reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE SEVENTEEN - Housing (§§ 1 — 1546) › Chapter 53 - Puerto Rico Affordable Housing Mortgage Market Act (§§ 1541 — 1546) › § 1541 - Definitions

For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning stated hereinbelow:
(a) PRHFA.— Means the Housing Finance Authority, a public corporation attached to, and a subsidiary of the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico.
(b) GDB.— Means the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico.
(c) Executive Director.— The Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Housing Finance Authority (PRHFA).
(d) FDIC.— Means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
(e) FED.— Means the Federal Reserve System.
(f) Guarantee fee.— Insurance to guarantee payment to the investor.
(g) HUD.— Means the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(h) OCIF.— Means the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions.
(i) Servicing.— Means the management of mortgage loans described herein. It may include the calculation of principal and interest, the collection of payments from the borrower, custody of the accounts, and foreclosure of loans, among others.
(j) Servicing fees.— Means the charge for managing the loan.
(k) Shipping.— Means the process of packaging loans in pools to sell the portfolios in the market.
History —Aug. 12, 2011, No. 184, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE SEVENTEEN - Housing (§§ 1 — 1546) › Chapter 53 - Puerto Rico Affordable Housing Mortgage Market Act (§§ 1541 — 1546) › § 1542 - Public policy

Pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1, 7, and 19 of Article II of our Constitution, it is hereby declared to be the public policy of the Government of Puerto Rico to enable citizens or families who wish to acquire a decent, safe, and affordable real property to be used as their principal residence and who meet the requirements established herein to do so through the procedures and mechanisms set forth in this chapter.
The Government of Puerto Rico hereby empowers the PRHPA to adopt and establish a system for the sale and financing of affordable housing units in order to enable our citizens to obtain financing and acquire a home.
It is hereby established that the adopted regulations shall be consistent with the standards and principles set forth by the OCIF, FED, FDIC, HUD, §§ 261 et seq. of Title 7, and §§ 891 et seq. of this title, insofar as they apply by virtue of law. Furthermore, the President of the GDB shall oversee compliance with all financing regulatory standards, and may overrule any decision made by the PRHFA.
History —Aug. 12, 2011, No. 184, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE SEVENTEEN - Housing (§§ 1 — 1546) › Chapter 53 - Puerto Rico Affordable Housing Mortgage Market Act (§§ 1541 — 1546) › § 1543 - Endorsement and certification

The PRHFA may endorse and certify loans, disbursements, funds, income, and obligations from the private banking sector or in which said sector intervenes, insofar as they meet the purposes of this chapter and the requirements established by PRHFA.
History —Aug. 12, 2011, No. 184, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE SEVENTEEN - Housing (§§ 1 — 1546) › Chapter 53 - Puerto Rico Affordable Housing Mortgage Market Act (§§ 1541 — 1546) › § 1544 - Guarantee

Mortgage loans endorsed and certified by PRHFA shall be backed by the Insured Mortgage Reserve Fund established under §§ 261 et seq. of Title 7.
History —Aug. 12, 2011, No. 184, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE SEVENTEEN - Housing (§§ 1 — 1546) › Chapter 53 - Puerto Rico Affordable Housing Mortgage Market Act (§§ 1541 — 1546) › § 1545 - Powers and duties of the Executive Director of PRHFA

The Executive Director of PRHFA shall have the following powers:
(a) To establish the parameters and requirements under which a real property shall qualify as affordable housing for the purposes of this chapter, as provided under§§ 891 et seq. of this title. Only housing developments previously approved by the Executive Director shall qualify for the benefits, incentives, or credits herein established. The Executive Director shall review and update a listing of said housing developments on a monthly basis, in order to keep the public in general, as well as the banking sector, informed of the housing development projects that may benefit from this chapter. The duty established in this subsection may be delegated by the Executive Director to any official or subdivision of PRHFA deemed pertinent.
(b) To establish the structure or structures that shall be in charge of the implementation of this chapter. For such purposes, he/she shall adopt regulations and devise an operational plan with regard to the housing requirements, purchase, and financing processes herein provided; loan shipping to be sold in the capital markets; and the servicing of such loans.
The PRHFA may subcontract the execution of one or all of the transactions set forth in this subsection.
(c) To use PRHFA funds to defray the initial operating expenses needed for the implementation of this chapter. However, it shall establish a system to enable the self-financing of this operation through the collection of servicing fees and guarantee fees, among others.
History —Aug. 12, 2011, No. 184, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE SEVENTEEN - Housing (§§ 1 — 1546) › Chapter 53 - Puerto Rico Affordable Housing Mortgage Market Act (§§ 1541 — 1546) › § 1546 - Regulations and reports

