reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter I - Creation and Functions (§§ 901 — 917) › § 909 - Tax exemption

For the purpose of enabling the Authority to obtain funds and allow the latter to achieve its corporate purposes, the goods and properties of the Authority or of any subsidiary created by the Authority, as well as the bonds issued by the Authority or any subsidiary thereof, and the revenues derived therefrom, shall at all times be and remain exempted from taxation. The Authority and any subsidiary thereof created pursuant to subsection (a)(22) of § 906 of this title, shall be likewise exempt from the payment of taxes on revenues derived from its properties, enterprises or any other activity, the tax on articles for the use and consumption of its property introduced into Puerto Rico or acquired by the Authority or its subsidiary in any manner, as well as from the property tax and any other type of municipal taxes.
History —June 19, 1958, No. 56, p. 120, § 8; May 1, 1968, No. 29, p. 46; May 16, 2006, No. 97, § 11.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter I - Creation and Functions (§§ 901 — 917) › § 910 - Covenant not to alter rights of bondholders

The Commonwealth hereby covenants and agrees with any person, business, corporation, or federal or Commonwealth agency subscribing to or acquiring bonds or other debentures of the Authority, not to limit or alter the rights or powers herein granted the Authority until the said bonds regardless of their dates, together with interest thereon, have been fully liquidated and retired.
History —June 19, 1958, No. 56, p. 120, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter I - Creation and Functions (§§ 901 — 917) › § 911 - Personnel

The disposition of all Authority personnel matters shall be conducted without being subject to the provisions of §§ 1461 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Public Service Human Resources Administration Act”. For the administration of said personnel, the Authority shall, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel, prescribe standards and regulations leading toward a plan analogous to the one in force for the Commonwealth Employees under the personnel laws of Puerto Rico, insofar as deemed by the Authority compatible with its best interests. The employees who are members of unions under the statutes of §§ 61 et seq. of Title 29, better known as the “Puerto Rico Public Service Labor Relations Act”, are hereby excluded from these provisions.
History —June 19, 1958, No. 56, p. 120, § 10; May 16, 2006, No. 97, § 12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter I - Creation and Functions (§§ 901 — 917) › § 912 - Expenses; per diems

The members, officers and employees of the Authority shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses, or, in lieu thereof, to the corresponding per diems that are authorized or approved according to the Authority’s regulations. The employees who are union members shall be governed by the provisions of their respective collective bargaining agreements.
History —June 19, 1958, No. 56, p. 120, § 11; May 16, 2006, No. 97, § 13.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter I - Creation and Functions (§§ 901 — 917) › § 913 - Conflict of interests

No person having a substantial financial interest, whether direct or indirect, in any private undertaking with which the Authority executes contracts or does business of any nature, may hold an executive position in the Authority.
History —June 19, 1958, No. 56, p. 120, § 12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter I - Creation and Functions (§§ 901 — 917) › § 914 - Deposit of funds

All Authority funds shall be deposited with recognized depositories for Commonwealth funds, but they shall be kept in a separate account or accounts registered in the name of the Authority.
History —June 19, 1958, No. 56, p. 120, § 13.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter I - Creation and Functions (§§ 901 — 917) › § 915 - Reports

The Authority shall submit to the Legislature and the Governor an annual report covering all its activities and businesses during the preceding fiscal year.
History —June 19, 1958, No. 56, p. 120, § 14.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter I - Creation and Functions (§§ 901 — 917) › § 916a - Content of certain contracts

Every lease contract, title deed, transfer or assignment of any portion of the property the Authority shall establish explicitly that the contracting private person or entity, whether lessee, assignee or donee, is aware of, knows and shall comply fully with the provisions of §§ 901—917 of this title, any design plan or standard adopted or to be adopted by the Authority, and all conditions and restrictions imposed upon the Authority. Such representation shall be printed on the contract, lease contract, title deed or other transfer document in bold lettering. However, the Authority may ignore this requirement if the Board determines that what is being pursued in carrying out its governmental duties is the public goal of assisting the different departments, agencies, instrumentalities, authorities, public corporations and municipalities of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The content of the lease contract, title deed, transfer or assignment of any portion of the property of the Authority shall be evaluated in accordance with the Authority’s need for flexibility and the most appropriate mechanisms to ensure the compliance of private entities with the applicable legal provisions.
History —June 19, 1958, No. 56, p. 120, added as § 15A on May 16, 2006, No. 97, § 15.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter I - Creation and Functions (§§ 901 — 917) › § 917 - Injunctions

