended on Aug. 30, 2000, No. 242, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 101 - Regional Animal Shelters (§§ 1094 — 1094g) › § 1094c - Commonwealth Animal Control Office—Supervision

The Secretary of Health or his/her authorized representatives shall exercise proper supervision over the regional animal shelters and the sterilization clinics, and shall see to it that all applicable health and public health laws and regulations are observed in the construction and operation thereof, as well as any other conditions required by the Department of Health.
History —May 30, 1984, No. 36, p. 95, § 4, renumbered as § 5 and amended on Aug. 30, 2000, No. 242, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 101 - Regional Animal Shelters (§§ 1094 — 1094g) › § 1094d - Commonwealth Animal Control Office—Powers

In order to fulfill the purposes of this chapter, and without its effects being understood as a limitation, the CACO may exercise the following powers:
(1) To appoint, contract, train and supervise the required qualified personnel, including professional services such as duly licensed veterinary doctors and an administrator for each one of the shelters. The administrators must be suitable persons who have taken courses on animal handling and behavior and should show that they have the needed skills and/or experience required for the position. The rest of the personnel must be adequately trained for the work they will do and should demonstrate the needed ability, nature, and motivation to treat animals properly.
(2) To contract and acquire through any legal means all kinds of goods or services necessary for compliance with this chapter, including land, buildings, blueprints and designs. Any other expenses necessary for the effective execution and administration of this chapter may also be incurred.
(3) To draw up and adopt, by consulting with the Department of Health, the standards and regulations needed for the adequate and effective implementation of this chapter. Said regulations must establish in general terms, how the regional shelters are to be constructed, developed and administrated, including the requirements for the selection of personnel. They shall also provide for the terms and conditions under which the animals sent to the shelters may be recovered by their owners, or adopted. Provided, however, That every animal given in adoption or recovered from the shelter must be duly identified, sterilized and vaccinated against the common diseases that affect dogs and cats and in this manner protect the citizens from contracting zoonotic diseases.
(4) To apply for and obtain any funds, donations or aid from the United States Government, the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, including its agencies, instrumentalities and public corporations, as well as from private persons and private entities or enterprises, to comply with the objectives provided in this chapter.
(5) It shall have the obligation to draft the regulations that shall govern each regional shelter and to present the same for approval by the Board of Directors of the shelter.
(6) To collaborate in the establishment and implementation of an adequate animal identification system through the registry of dogs, cats, horses and other pets in Puerto Rico.
(7) To exercise any other incidental powers and prerogatives that may be necessary and convenient to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
History —May 30, 1984, No. 36, p. 95, § 5, renumbered as § 6 and amended on Aug. 30, 2000, No. 242, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 101 - Regional Animal Shelters (§§ 1094 — 1094g) › § 1094e - Commonwealth Animal Control Office—Buildings and installations

The buildings in which the shelters will be housed must be located in nonfloodable areas with appropriate drainage and ventilation. They must also be adequately protected against fire hazards. Said installations shall have separate areas to lodge sick and unwanted animals, so that those healthy animals that are up for adoption are not contaminated.
History —May 30, 1984, No. 36, p. 95, § 6, renumbered as § 7 on Aug. 30, 2000, No. 242, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 101 - Regional Animal Shelters (§§ 1094 — 1094g) › § 1094f - Commonwealth Animal Control Office—Elimination of animals

In those cases in which it is determined that an animal must be put to death, his elimination must be carried out humanely by a veterinary doctor.
History —May 30, 1984, No. 36, p. 95, § 7, renumbered as § 8 and amended on Aug. 30, 2000, No. 242, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 101 - Regional Animal Shelters (§§ 1094 — 1094g) › § 1094g - Commonwealth Animal Control Office—Definitions

For the effects of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning expressed hereinbelow:
(1) Municipality.— Any municipality that exists or that may be created in the future in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(2) Authorized representative of the Secretary of Health.— Shall include the Undersecretary, the Regional Directors attached to the office of the Undersecretary of Environmental Health, and the Inspectors and Officers of Environmental Health at the central, regional and local levels.
(3) Licensed veterinarian.— A professional who has been duly licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Puerto Rico, and who is also a member of the College of Veterinarians of Puerto Rico.
(4) Stray animal.— An animal that is not under the control of its owner, or does not have a known owner, and does not have adequate identification.
History —May 30, 1984, No. 36, p. 95, § 8, renumbered as § 9 and amended on Aug. 30, 2000, No. 242, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 102 - Urban Center Revitalization (§§ 1095 — 1095p) › Subchapter II - Creation of the Urban Centers Office (§§ 1095a — 1095b) › § 1095a - Office of the Urbanism Director—Creation; purposes

The Office of the Urbanism Director is hereby created attached to the Department of Transportation and Public Works, which shall perform the function along with the mayors, and with the advice of the Planning Board, of directing, coordinating and establishing the projects and activities to achieve the rehabilitation of the urban centers, establishing the limits of the centers: drafting rehabilitation plans, and determining the degree of adequacy of private projects to said plans. An Executive Director, who shall be designated by the Secretary as a confidential public official, shall be in charge of the Office of the Director.
History —Aug. 29, 2002, No. 212, § 2.01.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 102 - Urban Center Revitalization (§§ 1095 — 1095p) › Subchapter III - Delimitation and Rehabilitation Plans (§§ 1095c — 1095d) › § 1095c - Provisional delimitation

In order to expedite the delimitation of the centers to achieve the purposes of this chapter, the municipalities interested in developing revitalization projects within their jurisdiction pursuant to this chapter, except those having area plans or historic zones, shall request the Office of the Director to delimit the area to be revitalized. The Office of the Director shall delimit the urban centers subject to revitalization, in coordination with the mayor and with the advice of the Planning Board, within thirty (30) days after being notified by the municipality and respecting the guidelines in effect, if any, of the territorial zoning plans, until the area plans required by this chapter become effective.
The pertinent regulations of the Planning Board shall be taken into consideration, in order to delimit the urban centers including Infrastructure Zoning or Planning Regulation No. 22 of November 29, 1992, as amended, as well as the following factors:
(a) Urban structure
(b) Mix of uses
(c) Morphology
(d) Historic evolution
(e) Continuity of design
(f) Population density
(g) Urban center land area and extension
(h) Zoning or Ordinance of district, as defined by the Planning Board in the case of municipalities that lack a Territorial Ordinance Plan in effect or proposed, or as defined in the Territorial Ordinance Plan in effect or proposed for the municipality
(i) Existing infrastructure
(j) Level of economic activity and number of housing units
(k) Per capita income
(l) Unemployment rate
(m) Estimated cost of the revitalization work
(n) Nature of the works to be performed
History —Aug. 29, 2002, No. 212, § 3.01.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-ONE - Municipalities (§§ 1-4 — 6756) › Subtitle 3 - General Provisions (§§ 621-639 — 1100a) › Chapter 102 - Urban Center Revitalization (§§ 1095 — 1095p) › Subchapter IV - Private Projects, Exemptions and Incentives of the Central Government (§§ 1095e — 1095g-1) › § 1095e - Private projects, public policy

In order to achieve the livable city, the participation of the private sector is essential in the rehabilitation of the urban centers. Therefore, this chapter provides a series of tax exemptions or incentives to stimulate investment by the private sector.
History —Aug. 29, 2002, No. 212, § 4.01.