The PRHFA shall establish regulations as are pertinent and necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter. Said regulatory process shall be exempt from the provisions of §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3.
The Executive Director shall render an annual report to the Governor and the Legislative Assembly on all efforts made in relation to this chapter. He/she shall also inform the general public of all the benefits and processes governed by the provisions of this chapter.
History —Aug. 12, 2011, No. 184, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 1 - General Provisions (§§ 1 — 5) › § 1 - Public education free and nonsectarian

There shall be in Puerto Rico an entirely free and nonsectarian system of public education.
History —July 24, 1952, No. 4, p. 6, § 1, eff. July 25, 1952.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 1 - General Provisions (§§ 1 — 5) › § 2 - Public education free and nonsectarian—Free in elementary and secondary; compulsory in elementary

Education shall be free in the elementary and secondary schools, and, insofar as the facilities of the Commonwealth will permit, elementary education shall be compulsory. Attendance at public schools shall not be compulsory for those who are receiving education in schools established under the auspices of nongovernmental entities.
History —July 24, 1952, No. 4, p. 6, § 2, eff. July 25, 1952.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 1 - General Provisions (§§ 1 — 5) › § 3 - Public education free and nonsectarian—Public funds limited to Commonwealth schools

No public property or funds shall be used for the maintenance of schools and educational institutions other than those of the Commonwealth. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the Commonwealth from extending to any child noneducational services provided by law for the protection or welfare of children.
History —July 24, 1952, No. 4, p. 6, § 3, eff. July 25, 1952.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 1 - General Provisions (§§ 1 — 5) › § 4 - Public education free and nonsectarian—Tuition free in elementary and secondary schools

No tuition fee whatsoever shall be collected in the day and evening elementary and secondary schools of the Commonwealth.
History —July 24, 1952, No. 5, p. 6, § 1, eff. July 25, 1952.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 2 - Bill of Rights and Responsibilities of the School Community (§§ 8 — 17) › Subchapter I - General Provisions (§ 8) › § 8 - Statement of purpose

Article II, Section 5, of the Constitution of Puerto Rico guarantees that “[e]very person has the right to an education which shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
The Legislature is duty bound to respond with legislation that guarantees the rights and establishes the responsibilities of the components of the school community in order to reduce the problem of violence in the schools. This bill shall create the Bill of Rights and Responsibilities of the School Community for Security in the Schools and sets forth the rights and duties of the school community members in order to maintain a climate of peace in the schools.
This Bill of Rights and Responsibilities integrates the external and surrounding community to the schools, as well as the Commonwealth and municipal government dependencies and the private sector, in seeking to institute various efforts directed toward the reduction of acts of violence within the schools.
History —May 31, 2006, No. 110, § 1.02.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 2 - Bill of Rights and Responsibilities of the School Community (§§ 8 — 17) › Subchapter II - Rights (§§ 9 — 12) › § 9 - Students

Every student in the public education system has the right to:
(a) Receive an education that fosters the full development of his/her personality and the strengthening of respect toward human rights and the fundamental freedoms within a safe environment.
(b) Spend his/her school day in a safe environment that is free from undue pressures related to school violence.
(c) Receive orientation and a copy of the General Student Regulations of the Puerto Rico Public Education System and the Internal Security Regulations, with the provisions and sanctions thereof.
(d) Be informed of the violent situations that have taken place in the school environment in order to remain alert thereto.
(e) Enjoy broad and diverse opportunities for intellectual and artistic creativity and expression.
(f) Be treated with fairness and equality and to develop within an environment of freedom, solidarity and full respect for human rights.
(g) Be guaranteed safety, physical integrity and anonymity when reporting an act of violence he/she has witnessed to the school security authorities.
(h) Receive the necessary tools for the constructive management of emotions and for verbal non-violent conflict resolution.
(i) Receive orientation about the procedures to be followed in emergency situations, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, gas leaks, fires or terrorist attacks.
History —May 31, 2006, No. 110, § 2.01.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 2 - Bill of Rights and Responsibilities of the School Community (§§ 8 — 17) › Subchapter II - Rights (§§ 9 — 12) › § 10 - Teaching personnel (teachers, librarians, advisors, social workers and others)