No injunction shall lie for preventing the application of §§ 901—917 of this title or any part thereof.
History —June 19, 1958, No. 56, p. 120, § 16.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter II - Gifts and Conveyances (§§ 931 — 937) › § 931 - Property or rights; authorization for the Commonwealth and the departments, agencies, instrumentalities, authorities, public corporations and political subdivisions to sell or convey

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, authorities and public corporations and political subdivisions, including all its municipalities, are hereby expressly authorized to donate, sell, exchange or otherwise convey to the Public Buildings Authority, at its request, any real or personal property belonging to them or that they may acquire in [the] future, and any and all rights or interest therein (including properties already devoted to public use) when the public interest so justifies and it is convenient and necessary to carry out the aims and purposes of the Authority. This authorization to donate, sell, exchange or convey shall not apply to schools and other dependencies of the Department of Education that are being used for rendering services.
History —May 17, 1963, No. 25, p. 32, § 1; May 16, 2006, No. 97, § 16.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter II - Gifts and Conveyances (§§ 931 — 937) › § 932 - Approval and execution—Commonwealth

The conveyance of real estate belonging to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, authorities and public corporations and political subdivisions, as authorized by §§ 931—936 of this title, shall be with the approval of the Governor or his/her representative and shall be executed by the Secretary of Transportation and Public Works, on behalf and in representation of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or by the chief executive of the transmitting department, agency, instrumentality, authority or public corporation, as the case may be, and the Executive Director of the Public Buildings Authority, in accordance with the procedure prescribed in §§ 1—5 of Title 28.
History —May 17, 1963, No. 25, p. 32, § 2; May 16, 2006, No. 97, § 17.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter II - Gifts and Conveyances (§§ 931 — 937) › § 933 - Approval and execution—Municipalities

The conveyance of real estate belonging to the various municipalities, including the municipality of San Juan and the Island of Culebra, as authorized by §§ 931—936 of this title, shall be with the approval of the Municipal Legislature of the corresponding municipality and shall be done by public deed executed by the Mayor and the Executive Director of the Public Buildings Authority.
History —May 17, 1963, No. 25, p. 32, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter II - Gifts and Conveyances (§§ 931 — 937) › § 934 - Approval and execution—Exemption from fees

The conveyances made under the provisions of §§ 931—936 of this title, including execution of the necessary documents, issuance of certified copies, and their recording in the corresponding property registry, shall be exempt from the payment of all commonwealth and municipal fees, taxes, imposts, and duties.
History —May 17, 1963, No. 25, p. 32, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter II - Gifts and Conveyances (§§ 931 — 937) › § 935 - Property devoted to specific purposes

The provisions of §§ 931—936 of this title shall not be construed as authorizing the conveyance for other purposes of any property devoted to specific purposes by an express provision of the Legislature.
History —May 17, 1963, No. 25, p. 32, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter II - Gifts and Conveyances (§§ 931 — 937) › § 936 - Annual report

The Public Buildings Authority shall annually submit to the Legislature a list of the properties acquired under the authorization herein contained, including valuation of each property.
History —May 17, 1963, No. 25, p. 32, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 21 - Public Buildings Authority (§§ 901 — 937) › Subchapter II - Gifts and Conveyances (§§ 931 — 937) › § 937 - Interpretation with respect to other laws

In cases in which the provisions of §§ 901—917 of this title, are in conflict with the provisions of any other law of the Legislature of Puerto Rico, the provisions of §§ 901—917 of this title, shall prevail, and no other law previously or subsequently approved to regulate the administration of the Commonwealth Government, or any parts thereof, its offices, bureaus, departments, commissions, dependencies, municipalities, branches, agents, officers or employees shall be interpreted as being applicable to the Authority, unless specifically provided, and the matters and business of the Authority shall be managed pursuant to the provisions of §§ 901—917 of this title; Provided, however, That the regular employees of the Authority, by resolution approved by the Board of Directors, may join, partially or wholly, the Employees Retirement System of the Government of Puerto Rico and its Instrumentalities, created by §§ 761 et seq. of Title 3.
History —May 17, 1963, No. 25, p. 32, added as § 7 on May 16, 2006, No. 97, § 18.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 24 - Prohibition of Water Meter Stars (§§ 1008 — 1010) › § 1008 - Prohibition

