Ley 214 del 2007
Resumen
Esta ley enmienda la Ley Núm. 160 de 16 de agosto de 2006, conocida como la "Ley de la Asociación de Consejeros en Rehabilitación Profesional de Puerto Rico". Las enmiendas ajustan la ley a la legislación vigente, modificando las definiciones de "Consejero en Rehabilitación" y "Consejería en Rehabilitación", la ubicación de la oficina principal de la Asociación y los requisitos de membresía. El propósito es asegurar que la Asociación cumpla sus fines, proteja los intereses de sus miembros y promueva su desarrollo profesional, especialmente en la atención a personas con discapacidades.
Contenido
(N. B. 3078) (Conference) (No. 214) (Approved December 26, 2007) AN ACT
To amend subsections
(b) and
(c) of Section 2 and Sections 4 and 7 of Act No. 160 of August 16, 2006, known as the "Puerto Rico Professional Rehabilitation Counselors Association Act," in order to adjust the same to the legislation in effect.
STATEMENT OF MOTIVES
Act No. 160 of August 16, 2006, known as the "Puerto Rico Professional Rehabilitation Counselors Association Act," was created in order to provide for the constitution of the Puerto Rico Professional Rehabilitation Counselors Association. The same establishes obligatory membership, and its purposes, powers, regulations, and fixes sanctions for any violations of the Act. The legislation as approved does not contemplate some areas that are necessary to comply with the purposes of Act No. 160, supra.
It is known that in addition to the high demand for professional rehabilitation counseling services by the population of persons with disabilities, support is also provided to their families, partners and friends, who need this kind of counseling in order to deal with the social, educational, vocational and occupational aspects of the rehabilitation and assistance process of their loved ones.
The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico aware of the importance and implications of the Puerto Rico Professional Rehabilitation Counselors Association with respect to our general population, deems it necessary to amend Act No. 160, supra, to temper the same to the legislation in effect and adjust its purpose to that of the function of the Puerto Rico Professional Rehabilitation Counselors Association. Furthermore, this thus ensures that the Association complies with its purposes and adequately protects the interests of its members, and promotes their professional development, according to the demand for professional counseling services specially, to persons with disabilities in Puerto Rico.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF PUERTO RICO:
Section 1.- Subsections
(b) and
(c) of Section 2 of Act No. 160 of August 16, 2006, known as the "Puerto Rico Professional Rehabilitation Counselors Association Act," which establishes the requirement of obligatory membership are hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 2.- Definitions.- For the purposes of this Act, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated hereinbelow:
(a) ...
(b) Rehabilitation Counselor - means the duly licensed, certified or recertified rehabilitation counseling professional, who with the adequate knowledge of human behavior and development and of social institutions, uses the principles and techniques of rehabilitation counseling to provide persons with disabilities with or without functional limitations with the services compatible with their rehabilitation needs.
(c) Rehabilitation Counseling - means an individual or group comprehensive process, structured and enabling in nature that establishes an interactive relationship between the rehabilitation counselor and the person with or without functional limitations for the integrated development of his/her abilities and skills directed to all aspects of life including his/her goals as to employment or an independent life to achieve an optimum quality of life. This process is directed to developing or restoring the functional independence and quality of life of the human being. The functional independence sought through the rehabilitation counseling process involves various goals that entail: involvement, self-sufficiency, integration, and independent life. This includes high quality of life indexes that are the result achieved as part of the integrated rehabilitation of a human being. This provides the opportunity for including significant dimensions and particular considerations in the life of a human being such as the medical, psychological, social personal, cultural, educational, vocational and spiritual aspects.
(d) ...
(e) ...'
Section 2.- Section 4 of Act No. 160 of August 16, 2006, known as the "Puerto Rico Professional Rehabilitation Counselors Association Act," is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 4.- Main Office of the Association The main office of the "Puerto Rico Professional Rehabilitation Counselors Association" shall be located where its members so decide through their Board of Directors."
Section 3.- Section 7 of Act No. 160 of August 16, 2006, known as the "Puerto Rico Professional Rehabilitation Counselors Association Act," is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 7.- Membership Requirements Any person holding a license issued by the Board, authorizing the former to practice the Rehabilitation Counseling profession in Puerto Rico, pursuant to the provisions established in Act No. 58 supra, shall be a member of the Association. Every Rehabilitation Counseling Professional shall have a license in effect and have fulfilled any applicable certification or re-certification requirements. Any Rehabilitation Counselors who works or renders services without pay in areas related to human behavior and who, depending on the vision and mission of the agency, organization or entity, holds a position of: Rehabilitation Counselor, Case Manager, Guidance Counselor, Counselor, Vocational Counselor, Assessment Counselor, Rehabilitation Specialist, Advisors in public or private organizations or in community-based nongovernment organizations, without it being construed as a limitation, shall be a member of the Association."
Section 4.- Separability Clause If any Section, subsection, part, paragraph, or clause of this Act or its application to any person or circumstance were declared unconstitutional by a court with jurisdiction, the judgment rendered shall not affect nor invalidate the remaining provisions of this Act.
Section 5.- Effectiveness This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 214 (H.B. 3078) (Conference) of the $6^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $15^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend subsections
(b) and
(c) of Section 2 and Sections 4 and 7 of Act No. 160 of August 16, 2006, known as the "Puerto Rico Professional Rehabilitation Counselors Association Act," in order to adjust the same to the legislation in effect, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $30^{ ext {th }}$ of April of 2008.
Francisco J. Domenech Director