reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 39 - Small Personal Loans (§§ 941 — 959) › § 949 - License—Annual inspections

(a) Examinations. — The Commissioner or his/her authorized representatives shall examine the loans, books, accounts and records of each office to which a license has been granted, whenever he/she deems it proper. The grantee shall pay to the Commissioner, through a certified check payable to the Secretary of the Treasury, an examination fee of three hundred dollars ($300) each day or fraction thereof for each inspector intervening in each examination and the expenses incurred for per diems and traveling expenses in accordance with the standards established for the officers and employees of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(b) Investigations. — The Commissioner or his/her authorized representatives may investigate at any time any transaction of the concessionaire and may examine the books, accounts and records in connection with violations of this chapter by: (1) any concessionaire; (2) any other person engaged or participating in the business described in § 943(a) of this title, but excluding those listed in § 943(c) of this title, and (3) any other person whom the Commissioner or his/her representatives suspect is violating or about to violate the provisions of this chapter. For the purposes of this, any person who advertises, solicits, or holds out to be ready to effect loan transactions for a sum or worth of three thousand dollars ($3,000) or less, excepting the persons listed in § 943(c) of this title, shall be deemed to be engaged in the small personal loans business.
(c) Access to records. — For the purposes of this section, the Commissioner or his authorized representatives shall have free access to the offices or business premises, files, and safes and vaults of the concessionaire and shall have the authority to subpoena any person and examine him under oath with respect to any such loans, or such business, or any register, investigation or hearing.
(d) Orders to comply and desist. — Whenever the Commissioner has grounds to suspect that any person is violating or intends to violate this chapter, he shall issue the necessary orders to require compliance with the provisions of this chapter, or to cease and desist from violating it. The procedures related to these orders shall be governed pursuant to §§ 2001 et seq. of Title 7, and the regulations adopted thereunder the same.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 106, p. 278, § 9; June 18, 1971, No. 39, p. 118; May 28, 1982, No. 21, p. 43, § 3; July 22, 1988, No. 132, p. 543, § 8; Dec. 16, 1991, No. 96, § 3; Aug. 9, 1995, No. 117, § 3; Dec. 4, 1998, No. 290, § 5, eff. 30 days after Dec. 4, 1998.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 39 - Small Personal Loans (§§ 941 — 959) › § 950 - Records and reports

(a) Records. — Each grantee shall keep those records of loans effected hereunder that may allow the Commissioner to determine if the grantee is complying with the same and shall preserve said records, for purposes of this chapter, at least four (4) years after the last entry therein. Whenever the Commissioner authorizes it through regulations, said records may be maintained or preserved by electronic means or optical imaging. The accounting system of each grantee shall be adjusted to generally accepted accounting principles and shall contain such information as the Commissioner may require.
(b) Reports. — Every concessionaire shall submit monthly reports on the maximum rate, average weighted rate and minimum interest rate on loans granted during the thirty (30) days prior to the filing of such reports. Other reports required by the Commissioner shall be submitted on the dates and under the terms provided by the Commissioner.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 106, p. 278, § 10; July 22, 1988, No. 132, p. 543, § 9; Dec. 4, 1998, No. 290, § 6; Sept. 12, 2003, No. 275, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 39 - Small Personal Loans (§§ 941 — 959) › § 951 - Regulations

The Commissioner shall adopt such regulations as he deems necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter. At least thirty (30) days before the approval of a regulation, the Commissioner shall remit a copy of the proposed regulation to each concessionaire requesting recommendations and suggestions, in writing, on its contents, which he may take under consideration when approving the regulation in its final form.
The Commissioner shall send a copy of each regulation to the concessionaires once it has been filed in the Department of State as provided in §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Uniform Administrative Procedure Act”.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 106, p. 278, § 11; July 22, 1988, No. 132, p. 543, § 10; Aug. 9, 1995, No. 117, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 39 - Small Personal Loans (§§ 941 — 959) › § 952 - Publicity

No person shall advertise, display, distribute or broadcast or cause or permit to be advertised, displayed or broadcast, in a deceptive and false manner, information on the rates, terms and conditions of small personal loans. If the rates or charges, terms and conditions are advertised, the Commissioner may require that they be minutely and clearly detailed.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 106, p. 278, § 12; July 22, 1988, No. 132, p. 543, § 11.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 39 - Small Personal Loans (§§ 941 — 959) › § 952a - Publication of interest rates

