Esta ley enmienda la Ley Núm. 49 de 27 de junio de 1987, conocida como la "Licencia Deportiva Especial", para aumentar los días laborables de licencia especial para deportistas, entrenadores y personal especializado que sean empleados públicos o privados. Aumenta la duración acumulativa de la licencia de quince (15) a treinta (30) días laborables al año y permite la ausencia de hasta cuarenta y cinco (45) días laborables al año si se han acumulado días de licencia deportiva, vacaciones o tiempo compensatorio. También aumenta de treinta (30) a cuarenta y cinco (45) los días laborables consecutivos en los que el atleta puede ausentarse por entrenamiento o participación en competencias, si los tiene acumulados.
(Approved September 23, 2004)
To amend Section 2 and Section 3 of Act No. 49 of June 27, 1987, known as the "Special Sports Leave," in order to increase the workdays established in the special sports leave for participants who are public or private employees.
Section 2 of Act No. 49 of June 27, 1987, known as the "Special Sports Leave," establishes that its cumulative duration shall not exceed fifteen (15) workdays a year.
It also establishes that, eligible sportspersons may be absent from their jobs, through this special sports leave, during the time they are participating in these competitions, up to a maximum of (30) workdays a year, if they have accumulated the same as vacations and in the cases applicable is compensatory time without any loss of pay or efficiency rating.
It has been scientifically proven that participating in playoffs and international competitions improves athletic performance, consequently, as part of the training to represent the country, it is required that they be included in the training.
Therefore, Section 2 of the Act, supra, is amended to increase the special sports leave from fifteen (15) to thirty (30) workdays a year. In this manner, our Island shall guarantee the dignified participation of Puerto Rican sportspersons exposed to indispensable training and international playoffs to
complete the training cycle and competition without this affecting his/her job. Furthermore, the days for the athlete to be absent are increased to a maximum of forty-five (45) days a year if he/she has them available. It shall be understood that these forty-five (45) days are cumulative, thus the athleteemployee may use them during the year. Finally, it shall be understood that this measure applies to athletes, trainers and specialized personnel, as well as to disabled persons duly-certified as sportspersons by the Secretary of and Sports and Recreation.
On the other hand, Section 3 of the Act, supra, is hereby amended to increase from thirty (30) to forty-five (45) the consecutive workdays in which the athlete, if he/she has accumulated, may be absent due to training or participation in competitions.
Section 1.- The first paragraph of Section 2 of Act No. 49 of June 27, 1987, is hereby amended to read as follows:
Duration and effects "The special sports leave established in Section one shall have a cumulative duration of not more than thirty (30) workdays a year, counted on and after the date of approval of this Act. Eligible sportspersons, trainers and specialized personnel may be absent from their jobs through this special sports leave, during the time they are participating in these competitions, up to a maximum of forty-five (45) workdays a year, if they have accumulated them, under sports leave, vacations, and in cases in which it may apply, compensatory time without any loss of pay or efficiency rating, provided, that the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee shall pay from the funds it receives, the unearned salaries of the employee sportspersons of the private sector who avail themselves of this special sports leave.
Sportspersons ..." Section 2.- The second paragraph of Section 3 of Act No. 49 of June 27, 1987 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Application At least ten (10) days prior to this billeting, every sportsperson certified by the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee or by the Secretary of Sports and Recreation to represent Puerto Rico in the competitions indicated above shall present to his/her employer, a certified copy of the document accrediting him/her to represent Puerto Rico in the competition, which shall include information regarding the period during which he/she shall be participating in said competition.
The employer shall authorize the eligible sportsperson, trainer and specialized personnel to avail him/herself of the days requested up to a limit of forty-five (45) consecutive workdays a year, provided he/she has accumulated them by reason of sports leave, vacations, and in those cases in which it may apply, compensatory time. Any request..."
Section 3.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 488 (H.B. 3308) of the $7^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend Section 2 and Section 3 of Act No. 49 of June 27, 1987, known as the "Special Sports Leave," in order to increase the workdays established in the special sports leave for participants who are public or private employees, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $13^{ ext {th }}$ of July of 2007.
Francisco J. Domenech Director