Ley 124 del 2006

(No. 124)

(Approved July 19, 2006)

AN ACT

To add a paragraph (L) to subsection B of Section 4 of Act No. 13 of October 2, 1980, as amended, known as the "Puerto Rican Veteran's Bill of Rights," in order to guarantee the readmission to a university institution to any person who having been called to active military service has had to interrupt his/her studies.

STATEMENT OF MOTIVES

Thousands of our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters have been called throughout the years to heroically serve in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. These people, with their work and personal sacrifice contribute to the perpetuation of our freedom and of the democratic foundations upon which our society rests and our government is based.

There are hundreds of young servicemen and women among this heroic group of Puerto Ricans who have had to interrupt their university studies leaving behind their homes and their loved ones to meet the obligation which the nature of their calling entails. Puerto Rican soldiers must feel confident and be sure that upon their return to their homes once their military obligation has concluded they will be able to continue their university studies without having to face possible bureaucratic or ideological discriminatory barriers that would hinder the achievement of their professional goals.

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As a means of acknowledging the exemplary efforts of our young men and women in the military throughout the world and their desire to develop professionally so they may rejoin the competitive work force on our Island, we must reassert our commitment to enable them, as may be possible, to obtain access to those university institutions that provide for their academic development.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF PUERTO RICO:

Section 1.-A paragraph (1) is hereby added to subsection B of Section 4 of Act No. 13 of October 2, 1980, as amended, known as the "Puerto Rican Veteran's Bill of Rights," to read as follows: "B. Rights Regarding Education.

(a) $\qquad$

(b) $\qquad$

(c) $\qquad$

(d) $\qquad$

(e) $\qquad$

(f) $\qquad$

(g) $\qquad$

(h) $\qquad$

(i) $\qquad$

(j) $\qquad$

(k) $\qquad$ (1) It shall be the duty of the university institution to guarantee to every Veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States who had been pursuing studies full or part time at said institution at the time of being called to military active service, readmission to the program of studies. Readmission shall not be subject to the evaluating process of a readmissions

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committee or a similar mechanism. Veterans shall be given registration priority for those courses they would have had to interrupt due to the nature of their involuntary entry into active military service, provided said courses are being offered by said institution during the academic session to which they have been applying for readmission, for up to one (1) year after returning from service or when there is just cause. Readmission of students who conclude their active military service shall not be subject to the payment of the fee for a readmission application."

Section 2.-This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.

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CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 124 (H.B. 1735) of the $\underline{3}^{ ext {rd }}$ Session of the $\underline{15}^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:

AN ACT to add a paragraph (L) to subsection B of Section 4 of Act No. 13 of October 2, 1980, as amended, known as the "Puerto Rican Veteran's Bill of Rights," in order to guarantee the readmission to a university institution to any person who having been called to active military service has had to interrupt his/her studies, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.

In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $13^{ ext {th }}$ of September of 2006.

Francisco J. Domenech Director