Any business establishment and any natural or juridical person is prohibited from selling or distributing the part or device commonly known as [a] “star”, used in water meters installed by the AAA or by its contractors, except if the purchaser or recipient of such part or device has and shows to the seller, distributor or natural or juridical person in possession of the same, a written certificate or authorization issued to his name by the AAA for said purpose.
History —Sept. 27, 2003, No. 279, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 24 - Prohibition of Water Meter Stars (§§ 1008 — 1010) › § 1009 - Certificate required

If the applicant of such written certificate [or] authorization is or identifies himself as a contractor, the AAA must require, before issuing it, the presentation of a contractor’s certificate under §§ 1020a et seq. of Title 23.
History —Sept. 27, 2003, No. 279, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 24 - Prohibition of Water Meter Stars (§§ 1008 — 1010) › § 1010 - Penalties

Any natural or juridical person[,] whether seller, distributor, purchaser or any other natural or juridical person who in any way allows, helps or contributes to the breach of this chapter, shall commit a felony and, if convicted, shall be penalized with a fine not to exceed five hundred (500) dollars or the penalty of restitution, or both penalties, at the discretion of the court. The AAA may opt to impose an administrative fine in lieu of the filing of a criminal complaint, in which case the fine shall not exceed five thousand (5,000) dollars for each violation.
History —Sept. 27, 2003, No. 279, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 25 - Net Metering Program (§§ 1011 — 1020b) › § 1011 - Mandate

The Electric Power Authority is hereby directed and authorized to establish a net metering program allowing the interconnection to its electric transmission and distribution system and electricity feedback for customers who have installed a solar electric equipment or windmill capable of producing electric energy using a meter that registers the flow of energy in two directions, in accordance to the applicable provisions of the federal legislation and regulations, such as the Energy Policy Act, Pub. L. 102-486, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2776, as amended, and the Standards for Electric Utilities, Pub. L. 95-617, Title I, Sec. 111, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3121, as amended, among others, and the regulations to be adopted thereunder.
History —Aug. 16, 2007, No. 114, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 25 - Net Metering Program (§§ 1011 — 1020b) › § 1013 - Net meter

In the case of renewable energy systems interconnected to PREPA’s grid, the net meter shall be installed by PREPA at the base of the meter already existing at the time the interconnection request is made. The Electric Power Authority shall not, whether by regulations, technical order, governing body directive or any other means, establish additional requirements, deny a request or endorsement, or request the relocation of the base of the existing meter, unless the current location of the meter fails to meet the security standards established by the National Energy Code in effect. However, the meter must be placed at an easily accessible location, otherwise, the customer shall be required to allow PREPA’s staff access thereto, as required by PREPA and upon coordination.
Any installations of this sort shall include an automatic distribution line flow disconnection mechanism, in the event of an interruption of service of the Electric Power Authority.
History —Aug. 16, 2007, No. 114, § 3; Aug. 5, 2016, No. 133, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 25 - Net Metering Program (§§ 1011 — 1020b) › § 1016 - Liability

The Electric Power Authority shall not be directly or indirectly liable for allowing or continuing to allow solar electric equipment or a windmill or other source of renewable energy to be connected to its transmission and distribution system, or for acts or omissions of the feedback customer that cause losses or injuries, including death, to any third party.
History —Aug. 16, 2007, No. 114, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 25 - Net Metering Program (§§ 1011 — 1020b) › § 1017 - Education