All teaching personnel working in a public system educational institution shall have the right to:
(a) Spend their workday in a safe environment that is free from undue pressures related to school violence.
(b) Receive information regarding their responsibilities with respect to the Crisis Management Strategic Plan for violent incidents in the schools.
(c) Be informed about their duties, regulations and sanctions with respect to school security.
(d) Receive orientation and training to work with conflict situations such as fights, riots or disputes in order to identify when their own safety or that of their students may be in danger.
(e) Have their confidentiality and anonymity guaranteed when they offer sensitive security information to the school director or the security authorities for purposes of reporting any delinquent behavior within the school.
(f) Receive orientation information and training about topics related to school violence, such as drug abuse, possession of weapons and management of conflicts, among others.
(g) Receive orientation and training about the management of emergency situations such as hurricanes, earthquakes, gas leaks, fires and terrorist attacks, among others, in which their physical integrity or that of their students may be in danger.
History —May 31, 2006, No. 110, § 2.02.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 2 - Bill of Rights and Responsibilities of the School Community (§§ 8 — 17) › Subchapter II - Rights (§§ 9 — 12) › § 11 - Parents, tutors or guardians

All parents with children in the Public Education System have the right to:
(a) A safe study environment free from undue pressures related to school violence guaranteed for their children or the students under their care.
(b) Know the security level of the school that their children shall attend before the completion of the enrollment process.
(c) Enroll their children or students under their care in a school with security levels that foster the full development of the students in a peaceful environment.
(d) Receive orientation and a copy of the General Regulations for the Students of the Puerto Rico Public Education System and the Internal Security Regulations, with the provisions and sanctions thereof.
(e) Participate as an active member of the school council, the security council, the security committee and other committees that promote safety in the school.
(f) Receive a copy of the reports of violent incidents registered for each semester in the school that their children attend.
(g) Have their confidentiality and anonymity guaranteed when they offer sensitive security information to the school director or the security authorities for purposes of reporting any delinquent behavior within the school.
(h) Be informed promptly by the school director or the teachers when their children become involved in behavior that may generate violent acts in the school.
(i) Receive support information for conflict management and promote a culture of peace in the school environment.
(j) Receive orientation about their duties and/or responsibilities with respect to the management of emergency situations such as hurricanes, earthquakes, gas leaks, fires or terrorist attacks, among others, in which the physical integrity of their children or students under their care may be in danger.
History —May 31, 2006, No. 110, § 2.03.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 2 - Bill of Rights and Responsibilities of the School Community (§§ 8 — 17) › Subchapter II - Rights (§§ 9 — 12) › § 12 - Non-teaching personnel

All non-teaching personnel working in a public system educational institution shall have the right to:
(a) Spend their workday in a safe environment that is free from undue pressures related to school violence.
(b) Receive information regarding their responsibilities with respect to the Crisis Management Strategic Plan for violent incidents in schools.
(c) Be informed about their duties, and the regulations and sanctions with respect to school security.
(d) Receive orientation and training to work with conflict situations such as fights, riots or disputes in order to identify when their own safety or that of any member of the school community may be in danger.
(e) Have their confidentiality and anonymity guaranteed when they offer sensitive security information to the school director or the security authorities for purposes of reporting any delinquent behavior within the school.
History —May 31, 2006, No. 110, § 2.04.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 2 - Bill of Rights and Responsibilities of the School Community (§§ 8 — 17) › Subchapter III - Responsibilities (§§ 13 — 17) › § 14 - Students

