Ley 125 del 2006

(No. 125)

(Approved July 19, 2006)

AN ACT

To amend Sections 1.1(1), 3.0, 6.0 and 6.1(a) of Act No. 220 of August 29, 2002, better known as the "Special Act for Youth Cooperatives," in order to adjust the same to the legal framework in effect when extending the age of the members to twenty-nine (29) years, and for other related purposes.

STATEMENT OF MOTIVES

Our present legal framework recognizes and adopts as part of the public policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico a wide range of rights, benefits and opportunities for the development for the young of Puerto Rico who very legitimately clamor for and deserve such attention. This sector, which constitutes the present and future of our society, is called for to face the challenges and dynamic circumstances proper to Puerto Rico at the beginning of the $21^{ ext {st }}$ century.

It was precisely through Act No. 40 of January 8, 2004 that Act No. 34 of July 13, 1978, as amended, known as the "Youth Affairs Advisory Council Act," was amended in order to adjust its provisions to the definition of "youth" which refers to any person between the ages of thirteen (13) and twenty-nine (29). On the other hand, Act No. 167 of July 26, 2003, known as the "Bill of Rights of Youth in Puerto Rico Act," establishes that a person is deemed a youth until the age of twenty-nine (29). Likewise, the "Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program Act," created by virtue of Act

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No. 75 of July 8, 1986, as amended, provided that the population to which the latter shall serve shall be between the ages of thirteen (13) and twentynine (29).

With the preceding in mind, we must point out that Act No. 220 of August 29, 2002, better known as the "Special Act for Youth Cooperatives," was created for the purpose of promoting the participation of the young in the cooperative experience so as to achieve the comprehensive development of the educational, social and economic fields. These cooperatives allow their members to participate in seminars, training workshops and contests sponsored by the Department of Education, the Cooperative Development Administration, the League of Cooperatives and the Cooperative Movement. Furthermore, Act No. 220, supra, provides for the establishment of school stores that offer cafeteria, school supplies and bookstore services as well as other services that fulfill student needs and foster the development of entrepreneurial skills in the cooperative practice. The youth cooperatives are also authorized to conduct numberless activities in benefit of the school and the community.

However, it may seem incongruent that in order to become a member of a youth cooperative a person must be under twenty-five (25) years of age and meet another series of requirements as provided in Act No. 220, supra. That law expressly provided that a youth cooperative is an "organization of youths under 25 years of age in a public or private school, community or university institution."

For such reasons, we believe it meritorious to amend the Special Act for Youth Cooperatives and extend the age of their members to the age of twenty-nine (29). Thus we shall adjust its provisions to said legal framework, provide the necessary uniformity and cohesion to that body of

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laws and broaden the application of the former to the sector of youths recognized in analogous measures from the age of twenty-five (25) to the age of twenty-nine (29). Nothing could be more fair and equitable as an effective instrument to improve the quality of life of all Puerto Rican youths.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF PUERTO RICO:

Section 1.-To amend Section 1.1(1) of Act No. 220 of August 29, 2002, to read as follows: "Section 1.1.-Definitions The following terms shall have the meaning expressed below:

1. "Youth cooperative"- means an organization of youths under twenty-nine (29) years of age in a public or private school, community or university institution.

Section 2.-To amend Section 3.0 of Act No. 220 of August 29, 2002, to read as follows: "Section 3.0.-Concept School, community and university youth cooperatives are organizations of youths under twenty-nine (29) years of age. They incorporate to develop educational and socioeconomic activities that meet the needs of the school or residential community and that further provide a workshop for cooperative practice."

Section 3.-To amend Section 6.0 of Act No. 220 of August 29, 2002, to read as follows: "Section 6.0.-Enrollment in a Cooperative Any young person under twenty-nine (29) years of age, enrolled in a school or university institution or resident in a community where a youth

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cooperative is organized and who meets the admission requirements established in its articles of incorporation and bylaws, may be a member of a youth cooperative."

Section 4.-To amend Section 6.1(a) of Act No. 220 of August 29, 2002, to read as follows: "Section 6.1.-Requirements To be a member of a youth school cooperative it is required: a. To be twenty-nine (29) nine years of age or under. b.

Section 5.-The incorporate partners of youth cooperatives are hereby directed to amend their respective by-laws at their constitutive assemblies in order to adjust the same to the provisions of this Act.

Section 6.-Effectiveness 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. 125 (H.B. 2050) of the $3^{ ext {rd }}$ Session of the $15^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:

AN ACT to amend Sections 1.1(1), 3.0, 6.0 and 6.1(a) of Act No. 220 of August 29, 2002, better known as the "Special Act for Youth Cooperatives," in order to adjust the same to the legal framework in effect when extending the age of the members to twenty-nine (29) years, and for other related purposes, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.

In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $3^{ ext {rd }}$ of October of 2006.

Francisco J. Domenech Director

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