Ley 174 del 2006
Resumen
Esta ley exime del pago de matrícula y otras tarifas universitarias a los hijos de soldados puertorriqueños fallecidos en combate, desaparecidos en acción o prisioneros de guerra que se matriculen en el Sistema de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. Establece requisitos para acceder a este beneficio, como la presentación de una certificación del estatus militar.
Contenido
(N. B. 2267) (No. 174) (Approved August 30, 2006)
AN ACT
To amend subsection
(b) of Section 12 of Act No. 1 of January 20, 1966, as amended, known as the "University of Puerto Rico Act," to exempt from the payment of tuition, student fees, rentals, charges, laboratory fees and any others, as determined by the University of Puerto Rico Board of Trustees, the children of Puerto Rican soldiers who have died in battle, are missing in action or are prisoners of war who enroll in any of the institutions of the University of Puerto Rico System; and to impose requirements.
STATEMENT OF MOTIVES
To risk life and, in many cases, to lose it for participating in warfare for the sake of defending the values of freedom and justice that we share with our fellow citizens of the United States represents the greatest sacrifice that any Puerto Rican brother or sister can make for his/her country.
No government recognition is enough to express gratitude for their devotion to Puerto Rican soldiers who die, disappear or are captured in the line of duty. Furthermore, there is no way to erase and eliminate the suffering of all their families and relatives for their loss of a loved one, imprisonment by enemy forces or the uncertainty of their whereabouts in the war scene.
In response to such a noble sacrifice, the Legislature has a moral commitment to identify programs through which it may grant benefits to the children of those men and women who die, are missing in action or captured in the line of duty. One such benefits is to grant them an exemption from the payment of tuition and other university fees at the University of Puerto Rico System.
The children of Puerto Rican soldiers who are killed in action, missing in action, prisoners of war or who have been captured in active service, as these terms are defined by federal laws, and whose residence at the time of activation is Puerto Rico, shall be eligible for the benefits consigned herein. To receive these benefits, the students shall submit the status certification issued by the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
This Act is only a small token of our gratitude towards Puerto Rican men and women who were willing to sacrifice themselves, offering their lives so that we could all enjoy our freedom. This benefit also intends to relieve the financial burden of our heroes or their families.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF PUERTO RICO:
Section 1.- Subsection
(b) of Section 12 of Act No. 1 of January 20, 1966, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 12.- Properties and Funds
(a) ...
(b) The University may approve, impose, revise from time to time and collect fees, duties, rentals and other charges for the right to use or occupation of any facilities owned or administered by the University, or for any service, right or privilege provided by any such facility or by the University, including, but not limited to tuition fees, student dues and other fees, rentals, charges, laboratory fees, breakage fees, books, supplies, dormitories, houses and other housing facilities, restaurants and their facilities, parking lots for vehicles, facilities provided by student centers, events and activities and other services. However, the children of Puerto Rican soldiers who have died in action, are missing in action or prisoners of war who enroll
in any of the institutions of the University of Puerto Rico System shall be exempted from the payment of all the aforementioned fees and charges. The students shall submit the corresponding military status certification issued by the Armed Forces of the United States of America in order to avail themselves of this benefit.
(c) ... ${ }^{\prime \prime}$
Section 2.- In order to avail themselves of the scholarship granted under Section 1 of this Act, the person shall comply with the admission requirements of the corresponding institution and with the existing academic achievement criteria of the system.
Section 3.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 174 (H.B. 2267) of the $4^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $15^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend subsection
(b) of Section 12 of Act No. 1 of January 20, 1966, as amended, known as the "University of Puerto Rico Act," to exempt from the payment of tuition, student fees, rentals, charges, laboratory fees and any others, as determined by the University of Puerto Rico Board of Trustees, the children of Puerto Rican soldiers who have died in battle, are missing in action or are prisoners of war who enroll in any of the institutions of the University of Puerto Rico System; and to impose requirements, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $12^{ ext {th }}$ of January of 2007.
Francisco J. Domenech Director