The Electric Power Authority and the Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office shall regularly develop and implement educational campaigns directed to advising consumers on the benefits of net metering and the different technologies available in the market for energy generation from renewable sources.
In addition to these educational campaigns, the Electric Power Authority shall incorporate the following message in the bill sent to customers:
“The installation of equipment to generate energy from renewable sources may help to reduce your electricity bill, and PREPA, through its commercial office or the Internet, shall provide you with information on how to enroll in this program. Furthermore, tax benefits are available to incentivize the purchase of these equipments. Additional information about these equipments is available at the Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office.”
The electricity bill shall include this message at least two inches from where the total amount of the bill appears, and shall be written in a font which is the same size as the largest font used in any text appearing on the bill.
History —Aug. 16, 2007, No. 114, § 7; Feb. 18, 2011, No. 12, § 1, eff. 90 days after Feb. 18, 2011; June 2, 2012, No. 103, § 3; May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 5.2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 25 - Net Metering Program (§§ 1011 — 1020b) › § 1018 - Reports

The Electric Power Authority shall file with the Legislative Assembly semiannual progress reports on the interconnection of renewable systems to the grid including, but not limited to the average interconnection times of the distributed generation systems, the number of backlogged cases pending approval, and the percentage of compliance with the Renewable Portfolio Standard corresponding to the distributed renewable energy. The reports may include recommendations on additional legislation needed to achieve the objectives of the program.
History —Aug. 16, 2007, No. 114, § 8; Aug. 5, 2016, No. 133, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 25 - Net Metering Program (§§ 1011 — 1020b) › § 1020a - Representative of the Industry—Special Evaluation Committee

Within one hundred eighty (180) days after the approval of this act, the Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office shall publish a public notice in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in Puerto Rico, directed to any natural or juridical person engaged in or representing natural or juridical persons engaged in the development, interconnection, and/or operation of distributed generators participating in the Net Metering Program. Such notice shall inform that anyone who wishes to be considered in the selection process for representative of the industry, who shall be part of the special evaluation committee described in §§ 1020 of this title, shall submit his/her qualifications to the Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office on or before thirty (30) days after the publication of the notice. The Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office shall publish said notice each year on the anniversary of the approval of this act.
The Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office shall evaluate the qualifications submitted by those interested in being considered to represent the private industry in the evaluation committee and shall select said representative on or before thirty (30) days after the qualification submittal period concludes. Once the selection is made, it shall be notified by means of a courtesy copy to the Electric Power Authority, the person selected, and to any natural or juridical person which had submitted their credentials or those of a candidate for consideration. The representative of the private industry shall hold said position for a renewable term of two (2) years.
During the evaluation and selection process, the Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office shall give special consideration to those associations that group or represent several persons or entities in matters related to the development, interconnection, and/or operation of distributed generators with a generating capacity between one megawatt (1MW) and five megawatts (5MW) to be interconnected to the electric power grid of the Electric Power Authority, so as to participate in the Net Metering Program. In its notice, the Commonwealth Energy Public Policy shall note the foregoing and shall encourage all those interested in being considered to form consortiums and to jointly submit the person they have selected to be considered by the Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office.
Those persons selected to participate in the evaluation committee shall not be entitled to request monetary compensation for the duties to be periodically performed as part of the evaluation committee.
History —Aug. 16, 2007, No. 114, added as § 11 on May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 5.5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 25 - Net Metering Program (§§ 1011 — 1020b) › § 1020b - Recourse and review process before the Energy Commission

The Energy Commission shall establish through regulations the rules for the recourse or review process that customers may bring before said Commission if they are not satisfied with a determination of PREPA regarding the interconnection of a distributed generator.
History —Aug. 16, 2007, No. 114, added as § 12 on May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 5.6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 26 - Green Building Act (§§ 1021 — 1026) › § 1021 - Public policy

It is hereby stated by means of this chapter that the Commonwealth adopts the following public policy, which shall govern the purposes of this chapter:
(1) The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico recognizes that global warming poses a challenge that calls for government, entrepreneurial, and citizen actions directed toward fostering a sustainable socioeconomic development, as well as the most prudent use and protection of our natural resources, as organizational principles for our Island.
(2) The use and consumption of energy from fossil sources by the buildings of the Government of the Commonwealth substantially adds to the problem of environmental pollution, and in more recent times, to global warming.
(3) Energy costs for public buildings are rising at an extraordinary rate and shall continue to do so, due to our heavy dependence on fossil fuels which constitute nonrenewable sources and which are major pollutants. In addition, the consumption of fossil sources in operating such buildings contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases in the Island.
(4) The Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is compelled to exercise leadership both in regional and in global terms and to set an example for citizens by approving measures directed toward promoting highly efficient public buildings as to energy consumption, while providing adequate spaces for our citizens to work and study.
(5) To these ends, the Government of the Commonwealth hereby pledges to promote the new construction and the rehabilitation of government buildings by implementing high-yield building and architectural methods that help save electric power, conserve water, maintain the environment’s integrity, and render our workforce and student bodies more productive.
History —Aug. 9, 2008, No. 229, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 26 - Green Building Act (§§ 1021 — 1026) › § 1022 - Energy efficiency standards for government-owned buildings