(a) General Regulations for the Students of the Puerto Rico Public Education System. — Students shall try to resolve problems in non-violent ways and through dialogue. Maintain respect for their fellow students, their teachers and the school authorities.
(b) Students shall report any violent act, crime, vandalism and threat of which they become aware to the school director, a teacher or to a parent or guardian.
(c) Students shall actively participate in the crime prevention programs of their school.
(d) Students shall cooperate with the school administration in the identification of places that are conducive to delinquent behavior within the school.
(e) Students shall learn how to avoid becoming victims of a crime within the school. In order to achieve this, they shall stay away from dangerous places with poor lighting and visibility.
(f) Students shall seek help from any member of the school community when they face a situation that may turn out to be dangerous to their physical integrity or safety.
History —May 31, 2006, No. 110, § 3.02.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 2 - Bill of Rights and Responsibilities of the School Community (§§ 8 — 17) › Subchapter III - Responsibilities (§§ 13 — 17) › § 15 - Parents

(a) To promote communication with their children so that they may become actively integrated with the activities in which they participate within the school environment.
(b) To visit the school regularly to verify the academic performance of their children and obtain the academic progress report of their children at the end of each semester.
(c) To be consistent in the disciplinary messages they give to their children. Parents are responsible for communicating their views on violence, crime and the use of illegal substances and self-defense. Beyond punishing their children, parents shall provide rewards and incentives for good behavior that would prevent future incidents of undisciplined conduct.
(d) Parents shall stimulate social behavior in their children through role modeling. Through their daily activities, parents may teach their children how to establish social interactions, discuss their differences, solve conflicts, and work with frustration in problem solving, as well as anger and stress management. This behavior role modeling by the parents shall be a deterrent in view of other negative behavior that may attempt to influence the young in their social environment.
(e) Parents shall become actively involved in organizations such as the school council and in school and community activities. Active participation in these organizations shall give parents the opportunity to better know about the needs of their children, to better know their teachers, and to ensure that their children are able to satisfy their needs fully when they are not present. Parental presence in school activities gives continuity to the social role modeling efforts that take place in the home.
(f) Parents who own firearms shall keep them out of the reach of minors.
(g) To limit the exposure of the children to the violent environments and behavior projected through mass media. Children who watch violent acts in television programs, movies, cartoons, the Internet or video games could face problems in dealing with the unrealistic representations of violence shown by these media. Parents are responsible for advising their children and supervising the contents of what the students have access [to] at home.
History —May 31, 2006, No. 110, § 3.03.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 2 - Bill of Rights and Responsibilities of the School Community (§§ 8 — 17) › Subchapter III - Responsibilities (§§ 13 — 17) › § 16 - Private sector

(a) The private sector may provide support for the educational efforts of the Government by adopting a school and helping to develop its physical facilities and improve its environment.
(b) The private sector may provide training in basic labor skills. The training programs may be focused on interpersonal skills, computer management, and participation in meetings and teamwork. These training programs may help adolescents to make a more direct transition into the working world when they finish high school.
(c) The private sector may provide job opportunities to the students after classes, during summer and Christmas breaks and internships that allow them to stay away from environments that tend toward violence, provided that they comply with the applicable laws and regulations. It is presumed that these job opportunities shall help the students to value the significance of work.
(d) The private sector may support school programs and activities and the acquisition of resources to improve the learning environment in the schools.
(e) To effectively fulfill the purpose of this chapter, the participating private businesses shall provide the parents with the time for them to become actively involved in those conferences, activities and programs promoted by the school. In this manner, it shall be presumed that parents shall attend their children’s activities with greater regularity and maintain closer contact with the members of the school community.
History —May 31, 2006, No. 110, § 3.04.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 2 - Bill of Rights and Responsibilities of the School Community (§§ 8 — 17) › Subchapter III - Responsibilities (§§ 13 — 17) › § 17 - Elected officers and government agencies

