Ley 9 del 2005
Resumen
Esta ley enmienda la Ley Núm. 299 de 25 de diciembre de 2002 para eliminar el Comité Conjunto para la Evaluación y Adjudicación del Premio Legislativo Jóvenes Empresarios de Puerto Rico y asignar sus funciones al Comité Conjunto sobre la Concesión de Medallas y Premios de la Legislatura. El objetivo es consolidar los procesos de otorgamiento de premios legislativos para aumentar la eficiencia y ahorrar fondos públicos.
Contenido
(No. 9)
(Approved May 19, 2005)
AN ACT
To amend Sections 4, 5, and 6, to repeal Sections 7, 8, and 9 of Act No. 299 of December 25, 2002, in order to eliminate the Joint Committee for the Evaluation and Award of the Young Entrepreneurs of Puerto Rico Legislative Award, and assign the functions regarding the Award to the Joint Committee on the Granting of Medals and Awards of the Legislature.
STATEMENT OF MOTIVES
Last November 2, 2004, the People of Puerto Rico gave a mandate to this Legislature to be more strict and conservative in the use of public funds, among other things. This mandate together with another through which the elimination or cut of standing legislative committees, whether created by law or by resolutions, was demanded; since by doing so there would be savings in the budget, and at the same time the efficiency of the legislature would be increased.
Due to this mandate, since its beginning, the Fifteenth Legislature, deemed it was necessary to undertake a process of dramatic cuts in the number of existing committees. To such purposes, it is imperative to amend the laws of many committees, so that their functions and jurisdictions may be assumed by other committees. This is the case of Act No. 299 of December 25, 2002.
It is important to mention that the amendments to Act No. 299 do not have the intention to eliminate the worthy selection of a recipient of the Award of the Young Entrepreneurs of Puerto Rico, but rather to consolidate all steps to be taken in the granting of this Award as well as other medals and awards of the Legislature in a single Joint Committee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF PUERTO RICO:
Section 1.- Section 4 of Act No. 299 December 25,2002, is hereby amended, to read as follows: "Section 4.- The award shall consist of a unique badge bearing the official seal and colors of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and a quotation allusive to the leadership of the young entrepreneurs of the country engaged in the development of free enterprise. The award-winner shall also be given an original document signed by the Chairperson of one Legislative Body, consigning the actions, achievements, and qualities of the young entrepreneur to whom the Award is granted. The Joint Committee on the Granting of Medals and Awards of the Legislature shall determine the text and form of said document for each year that the award is granted.
The first Joint Committee constituted for the evaluation and adjudication of the Legislative Award to the Young Entrepreneurs of Puerto Rico, shall adopt the design, material, and the inscription on the special award to be granted pursuant to Sections 1 through 6 of this Act. The design thus adopted shall continue to be used subsequently every year that said award is granted."
Section 2.-Section 5 of Act No. 299 of December 25, 2002, is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Section 5.- The Joint Committee on the Granting of Medals and Awards of the Legislature shall adopt the rules needed to govern, among others, the minimum content of the form to nominate the candidates for the Award, the procedure for the consideration and evaluation of the nominations submitted to the consideration of the Committee and any other matter that it deems necessary to comply with its functions. Likewise, the Committee shall publish a notice in a newspaper of general circulation at least seven (7) months before the fourth Sunday of June of each year, stating the date that the Committee shall begin to receive nominations, and the deadline to submit them to the Joint Committee, and stating the times and place that the nomination forms may be obtained; which shall be held on the fourth Sunday of June of each year."
Section 3.- Section 6 of Act No. 299 of December 25, 2002, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 6.- Any natural person or public or private entity may nominate any person deemed to deserve the Award, following the procedure established in the regulations of the Joint Committee established in Section 5 of this Act. Eligible to receive the Award established in Sections 1 through 6 of this Act shall be any person who: a. is engaged in business, manufacture or services industry and who is not older than thirty (30) years of age; b. has shown his/her support and respect for the generally recognized principles of business ethics; and c. has contributed exceptionally to the development of business or the manufacturing or service industry, and to the creation of jobs,
through his/her enterprise. The nominations of the candidates for the Award shall be submitted to the Joint Committee at least six (6) months before the celebration of Youth Day, as designated in Part 1 of Act No. 13 of April 18, 1974, as amended. All nominations for the Award shall include a summary of the performance and achievements of the nominated young entrepreneur and must be verifiable. Said nomination shall also meet all the requirements and specifications determined in its regulations by the Joint Committee on the Granting of Medals and Awards of the Legislature. The decision of the Joint Committee on the person who, in their most objective judgment, is worthy of the Award instituted in Sections 1 through 6 of this Act, shall be adopted with the vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members thereof."
Section 4.- Sections 7, 8, and 9 of Act No. 299 of December 25, 2002, are hereby repealed.
Section 5.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 9 (S.B. 319) of the $\underline{1}^{ ext {st }}$ Session of the $\underline{15}^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend Sections 4, 5, and 6, to repeal Sections 7, 8, and 9 of Act No. 299 of December 25, 2002, in order to eliminate the Joint Committee for the Evaluation and Award of the Young Entrepreneurs of Puerto Rico Legislative Award, and assign the functions regarding the Award to the Joint Committee on the Granting of Medals and Awards of the Legislature, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $19^{ ext {th }}$ of September of 2005.
Francisco J. Domenech Director