(1) One (1) year as of the date of approval of this act, all projects for government facilities of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall be designed, built, and certified under one of the following standards regarding energy conservation, water consumption, and ventilation: the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System; the energy consumption and environmental standards of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE); the standards set forth under the International Energy Conservation Code; or other standard developed by a nonprofit entity and widely accepted by the scientific or the professional community. Provided, That the standards to be adopted shall apply to:
(a) The construction of any new building with a gross building area greater than five thousand (5,000) square feet.
(b) The reconstruction or rehabilitation of any government building whose cost is equal to or greater than fifty percent (50%) of the structure’s worth, with a gross building area of five thousand (5,000) square feet.
(2) The Public Building Authority shall establish by regulation, in coordination with the Administration of Energy Affairs, such efficiency standards as to energy and water consumption and ventilation as it may deem pertinent for all buildings owned by the Government of Puerto Rico, its dependencies and public corporations, which standards shall include the following requirements for buildings described above in clauses (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of this section. Provided, further, That:
(a) The aforementioned government buildings shall be designed so as to attain an electric power consumption of at least thirty percent (30%) of the levels established in the standards of the International Energy Conservation Code in force by the date of approval of this act.
(b) The aforementioned buildings shall be designed so as to be able to gradually reduce greenhouse gases generated by the consumption of energy from fossil fuels, in comparison to the levels generated by fiscal year 2004 by government buildings with similar features, as per the data obtained by the Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey, conducted by the Energy Information Agency of the United States Department of Energy. Provided, further, That the gradual reduction rates shall be the following:
Fiscal Year Reduction Rate
2009-2010 40%
2011-2012 50%
2014-2015 60%
2019-2020 75%
2024-2025 90%
2029-2030 100%
(c) Sustainable design principles shall be employed and applied in the siting, design, and construction phases and in operating all new buildings, any buildings younger than five (5) years, or buildings about to sustain major renovation works.
History —Aug. 9, 2008, No. 229, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 26 - Green Building Act (§§ 1021 — 1026) › § 1023 - Efficient water use

Buildings described above in § 1022 of this title shall be required to use water conservation technologies which are cost-effective and guaranteed for life.
History —Aug. 9, 2008, No. 229, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 26 - Green Building Act (§§ 1021 — 1026) › § 1024 - Buildings of all kinds

Any government structure that has been newly built or that shall sustain renovation, rehabilitation or repair works, shall employ, to the extent feasible, construction practices that are cost-effective and efficient as to energy consumption, water conservation, and ventilation, as of the date of approval of this act.
History —Aug. 9, 2008, No. 229, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 26 - Green Building Act (§§ 1021 — 1026) › § 1025 - Public Building Authority—Duties

The Public Building Authority shall implement, in coordination with the Administration of Energy Affairs, mechanisms and/or technologies to enable the metering of energy consumption levels of the buildings under its charge and to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature each year.
History —Aug. 9, 2008, No. 229, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 26 - Green Building Act (§§ 1021 — 1026) › § 1026 - Authority to execute agreements or arrangements

The Public Building Authority is authorized by virtue of this chapter to establish, in coordination with the Administration of Energy Affairs, agreements between and among any agency, department, public corporation, educational institution or instrumentality of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or the United States of America and any corporation or private entity or natural person, with the purposes of obtaining or providing professional or other services; obtaining or providing facilities to be obtained or provided; reimbursing or paying for such services or facilities; and establishing whether these services are to be rendered free of charge. Reimbursements or payments received on account of services or facilities provided by any agency, department, public corporation, educational institution or instrumentality of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or the United States of America and corporation or private entity or natural person, shall be covered into the General Fund, except for authorities, instrumentalities or public corporations whose funds are not under the custody of the Secretary of the Treasury, in which case, such reimbursements or payments shall be covered into the funds of the body that rendered such services or facilities.
History —Aug. 9, 2008, No. 229, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 28 - Puerto Rico Energy Transformation and RELIEF Act (§§ 1051 — 1056) › Subchapter I - General Provisions (§§ 1051 — 1051b) › § 1051b - Principles of transparency and accountability