Every concessionaire shall publish, every Wednesday, in two newspapers of general circulation, the maximum rate, the average weighted rate and the minimum interest rate of small personal loans granted during the week preceding the publication.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 106, p. 278, added as § 12(a) on Sept. 12, 2003, No. 275, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 39 - Small Personal Loans (§§ 941 — 959) › § 953 - Other businesses prohibited

(a) Other businesses in the same office.—No concessionaire may engage in the small personals loan business in any office or place of business in which other commercial transactions are conducted unless authorized by the Commissioner. The Commissioner shall revoke the authorization if he finds, after giving ten (10) days’ notice to the concessionaire and opportunity to be heard, that the other transactions facilitate or mask the evasion of the provisions of this chapter.
(b) Businesses in authorized offices.—A concessionaire may engage in the business of making loans under this chapter, solely and exclusively in or from an authorized office; Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed as limiting the loans a concessionaire may grant to residents of the community where the office is located.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 106, p. 278, § 13; July 22, 1988, No. 132, p. 543, § 12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 39 - Small Personal Loans (§§ 941 — 959) › § 955 - Requirements of loan documents

(a) Granting and payment of loans. — Whenever a grantor awards any loan, it shall:
(1) Deliver to the borrower, or if there are two (2) more, to one of them at option of the grantor, a document in which § 954 of this title shall be transcribed, indicate the disbursement date of said cash advance, the amount advanced in cash, the sum of the charges, the total amount of the obligation, a payment schedule or a description of payments, the name and address of the authorized office and the agreed charges.
(2) Issue a receipt for every payment in cash made chargeable to a loan. This requirement may be complied with through the use of coupon books.
(b) =it Admission of judgment=ro. — No concessionaire shall request admission of judgment, or legal power in his behalf or in behalf of a third person to admit a judgment or to appear in the name of a borrower in a judicial proceeding.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 106, p. 278, § 15; Dec. 4, 1998, No. 290, § 8, eff. 30 days after Dec. 4, 1998.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 39 - Small Personal Loans (§§ 941 — 959) › § 956 - Loans granted in other jurisdictions

Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the enforcement in Puerto Rico of any legal loan contract made under and in accordance with the laws of any state of the United States of America.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 106, p. 278, § 16, eff. 30 days after June 28, 1965.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 39 - Small Personal Loans (§§ 941 — 959) › § 957 - Collection procedure

Physical threats or extreme psychological pressures aimed at collecting loans in arrears shall constitute a violation of this chapter.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 106, p. 278, § 17, eff. 30 days after June 28, 1965.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 39 - Small Personal Loans (§§ 941 — 959) › § 958 - Penalties

The Commissioner is hereby authorized to impose and collect administrative fines of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) or more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for any violation of the provisions of this chapter or of the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Furthermore, the Commissioner is hereby empowered to direct the reimbursement of the money that a financial institution has unduly withheld from a client. Whenever the nature of the violation of this chapter or of the rules and regulations, or orders or resolutions, issued by the Commissioner so justify it, in addition to the administrative fine authorized in the foregoing paragraph, the Commissioner may act in accordance with the power conferred in §§ 7001 et seq. of Title 7, and may initiate the appropriate judicial action against the violator. Any natural or juridical person who violates the provisions of this chapter or of the regulations that, from time to time, are prescribed by the Financial Board and/or by the Commissioner, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, be punished with a fine of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or imprisonment for a term of not less than sixty (60) days nor more than twelve (12) months; or both penalties at the discretion of the court. Each transaction in violation of the previous provision constitutes a separate violation and shall be punishable as such.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 106, p. 278, § 18; May 28, 1982, No. 21, p. 43, § 5; July 22, 1988, No. 132, p. 543, § 14; May 1, 2010, No. 48, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 39 - Small Personal Loans (§§ 941 — 959) › § 959 - Review

