reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 2B - Establishment of Day Care Centers for Preschool Children (§§ 46 — 46h) › § 46c - Management

The Department of Housing and the Public Housing Administration shall have the responsibility of designating, within the housing projects developed by the Public Housing Administration, the area where the Day Care Center shall be established. They shall also be responsible for the maintenance of the designated area to comply with the purposes of this chapter.
The Department of the Family shall be responsible for the management and operation of the Day Care Center. For such purposes, it shall be responsible for offering the necessary services to be rendered to the population. It is further provided, that courses or workshops directed toward parents or guardians on the teaching of nonreligious universal values and virtues for character development of shall be offered as a part of the services to be rendered. The teaching of values and virtues shall be included in its curriculum as a part of the educational services for pre-school children.
The Secretary of the Department of Family, with the consent of the Secretary Department of Housing, and the manager of the Public Housing Administration, shall appoint a Director to be in charge of the day care center’s management and operation. The Director, with the consent of the Secretary of the Department of Housing, and the manager of the Public Housing Administration shall establish the hours of operation during which the day care center shall be open.
The Director shall have the personnel necessary for offering the day care center’s services. The personnel offering a direct service to the children shall have knowledge, capability and experience in the care of children, specifically of preschool age. Additionally, they shall be duly trained and certified in a first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation course.
The Director and the center’s personnel shall submit to testing for the use of controlled substances, when applying for the job and periodically, and shall be bound to provide a negative certificate. The fact that the employee or applicant has been convicted of any crime involving domestic violence, abuse of a minor, sexual offenses, attempt against someone’s life, a crime involving public safety and/or the public service and/or the public treasury shall be an impediment to work in these day care centers. Additionally, work at the day care center shall be denied to those convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude.
The Director and the personnel of the day care centers, before being employed, must submit to a psychological test showing that they are able to adequately perform the work and responsibilities related to the position they would hold and to the services they would offer. Afterwards, these people shall be retested at least once every two (2) years.
History —Sept. 27, 2003, No. 283, § 5; Mar. 25, 2008, No. 25, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 2B - Establishment of Day Care Centers for Preschool Children (§§ 46 — 46h) › § 46d - Continuing training program

The Department of the Family is hereby responsible for establishing a continuing training program for the director and the personnel working at the day care center concerning the appropriate techniques for identifying, investigating, evaluating and managing situations of abuse, institutional abuse, abuse by negligence and/or institutional abuse by negligence.
The Department of the Family shall be responsible for coordinating, together with the Office of the Women’s Advocate, the Puerto Rico Police and the Department of Health, a continuing training program for the director and the personnel working at the day care center, concerning the appropriate techniques for identifying, investigating, evaluating and managing situations of domestic violence affecting the children to whom services are rendered, as well as the parent(s) or relative(s) of said children.
History —Sept. 27, 2003, No. 283, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 2B - Establishment of Day Care Centers for Preschool Children (§§ 46 — 46h) › § 46e - Monitoring plan

The Department of the Family shall design and establish a monitoring plan, at a local, regional, and state level, concerning the programs and services offered, including the privatized ones provided by this chapter, with the purpose of evaluating the results and effectiveness of the same. These programs shall be reviewed annually and shall be adjusted to the reality in which our Island presently lives, as well as to the new tendencies in the care of preschool children. This monitoring plan shall track the training and performance of the public servant in the discharge of his duties of offering training, improvement, orientation and education programs, as well as of the public servants taking such programs. Additionally, this monitoring plan shall ensure that the services offered, whether at a local, regional or state level, are in harmony with state and federal law concerning services to children of preschool age. The results obtained by the launching and the implementation of this monitoring plan shall be remitted annually, no later than June 30 of each year, to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico’s Governor, as well as to the Legislature, specifically including as well, the Social Welfare and the Education Committee of both Legislative Houses. Further, this annual report shall establish the way and manner in which each of these programs or training courses were offered, the amount of people who benefited from them, and the topics covered by each one, among other aspects. This annual report shall also contain, apart from all the information indicated above, an identification of deficiencies, the possible factors that may be preventing achievement of the objectives, and suggestions to strengthen and to improve such objectives.
Said annual report shall also include information about the shape and maintenance of the physical facilities in which the day care centers mentioned by this chapter are located. Recommendations for the improvement of these facilities must also be included.
The annual report mentioned shall also inform about the status, progress, prospects and achievements related to the management, operation and services offered in the day care centers.
History —Sept. 27, 2003, No. 283, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 2B - Establishment of Day Care Centers for Preschool Children (§§ 46 — 46h) › § 46f - Interagency participation