(a) Elected officers are responsible for promoting legislation directed toward the reduction of school violence and the development of safe schools, provided that the resources of the Commonwealth so allow.
(b) Police officers and School Guards I and II shall be responsible for institutional order within one hundred (100) meters surrounding the school premises and in school sponsored activities, in accordance with the regulations established to such effects. It is necessary that these officers develop positive relationships with the components of the school community and exert maximum efforts to achieve a suitable environment for the development of the habit of responsibility and cooperation, and of sound school discipline.
(c) To give conferences and hold assemblies directed toward discussing topics such as school violence prevention, prevention of drug use in the schools, conflict management in the school environment, etc.
(d) Government agencies shall support and actively participate in school activities in order to promote a safe and wholesome environment.
(e) To support research projects directed toward the study of the school violence problem. The information from these research projects may serve as the foundation upon which to generate legislation or initiatives that reduce violence in our schools.
(f) To provide the necessary funds for the implementation of security initiatives in the schools, such as the installation of security devices, programs for monitoring the statistics of criminal and violent incidents in the schools, etc.
(g) To establish interagency collaborative agreements with federal agencies, municipalities and the private sector in order to promote school security.
History —May 31, 2006, No. 110, § 3.05.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 31 - Secretary of Education to establish system of public education

Establishment of system of public education, see §§ 143a et seq. of Title 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 32 - Duties of Secretary

For duties of the Secretary of Education, see §§ 143a et seq. of Title 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 33 - Division of School Hygiene—Creation and program

A Division of School Hygiene is hereby created to prepare and carry out a complete program of health and physical development of pupils.
History —May 9, 1928, No. 74, p. 524, § 1, eff. 90 days after May 9, 1928.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 34 - Division of School Hygiene—Personnel

The Secretary of Education shall appoint the officers and employees pertaining to this Division.
History —May 9, 1928, No. 74, p. 524, § 2, eff. 90 days after May 9, 1928.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 35 - Division of School Hygiene—Qualification of Director

The Director of the Division shall be a doctor in medicine, with special preparation in educational matters.
History —May 9, 1928, No. 74, p. 524, § 4, eff. 90 days after May 9, 1928.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 36 - Division of School Hygiene—Duties of Division

Among the specific duties of this Division, in addition to such others as may be established by the Secretary of Education, there shall be:
(a) To make a physical examination of the children of the schools of Puerto Rico.
(b) To work in cooperation with the Division of Domestic Science in the preparation of literature on the best diet for children attending school lunch rooms.
(c) To prepare a course of public hygiene for the elementary school course making therein due correlation with other subjects of study.
(d) To establish standards of weight, height, chest expansion, and others that may be useful for improving of health of the children.
History —May 9, 1928, No. 74, p. 524, § 6, eff. 90 days after May 9, 1928.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 41 - Schedule of secondary school subjects

The Secretary of Education is hereby authorized to prepare a schedule for the subjects of each secondary school year, which he shall cause to be published, and shall furnish the same gratis to any person applying therefor.
History —June 22, 1923, No. 7/, p. 178, § 2; May 15, 1962, No. 10, p. 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 42 - Examination in secondary school studies; correspondence courses

The Department of Education shall hold free examinations every year in the months of June and December, for the four (4) years constituting the secondary school course in Puerto Rico; Provided, That examinations pertaining to the subjects for each year shall be held in such a way that a person may take the examinations pertaining to two (2) or more years if he so desires; Provided, further, That the Secretary of Education may establish a complete and gratuitous system of free education by correspondence for all such candidates for examination as may desire it.
History —June 22, 1923, No. 7/, p. 178, § 3; July 21, 1925, No. 51, p. 292, § 1; May 15, 1962, No. 10, p. 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 43 - Examination in secondary school studies; correspondence courses—Elementary school diploma prerequisite to examination

The Department of Education shall not admit to examination any person who has not an elementary school diploma or its equivalent, but it shall, when so requested, grant an examination for the granting of the said elementary school diploma; Provided, That such rights shall not be granted to a person of school age or who attends public school regularly.
History —June 22, 1923, No. 7/, p. 178, § 4; July 21, 1925, No. 51, p. 292, § 1; May 15, 1962, No. 10, p. 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 44 - Examination in secondary school studies; correspondence courses—Issuance of diplomas

The Department of Education shall issue the proper diploma to any person who shall have satisfactorily passed the examinations pertaining to the secondary school courses, that is, the intermediate school course or the high school course, or their respective equivalents that may hereafter be established in accordance with the provisions of §§ 41—46 of this title; Provided, That said secondary school diplomas, as well as all certificates and other vouchers issued under §§ 41—46 of this title, shall have the same value as the corresponding ones issued by other official institutions of Puerto Rico, and as such shall be transferable and admitted for all purposes for which they may be required, including the University of Puerto Rico.
History —June 22, 1923, No. 7/, p. 178, § 5; July 21, 1925, No. 51, p. 292, § 1; May 15, 1962, No. 10, p. 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 45 - Examination in secondary school studies; correspondence courses—Personnel for courses and examinations

