Ley 34 del 2007
Resumen
Esta ley enmienda la Ley Núm. 19 de 30 de marzo de 1944 para prohibir la transferencia y alteración del uso de fincas escolares sin la certificación del Secretario de Educación y el Secretario de Agricultura. El propósito es garantizar la permanencia de estas fincas como laboratorios agrícolas para la educación vocacional en agricultura.
Contenido
(H. B. 2476) (Conference) (No. 34) (Approved April 19, 2007)
AN ACT
To amend Sections 2 and 3b of Act No. 19 of March 30, 1944, as amended, in order to prohibit the transfer and alteration in the use of school farms without the certification issued by the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Agriculture and for other related purposes.
STATEMENT OF MOTIVES
Agriculture is a very important factor in the economy of Puerto Rico since it involves over thirty thousand (30,000) jobs. In order to achieve the economic stability and the competitive differentiation of our farmers it becomes necessary to give them an adequate education that will provide them with the tools they need to reach their goals.
The Agricultural Education Program has sought to prepare students so they may serve as leaders in the development of a self-sufficient agriculture, attending to the nutritional needs and contributing to our socioeconomic progress. The education of men and women so they may obtain the tools they need to work in this industry has been and continues being the goal of the agricultural education program. The young farmers represent the future of this sector since they are the ones who spread the message for preserving and supporting that which is ours.
In order to achieve this purpose the schools of the public education system that offer agricultural education programs all have lots commonly known as school farms. Throughout the years the lands that had been previously used as agricultural laboratories have been used for other purposes, thus eliminating the resources that are needed to provide the best agricultural vocational education.
Lastly, the purpose of this Act is to prohibit the transfer or alteration in the use of the land acquired pursuant to the aforementioned Act No. 19, in order to guarantee the permanence of the school farms in the public education system.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF PUERTO RICO:
Section 1.-Section 2 of Act No. 19 of March 30, 1944, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 2.-Acquisition of Land for agricultural education
The acquisition of said land shall be devoted exclusively for agricultural education and the Department of Education may not alter its use."
Section 2.-Section 3b of Act No. 19 of March 30, 1944, as amended, is hereby amended as follows: "Section 3b.-Acquisition of Land for agricultural education - Disposal of Surplus Property
The Secretary of Education is hereby authorized to cede or transfer to agencies or instrumentalities of the Commonwealth Government or to municipal governments any property acquired in excess of that required for the ends and purposes for which the purchase was made, through a certification issued by the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of
Agriculture stating the need for transferring or altering its use for justified cause.
For the purposes of this Act, the definition of justified cause shall apply when the subject matter is not longer taught as a course in the school concerned.
However, the transfer or alteration in the use of that portion of the land acquired for agricultural education required for the ends and purposes for which the purchase was made is hereby prohibited."
Section 3.-Severability Clause The unconstitutionality of any part of this Act decreed by a competent Court shall not affect the remaining provisions of the same, which shall continue in effect.
Section 4.-Effectiveness This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 34 (H.B. 2476) (Conference) of the $4^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $15^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend Sections 2 and 3b of Act No. 19 of March 30, 1944, as amended, in order to prohibit the transfer and alteration in the use of school farms without the certification issued by the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Agriculture 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 $17^{ ext {th }}$ of September of 2007.
Francisco J. Domenech Director