Esta ley enmienda la Ley Núm. 160 de 23 de agosto de 1996, conocida como la "Ley para Reglamentar la Práctica de la Profesión de Planificadores en Puerto Rico". Incorpora oficialmente la categoría y especificación de Planificador Profesional Licenciado al Sistema de Administración de Recursos Humanos del Gobierno de Puerto Rico, estableciendo directrices para su clasificación, compensación y reconocimiento profesional en las entidades públicas.
(Approved September 15, 2004)
To add Section 14 and renumber Sections 15 to 20 of Act No. 160 of August 23, 1996, as amended, known as the "Act to Regulate the Practice of the Profession of Planners in Puerto Rico," to officially incorporate the category and specification of the discipline of Licensed Professional Planner to the Human Resources Administration System of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and for other related purposes.
With the approval of Act No. 160 of August 23, 1996, the minimum requirements for the practice of the Planning profession in Puerto Rico were established, recognizing it as a highly specialized (professional, administrative or pedagogic) discipline, whose procedures and analysis techniques are necessary for the formulation and direction of comprehensive and global plans in the programs and the evaluation of the activities, as well as to achieve optimum levels of efficiency and effectiveness in any public or private, municipal government, region or country organization, as the case may be, whether of services or products or other.
More than six (6) years have elapsed since the promulgation of Act No. 160 and said law has not yet been implemented in several public sector institutions. Some designating authorities of the public sector have not taken affirmative action when an employee, pursuant to law, has requested the
pertinent personnel transaction to modify the classification, position, and duties, as well as to create the professional category.
On occasion, the requirement of a professional license for hiring, selection, appointment, reclassification, transfer, and training is disregarded, thus breaching the Merit Principle, the Personnel Act, the Uniform Compensation Act and other labor laws that apply in the public sector. The Licensed Professional Planner Category has not yet been created through the modification of the Classification and Compensation Plans, with the corresponding adjustment of salaries and the requirement of a professional license.
On the other hand, the Puerto Rican Project for the $21^{ ext {st }}$ Century proposes the introduction into the Commonwealth Government of "a new planning culture with emphasis on strategic measures, coordination of public works and the implementation of sustainable development policies," acknowledging "the Central Government's role in establishing broad policies for development at the regional level, and the role of the municipal governments in providing specific local planning for the implementation of these policies."
The statement demonstrates the need for the participation of licensed professional planners for the implementation of this public policy at all levels. The creation, through this Act, of the category of Licensed Professional Planner and the Specification of the Category, in addition to making it possible to comply with Act No. 160, shall contribute toward the achievement of balance and harmony for greater productivity and efficiency in the Administration of Public Service and toward making the practice of planning a more effective tool for the comprehensive development of Puerto Rico. Be it understood that a direct mandate to recruit these professionals
into public service is not produced with this legislation, but rather that the adequate conditions are established so that in the regular course of hiring or contracting government personnel, the necessary measures are taken for the classification, compensation and professional specialization to assert the planning profession in Puerto Rico.
Section 1.- A new Section 14 is hereby added to Act No. 16 of August 23, 1996, as amended, to read as follows: "Section 14.- Category and Specification of Licensed Professional Planner
The category and specification of the discipline of Licensed Professional Planner (LPP) shall be incorporated officially into the Human Resources Administration System of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It shall be done in the following manner: a. It shall be understood that the Central Labor Advisory and Human Resources Administration Office shall notify all other public entities, including the municipal governments, public corporations and local agencies, as well as the Legislature of Puerto Rico of the creation of the Category and Specification of Licensed Professional Planner for the corresponding modification of the Central Labor Advisory and Human Resources Administration Office Classification and Compensation Plans to be made, as well as in the Personnel Administration System. b. The public entities shall modify their Classification and Compensation Plans to grant the due and rightful professional recognition in category, classification and compensation to
Licensed Professional Planners, according to the public policy of the Entity, whether of service, products or others, to locate the suitable person in the appropriate position and assign the specialized duties and fair compensation to said suitable person. c. Public entities shall modify, update and acknowledge the essential specialized professional duties and the relative value of distinctive positions for the Category of Licensed Professional Planners, as set forth in the laws in effect."
Section 2.- Sections 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 of Act No. 160 of August 13, 1996, as amended, are hereby renumbered as $15,1617,18,19$, 20,21 and 22 , respectively.
Section 3.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 291 (H.B. 4151) of the $7^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to add Section 14 and renumber Sections 15 to 20 of Act No. 160 of August 23, 1996, as amended, known as the "Act to Regulate the Practice of the Profession of Planners in Puerto Rico," to officially incorporate the category and specification of the discipline of Licensed Professional Planner to the Human Resources Administration System of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and for other related purposes, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today 1st of November of 2005.
Francisco J. Domenech Director