Esta ley enmienda la Ley Núm. 154 de 5 de agosto de 1988 para requerir el consejo y consentimiento del Senado de Puerto Rico para el nombramiento del Administrador de la Administración de Instituciones Juveniles. La ley destaca la importancia de esta agencia en la rehabilitación de menores y busca asegurar que la persona nombrada cumpla con los requisitos necesarios.
(Approved January 4, 2003)
To amend Section 4 of Act No. 154 of August 5, 1988, as amended, to establish the advice and consent of the Puerto Senate as a requirement for the naming of the Administrator of the Juvenile Institutions Administration.
The Juvenile Institutions Administration is presently adjoined to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Such department has as its fundamental purpose the efficient administration of juvenile institutions and programs that are under its jurisdiction, providing to its clientele and their family those integrated and specialized services that foster positive changes in behavior.
In 1993, the Government of Puerto Rico presented the Executive Branch Reorganization Plan Number 3, which included this organism. Section Number 6 of this Act indicates that the heads and directors of the component bodies of the Department would be appointed by the Governor of Puerto Rico, with the advice and consent of the Senate, including the Administrator of Juvenile Institutions. This amendment was not incorporated into the organic laws of the agency, and accordingly, the appointment of this public servant has not been subject to the scrutiny of the Legislature of Puerto Rico.
Among the functions that the Juvenile Institutions Administration is charged with are the operation and administration of existing juvenile institutions, the provision to its clientele and their families of those integrated and specialized services that foster positive changes in behavior, the rendering of evaluation and treatment services, and the determination, with the court's authorization, of when a minor is eligible to receive custody benefits in the community. Additionally, it will be responsible for the client's custody and safety as well as for establishing and maintaining adequate safety measures in juvenile institutions, for arresting juveniles, with the court's order, at any time and in any place, and for establishing an effective program that facilitates the return of the minor to his family and to his community, as well as for identifying the dysfunctional elements of the system and for taking, urgently, the appropriate steps to address the causes of these problems and to establish an orderly, integrated, safe and efficient operation of the juvenile institutions under its charge.
Given the importance of this agency in rehabilitation matters concerning youth who commit misdeeds in Puerto Rico, it is necessary that the People, through its Legislature, have the power to grant its express consent to the "nomination" of the candidate who better complies with all the necessary requirements for the Administrator of the Juvenile Institutions Administration's correct discharge of duties.
Section 1.- The first paragraph of Section 4 of Act No. 154 of August 5, 1988, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 4.- The Administration shall be directed by an Administrator who shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The person holding the office of Administrator shall have sufficient
experience and knowledge in the field of behavioral sciences and in the area of administration, and shall also have knowledge of and be committed to the enforcement of public policy regarding the juvenile justice system and rehabilitation and re-socialization of transgressing minors through the rendering of the necessary services
Section 2.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 56 (H.B. 1687) of the $4^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend Section 4 of Act No. 154 of August 5, 1988, as amended, to establish the advice and consent of the Puerto Senate as a requirement for the naming of the Administrator of the Juvenile Institutions Administration, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $26^{ ext {st }}$ of February of 2004.
Elba Rosa Rodríguez-Fuentes Director