(a) In accordance with the public policy established in § 1051(o) of this title, every information, data, statistics, reports, plans, and documents received and/or disclosed by any of the entities created under this chapter, PREPA, and every electric power company shall be subject to the following principles:
(1) The information shall be complete, except for privileged information which shall be suppressed in accordance with the Rules of Evidence adopted by the Judicial Branch of Puerto Rico;
(2) the disclosure of the information shall be timely;
(3) the data shall be in a raw and detailed form, not modified. In addition to the original text of any document where such information or data appears, documents where such information is organized and shown so that it may be easily handled by persons without expertise in the disciplines addressed therein may understand them shall be published and made available to customers;
(4) the information shall not be subject to confidentiality standards broader than those required;
(5) the data must be machine processable;
(6) the public may access such information electronically without the need to register or create an account, and free of charge;
(7) data produced by employees, officials, or contractors working for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall not be subject to any copyright, patents, trademarks, or trade secret. Reasonable restrictions based on doctrines of privacy, security, and evidentiary privileges may apply; and
(8) such data must be available in nonproprietary format; that is to say, no one shall have exclusive control over it.
(b) any person or entity to which these principles apply shall designate an official to assist and respond to any question that users may have on the information published.
History —May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 1.4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 28 - Puerto Rico Energy Transformation and RELIEF Act (§§ 1051 — 1056) › Subchapter II - Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office (CEPPO) › § 1052 - Creation of the Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office

(a) The Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office is hereby created, hereinafter “CEPPO”, as the entity in charge of developing and promulgating the public policy on energy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. All orders or regulations issued by CEPPO shall be on behalf of the “Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office”, and all procedures established by CEPPO shall be on behalf of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(b) CEPPO shall have an official seal with the words “Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office” and the design provided by said office.
(c) CEPPO shall be constituted by an Executive Director and the personnel hired by him/her.
(d) CEPPO shall have a website to offer information about its purposes and the measures taken for the development and promulgation of the public policy on energy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
History —May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 3.1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 28 - Puerto Rico Energy Transformation and RELIEF Act (§§ 1051 — 1056) › Subchapter II - Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office (CEPPO) › § 1052a - Executive Director of CEPPO

(a) The Executive Director shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate of Puerto Rico, and may be removed from his/her office by the Governor, at his/her discretion, with or without just cause. The compensation of the Executive Director shall be fixed by the Governor. The Executive Director shall have a college degree in at least one of the following professional fields: engineering, finance, economics, law, science, and/or planning and public administration. He/she shall also have at least five (5) years of experience in energy-related fields.
(b) The Executive Director and the members of his/her family unit, as defined in §§ 1854 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Government Ethics Act of 2011”, shall not have direct or indirect interest in, nor contractual relations with PREPA and/or certified electric power companies in Puerto Rico, or entities within or without Puerto Rico, affiliated to or interested in PREPA or in said companies.
History —May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 3.2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 28 - Puerto Rico Energy Transformation and RELIEF Act (§§ 1051 — 1056) › Subchapter II - Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office (CEPPO) › § 1052b - Personnel of CEPPO