The decisions of the Commissioner based on this chapter or on any rule or regulation issued by the Commissioner hereunder shall be reviewable through certiorari in the Court of First Instance, San Juan Part, by petition of the aggrieved party filed within thirty (30) days reckoning from the date of the decision of the Commissioner.
History —June 28, 1965, No. 106, p. 278, § 19; July 22, 1988, No. 132, p. 543, § 15.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 40 - Debt Contracts (§§ 961 — 963) › § 961 - Delivery of copies

In every debt contract there should be given to the debtor a copy of the promissory note and any other document signed by the executing parties in said contract.
History —June 24, 1971, No. 96, p. 325, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 40 - Debt Contracts (§§ 961 — 963) › § 962 - Loans insured with savings accounts; limit

In case of loans insured with savings accounts, the amount of the savings committed in said warranty shall not exceed the outstanding balance of the loan plus the interest earned.
History —June 24, 1971, No. 96, p. 325, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 40 - Debt Contracts (§§ 961 — 963) › § 963 - Penalties

Every person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall incur in a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment in jail for a term of not more than six (6) months or by both penalties, in the discretion of the court.
History —June 24, 1971, No. 96, p. 325, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 41 - Junkyard Act (§§ 971 — 971q) › § 971 - Short title

The short title of this chapter is “Junkyard Act”.
History —June 27, 1966, No. 125, p. 390, § 1, eff. July 1, 1966.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 41 - Junkyard Act (§§ 971 — 971q) › § 971a - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(a) Junk. — Means any material which is old, or in a state of refuse, such as copper, bronze, aluminum, batteries, dismantled or wrecked vehicles, or their respective parts, whether they are of a ferrous or nonferrous material, iron, steel and any other metal or ferrous material that is old or discarded.
(b) Junkyard. — Shall mean and describe any establishment, place of business or depot, or lot which is maintained, used, operated or held to store, purchase or sell junk, or which is a business facility.
(c) Secretary. — Shall mean the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works of Puerto Rico or the person or persons to whom he may delegate or who legally represent him.
(d) Adjacent property. — Shall mean properties abutting on a junkyard or located in front of it and separated by a public road or which in some way could be affected by it.
(e) To fence. — Shall mean to screen the junkyard from the view of public traveling on the public roads, by means of any kind of clusters of trees, bushes, live fences, solid fences, walls or other appropriate means.
History —June 27, 1966, No. 125, p. 390, § 2; Feb. 11, 1987, No. 1, p. 3, § 1, eff. 90 days after Feb. 11, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 41 - Junkyard Act (§§ 971 — 971q) › § 971b - License to operate

After January 1, 1968, no person, firm or corporation may establish, operate or maintain a junkyard without holding a license issued to him for the purpose by the Secretary, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
History —June 27, 1966, No. 125, p. 390, § 3, eff. July 1, 1966.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 41 - Junkyard Act (§§ 971 — 971q) › § 971c - Application for license, procedure

An interested party shall file in writing, on a blank form prepared to that effect and supplied by the Secretary, an application for a license to operate a junkyard, accompanied by the permit of use issued by the Regulations and Permits Administration for such purpose.
History —June 27, 1966, No. 125, p. 390, § 4; Feb. 11, 1987, No. 1, p. 3, § 2, eff. 90 days after Feb. 11, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 41 - Junkyard Act (§§ 971 — 971q) › § 971f - Term of license

All licenses so issued by the Secretary shall expire one year from their issuance and shall be annually renewed.
History —June 27, 1966, No. 125, p. 390, § 7, renumbered as § 6 on Feb. 11, 1987, No. 1, p. 3, § 4, eff. 90 days after Feb. 11, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 41 - Junkyard Act (§§ 971 — 971q) › § 971g - Renewal of license

Before expiration of the license, the interested party may request from the Secretary the renewal thereof, in writing, on the blank forms prepared to that effect by the Secretary, within thirty (30) days before the expiration date of the license in force.
History —June 27, 1966, No. 125, p. 390, § 8, renumbered as § 7 on Feb. 11, 1987, No. 1, p. 3, § 4, eff. 90 days after Feb. 11, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 41 - Junkyard Act (§§ 971 — 971q) › § 971h - License fees

Every license or license renewal application shall be accompanied by the corresponding fees, fixed for all cases at five hundred dollars ($500).
History —June 27, 1966, No. 125, p. 390, § 9, renumbered as § 8 and amended on Feb. 11, 1987, No. 1, p. 3, § 5; Aug. 7, 2002, No. 110, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 41 - Junkyard Act (§§ 971 — 971q) › § 971i - License to be conspicuously posted

