Esta ley enmienda la Ley Núm. 51 de 30 de junio de 1986, conocida como la "Ley del Centro Cardiovascular de Puerto Rico y del Caribe", para requerir que los informes semestrales que se rinden al Gobernador también sean sometidos a la Legislatura. El propósito es aumentar la fiscalización legislativa sobre la corporación, especialmente en vista de preocupaciones sobre el manejo de fondos y equipos.
(S. B. 1186) (Conference) (No. 39) (Approved January 8, 2004)
To amend Section 10 of Act No. 51 of June 30, 1986, as amended, known as the "Cardiovascular Center Corporation of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Act", in order to require that the semi-annual reports to the Governor shall also be submitted to the Legislature.
On June 30, 1986, Act No. 51 became effective, which created the Cardiovascular Center Corporation of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, responsible to formulate or execute the public policy pertaining to the planning, organization, operation and administration of the cardiovascular services to be rendered in Puerto Rico.
In order to comply with the purposes of Act No. 51, supra, set forth in Section 3 of this Act, this Corporation is empowered, among other functions and powers, to: "draft an annual operation budget proposal", "establish the services, units and departments needed for the effective, prompt, efficient and cost effective functioning of the Corporation.", "to borrow money from any financing source ...", "have full power and control of all equipment and facilities of the Corporation acquired or built by the Public Buildings Authority", "negotiate and execute all types of contract, document and other public instruments...", "appoint, contract and designate medical personnel to provide direct treatment of patients in the Center", "purchase all the materials, supplies, equipment, parts and services that are necessary and dispose of such materials, supplies, equipment and parts when
the same fail to fulfill their purposes", through sale, transfer or cession to other entities, or destruction or otherwise that the Corporation deems most convenient, "request, receive and accept funds, donations from the federal or state government or from any other source", "carry out on its own or contract the construction, improvement, enlargement, extension or repair works needed by the Corporation...", "possess, acquire and transfer personal and real property and mortgage or lease any of them, including their rights and privileges ...", "and participate with others in a corporation, partnership joint venture or association of any transaction, business, arrangement or covenant ..."
It must be mentioned that Section 9 of Act No. 51, supra, establishes the participation of the Legislature in the annual evaluation of the operating expense budget and capital investments of the Cardiovascular Center Corporation of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
Recently, it has been denounced in the Island's press that the medical equipment that the Cardiovascular Center Corporation of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean allegedly acquired at a cost of $671,788.03, through a lease with AA Public Finance Company has not been found in the Medical Center facilities, for which reason its whereabouts is unknown. The following are among said equipment: beds, intensive care monitors and computers.
The Legislature of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has the obligation to seek solutions to the problems affecting Puerto Rican society, through the mechanism of legislative creation. Accordingly, it is imperative that the Legislature be provided with all the necessary information about the different problems faced by our Puerto Rico, in order to be adequately situated to perform its legislative functions responsibly.
With this legislative bill, the participation of the Legislature is incorporated to the process to evaluate the responsibilities, powers and functions that have been
delegated by it to government bodies, in this case the Cardiovascular Center Corporation of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, created to address a series of problems that affect the health and welfare of our Puerto Rican brethren. Thus the Legislature may effectively discharge its constitutional functions of evaluating the "executive departments" that have been created, consolidated or reorganized by it."
Section 1.- To amend Section 10 of Act No. 51 of June 30, 1986, as amended, known as the "Cardiovascular Corporation Center of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Act", to read as follows: "Section 10.- Reports The Executive Director of the Cardiovascular Corporation Center of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean shall render a bi-annual report to the Board of Directors which, in turn, shall remit a copy to the Governor or to the official delegated by him, on the work performed. Additionally, a copy of said bi-annual report shall be remitted to the Legislature, and a copy of this report shall be specifically remitted to each of the Commissions of Social Welfare and of Health, of the House of Representatives as well as of the Senate of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico."
Section 2.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 39 (S.B. 1186) (Conference) of the $6^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend Section 10 of Act No. 51 of June 30, 1986, as amended, known as the "The Cardiovascular Center Corporation of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Act", in order to require that the semi-annual reports to the Governor shall also be submitted to the Legislature, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $4^{ ext {th }}$ of May of 2005.
Luis E. Fusté-Lacourt Director