The Department of the Family, the Department of Housing and the Public Housing Administration shall have the assistance of all agencies, instrumentalities, dependencies or political subdivisions of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, including the municipal governments in which the day care centers are located, in order to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.
The Office of the Women’s Advocate, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor and Human Resources, the Puerto Rico Police, and the Department of Justice shall cooperate and advise, in a specific way, when so required by the Department of the Family, the Department of Housing, and/or the Public Housing Administration, to effectively discharge the duties established in this chapter. Furthermore, potential clients may be referred for the services provided by such entities.
History —Sept. 27, 2003, No. 283, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 2B - Establishment of Day Care Centers for Preschool Children (§§ 46 — 46h) › § 46g - Internal regulations

As of the effective date of this act, the Department of the Family, the Department of Housing, and the Public Housing Administration, together with the various government agencies mentioned in this chapter, shall adopt internal regulations determining the day care center’s administrative and operative phase and the regulations and quality monitoring of the same.
History —Sept. 27, 2003, No. 283, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 2B - Establishment of Day Care Centers for Preschool Children (§§ 46 — 46h) › § 46h - Receipt and management of state, federal and/or private funds

The Department of the Family, the Department of Housing, and/or the Public Housing Administration shall hereby be authorized to receive and to manage funds from legislative assignments, transfers, delegations, contributions and donations of any type received from agencies, municipal governments and from the government of the United States, as well as those from persons, nongovernment organizations and other private entities for the design and establishment of projects, programs or services to be performed or offered by the day care center.
The day care center director may request funds through the Families’ and Children’s Administration, an agency attached to the Department of the Family, a government entity which, according to Reorganization Plan No. 12 of 1995, manages funds received by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico under the Federal Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (PL 101-508) in order to comply with the provisions of this chapter.
History —Sept. 27, 2003, No. 283, § 11.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 2C - Development of Day-Care Centers for Children in Special Communities (§§ 47 — 47e) › § 47 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter the following terms shall have the meaning expressed below:
(a) Office of the General Coordinator for Socioeconomic Financing and Self-Management.— Is the government agency of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico created by virtue of §§ 962 et seq. of Title 21.
(b) Special communities.— Means those communities that have been identified and recognized as such pursuant to the criteria established in §§ 962 et seq. of Title 21.
(c) Fund for the Socioeconomic Development of the Special Communities of Puerto Rico.— Means the fund created by virtue of §§ 962 et seq. of Title 21.
(d) Loan Program for the Creation of Child Day-Care Centers.— Is the program created by virtue of Act No. 212 of August 29, 2000, as amended.
(e) Federal Community Reinvestment Law.— Means Public Law 95-128, as amended, approved by the Congress of the United States on October 12, 1977.
History —Aug. 12, 2004, No. 212, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 2C - Development of Day-Care Centers for Children in Special Communities (§§ 47 — 47e) › § 47a - Pilot project

The Office of the General Coordinator for Socioeconomic Financing and Self-Management, in coordination with the Department of Housing, the Department of Health and the Department of the Family, is hereby authorized to establish a pilot project in those special communities where a greater need for these services has been observed.
The Department of the Family, through the Administration for the Care and Integral Development of Children (ACUDEN, Spanish acronym), and with the collaboration of the Department of Health, shall set forth the proper standards and procedures to govern the services offered in day-care centers so as to guarantee, among other things, the physical and emotional health of the children and the providers of the services to be offered. Likewise, the Department of Housing, through the Administration for Community Revitalization (ARCO, Spanish acronym), shall establish the mechanisms to foster the development of these facilities and see to it that said services are organized under a micro-managerial system operated by the residents themselves.
History —Aug. 12, 2004, No. 212, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 2C - Development of Day-Care Centers for Children in Special Communities (§§ 47 — 47e) › § 47b - Referrals to the Puerto Rico Early Intervention System