The license to be granted shall be framed and posted in a conspicuous place in the establishment for visitors to see. It shall be shown for examination to any police officer, representative of the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Transportation and Public Works or the Planning Board, the Regulations and Permits Administration or authorized agent of any other department or government entity.
History —June 27, 1966, No. 125, p. 390, § 10, renumbered as § 9 and amended on Feb. 11, 1987, No. 1, p. 3, § 6, eff. 90 days after Feb. 11, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 41 - Junkyard Act (§§ 971 — 971q) › § 971j - Revocation of license

Any license issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter may, upon notice and after giving the interested party an opportunity to be heard, be revoked by the Secretary, or shall be returned to him, in the following cases:
(a) Sale, assignment or transfer of the junkyard.
(b) Violation of any of the conditions imposed by the Secretary in the license.
(c) Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.
(d) Any violation of the penal laws in the operation of the business.
History —June 27, 1966, No. 125, p. 390, § 11, renumbered as § 10 on Feb. 11, 1987, No. 1, p. 3, § 7, eff. 90 days after Feb. 11, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 41 - Junkyard Act (§§ 971 — 971q) › § 971k - Review

Any person, firm or corporation adversely affected by the decision of the Secretary, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter may, within thirty (30) days from the date having been notified of said decision, file a petition for review in the Court of First Instance for a determination of the legality of the decision, all in conformity with the rules applicable to petitions for review of administrative decisions by said court.
History —June 27, 1966, No. 125, p. 390, § 12, renumbered as § 11 on Feb. 11, 1987, No. 1, p. 3, § 7, eff. 90 days after Feb. 11, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 41 - Junkyard Act (§§ 971 — 971q) › § 971l - Public nuisance

Any junkyard which after one hundred and twenty (120) days from and after January 1, 1968, does not comply with the requirements established in this chapter is hereby declared a public nuisance.
History —June 27, 1966, No. 125, p. 390, § 13, renumbered as § 12 on Feb. 11, 1987, No. 1, p. 3, § 7, eff. 90 days after Feb. 11, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 41 - Junkyard Act (§§ 971 — 971q) › § 971m - Suppression of public nuisance

The Court of First Instance, at the instance of the Secretary of Justice, shall have power to order the removal, closure or suppression, for its being a public nuisance, any junkyard which he finds is not complying with the requisites required of it by this chapter. For these purposes no previous sentence for violation of §§ 971o and 971p of this title shall be necessary. In the proceeding instituted to the effect the Secretary of Justice shall have, among others, power to take the necessary measures, in accordance with the circumstances of each case, for the protection of the public welfare and order; to decree the immediate removal of the junkyard and, likewise to leave without effect the already decreed removal, if it is shown that, without intent of invasion, the junkyard will be operated in compliance with law. In case the removal of a junkyard ordered by the court is not complied with, the Secretary or his agent may seize it and dispose through public auction of the junk stored therein. Should the junk be sold at public auction, the proceeds of the sale shall be covered into the general funds of the Government. If it cannot be sold at public auction, the Secretary may dispose of said junkyard in the public interest.
History —June 27, 1966, No. 125, p. 390, § 14, renumbered as § 13 on Feb. 11, 1987, No. 1, p. 3, § 7, eff. 90 days after Feb. 11, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 41 - Junkyard Act (§§ 971 — 971q) › § 971n - Rules of procedure

The action authorized by § 971m of this title shall be of a civil nature and shall be governed by the rules of procedure applicable to civil actions.
History —June 27, 1966, No. 125, p. 390, § 15, renumbered as § 14 on Feb. 11, 1987, No. 1, p. 3, § 7, eff. 90 days after Feb. 11, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 41 - Junkyard Act (§§ 971 — 971q) › § 971o - Operating without license, penalties

