reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINETEEN - Negotiable Instruments (§§ 1-24 — 2409) › Subtitle 2 - Commercial Transactions (§§ 401 — 2409) › Chapter 55A - Secured Transactions (§§ 2211 — 2409) › Subchapter VI - Default (§§ 2361 — 2388) › § 2388 - Nonliability and limitation on liability of secured party; liability of secondary obligor

(a) Limitation of liability of secured party for noncompliance with chapter.— Unless a secured party knows that a person is a debtor or obligor, knows the identity of the person, and knows how to communicate with the person:
(1) The secured party is not liable to the person, or to a secured party or lienholder that has filed a financing statement against the person, for failure to comply with this chapter, and
(2) the secured party's failure to comply with this chapter does not affect the liability of the person for a deficiency.
(b) Limitation of liability based on status as secured party.— A secured party is not liable because of its status as secured party:
(1) To a person that is a debtor or obligor, unless the secured party knows:
(A) That the person is a debtor or obligor;
(B) the identity of the person, and
(C) how to communicate with the person, or
(2) to a secured party or lienholder that has filed a financing statement against a person, unless the secured party knows:
(A) That the person is a debtor, and
(B) the identity of the person.
(c) Limitation of liability if reasonable belief that transaction not a consumer-goods transaction or consumer transaction.— A secured party is not liable to any person, and a person's liability for a deficiency is not affected, because of any act or omission arising out of the secured party's reasonable belief that a transaction is not a consumer-goods transaction or a consumer transaction or that goods are not consumer goods, if the secured party's belief is based on its reasonable reliance on:
(1) A debtor's representation concerning the purpose for which collateral was to be used, acquired, or held, or
(2) an obligor's representation concerning the purpose for which a secured obligation was incurred.
(d) Limitation of liability for statutory damages.— A secured party is not liable to any person under § 2385(c)(2) of this title for its failure to comply with § 2376 of this title.
(e) Limitation of multiple liability for statutory damages.— A secured party is not liable under § 2385(c)(2) of this title more than once with respect to any one (1) secured obligation.
History —Sept. 19, 1996, No. 241, added as § 9-628 on Jan. 17, 2012, No. 21, § 11, eff. 1 year after Jan. 17, 2012.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINETEEN - Negotiable Instruments (§§ 1-24 — 2409) › Subtitle 2 - Commercial Transactions (§§ 401 — 2409) › Chapter 55A - Secured Transactions (§§ 2211 — 2409) › Subchapter VII - Transition (§§ 2401 — 2409) › § 2401 - Effective date

This Act takes effect one (1) year after it is approved.
History —Sept. 19, 1996, No. 241, added as § 9–701 on Jan. 17, 2012, No. 21, § 11, eff. 1 year after Jan. 17, 2012.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINETEEN - Negotiable Instruments (§§ 1-24 — 2409) › Subtitle 2 - Commercial Transactions (§§ 401 — 2409) › Chapter 55A - Secured Transactions (§§ 2211 — 2409) › Subchapter VII - Transition (§§ 2401 — 2409) › § 2402 - Savings clause

(a) Pre-effective-date transactions or liens.— Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, this act applies to a transaction or lien within its scope, even if the transaction or lien was entered into or created before this act takes effect.
(b) Continuing validity.— Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) and §§ 2403–2409 of this title:
(1) Transactions and liens that were not governed by former Chapter 9 of the Commercial Transactions Act, were validly entered into or created before this act takes effect, and would be subject to this chapter if they had been entered into or created after this act takes effect, and the rights, duties, and interests flowing from those transactions and liens remain valid after this act takes effect, and
(2) the transactions and liens may be terminated, completed, consummated, and enforced as required or permitted by this chapter or by the law that otherwise would apply if this chapter had not taken effect.
(c) Pre-effective-date proceedings.— This chapter does not affect an action, case, or proceeding commenced before this act takes effect.
History —Sept. 19, 1996, No. 241, added as § 9–702 on Jan. 17, 2012, No. 21, § 11, eff. 1 year after Jan. 17, 2012.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINETEEN - Negotiable Instruments (§§ 1-24 — 2409) › Subtitle 2 - Commercial Transactions (§§ 401 — 2409) › Chapter 55A - Secured Transactions (§§ 2211 — 2409) › Subchapter VII - Transition (§§ 2401 — 2409) › § 2403 - Security interest perfected before effective date