When a child affected by delayed development problems or a child who has been medically diagnosed as being highly prone to being affected by delayed development problems is identified at any day-care center for children from the special communities, said child, with the consent of the parents, shall be referred to the Puerto Rico Early Intervention Services System within a period of not more than two (2) working days, and to those effects it shall be determined whether the child meets the eligibility requirements, and for those that do an Individualized Family Services Plan (PISF, Spanish acronym) shall be developed in conjunction with his/her family, pursuant to the provisions of §§ 1351–1359 of Title 18, known as the “Integral Educational Services for Disabled Persons Act.”
History —Aug. 12, 2004, No. 212, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 2C - Development of Day-Care Centers for Children in Special Communities (§§ 47 — 47e) › § 47c - Regulations

The agencies mentioned in this chapter shall draft regulations subject to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, that shall establish the standards and operating parameters of this program and be consistent with all laws and regulations of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Government of the United States of America.
History —Aug. 12, 2004, No. 212, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 2C - Development of Day-Care Centers for Children in Special Communities (§§ 47 — 47e) › § 47d - Receipt and administration of funds

The agencies mentioned in this chapter are hereby authorized to receive and administer funds proceeding from legislative appropriations and from transfers, delegations, contributions and donations of any kind received from agencies, municipal governments and from the Government of the United States of America, as well as those proceeding from persons, non-governmental organizations and from other private entities, for designing and implementing projects, programs or services to be conducted or offered by the day-care centers for the children of the special communities.
Furthermore, in order to comply with the provisions of this chapter, the agencies mentioned in this chapter, besides other funds, shall petition for funds proceeding from the federal law known as the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (PL 101-508), as well as from the Special Communities Socio-Economic Development Fund, the Children’s Day Care Centers Loans Creation Program and the Community Reinvestment Federal Act.
The Office of the General Coordinator for Socioeconomic Financing and Self-Management shall also establish a sponsorship program with the private sector that will partially or totally defray the costs for the establishment and operation of the day care centers for the children of the special communities of Puerto Rico.
History —Aug. 12, 2004, No. 212, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 2C - Development of Day-Care Centers for Children in Special Communities (§§ 47 — 47e) › § 47e - Applicable federal regulations

The provisions of this chapter shall be subject, when suitable, to strict compliance with the applicable federal regulations promulgated by the Federal Department of Urban Development and Housing (HUD, English acronym).
History —Aug. 12, 2004, No. 212, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 51 - Commonwealth homes for children—Direction of Department of the Family

The Commonwealth homes for children established in Puerto Rico shall be under the direction of the Department of the Family.
History —Apr. 23, 1946, No. 398, p. 1076, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 52 - Commonwealth homes for children—Administration by Division of Public Welfare

The Division of Public Welfare annexed to the Department of the Family shall assume all the powers, duties, and obligations connected with the government and administration of said institutions.
History —Apr. 23, 1946, No. 398, p. 1076, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 53 - Commonwealth homes for children—Educational work in homes

The educational work in the Commonwealth homes for children shall continue under the supervision of the Secretary of Education of Puerto Rico, and all the teachers employed shall hold teaching licenses duly issued by the Secretary of Education of Puerto Rico, and shall be appointed by him/her on recommendation of the Secretary of the Family of Puerto Rico.
History —Apr. 23, 1946, No. 398, p. 1076, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 54 - Commonwealth homes for children—Regulations

In accordance with the provisions of § 52 of this title, the Division of Public Welfare shall, with the approval of the Secretary of the Family of Puerto Rico, prescribe from time to time, when in its judgment it may be necessary, regulations for the admission to and dismissal of children from the institutions, as well as for the organization of all the services, interior government, and administration of the Commonwealth homes under its direction.
History —Apr. 23, 1946, No. 398, p. 1076, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 55 - Commonwealth homes for children—Admission of children

Admission of a child to the Commonwealth homes may be applied for by the parents, by the guardians, by any other person or entity interested in the child’s welfare, or by the Division itself through its child welfare agencies. The application shall be addressed to the Division of Public Welfare, Department of the Family, and shall contain the child’s name, the applicant’s name, and his/her relation to the child, if any, the name of the town the child comes from, the certificate of the keeper of the vital statistics registry relative to birth registration inclusive, and the reasons for applying for admission.
History —Apr. 23, 1946, No. 398, p. 1076, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 56 - Commonwealth homes for children—Investigation of applications for admission