Any person, firm or corporation that establishes, operates or maintains a junkyard, as defined in subsection (b) of § 971a of this title without obtaining the license to operate required by § 971b of this title, or that fails to comply with the conditions required in subsection (g) of § 971d of this title, shall incur a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished with a fine of not less than two thousand dollars ($2,000), nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or the penalty of imprisonment for a term which shall not exceed six (6) months, or both penalties at the discretion of the court.
History —June 27, 1966, No. 125, p. 390, § 16, renumbered as § 15 and amended on Feb. 11, 1987, No. 1, p. 3, § 7; Aug. 7, 2002, No. 110, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 41 - Junkyard Act (§§ 971 — 971q) › § 971p - Each day constituting violation

For the purposes of § 971o of this title and this section, each day of such violations shall constitute a separate offense.
History —June 27, 1966, No. 125, p. 390, § 17, renumbered as § 16 on Feb. 11, 1987, No. 1, p. 3, § 7, eff. 90 days after Feb. 11, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 41 - Junkyard Act (§§ 971 — 971q) › § 971q - Regulations

The Secretary of Transportation and Public Works is hereby authorized to promulgate regulations for the implementation of that which is established in this chapter.
History —June 27, 1966, No. 125, p. 390, added as § 17 on Feb. 11, 1987, No. 1, p. 3, § 8, eff. 90 days after Feb. 11, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 43 - Economic Poisons or Insecticides (§§ 976 — 976n) › § 976 - Purpose

This chapter has the purpose of protecting the health of persons, animals and vegetable life, public health in general, and property, through the proper reglementation of the activity of applying, by any means or device, and for profit, insecticides and/or economic poisons to lands, buildings, structures, and properties of whatever kind, located in Puerto Rico.
History —June 28, 1966, No. 132, p. 410, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 43 - Economic Poisons or Insecticides (§§ 976 — 976n) › § 976a - Short title

The short title of this chapter shall be “Act to regulate the commercial application of insecticides and/or economic poisons in Puerto Rico.”
History —June 28, 1966, No. 132, p. 410, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 43 - Economic Poisons or Insecticides (§§ 976 — 976n) › § 976b - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter the following terms shall be defined as follows:
(a) Person. — Shall include any person, natural or [juridical], the latter comprising any partnership, association, corporation, or any other organized group or their authorized representatives, whether or not incorporated and registered in the State Department.
(b) Economic poison. — Shall include any substance or mixture of substances for application in the external environment and intended for checking, destroying, repelling, or lessening the action of any vector, parasite or biological agent potentially harmful to persons, animals, or plants.
(c) For profit. — Shall mean the practice of any natural or [juridical] person habitually or regularly engaged in the application of insecticides and/or economic poisons by any means or device for pay or compensation.
(d) Secretary. — Refers to the Secretary of Health of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or his authorized representatives.
(e) Regulations. — Shall comprise all rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary under the authority hereby conferred upon him.
History —June 28, 1966, No. 132, p. 410, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 43 - Economic Poisons or Insecticides (§§ 976 — 976n) › § 976c - License required

Every natural or [juridical] person engaged, or who might in the future be engaged, in the application of insecticides and/or economic poisons for profit, must have a license for such purpose granted by the Secretary of Health pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. Persons operating such business on the effective date of this act shall be granted 60 days for obtaining said license.
History —June 28, 1966, No. 132, p. 410, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 43 - Economic Poisons or Insecticides (§§ 976 — 976n) › § 976d - Application

Every application for license or license renewal pursuant to this chapter shall be filed with the Department of Health in a form thereby supplied, and such information as said department may require pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be furnished therein.
History —June 28, 1966, No. 132, p. 410, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 43 - Economic Poisons or Insecticides (§§ 976 — 976n) › § 976e - Requirements

Every applicant for a license to engage in the application of insecticides and/or economic poisons for profit shall be of age and well-reputed in the community. In the case of [juridical] persons the requirements herein established shall apply to the officials and employees thereof.
History —June 28, 1966, No. 132, p. 410, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 43 - Economic Poisons or Insecticides (§§ 976 — 976n) › § 976f - Necessary documents