(a) Continuing priority over lien creditor: perfection requirements satisfied.— A security interest that is enforceable immediately before this act takes effect and would have priority over the rights of a person that becomes a lien creditor at that time is a perfected security interest under this chapter if, when this act takes effect, the applicable requirements for enforceability and perfection under this chapter are satisfied without further action.
(b) Continuing priority over lien creditor: perfection requirements not satisfied.— Except as otherwise provided in § 2405 of this title, if, immediately before this act takes effect, a security interest is enforceable and would have priority over the rights of a person that becomes a lien creditor at that time, but the applicable requirements for enforceability or perfection under this chapter are not satisfied when this act takes effect, the security interest:
(1) Is a perfected security interest for one (1) year after this act takes effect;
(2) remains enforceable thereafter only if the security interest becomes enforceable under § 2233 of this title before the year expires, and
(3) remains perfected thereafter only if the applicable requirements for perfection under this chapter are satisfied before the year expires.
History —Sept. 19, 1996, No. 241, added as § 9–703 on Jan. 17, 2012, No. 21, § 11, eff. 1 year after Jan. 17, 2012.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINETEEN - Negotiable Instruments (§§ 1-24 — 2409) › Subtitle 2 - Commercial Transactions (§§ 401 — 2409) › Chapter 55A - Secured Transactions (§§ 2211 — 2409) › Subchapter VII - Transition (§§ 2401 — 2409) › § 2404 - Security interest unperfected before effective date

A security interest that is enforceable immediately before this act takes effect but which would be subordinate to the rights of a person that becomes a lien creditor at that time:
(1) Remains an enforceable security interest for one (1) year after this act takes effect;
(2) remains enforceable thereafter if the security interest becomes enforceable under § 2233 of this title when this act takes effect or within one (1) year thereafter, and
(3) becomes perfected:
(A) Without further action, when this act takes effect if the applicable requirements for perfection under this chapter are satisfied before or at that time, or
(B) when the applicable requirements for perfection are satisfied if the requirements are satisfied after that time.
History —Sept. 19, 1996, No. 241, added as § 9–704 on Jan. 17, 2012, No. 21, § 11, eff. 1 year after Jan. 17, 2012.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINETEEN - Negotiable Instruments (§§ 1-24 — 2409) › Subtitle 2 - Commercial Transactions (§§ 401 — 2409) › Chapter 55A - Secured Transactions (§§ 2211 — 2409) › Subchapter VII - Transition (§§ 2401 — 2409) › § 2406 - When initial financing statement suffices to continue effectiveness of financing statement

(a) Initial financing statement in lieu of continuation statement.— The filing of an initial financing statement in the office specified in § 2321 of this title continues the effectiveness of a financing statement filed before this act takes effect if:
(1) The filing of an initial financing statement in that office would be effective to perfect a security interest under this chapter;
(2) the pre-effective-date financing statement was filed in an office in another state or another office in this state, and
(3) the initial financing statement satisfies subsection (c) of this section.
(b) Period of continued effectiveness.— The filing of an initial financing statement under subsection (a) of this section continues the effectiveness of the pre-effective-date financing statement:
(1) If the initial financing statement is filed before this act takes effect, for the period provided in former Section 9-403 with respect to a financing statement, and
(2) if the initial financing statement is filed after this act takes effect, for the period provided in § 2335 of this title with respect to an initial financing statement.
(c) Requirements for initial financing statement under subsection (a).— To be effective for purposes of subsection (a) of this section, an initial financing statement must:
(1) Satisfy the requirements of Subchapter 5 for an initial financing statement;
(2) identify the pre-effective-date financing statement by indicating the office in which the financing statement was filed and providing the dates of filing and file numbers, if any, of the financing statement and of the most recent continuation statement filed with respect to the financing statement, and
(3) indicate that the pre-effective-date financing statement remains effective.
History —Sept. 19, 1996, No. 241, added as § 9–706 on Jan. 17, 2012, No. 21, § 11, eff. 1 year after Jan. 17, 2012.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINETEEN - Negotiable Instruments (§§ 1-24 — 2409) › Subtitle 2 - Commercial Transactions (§§ 401 — 2409) › Chapter 55A - Secured Transactions (§§ 2211 — 2409) › Subchapter VII - Transition (§§ 2401 — 2409) › § 2407 - Amendment of pre-effective-date financing statement