The Division of Public Welfare shall make an investigation of each application received for admission to the Commonwealth homes, in order to determine if the social condition of the minor’s family justifies his or her admission to any of said institutions.
History —Apr. 23, 1946, No. 398, p. 1076, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 57 - Loaíza Cordero Institute for Blind Children—Lands

That portion of the parcel of land situate between the new road in the southern part of Santurce and the railroad track which was formerly a part of the Boys’ Charity School of Santurce, shall be applied exclusively to the erection, maintenance and appurtenances of a school for blind children; and the sale of any part of said land is hereby prohibited.
History —July 3, 1923, J.R. No. 15, p. 694, § 1, eff. 90 days after July 3, 1923.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 57a - Loaíza Cordero Institute for Blind Children—Exceptions on land

(a) All property devoted by Joint Resolution No. 15 of July 3, 1923, to the establishment of the Loaíza Cordero Institute for Blind Children shall continue to be devoted exclusively to said institution, except:
(1) The parcel of land segregated by the construction of a section of Palma Street and which includes said street and the strip of land comprised between it and the old railroad track.
(2) The parcel of land assigned to the municipality of San Juan by J.R. No. 104 of June 26, 1959.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of Health is hereby authorized to permit the municipality of San Juan to use, for vehicle traffic purposes, a parcel of land adjacent to that assigned to said municipality by J.R. No. 104 of June 26, 1959. The parcel, permit for whose use is hereby authorized, is described as follows: “Bounded on the north, for 62 feet, by lands of the Stop 18 dispensary; on the south, for 57 feet, by lands of the Institute for Blind Children; on the west, for 28 feet, by Torres de la Vega Street, and on the east, for 28 feet, by lands of the Loaíza Cordero Institute for Blind Children.”
(c) The buildings belonging to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico located on the lands devoted to the Loaíza Cordero Institute for Blind Children in accordance with subsection (a) of this section shall be for the exclusive use of said Institute, except that the buildings at present used by the Rehabilitation Center for the Adult Blind of Puerto Rico and by the public corporation “Industries for the Blind of Puerto Rico” and that authorized to be constructed in subsection (d) of this section, may continue to be used by these establishments until said establishments are removed elsewhere.
(d) The Secretary of Health is hereby authorized to permit the public corporation “Industries for the Blind of Puerto Rico” to use, for the enlargement of its workshops, a strip of land adjacent to that at present occupied by said workshop and which is described as follows: Bounded on the north, for 152 lineal feet, by lands of the Loaíza Cordero Institute; on the south, for 152 lineal feet, by the lands at present occupied by the workshops of the Industries for the Blind of Puerto Rico; on the east, for 30 lineal feet, by the western end of San Rafael Street and lands of the Doctor’s Hospital, and on the west, for 30 lineal feet, by lands of the Loaíza Cordero Institute.
History —June 29, 1966, No. 134, p. 434, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 57b - Loaíza Cordero Institute for Blind Children—Transfer of buildings

Except as provided above in relation to the Rehabilitation Center for the Adult Blind of Puerto Rico, the buildings belonging to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico located on the lands of the Loaíza Cordero Institute for Blind Children not in use by said Institute upon the approval of this act, shall be vacated by the agencies now holding them and shall be conveyed to the Loaíza Cordero Institute for Blind Children not later than 90 days from the approval of this act.
History —June 29, 1966, No. 134, p. 434, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 57c - Loaíza Cordero Institute for Blind Children—Buildings for Institute only

No building not intended for use by the Loaíza Cordero Institute for Blind Children shall be constructed on the lands of the Loaíza Cordero Institute for Blind Children, without specific authorization by law.
History —June 29, 1966, No. 134, p. 434, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 58 - Loaíza Cordero Institute for Blind Children—Buildings erected with private funds

