Esta ley enmienda la Ley Núm. 14 de 1915 para aumentar la indemnización a $25,000 para el cónyuge sobreviviente y los hijos menores, estudiantes a tiempo completo o discapacitados de un miembro de la Policía de Puerto Rico que fallezca en el cumplimiento del deber.
(Approved March 27, 2004)
To amend Section 1 of Act No. 14 of May 11, 1915, as amended, to increase to twenty-five thousand $(25,000)$ dollars the indemnity to be awarded to the surviving spouse and to the children who are minors, full-time students or disabled of a member of the Puerto Rico Police who dies in the performance of duty or as a result thereof.
By means of Act No. 14 of March 11, 1915, it was established as public policy the creation of a benefit for widows and widowers of Puerto Rico Police members who die in the line of duty. Through the years, the amount of the compensation, which was fixed at one thousand $(1,000)$ dollars in 1915, has been increased and adjusted to the reality of our society.
However, since 1993, this Act was amended for said benefit to also be extended to the minor children or disabled minor children of said public order officers, as well as to increase the indemnity to twenty thousand $(20,000)$ dollars. After ten years from the last revision to this measure, the Legislature of Puerto Rico deems it meritorious to increase the indemnity to twenty-five thousand $(25,000)$ dollars to do justice to those fellow citizens who have made
the maximum sacrifice in behalf of the safety and welfare of the people of Puerto Rico.
Section 1.- Section 1 of Act No. 14 of March 11, 1915, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 1.- Indemnity for Death in the Performance of Duty Should a member of the Puerto Rico Police lose his/her life in the performance of his/her duty or as a result thereof, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall be obliged to pay a sum equal to twenty-five thousand $(25,000)$ dollars as indemnity for the death of such officer to the surviving spouse and to his/her children who are minors or who are full-time students or are disabled. Should both concur, each party shall be awarded fifty (50) percent. Should there be no surviving spouse, one hundred (100) percent shall correspond to the minor children full-time students or disabled. In absence thereof, one hundred (100) percent shall correspond to the surviving spouse. Should there be none of these parties, the sum shall then be awarded to the dependent parents of the originator. For the purposes of this Act, the surviving spouse shall be understood to be the person married to the originator at the time his/her demise occurs.
Section 2.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 86 (H.B. 3702) of the 7th Session of the 14th Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend Section 1 of Act No. 14 of May 11, 1915, as amended, to increase to twenty-five thousand $(25,000)$ dollars the indemnity to be awarded to the surviving spouse and to the children who are minors, full-time students or disabled of a member of the Puerto Rico Police who dies in the performance of duty or as a result thereof, has been translated from Spanish to English, and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today 3rd of August of 2005.
Francisco J. Domenech Director