(a) Pre-effective-date financing statement.— In this section, “pre-effective-date financing statement” means a financing statement filed before this act takes effect.
(b) Applicable law.— After this act takes effect, a person may add or delete collateral covered by, continue or terminate the effectiveness of, or otherwise amend the information provided in, a pre-effective-date financing statement only in accordance with the law of the jurisdiction governing perfection as provided in Subchapter 3. However, the effectiveness of a pre-effective-date financing statement also may be terminated in accordance with the law of the jurisdiction in which the financing statement is filed.
(c) Method of amending: general rule.— Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) of this section, if the law of this state governs perfection of a security interest, the information in a pre-effective-date financing statement may be amended after this act takes effect only if:
(1) The pre-effective-date financing statement and an amendment are filed in the office specified in § 2321 of this title,
(2) an amendment is filed in the office specified in § 2321 of this title concurrently with, or after the filing in that office of, an initial financing statement that satisfies § 2406(c) of this title, or
(3) an initial financing statement that provides the information as amended and satisfies § 2406(c) of this title is filed in the office specified in § 2321 of this title.
(d) Method of amending: continuation.— If the law of this state governs perfection of a security interest, the effectiveness of a pre-effective-date financing statement may be continued only under sub (d) and (f) of § 2405 or § 2406 of this title.
(e) Method of amending: additional termination rule.— Whether or not the law of this state governs perfection of a security interest, the effectiveness of a pre-effective-date financing statement filed in this state may be terminated after this act takes effect by filing a termination statement in the office in which the pre-effective-date financing statement is filed, unless an initial financing statement that satisfies § 2406 (c) of this title has been filed in the office specified by the law of the jurisdiction governing perfection as provided in Subchapter 3 as the office in which to file a financing statement.
History —Sept. 19, 1996, No. 241, added as § 9–707 on Jan. 17, 2012, No. 21, § 11, eff. 1 year after Jan. 17, 2012.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINETEEN - Negotiable Instruments (§§ 1-24 — 2409) › Subtitle 2 - Commercial Transactions (§§ 401 — 2409) › Chapter 55A - Secured Transactions (§§ 2211 — 2409) › Subchapter VII - Transition (§§ 2401 — 2409) › § 2408 - Persons entitled to file initial financing statement or continuation statement

A person may file an initial financing statement or a continuation statement under this subchapter if:
(1) The secured party of record authorizes the filing, and
(2) the filing is necessary under this subchapter:
(A) To continue the effectiveness of a financing statement filed before this act takes effect, or
(B) To perfect or continue the perfection of a security interest.
History —Sept. 19, 1996, No. 241, added as § 9–708 on Jan. 17, 2012, No. 21, § 11, eff. 1 year after Jan. 17, 2012.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINETEEN - Negotiable Instruments (§§ 1-24 — 2409) › Subtitle 2 - Commercial Transactions (§§ 401 — 2409) › Chapter 55A - Secured Transactions (§§ 2211 — 2409) › Subchapter VII - Transition (§§ 2401 — 2409) › § 2409 - Priority

(a) Law governing priority.— This chapter determines the priority of conflicting claims to collateral. However, if the relative priorities of the claims were established before this act takes effect, former Chapter 9 determines priority.
(b) Priority if security interest becomes enforceable under § 2233 of this title.— For purposes of § 2272(a) of this title, the priority of a security interest that becomes enforceable under § 2233 of this title of this act dates from the time this act takes effect if the security interest is perfected under this chapter by the filing of a financing statement before this act takes effect which would not have been effective to perfect the security interest under former Chapter 9. This subsection does not apply to conflicting security interests each of which is perfected by the filing of such a financing statement.
History —Sept. 19, 1996, No. 241, added as § 9–709 on Jan. 17, 2012, No. 21, § 11, eff. 1 year after Jan. 17, 2012.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 1 - Division of Examining Boards (§§ 1 — 17) › § 10 - Attachment to Department of State

The following Examining Boards are hereby attached to the Department of State:
(1) Theater Actors Accrediting Board [§§ 3301 et seq. of this title].
(2) Examining Board of Agronomists [§§ 621 et seq. of this title].
(3) Examining Board of Barbers and Hair Stylists [§§ 580 et seq. of this title].
(4) Examining Board of Rehabilitation Counselors [§§ 2651 et seq. of this title].
(5) Accounting Board [§§ 771 et seq. of this title].
(6) Examining Board of Interior Decorators and Designers [§§ 2231 et seq. of this title].
(7) Examining Board of Professional Draftsmen [§§ 2601 et seq. of this title].
(8) Examining Board of Beauty Specialists [§§ 2111 et seq. of this title].
(9) Examining Board of Professional Real Estate Appraisers [§§ 2301 et seq. of this title].
(10) Examining Board of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors [§§ 711 et seq. of this title].
(11) Examining Board of Master Plumbers and Journeymen [§§ 941 et seq. of this title].
(12) Examining Board of Cinematographic Machine Operators [former §§ 901 et seq. of this title].
(13) Examining Board of Expert Electricians [§§ 2701 et seq. of this title].
(14) Examining Board of Chemists [§§ 471a et seq. of this title].
(15) Examining Board of Automotive Technicians [§§ 2145 et seq. of this title].
(16) Examining Board of Radio and Television Technicians [§§ 2401 et seq. of this title].
(17) Examining Board of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technicians [§§ 2051 et seq. of this title].
(18) Examining Board of Social Workers [§§ 841 et seq. of this title].
(19) Examining Board of Potable and Used Water Treatment Plant Operators [§§ 2801 et seq. of this title].
Provided, That the provisions of §§ 10 et seq. of this title shall apply to any examining board that is attached to the Department of State in the future.
History —Aug. 5, 1991, No. 41, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 1 - Division of Examining Boards (§§ 1 — 17) › § 11 - Executive Secretary