In addition to such buildings as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may erect with the amount assigned, any person is authorized to erect with private funds, upon the approval of plans and specifications by the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Transportation and Public Works of Puerto Rico, buildings dedicated to the use of such school, provided such buildings shall become, for the purposes hereinbefore expressed, the property of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
History —July 3, 1923, J.R. No. 15, p. 694, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 59 - Loaíza Cordero Institute for Blind Children—Official title of school

The official title of the school shall be “Loaíza Cordero Institute for Blind Children”.
History —July 3, 1923, J.R. No. 15, p. 694, § 3; May 3, 1951, No. 197, p. 508, § 1, eff. 90 days after May 3, 1951.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 60 - Refuge of abandoned children

The amount that shall be deemed necessary to assist in the maintenance of the Refugio de Niños Desamparados, of Santurce, Puerto Rico, shall be included in the general budget of expenses of the Commonwealth Government, in accordance with the provisions of Act No. 213 of May 12, 1942.
History —May 15, 1938, No. 301, p. 534, § 1; May 12, 1945, No. 239, p. 806, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 61 - Incorporated institutions—Commitment of children

The guardianship of the person and the custody of any indigent child may be committed to any incorporated orphan asylum or other institution incorporated for the care of orphan, friendless or destitute children, by an instrument in writing signed by the parents of such child, if both such parties shall then be living, or by the surviving parent, if either parent of such child be dead, or if either one of such parents shall have, for the period of six months then next preceding, abandoned such child, by the other of such parents, or if the father of such child shall have neglected to provide for his/her family during the six months then next preceding, or if such child be a bastard, by the mother of such child, or if both parents of such child shall then be dead, by the guardian of the person of such child, legally appointed, with the approval of the court or officer which appointed such guardian to be entered of record; or if both parents of such child then be dead, and no legal guardian of the person of such child shall have been appointed, and no guardian of such child shall have been appointed by a last will and testament, or by a deed by either parent thereof, or if the parents of such child shall have abandoned such child for the period of six months then next preceding, by the mayor of the city or by the District judge of the municipality in which such asylum or such other institution shall be located, upon such terms, for such time, and subject to such conditions as may be agreed upon by the parties to such written instrument. And such written instrument may provide for the absolute surrender of such child to such corporation.
History —Mar. 10, 1904, p. 55, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 62 - Incorporated institutions—Determination of need

No such corporation shall draw or receive money from public funds for the support of any such child committed under the provisions of §§ 61–67 of this title, unless it shall have been determined by the part of the District Court of the place of residence of such child, that such child has no relative, parent or guardian living, or that such relative, parent or guardian, if living, is destitute and actually unable to contribute to the support of such child.
History —Mar. 10, 1904, p. 55, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 63 - Incorporated institutions—Responsibility of mayor of municipality

The mayor of the municipality in which such asylum or such other institution shall be located, shall provide for any child between the ages of two (2) and sixteen (16) years as a pauper, in families, hospitals, orphan asylums, or other appropriate institutions, as provided for by law.
History —Mar. 10, 1904, p. 55, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 64 - Incorporated institutions—Custody of child

While any child which shall have been placed in such asylum or other institution as a pauper, in pursuance of § 63 of this title, shall remain therein at the expense of the municipality to which such pauper child is chargeable, the mayor of such municipality may, in his/her discretion, remove such child from such asylum or other institution and place such child in some other such institution, or to make such other disposition of such child as shall then be provided by law. The name of no such child shall be changed while in such institution as in this section aforesaid. But no parent of such pauper child, so in such asylum or other institution as in this section aforesaid, shall be entitled to the custody thereof except in pursuance of a judgment or order of a court or judicial officer of competent jurisdiction, adjudging or determining that the interests of such child will be promoted thereby, and that such parent is fit, competent and able to duly maintain, support and educate such child.
History —Mar. 10, 1904, p. 55, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 65 - Incorporated institutions—Bound service

Any corporation specified in § 61 of this title may bind out any indigent or pauper child as a clerk, apprentice or servant, for a period of time which shall not exceed the age of eighteen (18) years, provided that the girl or boy shall have been absolutely surrendered to the care and custody of such corporation pursuant to the provisions of § 61 of this title, or which shall have been placed therein as a pauper pursuant to the provisions of § 63 of this title, or which shall have been left to the care of such corporation with no provisions by the parent, relative or legal guardian of such child for its support for the period of one (1) year immediately preceding the date the writ was drawn. When the person subject to said custody has attained the age of eighteen (18) years, he shall be free to choose between leaving the aforementioned institution or, through agreement with the institution, remain therein until he has attained the age of twenty-one (21) years.
History —Mar. 10, 1904, p. 55, § 6; July 20, 1979, No. 118, p. 284.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 66 - Incorporated institutions—Hiring out of children prohibited

