Esta ley enmienda la Ley Núm. 168 de 12 de julio de 2004 para aclarar las disposiciones sobre el aumento salarial de $150 mensuales para empleados públicos del Gobierno Central, específicamente en relación con el personal del Cuerpo de Bomberos de Puerto Rico. Excluye a ciertas dependencias y empleados, y establece un aumento de $100 mensuales para el personal del Cuerpo de Bomberos no cubierto por la Ley Núm. 45 de 25 de febrero de 1998.
(Approved September 9, 2004)
To amend Section 4 of Act No. 168 of July 12, 2004, which grants a salary increase of one hundred fifty (150) dollars per month to the public employees of the Central Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, to clarify the provisions of said Act regarding the members of the Personnel of the Firefighters Corps of Puerto Rico.
In recognition to the work performed by our public employees and the importance to this Administration of the services said employees render directly or indirectly to Puerto Rican families, a salary increase of one hundred fifty (150) dollars is hereby provided starting October 1, 2004, for all public employees who are not covered by Act No. 45 of February 25, 1998, as amended, and for those who are covered, but have not negotiated collective bargaining agreements by February 29, 2004.
In the case of union employees under Act No. 45 of February 25, 1998, as amended, that are unionized in appropriate units covered by collective bargaining agreements signed and in effect with clauses for salary increases, they shall receive the salary increase on July 1, 2004. Those who under agreement negotiated a lesser amount than that authorized by this legislation shall receive the amount necessary to complete the salary increase of one hundred fifty (150) dollars per month effective July 1, 2004. On the other hand, those who negotiated a salary increase for an amount higher than one hundred fifty (150) dollars per month may receive the difference, provided the agency contributes the additional costs that this entails.
To do justice to the members of the Rank System Personnel of the Firefighter Corps of Puerto Rico who are not covered by Act No. 45 of July 25, 1998, as amended, Act No. 168 of July 12, 2004, is hereby amended so that these workers who risk their lives in the performance of their duty may benefit from a salary increase of one hundred (100) dollars per month effective October 1, 2004.
Section 1.- Section 4 of Act No. 168 of July 12, 2004, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 4.- The following public dependencies or agencies are hereby excluded from the provisions of this Act: (1) the University of Puerto Rico; (2) public corporations with the express authority to conduct bargaining agreements under the provisions of Act No. 130 of May 8, 1945, as amended; (3) the Judicial Branch; (4) municipal employees and/or those who render services to the municipalities; (5) the members of the Rank System Personnel of the Firefighter Corps of Puerto Rico that are covered by Act No. 45 of February 25, 1998, as amended; and (6) the members of the Rank System of the Puerto Rico Police.
For those members of the Rank System Personnel of the Firefighters Corps of Puerto Rico who are not covered by Act No. 45, supra, the salary increase shall be of one hundred (100) dollars per month, effective October 1, 2004, since these employees have benefited from other increases provided by special laws."
Section 2.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 264 (H.B. 4926) of the $7^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend Section 4 of Act No. 168 of July 12, 2004, which grants a salary increase of one hundred fifty (150) dollars per month to the public employees of the Central Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, to clarify the provisions of said Act regarding the members of the Personnel of the Firefighters Corps of Puerto Rico, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today 17th of November of 2005.
Francisco J. Domenech Director