The Secretary of State shall be the Executive Secretary of the Examining Boards attached to the Department of State with the power to participate without the right to vote in all board meetings. The Secretary of State may delegate such responsibility on another official.
History —Aug. 5, 1991, No. 41, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 1 - Division of Examining Boards (§§ 1 — 17) › § 12 - Executive Secretary—Duties

The Executive Secretary shall be responsible for providing administrative, legal and operational support to the Examining Boards attached to the Department of State, and to any Board that is created or transferred to the Department of State in the future.
History —Aug. 5, 1991, No. 41, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 1 - Division of Examining Boards (§§ 1 — 17) › § 13 - Uniform regulations

The Secretary of State may adopt regulations to standardize the administrative processes for administering examinations, granting licenses and adjudicating the complaints of the examining boards attached to the Department of State, pursuant to the provisions of the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3. Provided, That the uniform regulations to be adopted shall provide for the examinations offered by the examining boards to candidates aspiring to practice the diverse professions, to be offered in Spanish or in English, at the request of the candidate.
Said uniform regulations shall be effective for all the boards except for those that adopt regulations in the same field after the approval of the uniform regulations, or indicate their exclusion therefrom because they have similar regulations in effect which were adopted in accordance with §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3.
History —Aug. 5, 1991, No. 41, § 4; Sept. 19, 1996, No. 240, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 1 - Division of Examining Boards (§§ 1 — 17) › § 14 - Uniform regulations—Collection of fees

The Secretary of State may establish the fees to be collected for the services offered to the examining boards pursuant to the provisions of §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, through regulation.
Said regulation shall include the fees to be collected for the following services and other similar ones:
(a) Examination.
(b) Re-examination.
(c) License and its renewal.
(d) Certifications and certified copies.
Provided, That the regulations that are adopted shall not be amended until after two (2) years from their adoption.
History —Aug. 5, 1991, No. 41, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 1 - Division of Examining Boards (§§ 1 — 17) › § 15 - Special account

The fees established as prescribed in § 14 of this title that exceed those fees in effect on the date of approval of this act shall be deposited in a special account created to such effects in the Department of the Treasury, in order to defray the regular operating expenses of the Examining Boards Division that are not covered by appropriations from the General Fund, or other budget appropriations.
Provided, That prior to using the resources deposited in the Special Account, the Department of State shall submit an annual expense budget to be charged to those funds, for approval by the Office of Management and Budget. The remaining funds that have not been used or encumbered for the purposes of §§ 10—17 of this title by June 30 of each fiscal year, shall be transferred to the General Fund.
History —Aug. 5, 1991, No. 41, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 1 - Division of Examining Boards (§§ 1 — 17) › § 16 - Evaluation of penal records

The Examining Boards shall not outright reject the application of an aspirant to a profession covered by §§ 10—17 of this title, who has a penal record.
In these cases, the Examining Boards, in the exercise of their powers conferred by law, shall have the duty to evaluate the application of an aspirant who has a penal record and determine his/her eligibility, taking into consideration:
(1) The requirements of law;
(2) the nature of the crime, if it involves moral turpitude or any issue of public security, and
(3) if the aspirant enjoys the benefit of probation or parole.
History —Aug. 5, 1991, No. 41, added as § 7 on Jan. 4, 2002, No. 4, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 1 - Division of Examining Boards (§§ 1 — 17) › § 17 - Prohibition against the delegation of the power to regulate the continuing education requirements