(a) CEPPO shall be an individual administrator and its personnel shall be governed by the provisions of §§ 1461 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Public Service Human Resources Administration Act of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico”. The Executive Director shall be the appointing authority of CEPPO and may hire and appoint the personnel needed for the operation and functioning thereof, which shall be governed by the rules and regulations promulgated by CEPPO. The Executive Director may delegate to any employee the powers conferred hereunder, except for the power to enter into contracts, as well as the power to make appointments and adopt regulations of CEPPO. In the qualifications and description of the duties of the positions, CEPPO personnel system shall be organized in such a way as to promote the hiring of skilled and trained personnel based on merit through a competition process that enables compliance with the purposes of this chapter.
(b) No CEPPO employee, be it a trust or career employee, may have any relation within the fourth degree of consanguinity and the second of affinity with the Executive Director.
(c) Any action or omission of the Executive Director and CEPPO personnel in the performance of their duties shall be subject to the restrictions provided in §§ 1854 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Government Ethics Act of 2011”.
History —May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 3.3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 28 - Puerto Rico Energy Transformation and RELIEF Act (§§ 1051 — 1056) › Subchapter II - Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office (CEPPO) › § 1052d - CEPPO Regulations

All regulations to be adopted by the Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office shall comply with the provisions of §C 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Uniform Administrative Procedures Act”.
History —May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 3.5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 28 - Puerto Rico Energy Transformation and RELIEF Act (§§ 1051 — 1056) › Subchapter II - Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office (CEPPO) › § 1052e - Emergencies

When the Governor, by virtue of the information submitted by CEPPO, determines that there is an imminent threat of a shortage of any energy resource in Puerto Rico because the basic needs of the Island may not or are not being satisfied and this consequently could affect the general well being of the People of Puerto Rico, the Governor shall declare a state of emergency and issue executive orders as necessary to assure, to the extent possible, the subsistence of the Island, the availability of the essential amounts of such energy resources.
Within the state of emergency that may be declared, it is the public policy of the Government of Puerto Rico that satisfying the needs of the People of Puerto Rico shall be the main priority of every importer, distributor, manufacturer, producer, transporter, and exporter of any matter constituting energy sources.
In applying this section, the energy issues of the United States of America and the International community shall be taken into account.
In the executive order issued, the Governor shall:
(1) Regulate natural or juridical persons engaged in the import, distribution, manufacture, production, transportation, and export of any energy resource for the purpose of implementing the public policy set forth above.
(2) Adopt rules and regulations and issue orders to enforce compliance with this section. Such rules, regulations, and orders shall be published once in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Within fifteen (15) days following the promulgation of the rules, regulations, and orders, the Director shall call and hold public hearings thereon, upon previous public notice of the holding thereof. The rules and regulations adopted pursuant to the foregoing shall be effective only for the duration of the emergency situation and may be amended or repealed after the holding of said public hearings. The proposed amendments shall take effect upon the publication thereof for two (2) consecutive days in a newspaper of general circulation.
(3) Entrust the Office or any other government body with the powers and duties needed to implement the executive orders thus issued.
(4) Require any board, department, agency or any public instrumentality or political subdivision of the government, as well as any employee or official thereof, to provide the Office with the necessary assistance regarding the use of personnel, office, equipment, and supplies and other available resources to comply with this chapter and the regulations adopted thereunder. Said government bodies may provide the assistance needed upon previous authorization from the head, secretary, or chief executive officer of the body thus required.
History —May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 3.6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 28 - Puerto Rico Energy Transformation and RELIEF Act (§§ 1051 — 1056) › Subchapter II - Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office (CEPPO) › § 1052f - CEPPO Budget

The Executive Director shall request the Office of Management and Budget and the Legislative Assembly to include budget appropriations for CEPPO.
History —May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 3.7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 28 - Puerto Rico Energy Transformation and RELIEF Act (§§ 1051 — 1056) › Subchapter III - Government Energy Efficiency (§§ 1053 — 1053b) › § 1053b - Energy savings in the municipal governments

(a) PREPA shall bill and charge municipalities for the electric power service, in accordance with the provisions of § 212 of this title. It shall be the duty of all municipal governments to implement strategies aimed at reducing electric power consumption in the offices and facilities under its jurisdiction, as well as to promote the greatest energy efficiency possible.
(b) Every municipality, whose electric power consumption exceeds the baseline energy consumption established in accordance with § 212 of this title, shall be responsible for paying PREPA the amount corresponding to the excess. The consumption excess shall be billed to the corresponding municipality by PREPA and such bill shall be paid following the regular debt collection process established by law.
(c) The Energy Commission shall have primary and exclusive jurisdiction to address any case and dispute involving noncompliance by any municipality with the duties and obligations established in this section or in § 212 of this title.
(d) PREPA shall publish, on its website, a list of the annual payments appropriated to each municipality as a replacement of the PILT, as well as the energy consumption of each municipality in comparison with the contribution made in the previous year. This information shall be updated annually and published on PREPA’s website.
History —May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 4.3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 28 - Puerto Rico Energy Transformation and RELIEF Act (§§ 1051 — 1056) › Subchapter IV - Creation, Structure, Operation, Budget, and General Powers of the Puerto Rico Energy Administration and the Energy Commission (§§ 1054 — 1054rr) › § 1054 - Creation of the Puerto Rico Energy Administration and the Puerto Rico Energy Commission

