Esta ley enmienda la Ley Núm. 53 de 10 de junio de 1996 para aumentar el pago a los dependientes de un miembro de la Policía de Puerto Rico que fallece en el cumplimiento del deber y acortar el plazo para dicho desembolso.
(Approved March 27, 2004)
To amend subsection
(b) of Section 6 of Act No. 53 of June 10, 1996, as amended, to increase the amount paid to the surviving spouse or the dependents of a member of the Puerto Rico Police who loses his/her life in the performance of his/her duty, or as a result thereof, and to provide the term that the Police Force has to disburse said payment.
Act No. 53 of June 10, 1996, as amended, formed the Puerto Rico Police that is known today. Among many other aspects, it established a mechanism whereby the Police Superintendent could expedite the processing and disbursement of a payment to defray the urgent needs faced by these families, to the surviving spouse or the dependents of a police officer who has died in the performance of his/her duty, or as a result thereof.
It is widely known that these Puerto Rican men and women who have given their lives in behalf of the safety and well being of the people of Puerto Rico, are immediately bound to incur funeral and other related expenses, which is a stressful situation, added to the sad loss of their loved one. The Legislature of Puerto Rico deems it worthy to increase the amount to be paid, as well as to shorten the term for the disbursement thereof.
Section 1.- Subsection
(b) of Section 6 of Act No. 53 of June 10, 1996, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Section 6.- Special Powers
(a) (b) The Superintendent shall process and disburse to the surviving spouse, or in his/her absence, to the dependents of the police officer who has died in the performance of his/her duty, or as a result thereof, an amount corresponding to three (3) monthly payments of the gross salary earned by the latter, to defray urgent family needs. This payment shall be charged to the operating expenses of the Puerto Rico Police no later than two (2) working days following the death of the member of the Force. The processing of this benefit shall take place regardless of any other compensation or benefit to which the spouse or the dependents of these public servants are entitled.
(c) ...
(d) ...
(e) ...
Section 2.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 85 (H.B. 3701) of the $7^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend subsection
(b) of Section 6 of Act No. 53 of June 10, 1996, as amended, to increase the amount paid to the surviving spouse or the dependents of a member of the Puerto Rico Police who loses his/her life in the performance of his/her duty, or as a result thereof, and to provide the term that the Police Force has to disburse said payment, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $24^{ ext {th }}$ of June of 2005.
Luis E. Fusté-Lacourt Director
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