The power of every Examining Board attached to the Department of State to establish through regulations the continuing education requirements shall not be delegated.
Likewise, the duty of every Examining Board attached to the Department of State to certify as providers those educational institutions, professional associations or colleges and any other entity offering continuing education pertinent to the professions regulated by said Boards shall not be delegable.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Examining Boards of the Department of State shall establish General Regulations on Continuing Education that shall function as guidelines for the Boards in drafting their specific regulations by profession. Those General Regulations shall include the basic requirements to be evaluated by every Board in provider certification procedures.
General Regulations shall contain as well provisions that contemplate situations unknown to the professionals who appear before their corresponding Examining Board, such as the shortage of members in the Board. Furthermore, General Regulations shall provide on the role to be played by professional colleges or associations that represent the various groups of licensed professionals at the time the Examining Boards accredit the continuing education providers. It shall be an active role in the evaluation of continuing education regulations of the professional class represented by them, provided that said professional colleges or associations have continuing education divisions or departments. The Board shall take into account the standpoints of professional colleges or associations in drafting specific regulations.
The General Regulations shall provide that being accredited by any higher education accrediting body shall not be an essential requirement to be certified as provider. Likewise, it shall provide that the certification as continuing education provider shall be effective for five (5) years.
History —Aug. 5, 1991, No. 41, added as § 8 on Dec. 13, 2007, No. 189, § 1; Aug. 4, 2008, No. 152, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 1A - Education Requirements (§§ 18 — 18c) › § 18 - Definitions

The following terms shall have the meaning expressed hereinbelow:
(a) Council.— Shall mean the Puerto Rico Council on Education.
(b) Profession and trade accreditation and regulatory organizations of Puerto Rico.— Shall mean all the organizations, whether attached or not to the Government of Puerto Rico, that regulate, accredit, or license the practice of any profession or trade in Puerto Rico.
History —Dec. 30, 2011, No. 284, § 2, retroactive to July 1, 2011.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 1A - Education Requirements (§§ 18 — 18c) › § 18a - Scope

The Government of Puerto Rico recognizes that profession and trade accrediting and regulatory organizations of Puerto Rico, when measuring, assessing, and licensing education programs and the educational institutions that offer them, shall do so only in credit hours or only in clock hours when so requested by such educational institutions, as provided in the applicable federal regulations. The scope of this chapter establishes that any assessment and certification measures of the curricula of educational institutions that offer the same be required only in credit hours and without reference to clock hours whenever the institution requests to be measured, assessed, and licensed in credit hours. It is further established that any regulatory or accrediting entity or agency of the various professions and trades approves study requirements to take board examinations in either credit hours or clock hours depending on how the study program of the institution was approved.
History —Dec. 30, 2011, No. 284, § 3, retroactive to July 1, 2011.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 1A - Education Requirements (§§ 18 — 18c) › § 18b - Duty to notify

The Government of Puerto Rico, through its entities and agencies, shall notify the United States Department of Education of the approval of this chapter in order to prevent conflicting interpretations with the recently approved federal regulation.
History —Dec. 30, 2011, No. 284, § 4, retroactive to July 1, 2011.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 1A - Education Requirements (§§ 18 — 18c) › § 18c - Regulation

The Puerto Rico Council on Education and all the regulatory entities and agencies in Puerto Rico are hereby directed to draft or amend the necessary regulations for the implementation of this chapter.
History —Dec. 30, 2011, No. 284, § 5, retroactive to July 1, 2011.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 2 - Administration of Revalidation Examinations (§§ 21 — 23) › § 22 - Examination schedule

The examination shall not begin prior to 8:00 a.m., nor end after 3:00 p.m., except for those cases that reasonable accommodation is granted. If the examination is in English or any language other than Spanish, their variable must be considered to determine the time to answer each of its parts, taking into account the possible delay that some applicants could experience as a result of their limited knowledge of said language. This consideration procedure must be performed by quantification specialists, respecting the integrity of the examination. Those examinations that due to reciprocity covenants or agreements that require uniformity will be exempted from this consideration.
History —Apr. 10, 2003, No. 107, § 3, eff. 30 days after Apr. 10, 2003.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 2 - Administration of Revalidation Examinations (§§ 21 — 23) › § 23 - Number of opportunities to take and pass examinations

(a) An act to provide that persons who wish to take licensure examinations for any profession that so requires shall have unlimited opportunities to take and pass these examinations is hereby created.
(b) Each Examining Board shall establish the requirements and conditions to maximize the probabilities of passing the licensure examination for candidates who have failed over five times. These may include additional formal education in areas to be evaluated, continuing education, reviews, or remedial courses offered by entities approved by the Board, as well as other strategies that the Board deems could assist such candidates.
(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the legal profession. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico is hereby urged to take notice of the legislative intent set forth in this section and to revise the rules and regulations of the Board of Bar Examiners, to determine whether it would be prudent for candidates for the bar examination to have unlimited opportunities to take and pass the same.
History —July 26, 2010, No. 88, §§ 1—3; Aug. 22, 2012, No. 193, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 3 - Board of Medical Examiners (§§ 31-44 — 56e) › § 54 - Service in armed forces credited towards internship

