Esta ley autoriza un programa piloto en el Municipio de Dorado para crear tarjetas de identificación estudiantil en escuelas secundarias, con el fin de mejorar la seguridad y facilitar el acceso a servicios. Requiere un informe sobre la viabilidad de implementar este sistema en todas las escuelas secundarias públicas.
(Approved August 6, 2004)
To authorize the pilot program of the Municipality of Dorado, denominated as "Mi Escuela Amiga" (My Friendly School), to establish as an experimental project, an identification card for each student at the secondary level that participates in said program; and require that a report be presented on the feasibility of institutionalizing the card in all second level public schools.
The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico created through Act No. 26 of June 5, 1985, a School Security Corps attached to the Department of Education, with the purpose of watching over and protecting the health and welfare of the children, as well as effectively protecting the security of students, teachers, non-teaching personnel and the physical facilities of the school. The Secretary of Education has the responsibility of safeguarding the students that are in the school buildings. It should be mentioned that the School Security Corps arose as a result of the alarming rise in criminal incidents and vandalism, not only in Puerto Rico but also in the educational installations of the public education system.
The physical and emotional safety of students is an essential paradigm so that the teaching process can be performed efficiently. Most certainly, the primary purpose of the creation of the School Security Corps was to protect lives and school property, as well as developing a surveillance and
prevention system through which it would be ensured that delinquent acts would not occur within or outside of the premises of the schools buildings.
The municipality of Dorado has established a pilot program known as "Mi Escuela Amiga" whose simple and practical vision has become a valuable instrument to help teachers, parents and students, as an educational initiative of hope for our youth. This educational program established in the José S. Alegría High School of Dorado with the approval of the Department of Education interested in developing a student identification card, as an experimental project, which serves the purpose of a student safety program, and facilitates the access of students to cultural and artistic activities, their use of public library services, their visits to other educational institutions, etc.
Section 1.- To authorize the pilot program denominated "Mi Escuela Amiga" of the Municipality of Dorado, to establish, with the written authorization of the parent, guardian or person in charge, an identification card for each secondary level student that participates in said program. The program shall develop regulations, based on the parameters of this Act and in harmony with the principles of confidentiality established pursuant to Act No. 149 of July 15, 1999, the applicable federal regulations (FERPA, 34 C.F.R. 99), the Student's Bill of Rights and the Student Regulations, in order to specify the requirements for the issuing and use of the identification cards.
Section 2.- The school identification card shall contain the following information: the name and surname of the student, a two by two photograph, the name and address of the public school, and the municipality in which the school is located.
The identification card shall not contain any other information regarding a student than what is provided herein, except by prior authorization of the parents, guardian or the person in charge.
Section 3.- The Municipality of Dorado shall fully defray the cost of each identification card in this experimental phase, without any obligation in such respect by the Department of Education.
Section 4.- At the end of two years as of the effectiveness of this Act, the "Mi Escuela Amiga" program of the Municipality of Dorado shall render a report to the Department of Education and to the Legislature on the results of this experimental student identification card project, which shall include an itemized account of the costs, and recommendations regarding the possibility of establishing the card throughout the entire school system of the Island.
Section 5.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 202 (S.B. 2584) of the $7^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to authorize the pilot program of the Municipality of Dorado, denominated as "Mi Escuela Amiga" (My Friendly School), to establish as an experimental project, an identification card for each student at the secondary level that participates in said program; and require that a report be presented on the feasibility of institutionalizing the card in all second level public schools, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $7^{ ext {th }}$ of July of 2005.
Luis E. Fusté-Lacourt Director