Esta ley crea el "Premio Anual de la Legislatura al Servidor Público Distinguido por la Protección y Bienestar de las Personas con Discapacidad en el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico". Establece los criterios para la selección del galardonado, el procedimiento para la nominación y entrega del premio, y dispone los fondos necesarios para su implementación. El premio reconoce a empleados y funcionarios públicos que se destacan por su contribución o servicio extraordinario en la protección y bienestar de las personas con discapacidad.
(Approved September 15, 2004)
To create the "Annual Award of the Legislature to the Public Servant Distinguished for the Protection and Welfare of Disabled Persons in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico" to be bestowed to the employees and officials of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico distinguished for the contribution or extraordinary service for the protection and welfare of disabled persons; to provide the procedure for granting the same and to provide the means for defraying the expenses for the implementation of this Act.
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico establishes the following fundamental principle: "the dignity of the human being is inviolable." It furthermore establishes that no discrimination shall be made among its constituents. And for all legal purposes, it establishes that all human beings are equal.
There are close to 800,000 disabled citizens in Puerto Rico, of which $5 %$ of the total population of 3,608, 610 (2000 Census) suffer from severe disabilities. At present the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration, attached to the Department of Labor and Human Resources, attends to 27, 741 persons with some kind of disability. The Department of Education has 3,188 Special Education teachers, in addition to the 5 Early Childhood Special Education teachers. During Fiscal year 1999-2000, the Office of the
Advocate for the Disabled provided information and referral services to 29,963 disabled persons, parents, service providers, professionals and the general public.
This Legislature, through the bestowal of the award proposed in this legislation, recognizes those persons who distinguished themselves for their services as well as for the scientific research conducted during the year, while providing an incentive for these people to continue their efforts for their professional betterment in benefit of Puerto Rican society. Our Island is characterized for having highly qualified personnel involved in the Protection and the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities and by the capacity and dedication of said persons to be in the forefront with the latest technological advances and discoveries that bring about changes in the services and attention they provide to the citizens.
The Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico maintains diverse service programs to attend to the needs of the disabled and to ensure that they remain as an integral part of our communities, are protected and enjoy a better quality of life. This is an effort in which many public employees and officials participate and who in one way or another contribute to the wellbeing of the disabled allowing them to enjoy life to the fullest with the dignity and respect to which they are entitled.
Mention must be made of the fact that in the field of health, this Legislature instituted, through Act No. 165 of August 12, 2000, "The Yearly Award to the Public Servant in the Field of Health," for the purpose of recognizing those who do extraordinary work so the people may receive medical treatment of excellence or endeavor to prevent conditions that are seriously harmful to their health.
By virtue of Act No. 291 of November 9, 2003, this Legislature instituted the "Annual Award of the Legislature for the Outstanding Public Servant in the Area of Protection and Welfare of the Elderly in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico," to be granted to employees and officers of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico who distinguish themselves for their extraordinary contribution or service for the protection and welfare of the elderly.
For the above stated reasons, the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico believes it meritorious to make the present legislation effective by instituting the "Annual Award of the Legislature to the Public Servant Distinguished for the Protection and Welfare of Disabled Persons in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico."
Section 1.- The "Annual Award of the Legislature to the Public Servant Distinguished for the Protection and Welfare of Disabled Persons in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico," henceforth the "Award," is hereby created.
Section 2.- A panel of nine (9) judges is hereby constituted to include the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate of Puerto Rico, who shall co-chair said panel, the President of the Social Welfare and Special Communities Committee of the Senate of Puerto Rico, the President of the Social Welfare Committee of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico, the floor leaders of the parliamentary minorities in both committees and the Advocate for the Disabled.
Should the House of Representatives or the Senate of Puerto Rico, or both Bodies, lack a Social Welfare and Special Communities Committee, the member of the panel shall be the President of that Committee of each Body with jurisdiction over the legislation related to the welfare of the disabled.
The aforementioned panel shall have the power to annually select the public servant who has most highly distinguished him/herself in matters concerning the welfare of the disabled. For this, provisions shall be established through regulations for the internal operations of the panel, which must include, among others, the procedure for submitting nominations of the candidates to the Award and the closing date or term for submitting them.
Section 3.- The panel shall receive nominations and recommendations concerning the candidates that are worthy of receiving this distinction, be it through the initiative of either the public or the private sector.
Section 4.- The person nominated must be an employee or official in active services in the Legislative, Judicial or Executive Branches of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, including its municipal governments, public corporations and instrumentalities. Said person shall also meet the following requirements:
(a) Having made an extraordinary contribution, through his/her work, scientific research or community services, for the protection, care, attention and welfare of persons with disabilities.
(b) Having worked as a public servant during a minimum period of five (5) years prior to the closing date for nominations as fixed by the panel, specifically in the protection and welfare of the disabled in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Section 5.- The Award shall consist of an economic bonus for the sum of one thousand five hundred $(1,500)$ dollars and a document of recognition signed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate. Said Award shall be presented during a ceremony to be held in the premises of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, on the
date in which the "International Day of the Persons with Disabilities" is observed during the month of December of every year.
Section 6.- Both legislative bodies, shall in equal parts, set aside from their respective Annual General Expenses Budgets the funds required for the implementation of this Act.
Section 7.- The award received by the employee or official shall be in addition to his/her regular compensation and any other bonus and fringe benefit to which he/she is entitled. Said award shall not be deemed to be a part of these nor be subject to the payment of income tax.
Section 8.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 309 (S.B. 1287) of the $7^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to create the "Annual Award of the Legislature to the Public Servant Distinguished for the Protection and Welfare of Disabled Persons in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico" to be bestowed to the employees and officials of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico distinguished for the contribution or extraordinary service for the protection and welfare of disabled persons; to provide the procedure for granting the same and to provide the means for defraying the expenses for the implementation of this Act, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $1^{ ext {st }}$ of November of 2005.
Francisco J. Domenech Director