Esta ley otorga un bono anual exento de impuestos de cien (100) dólares para medicamentos a los maestros pensionados y beneficiarios del Sistema de Retiro para Maestros, a partir del año 2003. La ley también establece que los fondos para este bono serán asignados anualmente en el Presupuesto General de Gastos del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico.
(Approved July 15, 2003)
To grant a tax exempt Medications Bonus for pensioned teachers and the beneficiaries of the Teachers' Retirement System, and to identify the source of financing to provide the necessary funds to defray the economic impact of the payment of said benefit.
Pensioned teachers have distinguished themselves as dedicated public servants, contributing toward the development of children and youths in our society. As shown by the statistics of the last census, the percentage of retired teachers between the ages of seventy (70) and ninety (90) years has increased considerably through time. Therefore, the need to obtain medical services, particularly medications, to address the health conditions that increasingly beset them has increased, which increases the cost of life for this segment of our community.
The Legislature of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico must address the needs of all pensioners of the public service, and in this particular case, the health of our retired teachers, to improve the quality of life of this segment. For such purposes, by means of this Act, an annual tax exempt Medications Bonus of one hundred (100) dollars is hereby set forth, to increase the existing benefits enjoyed by the retired teachers of this country.
Section 1.-All teachers who have been receiving a pension pursuant to Act No. 218 of May 6, 1951, as amended, shall be entitled to receive an
annual tax exempt Medications Bonus of one hundred (100) dollars, starting in 2003, which shall be paid no later than July 15 of each year. This benefit shall also apply to the beneficiaries of the Teachers' Retirement System.
Section 2.-The resources to defray the cost of the Medications Bonus with respect to the pensioners of the Teachers' Retirement System shall be appropriated each year in the General Budget of Expenses of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Section 3.-This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 162 (H.B. 3833) of the $5^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to grant a tax exempt Medications Bonus for pensioned teachers and the beneficiaries of the Teachers' Retirement System, and to identify the source of financing to provide the necessary funds to defray the economic impact of the payment of said benefit, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $15^{ ext {th }}$ of April of 2004.
Elba Rosa Rodríguez-Fuentes Director