On and after the date this act takes effect, the Board of Medical Examiners of Puerto Rico shall credit every physician who has served in the armed forces of the nation the time they have served in like manner and for the same purposes as if such service had been rendered as an intern in a recognized hospital or as town physician of any of the municipalities of the Commonwealth, so as to admit them to revalidation examinations.
History —May 13, 1947, No. 380, p. 728, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 3 - Board of Medical Examiners (§§ 31-44 — 56e) › § 55 - Tutorial program—Purpose

The Board of Medical Examiners, created by Act No. 22 of April 22, 1931, is hereby empowered and directed to organize, establish and adopt, in consultation with the Department of Health and the School of Medicine of the Medical Sciences Campus of the University of Puerto Rico, such regulations as may be needed to implement a tutorial program addressed to the medical school graduates who qualify for their medical validation examination who have been unable to obtain a permanent license as a physician, in order to improve their qualifications and training to take such examination. As part of this program, the Board is empowered to define and regulate, in turn, the functions such graduates from medical school may perform as part of their training and the conditions under which they may perform such functions. Medical school graduates registered in the above-stated tutorial program may perform, under the supervision and direction of a physician licensed to practice medicine in Puerto Rico, such functions that do not involve the diagnosis, treatment, prescription of medications and surgical operations as defined and authorized by the Board by regulations.
History —Dec. 30, 1986, No. 1, p. 855, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 3 - Board of Medical Examiners (§§ 31-44 — 56e) › § 55a - Tutorial program—Design and development

The tutorial program shall be designed and developed in due form and manner to be compatible with and complementary to the formal training courses offered by medical schools in Puerto Rico which are duly accredited by the Council on Higher Education and by the Medical Education Liaison Committee whose courses are authorized by the Board of Medical Examiners.
History —Dec. 30, 1986, No. 1, p. 855, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 3 - Board of Medical Examiners (§§ 31-44 — 56e) › § 55b - Tutorial program—Periodic evaluation

The Board of Medical Examiners shall require proof of periodic evaluation and direct supervision of the graduates who avail themselves of the tutorial program pursuant to the regulations it establishes. It shall, likewise, in consultation with the Department of Health perform a census of graduates of medical schools who have not been validated and qualify for the benefits of the tutorial program.
History —Dec. 30, 1986, No. 1, p. 855, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 3 - Board of Medical Examiners (§§ 31-44 — 56e) › § 55c - Tutorial program—Candidates; requirements

(a) Those persons who hope to register in the Tutorial Program established in § 55 of this title shall meet the following requirements:
(1) To be of legal age and to have resided uninterruptedly in Puerto Rico for at least one (1) year prior to the date he applies to the Board of Medical Examiners for authorization to register in the Tutorial Program. Said period of residence shall not be deemed to be interrupted by sporadic departures from the country and for brief periods for medical, business or pleasure trips.
(2) To meet all the requirements established by Act No. 22 of April 22, 1931 for admission to take the medical validation examination.
(3) To have not been convicted for violations of §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 24, known as the “Puerto Rico Controlled Substances Act”, or for violations of Section 9 of Act No. 22 of April 22, 1931.
(4) To present an application to the Board of Medical Examiners on the form it determines, to be issued an authorization to register for the Tutorial Program, and in which he must state that he meets the above requirements.
(b) Every application shall be accompanied by such documents that are needed to ensure that the applicant meets the requirements established in this section and an internal revenue receipt in the amount of fifty dollars ($50).
(c) The Board shall issue its decision to grant or deny authorization for the aspirant to register in said medical education courses within thirty (30) days after receiving the application.
History —Dec. 30, 1986, No. 1, p. 855, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 3 - Board of Medical Examiners (§§ 31-44 — 56e) › § 55d - Tutorial program—Renewable authorization; effects

An authorization for a medical school graduate to register in the Tutorial Program issued pursuant to the provisions of §§ 55—55g of this title and its regulations shall qualify him to perform the appropriate functions, work and services in the program solely and exclusively in hospitals, dispensaries, diagnostic and treatment centers and clinics of the departments, agencies, instrumentalities and municipalities of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and in every case, under the immediate direction and supervision of one or several physicians duly authorized by law to practice medicine in Puerto Rico.
The Board’s authorization for a medical school graduate to register in the tutorial program shall be for one (1) year. Said authorization shall be renewable for one (1) additional year with the recommendation of the Department of Health and the School of Medicine of the Medical Sciences Campus of the University of Puerto Rico, and the approval of the Board.
History —Dec. 30, 1986, No. 1, p. 855, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 3 - Board of Medical Examiners (§§ 31-44 — 56e) › § 55e - Tutorial program—Illegal practice