(a) The Puerto Rico Energy Administration (PREA), hereinafter the “Administration” or “PREA,” is hereby created as an independent and autonomous government entity to provide support to the Puerto Rico Energy Commission (PREC), the Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office (CEPPO), and the Independent Consumer Protection Office (ICPO). Moreover, the Puerto Rico Energy Commission, hereinafter the “Energy Commission” or “Commission”, is hereby created as an independent regulatory entity in charge of regulating, overseeing, and ensuring compliance with the public policy on energy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
History —May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 6.1; Sept. 8, 2014, No. 152, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 28 - Puerto Rico Energy Transformation and RELIEF Act (§§ 1051 — 1056) › Subchapter IV - Creation, Structure, Operation, Budget, and General Powers of the Puerto Rico Energy Administration and the Energy Commission (§§ 1054 — 1054rr) › § 1054a - Powers and duties of PREA

(a) PREA shall provide support to the Energy Commission, CEPPO, and the ICPO.
(b) The head of PREA shall be an Administrator, who shall exercise the powers and duties designated to PREA under this chapter.
(c) PREA shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) Hire and appoint the necessary personnel for its operations and functioning. No PREA employee, whether a regular or trust employee, may have a kinship with the Administrator, the Chair of the Energy Commission, the Commissioners, or the Directors of CEPPO and the ICPO, within the degrees provided in §§ 1854 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Government Ethics Act of 2011”;
(2) contract the personnel and professional services of the Energy Commission, CEPPO, and the ICPO in accordance with the rules established by each entity for such purposes;
(3) be in charge of all administrative and technical operations;
(4) approve and promulgate regulations as are necessary to govern its internal operations, rules, and personnel compensation;
(5) sue and be sued in complaints or causes of action before the courts and administrative forums with jurisdiction and competence, and
(6) enter into contracts and execute any kind of document as necessary or convenient in carrying out its powers; and
(7) at the request of the Energy Commission, CEPPO, and the ICPO, provide administrative and clerical support in areas such as finance, procurement, and accounting, among others, and in any administrative task other than formulating or implementing public policy.
(d) All actions, regulations, and determinations of PREA shall be governed by the applicable laws, administrative efficiency, and the public interest.
(e) PREA shall be considered an individual administrator, as provided §§ 1461 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Public Service Human Resources Administration Act”.
History —May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 6.2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-TWO - Public Works (§§ 1 — 1104) › Chapter 28 - Puerto Rico Energy Transformation and RELIEF Act (§§ 1051 — 1056) › Subchapter IV - Creation, Structure, Operation, Budget, and General Powers of the Puerto Rico Energy Administration and the Energy Commission (§§ 1054 — 1054rr) › § 1054d - Organization of the Energy Commission

(a) The Commission shall be composed of two (2) associate commissioners and one (1) Chair, all of whom shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate of Puerto Rico. Commissioners shall receive the same compensation established for a judge of the Court of Appeals of Puerto Rico.
(b) Two (2) of the three (3) commissioners shall constitute a quorum at a plenary meeting of the Commission. The meetings of the Commission shall be scheduled by its Chair.
(c) The decisions of the Commission shall be made by the consent of two (2) of its three (3) commissioners. In accordance with the provisions of §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Uniform Administrative Procedure Act”, the decisions or final resolutions of the Commissions in adjudicative procedures shall be subject to review by the Court of Appeals of Puerto Rico, unless a law of the United States Government has granted jurisdiction to a federal agency or entity or the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico.
(d) The Commission shall have an official seal with the words “Puerto Rico Energy Commission” and the design prescribed by said Commission.
History —May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 6.5.