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Bill

PS 159

Para añadir los Artículos 15.02, 15.03, 15.04, 15.05, 15.06 y 15.07 a la Ley Núm. 85 de 29 de marzo de 2018, según enmendada, conocida como “Ley de Reforma Educativa de Puerto Rico”, con el propósito de crear el “Programa de Prevención y Protección de la Salud Mental”, y establecer un mecanismo funcional de prevención donde el Departamento de Educación en conjunto con el Departamento de la Familia y el Departamento de Salud del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico unan esfuerzos para ayudar a identificar posibles casos de negligencia, abuso y/o maltrato de menores; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Creates inter-agency mental health prevention program requiring Education, Family, and Health departments to coordinate identifying child abuse and neglect cases in Puerto Rico schools.

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Bill Summary · PS 159

Legislative bill overview

Bill PS 159 proposes adding new articles to Puerto Rico's 2018 Education Reform Law to establish a "Mental Health Prevention and Protection Program." The bill mandates coordination between the Education Department, Family Department, and Health Department to identify cases of child neglect, abuse, and maltreatment through a unified preventive mechanism.

Why is this important

Child protection and mental health services are critical public health issues. Creating inter-agency coordination can potentially improve identification of at-risk minors and reduce response delays. However, the bill's implementation depends heavily on resource allocation and actual operational coordination between three separate government departments.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation capacity: Puerto Rico's government agencies face chronic resource constraints; unclear whether additional funding or staffing is allocated for this coordination mechanism
  • Data sharing and privacy concerns: Integrating child protection systems across three departments raises questions about information privacy, data security protocols, and informed consent procedures
  • Unclear enforcement mechanisms: The bill does not specify accountability measures, penalties for non-compliance, or how coordination failures would be addressed
  • Commission rejection: The legislative commission recommended against approval (June 2025), suggesting substantive concerns were raised but not detailed in available records

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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