Esta ley enmienda la Ley Núm. 263 de 1998 para extender becas de estudios superiores a cónyuges sobrevivientes y hijos de policías municipales fallecidos en el cumplimiento del deber o en circunstancias relacionadas. Incluye a hijos menores de 21 años y a aquellos hasta 25 años que cursen estudios universitarios. Autoriza al Superintendente de la Policía a reglamentar la implementación en coordinación con los Comisionados de la Policía Municipal y la Universidad de Puerto Rico.
(Approved March 29, 2004)
To amend Sections 1 and 6 of Act No. 263 of September 3, 1998, to include as beneficiaries in the award of scholarships for higher education studies to the surviving spouse, while remaining in widowhood, and the children under twenty-one (21) years of age of Municipal Police officers who have died in the performance of their official duties, or due to health conditions or accidents related to the performance of their duties, or their death while off-duty as a result of their intervention to avoid the commission of a crime; also including children over twenty-five (25) years of age who are still studying in an accredited university and to establish that the Police Superintendent shall promulgate the necessary regulations, in coordination with the Commissioners of the Municipal Police and the University of Puerto Rico to comply with this Act.
By means of Act No. 45 of May 22, 1996, which amended Act No. 19 of May 12, 1977, as amended, Municipal Guards were designated as Municipal Police and were adjudicated the authority and powers similar to those of the Puerto Rico Police Force. In view of this new provision, it is necessary to consider as a measure of equity and justice, to extend the basic rights enjoyed by our State Police officers to the members of the Municipal Police, who share the duty of watching over and safeguarding the safety of our citizens.
The members of the Municipal Police are an essential part of the Puerto Rico justice system. They perform a duty of great importance and
responsibility for our communities: the fight against crime. It is a high risk task, in which they endanger their life and on occasion, unfortunately, they lose their life while performing their duty.
Furthermore, the inconsolable family who depended on the Municipal Police officer is left behind. There is no compensation in the universe that can lessen the pain of the death of a loved one. However, the Government is duty bound to compensate the immediate family for the loss of income they shall no longer receive.
This measure offers an incentive so that the surviving spouse and children of these Municipal Police officers may study in public institutions of higher education in Puerto Rico, with an exemption of tuition, provided they meet the admission and academic requirements to continue their studies.
Section 1.- Sections 1 and 6 of Act No. 263 of September 3 1998, are hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 1.- The award of grants for the payment of tuition in any public higher education institution of Puerto Rico, is hereby authorized for the surviving spouse, as long as she/he remains unmarried; for his/her children under twenty-one (21) years of age; and for those up to twentyfive (25) years of age who are pursuing graduate studies, of Commonwealth or Municipal police officers deceased in the line of duty or due to work-related health conditions or accident, or in those cases where while off-duty, the officer loses his/her life as a result of his/her intervention to prevent the commission of a crime.
Section 6.- The Puerto Rico Police Superintendent is hereby empowered to promulgate the necessary regulations, in coordination with
the Municipal Police Commissioner and the University of Puerto Rico, to enact the provisions of this chapter. The regulations shall contain those scholarship programs that are available for the payment of tuition."
Section 2.- This Act shall take effect sixty (60) days after its approval to allow the drafting and approval of the necessary regulations by the Police Superintendent, in coordination with the Commissioners of the Municipal Police and the Administration of the University of Puerto Rico.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 89 (H.B. 2317) of the $7^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend Sections 1 and 6 of Act No. 263 of September 3, 1998, to include as beneficiaries in the award of scholarships for higher education studies to the surviving spouse, while remaining in widowhood, and the children under twenty-one (21) years of age of Municipal Police officers who have died in the performance of their official duties, etc., has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $3^{ ext {rd }}$ of August of 2005.
Francisco J. Domenech Director