The Secretary of Education is hereby authorized to contract for the services of such persons, other than those permanently employed, as may from time to time be necessary to carry out the provisions of §§ 41—46 of this title, for the preparation of questionnaires and courses of study, in the holding and supervising of examinations or in any other capacity; Provided, That when such persons receive a salary from the Government of Puerto Rico, they may receive additional compensation for such work as they may do.
History —June 22, 1923, No. 7/, p. 178, added as § 5a on July 21, 1925, No. 51, p. 292, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 46 - Examination in secondary school studies; correspondence courses—Rules and regulations

The Secretary of Education shall issue such rules and regulations, not in conflict with §§ 41—46 of this title, as shall be necessary to carry out the purposes hereof.
History —June 22, 1923, No. 7/, p. 178, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 47 - High school equivalency tests

The Secretary of Education of Puerto Rico is hereby empowered and directed to:
(1) Administer equivalency tests to determine the basic knowledge of the examinees in terms of the educational formation demanded for graduation from high school in the basic areas of knowledge. The tests shall be offered at least once every semester, according to the program established by the Secretary of Education for such purposes.
(2) Announce the tests and make available to the candidates those educational resources at the disposal of the Educational Extension Program of the Department of Education.
(3) Admit to said tests all aspirants that meet the following requirements:
(a) Minimum age of eighteen (18) years; Provided, That minors between the ages of sixteen (16) and eighteen (18) may take said test under the following circumstances:
(i) When the applicant is under the custody of any juvenile, correction or rehabilitation institution.
(ii) When the applicant participates in government programs that have educational projects sponsored by the Department of Education and/or the Puerto Rico National Guard.
(iii) When the applicant has at least [successfully completed the] eighth grade.
(b) When the applicant, or the parent, tutor or guardian is a resident of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(4) Issue to each candidate that [passes] the test according to the norms set forth by the Secretary of Education, a diploma that shall be the equivalent, to a high school diploma for academic and legal purposes. Provided, also, That in the case of candidates that intend to begin college studies, the result of the tests shall be expressed in terms of academic index or any other mathematical expression of achievement required by the college or university.
History —May 4, 1949, No. 170, p. 542, § 1; May 2, 1952, No. 188, p. 392, § 1; June 20, 1966, No. 82, p. 247; June 13, 1977, No. 67, p. 139; Aug. 28, 2003, No. 217, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 48 - Sale of teaching materials

The Secretary of Education is hereby authorized to sell at cost price to the teachers and pupils of private schools and to any other persons legitimately concerned with educational or cultural enterprises or programs, any material produced for didactical purposes in the printing unit, the Division of Community Education, the public radio broadcasting station and other dependencies of the Department of Education, as well as magazines, newspapers and other publications of said Department. Account of the receipts from such sale shall be kept, and said receipts shall be covered into the Commonwealth Treasury, in accordance with the rules and policies heretofore or hereafter established for the purpose, and the amount so received shall in each case be refunded to the appropriation or appropriations against which were charged the necessary expenses incurred in the production of the material so sold.
History —Mar. 13, 1951, No. 26, p. 56, § 1; Apr. 21, 1952, No. 126, p. 246, § 1; June 10, 1953, No. 43, p. 106, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 51 - Annual report on public education

The Secretary of Education shall issue annually to the teachers, school directors and municipalities of the Commonwealth his annual report to the Governor of Puerto Rico concerning public education.
History —Mar. 9, 1905, p. 66, § 15; May 15, 1931, No. 98, p. 594, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 52 - Program for production and dissemination of educational, informational, and cultural material—Organization; service to other agencies

The Secretary of Education is hereby empowered to organize in the Department of Education the production and dissemination of educational, informational and cultural material for the educational purposes of the Department of Education itself and of the entities, organizations and centers that group the elderly. The Department of Education may render its services to any other department or agency of the Government of Puerto Rico that requests them, through the creation of an integrated and complete program to offer said educational, informational and cultural services, provided the output required by the needs of the Department of Education is not affected.
History —Apr. 26, 1954, No. 22, p. 146, § 1; May 22, 1996, No. 46, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 54 - Program for production and dissemination of educational, informational, and cultural material—Appropriations

The sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) is hereby appropriated from unencumbered general funds as initial capital toward the Working Capital Fund of the Editorial Program of the Department of Education created in § 53 of this title.
The Department of Education shall use said working capital fund for the operation of the program authorized by §§ 52—55 of this title.
The necessary sums to meet administrative expenses not directly connected with the operation of the Working Capital Fund shall be annually included in the Operating Budget Act of the Government of Puerto Rico.
History —Apr. 26, 1954, No. 22, p. 146, § 3; June 15, 1956, No. 50, p. 156, § 2, eff. July 1, 1956.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 55 - Program for production and dissemination of educational, informational, and cultural material—Reports

The Secretary of Education shall annually send to the Legislature a full report of the activities of the Department of Education authorized by §§ 52—55 of this title and shall accompany said report by a copy each of the publications turned out and put into circulation pursuant to this authorization.
History —Apr. 26, 1954, No. 22, p. 146, § 4, eff. July 1, 1954.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 56 - Textbooks and other material acquired by purchase, cultural interchange

The Secretary of Education is hereby empowered to set aside from the inventory of textbooks and other didactic material acquired by purchase a reasonable limited amount of such books and material, without adversely affecting the requirements of the Department of Education, to be ceded gratuitously, on the basis of cultural interchange, to the libraries and educational and cultural institutions of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, of any state, possession or territory of the United States, of other countries, and of the United Nations.
History —May 16, 1957, No. 7, p. 28.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 59 - National Defense Education funds

(a) The Department of Education of Puerto Rico is hereby authorized and empowered to solicit, accept and receive, in behalf of and for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any funds or any other properties appropriated, provided, donated or supplied by the federal government under Act of Congress No. 85-864, approved September 2, 1958, known as the National Defense Education Act of 1958, or by any of its departments, commissions, boards, bureaus, agencies or officers providing appropriations to the states, including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, to be devoted to the purposes indicated in said federal act.
(b) The provisions of subsections (a) and (c) of this section shall not affect or limit any powers corresponding to the University of Puerto Rico or any other institution of university level which might qualify to solicit, accept and receive benefits or funds under Act of Congress No. 85-864 of September 2, 1958, as amended, or under any other federal act.
(c) In the event that by any federal act amendatory of or supplementary to the National Defense Education Act of 1958, the designation of a commonwealth agency was required for the administration of any plan or program established according to Titles III, V, VII, VIII and X of that statute, the Department of Education shall be the commonwealth agency for such purposes.
(d) The Secretary of the Treasury shall receive and safekeep all the funds appropriated to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico by the Federal Government of the United States, according to any federal act for the purposes set forth in subsection (a) of this section. The Secretary of the Treasury of Puerto Rico is hereby authorized and directed to receive, and to provide for the safekeeping of, such funds, as well as to disburse same by direction of the Secretary of Education according to the procedure applicable thereto.
(e) The funds necessary to match the sums appropriated to Puerto Rico according to the federal act referred to in this section shall be included in the general budget of expenses of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
History —June 19, 1959, No. 59, p. 166, §§ 1—5; July 19, 1960, No. 133, p. 387.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 60 - Pamphlets or material, furnishing gratis

(a) Whenever in his judgment he may deem it necessary to the best interests of public education, the Secretary of Education is hereby authorized to furnish gratis to the beneficiaries of the illiteracy, adult education and English for adults programs, as well as to other private persons or entities genuinely interested therein, any pamphlets or material which the Department of Education may print or publish for the teaching of students enrolling for the formal courses of said programs.
(b) The Secretary of Education is hereby authorized to make and promulgate such rules as may be necessary for carrying out the purposes hereof.
History —Apr. 20, 1961, No. 1, p. 29, §§ 1, 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 3 - Secretary of Education (§§ 31 — 61) › § 61 - Inclusion Program

