Esta ley enmienda la Ley Núm. 181 de 20 de julio de 1979 para aumentar el número de miembros del Comité Conjunto de la Legislatura para la Concesión de la Medalla de la Legislatura de Puerto Rico, con el fin de representar mejor la diversidad de ideas en la rama legislativa.
(Approved January 5, 2002)
To amend Section 4 of Act No. 181 of July 20, 1979, which establishes the "Medal of the Legislature of Puerto Rico" and creates the "Joint Committee of the Legislature for the Awarding of the Medal of the Legislature of Puerto Rico", in order to increase the number of its members.
The Legislature of Puerto Rico created Act No. 181 of July 20, 1979, in order to publicly recognize public servants, public and private entities and private citizens who have significantly contributed to the welfare of our Island. This exaltation by the Legislature is made through the awarding of the Medal of the Legislature of Puerto Rico.
The administration of the process of nomination, evaluation and selection process of the possible recipients is made through the Joint Committee of the Legislature for the Awarding of the Medal of the Legislature of Puerto Rico. Under our present Code of Laws, this committee is composed of six (6) members, three (3) of whom are nominated by the President of the Senate and the other three (3) by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. As it appears in Section 4 of Act No. 181 (supra), in reference to the composition of the Committee: "no more than two (2) members from each of the Houses may belong to the same party".
The "Medal of the Legislature of Puerto Rico" is a recognition of the People of Puerto Rico to those who have performed outstandingly in benefit
of our collective interests. In response to this, the number of members of the Committee should be increased so that its composition may represent the array of ideas that conform this Branch.
Section 1.- Section 4 of At No. 181 of July 20, 1989, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 4.- The "Joint Committee of the Legislature for the Awarding of the Medal of the Legislature of Puerto Rico" is also established which shall be composed of eight (8) members: four members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, and four (4) members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. No more than two (2) members from each of the Houses may belong to the same party, and to the extent permitted by the composition of the Legislature, the remaining members shall be appointed in accordance to the representation of the minority delegations in each Body. The Committee shall appoint, a chairperson and a secretary by a majority of its members."
Section 2.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 12 (H.B. 85) of the $2^{ ext {nd }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend Section 4 of Act No. 181 of July 20, 1979, which establishes the "Medal of the Legislature of Puerto Rico" and creates the "Joint Committee of the Legislature for the Awarding of the Medal of the Legislature of Puerto Rico", in order to increase the number of its members, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $5^{ ext {th }}$ of December of 2003.
Elba Rosa Rodríguez-Fuentes Director