It shall be unlawful for the trustees or managers of any house of refuge, reformatory, or orphanage, or industrial institution, to contract, hire, or let by the day, week or month, or any longer period, the services or labor of any child or children now or hereafter committed to or inmates of such institutions.
History —Mar. 10, 1904, p. 55, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 67 - Incorporated institutions—Records of public and private institutions

All institutions, public or private, incorporated or not incorporated, for the reception of minors, whether as orphans or as pauper, indigent, destitute, vagrant, disorderly or delinquent persons, are hereby required to provide and keep a record, in which shall be entered the date of reception, and the names and places of birth and residence, as nearly as the same can reasonably be ascertained, of all children admitted in such institutions, and how and by whom and for what cause such children shall be placed therein, and the names, residence and birthplace of the parents of such children so admitted, as nearly as the same can be reasonably ascertained; and whenever any such child shall leave such institution, the proper entry shall be made in such record, showing in what manner such child shall have been [taken] care of, and if apprenticed to or adopted by any person or family, or otherwise placed out at service or on trial, the name and place of residence of the person or head of the family to or with whom such child shall have been so apprenticed, adopted or otherwise placed out. The Court of First Instance of Puerto Rico may, upon application by a parent, relative or legal guardian of such child, after due notice to the institution and hearing had thereon, by order direct the officers of such institution to furnish such parent, relative or legal guardian with such extracts from such record relating to such child as such court may deem proper. Nothing in §§ 61–67 of this title shall be construed to prevent visitation by relatives and friends in accordance with the established rules of such institutions.
History —Mar. 10, 1904, p. 55, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 68 - Licensing and supervision of institutions for children—Definitions

For the purposes of §§ 68–78b of this title the following terms shall have the meaning expressed hereinbelow:
(1) Department.— Shall mean the Department of the Family of the Government of Puerto Rico.
(2) Institution.— Shall mean any profitable or nonprofit establishment, regardless of its name, devoted to the care of twelve (12) or more children during the twenty-four (24) hours of the day.
(3) Day-care center.— Shall mean any profitable or nonprofit establishment, regardless of its name, devoted to the care of more than six (6) children during part of the twenty four (24) hours of the day.
(4) [Day-care home].— Shall mean the home of a family devoted to the regular care of not more than six (6) children not related by blood to said family.
(5) Foster Home.— Is the home of a family devoted during the twenty-four (24) hours of day, with or without profit to the care of not more than six (6) children coming from other homes or families.
(6) Camp.— Means a permanent or temporary establishment where a program of activities for children is organized and carried out mainly in the open, for purposes of recreation, education, training, or therapy for a period of time, and where the children remain during the twenty-four (24) hours of day or part thereof.
(7) Child.— Means a human being under eighteen (18) years of age.
(8) License.— Shall mean a written permit issued by the Department of the Family of Puerto Rico whereby a natural or juridical person is authorized to operate an institution, a day-care center, a foster home, a group home or a camp.
(9) Group home.— Shall mean an establishment composed of an adult or a married couple living in their own home, or in housing established by the sponsoring agency, along with no less than six (6) children or more than twelve (12) children. Provided That, said home must function like a family unit, although it is not so, with the purpose of offering these children a family life in such a way that their physical, emotional, educational and individual needs are satisfied.
(10) Establishment.— Shall mean any institution, day-care center, foster home, group home or camp as said terms are defined in §§ 68–78b of this title.
(11) Secretary.— Shall mean the Secretary of the Department of the Family of Puerto Rico.
(12) Certificate.— Shall mean the written document issued by the Department of the Family of Puerto Rico which states that the establishment fulfills the requirements of the law and applicable regulations.
History —Feb. 15, 1955, No. 3, p. 10, § 1; May 1, 1964, No. 17, p. 53, § 1; June 24, 1968, No. 121, p. 276, § 2; July 6, 1978, No. 18, p. 410, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 70 - Licensing and supervision of institutions for children—Institutions without licenses prohibited