Every application for license or license renewal must be accompanied by:
(1) A certificate to the effect that the economic poisons that he intends to use or is using are registered in the Department of Agriculture pursuant to the provisions of §§ 1001—1013 of this title.
(2) Proof accrediting that those who are to supervise or perform the application of insecticides or economic poisons have experience, ability and skill in the application of such insecticides or economic poisons.
(3) Proof of having taken insurance, to be effective when the license is issued, from an insurance company duly authorized to do business in Puerto Rico, in an amount not less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for one person, or one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for one occurrence, to answer for any damages which, by action or omission, might be caused to another through guilt or negligence.
The Office of the Insurance Commissioner shall approve said policy as to form and sufficiency. An adequate book for registering such policies shall be kept at the Department of Health, which register shall be available for examination by any interested person.
Insurance companies issuing insurance policies pursuant to this section must notify the Secretary of Health of the cancellation or nonrenewal of the policies required by this chapter.
(4) Payment of the fees hereby established.
History —June 28, 1966, No. 132, p. 410, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 43 - Economic Poisons or Insecticides (§§ 976 — 976n) › § 976g - Granting of license

Every person applying for a license to apply insecticides and/or economic poisons for profit in Puerto Rico, and who, in the opinion of the Secretary of Health meets the requirements of law, shall be issued a license for such purposes. The granting of the license shall authorize the holder thereof to operate such business. Once the license has been issued he shall be liable for any damages which might be caused by his employees in the performance of their work. He shall notify the Secretary of Health as to any change of name or address.
Any [juridical] person, whether or not residing in Puerto Rico, shall be issued a license if and when his principal executive, who must be the person responsible for the business, has obtained a license under this chapter, and is, further, authorized to do business in Puerto Rico.
History —June 28, 1966, No. 132, p. 410, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 43 - Economic Poisons or Insecticides (§§ 976 — 976n) › § 976h - Employees

The employees of any natural or [juridical] person authorized to do business in Puerto Rico pursuant to the terms of this chapter, who have been hired as appliers or sprinklers of economic poisons, shall not need to have a license for such purposes; but shall be responsible for complying with such regulations as the Secretary may promulgate pursuant to this chapter.
History —June 28, 1966, No. 132, p. 410, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 43 - Economic Poisons or Insecticides (§§ 976 — 976n) › § 976i - Fees

The fees to be paid for obtaining a license pursuant to this chapter shall be five dollars ($5) for filing the application thereof, and fifteen dollars ($15) for the granting of the license. The fees hereby established shall be paid by means of internal revenue stamps. If the license is not granted, the stamps appertaining to the granting thereof shall be refunded to the applicant. Licenses shall expire after the lapse of one year after granted, and may be renewed upon payment of a renewal fee of ten dollars ($10) in internal revenue stamps and compliance with all other requirements established in this chapter. Licenses shall be kept in a conspicuous place at offices or business premises.
History —June 28, 1966, No. 132, p. 410, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 43 - Economic Poisons or Insecticides (§§ 976 — 976n) › § 976k - Denial, suspension and revocation of licenses; causes

Without prejudice to the power hereby conferred upon the Secretary to establish other just causes, the following shall be causes for denying, suspending, or revoking a license granted pursuant to this chapter:
(1) Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or of the regulations promulgated hereunder.
(2) Commission of fraud to obtain a license, or in granting and executing any contract for commercial fumigation.
(3) Conviction of felony, or of misdemeanor implying moral turpitude on the part of the licensee, if a natural person, or of the chief executive, if an [juridical] person.
History —June 28, 1966, No. 132, p. 410, § 12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 43 - Economic Poisons or Insecticides (§§ 976 — 976n) › § 976l - Penalties

(a) Every person who, on and after the approval of this act, engages in the application of economic poisons to lands, buildings, structures, and properties for profit in Puerto Rico, who is not authorized therefor by the Secretary, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) for the first offense; and each subsequent offense shall be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).
(b) Every person authorized by the Secretary to engage in the commercial application of economic poisons, who violates any of the provisions of this chapter or of any regulation hereunder, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) for the first offense; and for each subsequent offense, he shall be punished by a fine of not less than three hundred dollars ($300) nor more than two thousand dollars ($2,000), and/or by the suspension of the license.
History —June 28, 1966, No. 132, p. 410, § 13.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 43 - Economic Poisons or Insecticides (§§ 976 — 976n) › § 976m - Saving clause

