Ley 204 del 2006
Resumen
Esta ley enmienda la "Vehicles and Traffic Act" para incluir la fibromialgia, el síndrome de fatiga crónica, el lupus eritematoso sistémico y la artritis reumatoide como condiciones que califican para obtener un permiso de estacionamiento para personas con discapacidad, siempre que un examen clínico determine una discapacidad ambulatoria severa o permanente.
Contenido
(No. 204)
(Approved September 27, 2006)
AN ACT
To add clause (18) to subsection
(c) of Section 2.21 of Act No. 22 of January 7, 2000, as amended, known as the "Vehicles and Traffic Act," to include the autoimmune diseases fibromyalgia, systemic erythematous lupus, rheumatoid arthritis y chronic fatigue syndrome among those for which parking is allowed in areas designated for disabled persons.
STATEMENT OF MOTIVES
In the Puerto Rico of 2005, the use of a private motor vehicle has become an essential requirement in order to be truly independent in our daily activities.
In the awareness that there is a large population of citizens that need accommodations for their reduced mobility due to a physical condition, illness or injury, the laws in effect establish that reasonable accommodation shall be provided to them, including access to reserved parking spaces. Specifically, Section 2.21 of the "Vehicles and Traffic Act of Puerto Rico" provides on mobility disability conditions.
Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, systemic erythematous lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are autoimmune conditions of the body whose origin and mechanisms have not yet been completely deciphered by science. Nevertheless, it is indeed evident that they have neurological and orthopedic effects, as well as on other body systems, which severely limit the body's mobility for many of those who have these conditions, whether due to tissue
damage that causes the loss of mobility, or due to the pain produced by the efforts to move.
Since the mobility of persons who suffer these conditions may be occasionally or permanently affected to the extent that they may require assistance, or the use of a wheelchair, it is only fair to include them in the list of conditions that warrant the use of a disabled persons parking permit.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF PUERTO RICO:
Section 1.- A new clause 18 is hereby added to subsection
(c) of Section 2.21 of Act No. 22 of January 7, 2000, as amended, to read as follows: "Section 2.21.- The Secretary shall issue removable placards to allow parking in areas designated for disabled persons, to any person whose impairment of permanent or indefinite duration, makes access to places or buildings difficult due to their substantially limited capacity of motion, subject to the following norms:
(a) ...
(b) ...
(c) ... (18) Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Systemic Erythematous Lupus or Rheumatoid Arthritis conditions, after clinical examination that determines a severe or permanent ambulatory disability exists. A physiatrist or rheumatologist shall perform the clinical examination.
(d) ...
(e) ...
(f) ...
(g) ..." Section 2.- This Act shall take effect ninety (90) days after its approval.
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 204 (H.B. 1479) of the $4^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $15^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to add clause (18) to subsection
(c) of Section 2.21 of Act No. 22 of January 7, 2000, as amended, known as the "Vehicles and Traffic Act," to include the autoimmune diseases fibromyalgia, systemic erythematous lupus, rheumatoid arthritis y chronic fatigue syndrome among those for which parking is allowed in areas designated for disabled persons, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $27^{ ext {th }}$ of June of 2007.
Francisco J. Domenech Director