No private person, entity, association, corporation or the Commonwealth Government, or any municipality or other political subdivision, or any department, division, board, agency or instrumentality thereof, with the exception of the Department of the Family, may establish, operate or maintain an establishment for the care of children without holding a license issued by the Department of the Family of Puerto Rico for such purposes.
Any person who cares for one or two children or any person who cares for children who are related by blood or affinity up to the third grade of consanguinity are exempted from complying with this provision.
History —Feb. 15, 1955, No. 3, p. 10, § 3; May 1, 1964, No. 17, p. 53, § 1; June 24, 1968, No. 121, p. 276, § 2; July 6, 1978, No. 18, p. 410, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 71 - Licensing and supervision of institutions for children—Inspection of institutions

The Department, through its authorized representatives, shall inspect each of the establishments and institutions for the care of children that exist in Puerto Rico, at least two (2) times a year, in order to ascertain that they are functioning in accordance with the provisions of §§ 68–78b of this title and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
History —Feb. 15, 1955, No. 3, p. 10, § 4; May 1, 1964, No. 17, p. 53, § 1; June 24, 1968, No. 121, p. 276, § 2; July 6, 1978, No. 18, p. 410, § 1; Jan. 10, 1999, No. 37, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 74 - Licensing and supervision of institutions for children—Right of appeal

(a) Any licensee or applicant for a license to operate a childcare establishment shall have the right to appeal the decision of the Department to cancel, suspend or deny a license before the Board of Appeals of the Department of the Family.
(b) Every candidate, employee or volunteer interested in rendering or who renders services at a childcare facility and every childcare facility that receives an adverse notification, pursuant to the provisions of § 73(d) of this title, may object to the correctness, deficiency or legality of the compiled information before the Board of Appeals of the Department of the Family within the term provided in § 2165 of Title 3.
History —Feb. 15, 1955, No. 3, p. 10, § 7; May 1, 1964, No. 17, p. 53, § 1; June 24, 1968, No. 121, p. 276, § 2; July 6, 1978, No. 18, p. 410, § 1; July 5, 1988, No. 64, p. 285, § 3; Sept. 14, 1990, No. 87, p. 510, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 76 - Licensing and supervision of institutions for children—Regulations

The Department is hereby authorized to promulgate the necessary regulations to ensure compliance with the provisions of §§ 68–78b of this title; Provided, That the regulations to determine the granting of licenses to childcare centers covered by §§ 68–78b of this title shall specify, among others, the requirements to be met by said centers with regard to the following:
(a) Financial resources counted on for an adequate maintenance of the service.
(b) Number, fitness, and qualifications of the employees in accordance with the tasks to be performed thereby and the number of children to be cared for; a certificate of sound health for each employee or person working in the establishment.
(c) Physical facilities of equipment and materials, sanitary conditions of the premises and surroundings, space, light, ventilation, firefighting safety devices, and other measures for health protection and welfare of the children.
(d) Medical, nursing, and other specialized services, as may be necessary.
(e) Food, clothes, social services, recreation, moral principles, and other essential services for children.
(f) Safety and accessibility of transportation facilities that shall be provided for the children.
(g) Health measures to be considered in admitting children to the establishment.
(h) Preparation of reports, enrollment registers, data on the children and employees, accounting books, etc., as may be necessary for the sound operation of the service.
(i) Ages of children which may be admitted to the different establishments.
(j) A written emergency operational plan, which shall be revised annually, to be used in case of emergency, natural disasters, and any other threat to the health or safety of the children in the center. The plan shall be certified by the State Emergency Management Agency. A copy of the plan shall be provided to the child’s father, mother, or guardian at the time of registration and, afterwards, each year after its revision. The emergency operational plan shall include, but not limited to:
(1) An area designated for relocation and evacuation.
(2) Procedures to notify parents or guardians in case of relocation.
(3) Procedures to meet the individual needs of the children, including those with special needs.
(4) Instructions received by the personnel for the management of these cases and for coordination with the pertinent agencies in case of an emergency.
(5) Measures geared towards requiring monthly drills that provide evacuation and contingency plans in case of emergency situations and natural disasters.
History —Feb. 15, 1955, No. 3, p. 10, § 9; May 1, 1964, No. 17, p. 53, § 1; June 24, 1968, No. 121, p. 276, § 2; July 6, 1978, No. 18, p. 410, § 1; Mar. 10, 2000, No. 55, § 1; Dec. 10, 2010, No. 194, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 77 - Licensing and supervision of institutions for children—Penalties