The provisions of this chapter shall not be applicable to:
(1) Persons holding a public office or position of any nature, for compensation or not, in the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or in the federal government, or in the municipal governments, agencies, instrumentalities, and public corporations or political subdivisions thereof, who are engaged in the task of fumigation in the discharge of their official duties.
(2) Owners or legal holders of lands, buildings and structures, who perform fumigation tasks with economic poisons at their properties, if and when such fumigations do not affect third persons. Persons herein excluded shall be responsible for the adoption of all possible control and safety measures to avoid injuring health, property, animal and vegetable life, and guarantee public safety.
History —June 28, 1966, No. 132, p. 410, § 14.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 43 - Economic Poisons or Insecticides (§§ 976 — 976n) › § 976n - Public hearing

Such regulations as the Secretary may approve shall be adopted after a public hearing which shall be held ten (10) days after notice of such hearing in a local newspaper of general circulation.
The said regulations shall take effect after filed with the State Department pursuant to Act No. 112, of June 30, 1957.
History —June 28, 1966, No. 132, p. 410, § 15.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 44 - Prohibition of Practices for Collection at Debtor’s Workplace (§§ 980a — 980d) › § 980a - Public policy

It is hereby declared as public policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that for a debt collector to make efforts to collect debts, whether by telephone, in person, or through any other means of communication, during working hours at the place of work or employment of the debtor constitutes an undesirable practice.
History —Sept. 3, 1996, No. 179, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 44 - Prohibition of Practices for Collection at Debtor’s Workplace (§§ 980a — 980d) › § 980b - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning stated hereinbelow:
(a) Communication. — Means any information regarding a debt, sent directly or indirectly to any person through any means.
(b) Debtor. — Means any person legally bound to pay a debt.
(c) Creditor. — Means any natural or juridical person holding a claim for money, except for assignees who acquire outstanding debts for the sole purpose of expediting the collection thereof, who shall be deemed as debt collectors for the purposes of this chapter.
(d) Debt. — Means any legal obligation of a debtor which consists of a loan of money.
(e) Debt collector. — Means any natural or juridical person engaging mainly in collecting the debts of others. This includes assignees as well as those persons who act on behalf of third party to collect a debt. This does not include lawyers in the course of his/her professional practices which does not constitute a violation of other laws.
History —Sept. 3, 1996, No. 179, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 44 - Prohibition of Practices for Collection at Debtor’s Workplace (§§ 980a — 980d) › § 980c - Restrictions

Except in those cases in which the express consent or a judicial order to such effect is involved, no debt collector may contact a debtor, whether by telephone, in person, or through any other means of communication during working hours at the place of work or employment of the debtor, if the debt collector knows or should know that the employer prohibits such communication.
History —Sept. 3, 1996, No. 179, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 44 - Prohibition of Practices for Collection at Debtor’s Workplace (§§ 980a — 980d) › § 980d - Penalties

Any person incurring a violation of this chapter or of regulations issued hereunder may be punished by the Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs with an administrative fine which shall not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each day the violation is incurred.
History —Sept. 3, 1996, No. 179, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 45 - Collecting Agencies (§§ 981 — 981s) › § 981 - Short title

The short title of this chapter is: “Collecting Agencies Act”.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 143, p. 409, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 45 - Collecting Agencies (§§ 981 — 981s) › § 981a - Definitions

To the effects of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning hereinbelow expressed:
(a) Person. — Includes individuals, partnerships, associations, trusts, corporations and any other juridic entities.
(b) Collecting agency. — Includes any person engaged in the business of collecting for other persons any account, bill or debt. It includes persons who operate under a name which by simulating to be that of a collecting agency provides its clients with a collecting system and circular letters in which the debtor is urged to make his payments either directly to the creditor or to the fictitious collecting agency.
(c) Secretary. — Means the Secretary of the Treasury of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(d) Department. — Means the Department of the Treasury of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(e) License. — Means the authorization by the Secretary to engage in the business of collecting agencies.
(f) Licensee. — Means a person to whom a license has been issued under this chapter.
(g) Client. — Means any person who uses the services of a collecting agency.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 143, p. 409, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 45 - Collecting Agencies (§§ 981 — 981s) › § 981b - Exceptions

