Esta ley crea un Fondo Especial en la Oficina para el Control de Enfermedades y Plagas de Plantas (Oficina de Cuarentena Vegetal) para ser utilizado exclusivamente para mejorar y ampliar sus operaciones y servicios, complementando su presupuesto asignado. Los fondos provienen de los ingresos generados por la emisión de certificados, permisos, inspecciones, multas administrativas y otras actividades relacionadas con la Ley de Cuarentena Vegetal de Puerto Rico.
(N. B. 1088) (No. 15) (Approved January 5, 2002)
To create a Special Fund in the Office for the Control of Plant Diseases and Pests (Plant Quarantine Office), from the proceeds from its activities.
Act No. 93, approved June 5, 1973, as amended, known as the "Plant Quarantine Act of Puerto Rico" created the Office for the Control of Plant Diseases and Plagues. It is the body responsible of enforcing the legislation and regulations to prevent the introduction and propagation of pests harmful to plants, as well as to provide inspection services and phitosanitary certificates of plants and plant products.
The Plant Quarantine Office carries out its functions with funds appropriated in the general budget, however, it has some pressing needs that must be resolved in order to carryout the work assigned within the Department of Agriculture, as well as to extend its services.
The Plant Quarantine Office is also responsible for the Pink Hibiscus Mealbug Biological Control Laboratory, and is also drafting regulations for the seed production farms for exportation that is in its final stage; projects for which it needs human resources as well as equipment.
For all the stated above, it is necessary to authorize the creation of a special fund to be administered by the Plant Quarantine Office, and that is not subject to the intervention of the Department of the Treasury, but rather to audit by the Department of Agriculture Finance Office.
In order to ensure that the money of the Special Fund is used for the purpose for which it is created, the Plant Quarantine Office shall have the responsibility to prepare quarterly reports on the administration of said funds to be remitted to the Secretary, who shall prepare an annual report to the Legislature.
According to conservative estimates, the collection for the services to be rendered by the Department could generate approximately two hundred fifty thousand $(250,000)$ dollars, which shall be destined for improvements to the infrastructure and recruiting of personnel. This, undoubtedly, shall result in better and more efficient service for the people.
Section 1.- A Special Fund, which shall be known as the Special Plant Quarantine Office Fund, is hereby created separate from any other fund of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, for the exclusive use of the Plant Quarantine Office.
Section 2.- The one hundred percent (100%) of the money collected for the issue of certificates, permits, inspections, taking of samples and analysis, administrative fines and any other activity that generates income pursuant to the provisions of Act No. 93, approved June 5, 1973, known as the "Plant Quarantine Office Act of Puerto Rico" shall be covered into this fund.
Section 3.- This fund shall be administered by the Plant Quarantine Office and shall be used exclusively to improve and extend its operation and the services rendered by complementing its appropriated budget. The money covered into the fund for the collection of services rendered by the Plant Quarantine Office shall be used to complement the following activities of the Office: purchase of equipment, payment of travel expenses, purchase of materials, uniforms, equipment maintenance services, trips abroad in
representation of the Department, educational material, maintenance of the buildings, and recruiting of personnel.
Section 4.- A special account is hereby created in the Department of the treasury in which the revenues obtained by virtue of this Act shall be deposited. The collections and disbursements shall be made in accordance with the regulations to be adopted by the Secretary of Agriculture.
Said benefits shall be remitted in its totality to the Department of Agriculture and covered into the Special Fund in the Office for the Control of Plant Diseases and Pests (Plant Quarantine Office) created by this Act.
Section 5.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 15 (H.B. 1088) of the $2^{ ext {nd }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to create a Special Fund in the Office for the Control of Plant Diseases and Pests (Plant Quarantine Office), from the proceeds from its activities, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $12^{ ext {th }}$ of December of 2003.
Elba Rosa Rodríguez-Fuentes Director