Esta ley enmienda la Ley Núm. 263 de 1998 para ampliar el uso de las becas otorgadas a los hijos y cónyuges sobrevivientes de policías caídos en el cumplimiento del deber. Ahora, además del pago de matrícula, las becas pueden utilizarse para la compra de libros de texto en instituciones de educación superior públicas de Puerto Rico. También extiende el beneficio al cónyuge sobreviviente mientras permanezca viudo y a los hijos hasta los 25 años que cursen estudios de posgrado. La ley faculta al Superintendente de la Policía a reglamentar su implementación.
(Approved December 28, 2003)
To amend Sections 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 of Act No. 263 of September 3, 1998, known as the "Scholarships for Children of Police Officers Fallen in the Line of Duty Act" to authorize the use of said scholarships to defray expenses for the purchase of textbooks, and for the payment of tuition in any public institution of higher education of Puerto Rico, provided the admission and academic progress requirements of said institutions are met, to the surviving spouse of police officers fallen in the line of duty, during the time she/he is widowed; to children under twenty-one (21) years of age, and those up to twenty-five (25) years of age who are pursuing graduate studies of a police officer fallen in the line of duty; to empower the Police Superintendent to adopt the regulations needed for this Act to become effective, and for other purposes.
The Puerto Rico Police officers watch over our Island from coast to coast performing their duty to prevent and protect in order to achieve the goal for our citizenry to enjoy safety in their daily life. Individuals and families in our Puerto Rico have officers available who assume their role as protectors twenty-four hours a day in our communities.
Unfortunately, a necessary part of this role is performed in fighting crimes that leave more and more scars in Puerto Rican hearts each day. Many of them lose their life in this daily battle, and the pain and sense of loss that such events have upon their families is beyond compare.
The pain caused by the loss of a spouse, parent or sibling is impossible to erase, but at least we can try to ensure the future of those who depended financially and emotionally on that worker, so totally committed to his/her
work. For such a purpose, the "Scholarships for Children of Police Officers Fallen in the Line of Duty Act" was created in 1998, addressed solely and exclusively to the payment of tuition of the recipients of this benefit. Considering the contribution, performance and sacrifice that those police officers rendered their country, and the increase in the cost of teaching materials during the last few years, we deem it is fair and necessary to amend this Act so that the monies of these scholarships are also available for the purchase of textbooks.
This Legislature hereby assumes an assertive responsibility in the effort to offer a better quality of life to Puerto Ricans, and above all, to the families of those who sacrificed their life for this purpose. Therefore, by means of this Act, we complement any other benefits granted to the relatives of police officers fallen in the line of duty and with whom the Commonwealth shall always have a debt of gratitude.
Section 1.- Section 1 of Act No. 263 of September 3, 1998, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 1.- The award of scholarships for the payment of tuition and the purchase of textbooks in any institution of higher learning in Puerto Rico, is hereby authorized to the surviving spouse, as long as she/he remains in widowed; to his/her children under twenty-one (21) years of age; and to those up to the age of twenty-five (25) years who are pursuing graduate studies, of police officers fallen in the line of duty, or for work-related health conditions or accidents, or in those cases that an off-duty police officer loses his/her life as a result of his/her intervention to prevent the commission of a crime."
Section 2.- Section 2 of Act No. 263 of September 3, 1998, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 2.- The scope of the grants for the payment of tuition shall be limited to a maximum term of six (6) years of a full-time study program to obtain a bachelor's degree, or for the maximum term required by the institution to obtain said academic degree on a part-time basis."
Section 3.- Section 3 of Act No. 263 of September 3, 1998, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 3.- The grants thus awarded shall be used exclusively for the payment of tuition and the purchase of textbooks, and shall not be applicable to any other obligation with the academic institution. The grants shall be awarded for any academic session, including summer session."
Section 4.- Section 5 of Act No. 263 of September 3, 1998, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 5.- The grants awarded for the payment of tuition and the purchase of textbooks, are conferred in addition to other compensations and benefits that may be granted by other state and federal laws."
Section 5.- Section 6 of Act No. 263 of September 3, 1998, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 6.- The Superintendent of the Puerto Rico Police is hereby empowered to promulgate the regulations that may be necessary, in coordination with the University of Puerto Rico, to execute the provisions of this Act. The regulations shall contain those grant programs that are available for the payment of tuition and the purchase of textbooks."
Section 6.- This Act shall take effect July 1, 2004.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 317 (H.B. 3574) of the $6^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend Sections 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 of Act No. 263 of September 3, 1998, known as the "Scholarships for Children of Police Officers Deceased in the Line of Duty Act" to authorize the use of said scholarships to defray expenses for the purchase of textbooks, and for the payment of tuition in any public institution of higher education of Puerto Rico, provided the admission and academic progress requirements of said institutions are met with, to the surviving spouse of police officers deceased in the line of duty, during the time she/he is widowed; etc., has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $27^{ ext {th }}$ of October of 2004.
Elba Rosa Rodríguez-Fuentes Director