(a) The “Puerto Rico Education System Inclusion Program”, attached to the Department of Education, is hereby created to facilitate the effective integration of teachers and students of all school levels with persons having special needs and for related purposes.
(b) Approaches. — The Department of Education shall comply with the objectives and purposes of this section through the following mechanisms:
(1) Offer courses to all the teachers in the Education System at least once during each academic year on how to treat, integrate and actively include children with disabilities within their classrooms and/or classes.
(2) Offer workshops to homeroom teachers on how to use courses and integrate the fundamentals on the treatment and acceptance of persons with disabilities into existing courses, as well as showing appreciation [for] the potential of persons with disabilities. Such workshops shall be offered at least once per semester in each educational region.
(3) Offer workshops to children with disabilities who receive services from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Educational Services for Persons with Disabilities and to their parents and guardians on their rights, self-esteem and leadership, and their capabilities, duties and responsibilities as citizens.
(4) Offer training to the remaining members of the school community to guarantee compliance with the purposes of this section.
(c) Duties of the Secretary. —
(1) The Secretary of the Department of Education is hereby empowered to take all the necessary measures to guarantee the success and permanence of this Program, which shall include, without being limited to, the following:
(A) To assign resources and a budget to the Program.
(B) To include aspects of the Program in the curriculum of the different academic programs, courses and programs of the Department.
(C) To establish cooperation agreements with the agencies or entities he/she deems pertinent in order to comply with the objectives of this section.
(D) To create the regulations and issue the administrative orders he/she deems pertinent in order to comply with the objectives of this act within forty-five (45) days [after] its approval.
(E) To establish the scope of the Program and the content of the courses to be offered within sixty (60) days [after] the approval of this measure.
(F) To identify the personnel that shall offer orientations to the teachers in the Public Education System on how to integrate inclusion strategies into the regular mainstream courses.
(G) To establish work committees to achieve the objectives of this section.
(H) To assign the personnel he/she deems necessary to comply with the objectives of the Program and establish the training deemed necessary to satisfy the needs of the Program created by this section.
(I) To render an annual detailed report to the Legislature on the status, effectiveness and progress of the Program.
History —Aug. 26, 2005, No. 104, §§ 1, 2, 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHTEEN - Education (§§ 1 — 3510-3520) › PART I - Public Schools (§§ 1 — 596d) › Chapter 7 - School Buildings, Property and Funds (§§ 100 — 129vv) › § 100 - Emergency equipment in school buildings

(a) It is hereby provided that all new public system school building construction works, whether elementary, middle, high or vocational school, begun or in effect starting July 1, 2007, shall have an emergency generator or any other alternate device for the generation of electricity, such as, but not limited to, solar plates, and a water cistern, so that school work is not interrupted during any failures in the a [sic] normal supply of either of these resources.
Those local schools built by July 1, 2007, shall be included in the report to be prepared by the Department of Education pursuant to the provisions in this section, and shall be included in a retrofitting program to endow them with the aforementioned equipment.
(b) The capacity, specifications and number of such equipment shall be determined according to the estimated needs of each school building, as certified by the engineer or architect in charge of the works. The construction blueprints shall certify the details on the designated area for the placement of such equipment, as well as the equipment per se, as an indispensable condition for the granting of any construction permit.
(c) The Regulations and Permits Administration, in cooperation with the Environmental Quality Board, is hereby directed to adopt by means of regulation the corresponding measures with respect to the specification requirements, capacity, measurements and distances between the equipment, as well as the areas to be designated for the placement of such equipment with respect to the classrooms, taking into account the possible noise to be emitted by the generators during their operations and the emanation of gases. Provided, That such regulations shall contain the rules to guarantee a preferential public policy in favor of the installation of solar plates as first option in order to comply with the purpose of this section.
(d) The Department of Education is hereby directed to prepare a list of all the local school building built prior to the date indicated in Section 1 and expected to continue operating after said date with a term less than ninety (90) days from the date of effectiveness of this act. On or before December 31, 2005, a report shall be submitted to this Legislature on the estimated cost of fitting such schools with the equipment required by this section. The Department shall also include a proposal to establish a retrofitting program to endow said schools with the aforementioned equipment, so that the Legislature may adopt the legislative action it deems necessary.
History —Aug. 26, 2005, No. 96, §§ 2—5.