Para añadir un inciso (j) al Artículo 2; añadir un inciso (e) al Artículo 3, enmendar el Artículo 9 y el Artículo 12, insertar un nuevo Artículo 13 y renumerar los subsiguientes Artículos de la Ley 9-2001, según enmendada, conocida como “Ley del Sistema de Parques Nacionales de Puerto Rico”, a los fines de establecer los mecanismos y condiciones para que los municipios puedan ostentar el traspaso, usufructo o cualquier modalidad de acuerdo o negocio jurídico viable de la titularidad, gerencia operacional o administración y mantenimiento de áreas designadas como Parques Nacionales en Puerto Rico; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Bill allows Puerto Rico municipalities to assume management and operational control of national parks through legal agreements, shifting environmental stewardship from centralized state to local governance.

Comisión no recomienda aprobación de la medida

Legislative bill overview

Bill PS 268 proposes to amend Puerto Rico's National Parks Law (Law 9-2001) to allow municipalities to assume control, management, and operational administration of designated national park areas through various legal agreements or transfers of title. The bill would create mechanisms and conditions for this municipal takeover of what are currently state-managed protected areas.

Why is this important

National parks represent critical environmental and recreational resources that currently fall under centralized state management. Transferring control to municipalities could affect conservation standards, public access, maintenance quality, and long-term environmental protection across Puerto Rico's protected natural areas. This represents a fundamental shift in governance responsibility for island-wide environmental stewardship.

Potential points of contention

Environmental protection standards: Concerns that municipalities may lack resources, expertise, or incentives to maintain the same conservation and environmental protection standards as state-level management

Unequal capacity across municipalities: Wealthier municipalities may absorb parks effectively while poorer ones struggle, potentially creating disparities in park quality and public access

Loss of unified resource management: Fragmenting management across multiple municipalities could complicate wildlife protection, ecosystem management, and coordination on issues that cross municipal boundaries

Financial sustainability: Unclear whether municipalities would receive adequate funding or whether parks would become neglected due to local budget constraints