The term “collecting agency” shall not include those persons whose collecting activities are limited and are directly connected with the operation of a business, or profession other than a collecting agency, such as lawyers, banks, realtors, public officials or persons acting under the order of a court, construction and finance companies and savings and loan associations, finance and loan companies or insurance companies.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 143, p. 409, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 45 - Collecting Agencies (§§ 981 — 981s) › § 981c - Licenses

(a) No person may operate a collecting agency in the Commonwealth without having previously obtained a license issued by the Secretary pursuant to this chapter.
(b) A license shall be required for each office established, independently of the fact that more than one office may belong to a same main firm engaged in the business. The Secretary may issue to any person more than one license.
(c) Every license shall fall due on December 31 of each year, unless suspended or revoked by the Secretary or relinquished by the licensee, and it may be renewed upon the previous payment of three hundred dollars ($300) for each license. Any application for a license renewal must be filed not later than December 1 of each year.
(d) The license shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises of the authorized business and shall be untransferable.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 143, p. 409, § 4; June 30, 1975, No. 118, p. 356, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 45 - Collecting Agencies (§§ 981 — 981s) › § 981d - Application and license fees

(a) Any license application shall be made in writing in the blank forms that for such purpose the Secretary may furnish and shall contain under oath the address where the main office of the business will be established and the identification of each applicant, as well as any other information that the Secretary may require.
(b) Any license application shall be accompanied by a money order or certified check in the name of the Secretary of the Treasury for the sum of five hundred dollars ($500); three hundred dollars ($300), for the license of the current year and two hundred dollars ($200) as fees for the investigation provided in § 981e of this title. Provided, That applications pending proceeding when this act takes effect, shall pay license fees in force at the time of their filing.
Should the license be issued after June 30 of any year, the fees to be paid for the remaining fraction of the year shall be one hundred fifty dollars ($150).
(c) Should the license application be denied, the sum paid therefor shall be reimbursed to the applicant, but the fees charged for the investigation shall be withheld by the Secretary.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 143, p. 409, § 5; June 30, 1975, No. 118, p. 356, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 45 - Collecting Agencies (§§ 981 — 981s) › § 981e - Investigations before the issuance of a license

The Secretary shall make the investigation he may consider necessary as to the financial responsibility, integrity, experience, repute, character and general ability of the applicant. Such investigation may include all the personnel employed by, or associated with the applicant.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 143, p. 409, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 45 - Collecting Agencies (§§ 981 — 981s) › § 981f - Bond; manner, amount, conditions

(a) No license shall be issued to operate a collecting agency unless the applicant has given, in behalf of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a bond in cash, mortgage, bonds, promissory notes or other debt evidences from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, its municipalities and public corporations, deposit certificates issued by commercial banks authorized to carry out business in Puerto Rico or of a surety company authorized to carry out business in Puerto Rico for the amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000) to guarantee the faithful fulfillment of the obligations contracted with respect to the receipt, handling and transfer of money obtained in the collection of accounts. Said bond shall also answer for the cost of publication of the notice of revocation or relinquishment of the license required under § 981k of this title and for any loss or damage caused to any person by reason of the noncompliance of the provisions of this chapter, or of the rules and regulations adopted thereunder.
(b) The bond shall be kept in force together with the license. The license shall automatically be revoked upon the discontinuance of the bond. However, the revocation of the license shall not affect the effectiveness of the bond as to the claims originated by acts occurring prior to the date of said revocation.
(c) A bond shall be required for each license granted.
(d) The bond shall be kept in force until 60 days after the expiration of the license as provided in subsection (c) of § 981c of this title, and after the voluntary cessation of operations of the collecting agency or after the temporary suspension or revocation by the Secretary.
(e) The Secretary may, at any time, through notice served by mail with acknowledgment of receipt, require the licensee to render a new bond, or a supplementary bond for the amount and in the manner that it be necessary to comply with the provisions of this section, when the Secretary deems that the guaranty offered by such bond is no longer satisfactory or that the amount of same is not sufficient to satisfy all contingent or accumulated claims against the licensee. If the licensee fails to comply with this requirement of the Secretary within ten (10) days after having been notified, such noncompliance shall operate as an automatic revocation of the license, unless the Secretary grants an extension to comply with such requirement, which shall be applied for within ten (10) days after the notice.
History —June 27, 1968, No. 143, p. 409, § 7; June 21, 1971, No. 45, p. 132, § 1.