Medical school graduates who practice medicine in violation of any of the provisions of §§ 55—55g of this title and Act No. 22 of April 22, 1931 which regulate the practice of medicine shall be doing so illegally and shall be subject to the same sanctions as any other person to whom the provisions of Section 9 of said act apply.
History —Dec. 30, 1986, No. 1, p. 855, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 3 - Board of Medical Examiners (§§ 31-44 — 56e) › § 55f - Tutorial program—Revocation of authorization

The Board may revoke or suspend the authorization to register in the Tutorial Program granted hereby to any medical school graduate who violates §§ 55—55g of this title and the rules and regulations published by the Board pursuant thereto.
History —Dec. 30, 1986, No. 1, p. 855, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 3 - Board of Medical Examiners (§§ 31-44 — 56e) › § 55g - Tutorial program—Regulations

The Board of Medical Examiners shall adopt, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and the School of Medicine of the Medical Sciences Campus of the University of Puerto Rico, such rules and regulations needed to implement §§ 55—55g of this title. It shall, likewise, establish the guidelines to direct the departments, agencies, instrumentalities and municipalities in the process of selecting and admitting medical school graduates to the Tutorial Program and shall provide the sample contracts which shall be used in the agencies, instrumentalities and municipal governments, pursuant to the provisions of § 55d of this title.
History —Dec. 30, 1986, No. 1, p. 855, §§ 5, 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 3 - Board of Medical Examiners (§§ 31-44 — 56e) › § 56 - Creation

The Board of Medical Examiners (B.M.E.), created by virtue of Act No. 22 of April 22, 1931, shall be responsible for establishing an information and orientation system which is easily accessible to our people, as provided in §§ 56—56e of this title. This information system shall likewise be available to the public through the Internet.
History —Aug. 17, 1999, No. 260, § 3, eff. 30 days after Aug. 17, 1999.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 3 - Board of Medical Examiners (§§ 31-44 — 56e) › § 56b - Information correction deadline

The B.M.E. shall provide every medical professional with a copy of his/her individual information before it is published. The physician shall have a reasonable period of time, not to exceed thirty (30) days, to indicate any necessary correction to the information furnished.
History —Aug. 17, 1999, No. 260, § 5, eff. 30 days after Aug. 17, 1999.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 3 - Board of Medical Examiners (§§ 31-44 — 56e) › § 56c - Omissions

The medical professional may choose to have omitted the information required in subsections (f), (g) and (h) [of § 56a of this title], inclusive, related to appointments or designations in educational medical faculties, publications and activities or acknowledgements received for professional services to the community. During the process of collecting and publishing the data authorized in §§ 56—56e of this title, and the publication of the same, the B.M.E. shall inform the medical professional that he/she has the option of refusing to provide the information required in subsections (f), (g) and (h) [of § 56a of this title], inclusive.
History —Aug. 17, 1999, No. 260, § 6, eff. 30 days after Aug. 17, 1999.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 3 - Board of Medical Examiners (§§ 31-44 — 56e) › § 56d - Implementation

The B.M.E. is hereby authorized to adopt those standards and regulations deemed necessary to implement §§ 56—56e of this title following the procedure established in §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Uniform Administrative Procedures Act of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico”.
History —Aug. 17, 1999, No. 260, § 7, eff. 30 days after Aug. 17, 1999.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 3 - Board of Medical Examiners (§§ 31-44 — 56e) › § 56e - Publication parameters

The B.M.E. shall make available to the public the information herein authorized following the parameters established in §§ 56—56e of this title and the regulations adopted by virtue thereof.
History —Aug. 17, 1999, No. 260, § 8, eff. 30 days after Aug. 17, 1999.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 4 - College of Physicians and Surgeons (§§ 72-72j — 73o) › § 73 - Short title

This chapter shall be known as the “Puerto Rico Surgeons Association Act”.
History —Aug. 13, 1994, No. 77, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 4 - College of Physicians and Surgeons (§§ 72-72j — 73o) › § 73a - Definitions

The following terms shall have the meanings indicated in §§ 73—73o of this title:
(a) Association. — Puerto Rico Surgeons Association.
(b) Surgeon. — A person who holds a regular license issued by the Board of Medical Examiners to practice medicine in Puerto Rico, pursuant to the provisions of Act No. 22 of April 22, 1931.
(c) Board of Examiners. — Board of Medical Examiners of Puerto Rico, created by Act No. 22 of April 22, 1931.
History —Aug. 13, 1994, No. 77, § 2; Nov. 4, 1997, No. 129, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 4 - College of Physicians and Surgeons (§§ 72-72j — 73o) › § 73b - Constitution