(a) Any person or entity who operates or maintains a childcare facility without holding a license issued by the Department, or who continues to operate it after its license has been cancelled, suspended, or denied pursuant to the procedure provided by §§ 68–78b of this title, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished with a fine that shall not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by imprisonment for a term of not more than six (6) months, or both penalties, at the discretion of the court; moreover, any person, agent, director, official or proprietor of an establishment that deliberately gives the Department false information or who carries out or allows a fraudulent action to be carried out with the purpose of obtaining a license to operate an establishment of those referenced by this §§ 68–78b of this title, or who obstructs the investigating or supervisory work of the Secretary’s representative, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be punished with a fine that shall not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) or six (6) months of imprisonment, or both penalties, at the discretion of the court.
(b) Any person or facility that discloses, authorizes the use or disclosure, or knowingly permits the use or disclosure to third persons of confidential information with respect to a criminal record, or with respect to the behavior in the community of the candidates, employees, or volunteers interested in rendering or who render services in said facility, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished with imprisonment up to a maximum of six (6) months and a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000). If there are intervening aggravating circumstances, the fixed punishment established may be increased to a maximum of five (5) years; if there are intervening extenuating circumstances, it may be reduced to a minimum of two (2) years.
History —Feb. 15, 1955, No. 3, p. 10, § 10; May 1, 1964, No. 17, p. 53, § 1; June 24, 1968, No. 121, p. 276, § 2; July 6, 1978, No. 18, p. 410, § 1; July 5, 1988, No. 64, p. 285, § 4; June 27, 2003, No. 151, § 1; June 27, 2003, No. 151, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 78 - Injunction

When the Department has knowledge of any establishment for the care of children that is operating without the corresponding license, because it has been denied, suspended, cancelled or it has not been requested, the Department may file, through the Secretary of Justice, an injunction before the Court of First Instance to bar the operation of said establishment.
History —Feb. 15, 1955, No. 3, p. 9, added as § 10a on June 24, 1968, No. 121, p. 276, § 3; July 6, 1978, No. 18, p. 410, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 78a - Registered establishments—Publication of information

The Department shall publish information on the childcare centers that are registered in its files, which have been issued a provisional and special authorization, and a license to operate as childcare centers.
The publication shall include the following information:
(1) Name of the childcare facility.
(2) Address and location of the same.
(3) Status of the license of the sponsor.
The Department shall be responsible for making any pertinent arrangements so that the publication related to childcare centers is made on its webpage. The information shall be updated every three months. It shall also publish said information twice a year in two (2) newspapers of major circulation on the Island, during the months of July and December, respectively.
History —Feb. 15, 1955, No. 3, p. 9, added as § 12 on Aug. 15, 1999, No. 254, § 2; Dec. 29, 2009, No. 210, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 3 - Institutions for Care of Children (§§ 51 — 78b) › § 78b - Registered establishments—Funds

The funds collected for the fee, that shall be included with each application for provisional, special authorization and license [shall be] deposited in the General Fund of Puerto Rico. The funds thus deposited shall be used primarily to pay for the publication of the list of childcare facilities that are active and duly licensed, and to keep the register or directory up to date.
History —Feb. 15, 1955, No. 3, p. 9, added as § 13 on Aug. 15, 1999, No. 254, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 4 - Licensing of Persons Engaged in Placing Children in Homes (§§ 81 — 81i) › § 81 - License required; exception

Any natural or [juridical] person who is engaged or is to be engaged in Puerto Rico in placing children in homes for adoption, foster homes or private institutions taking care of children, should hold a license for such purposes, issued by the Secretary of the Family. The minor’s parents are excluded from the provisions of this chapter.
History —June 5, 1973, No. 94, p. 406, § 1, eff. 60 days after June 5, 1973.