The surgeons who hold a regular license to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and have a current recertification pursuant to the applicable requirements established in Section 20 of Act No. 22 of April 22, 1931, and in the bylaws of the Board of Examiners, are hereby authorized to constitute themselves as a juridical entity under the name of Puerto Rico Surgeons Association, provided the majority (51%) of the licensed surgeons convened in assembly so agree in a consultation to that effect that shall be held as provided in the temporary provisions note under § 73 of this title. The assembly shall be duly constituted by the attendance of 51% of the surgeons holding a license in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
History —Aug. 13, 1994, No. 77, § 3; Nov. 4, 1997, No. 129, § 2; July 13, 2001, No. 56, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 4 - College of Physicians and Surgeons (§§ 72-72j — 73o) › § 73d - Duties

The Association shall have the following obligations:
(a) Help to improve the health of the People of Puerto Rico.
(b) Encourage the improvement of the practice of medicine.
(c) Promote and divulge the continuing progress of the medical profession.
(d) Cooperate with the municipal, state and federal governments and their agencies, public instrumentalities and regulatory entities in the design and implementation of the public health policy in Puerto Rico when required to do so.
(e) Collaborate so that the medical-hospital services in Puerto Rico are of the same quality for every individual, regardless of their financial status, race, color, origin, religion, sex or political beliefs.
(f) Elevate and maintain the dignity of the profession and its members, and discourage, take note of and denounce disloyal and unethical procedures in the practice of the profession.
(g) Defend the confidentiality of the physician-patient relationship, according to the parameters provided in the applicable legislation.
(h) Defend the physicians’ rights and immunities in harmony with the public interest.
(i) Educate the community on medical assistance and public health problems.
(j) Encourage the physicians to be as useful as possible in the prevention of disease in our people as part of the improvement of our quality of life.
(k) Cooperate with the corresponding government bodies and private entities and educate the community in order to achieve the most reasonable health service costs possible.
(l) Establish measures for the mutual protection of the associates in accordance with the Association’s financial capacity.
(m) Strengthen the bonds of friendship and companionship among the associates.
(n) Promote the professional improvement of the associates through the availability of continuing medical education according to the criteria established by the Board of Medical Examiners and the provisions in subsection (l) of § 73c of this title, and by any other means.
(o) Take the proper, necessary and convenient lawful measures to perform the duties indicated herein.
History —Aug. 13, 1994, No. 77, § 5; Nov. 4, 1997, No. 129, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 4 - College of Physicians and Surgeons (§§ 72-72j — 73o) › § 73e - Powers to refer complaints

The Association shall have the power to receive and investigate the complaints filed with regard to the conduct of the members in the practice of the profession, and after giving the interested parties the opportunity to be heard, if evidence is found of possible unethical or illegal conduct, the Association shall report the complaint with its observations and recommendations to the Board of Examiners. None of the provisions established in this section shall be construed to limit or alter the power of the Board of Examiners to voluntarily initiate these procedures when they are understood to be appropriate pursuant to the applicable law.
History —Aug. 13, 1994, No. 77, § 6; Nov. 4, 1997, No. 129, § 5; July 13, 2001, No. 56, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 4 - College of Physicians and Surgeons (§§ 72-72j — 73o) › § 73f - Requirements to be a member of the Association

Any person who holds a regular license issued by the Board of Examiners authorizing [him or her] to practice medicine in Puerto Rico, pursuant to what is established in § 43 of this title, which regulates the practice of medicine in Puerto Rico, and who has paid the annual fee established in the Association’s bylaws, shall be a member of the Association. Said license shall be current and the surgeon shall have complied with the applicable recertification requirements.
No person shall be able to practice the medical profession in Puerto Rico, including any specialties thereof, unless he or she is a member of the Surgeons Association and is up to date in the payment of the corresponding fees, except for the provisions of § 46 of this title, as amended, and Act No. 79 of June 28, 1978, as amended.
The Association shall incorporate into its bylaws certain provisions to offer full participation to inactive and retired physicians as well as to physicians in training, in order for all sectors of the medical profession to be represented in their very own Association.
History —Aug. 13, 1994, No. 77, § 7; Nov. 4, 1997, No. 129, § 6; July 13, 2001, No. 56, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 4 - College of Physicians and Surgeons (§§ 72-72j — 73o) › § 73g - [Compulsory association]

[Membership in the Association shall be compulsory and shall be required for the practice of medicine in Puerto Rico.]
History —Aug. 13, 1994, No. 77, § 8; Nov. 4, 1997, No. 129, § 7; July 13, 2001, No. 56, § 5.