Para añadir un nuevo inciso (i) al Artículo 2.003 de la Ley 107-2020, según enmendada, conocida como “Código Municipal de Puerto Rico”, con el propósito de incluir la Oficina de Iniciativas Comunitarias y de Base de Fe entre las unidades administrativas de la estructura básica organizacional de cada municipio, con el fin de fortalecer la cooperación y coordinación entre el gobierno municipal y estas entidades para promover el bienestar y desarrollo económico de nuestras comunidades, crear conciencia social, fomentar el desarrollo de valores y la sana convivencia social; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Puerto Rico bill mandates municipalities establish faith-based community coordination offices to strengthen local governance and economic development cooperation with grassroots organizations.

Texto de Aprobación Final enviado a la Cámara

Legislative bill overview

Bill PS 1007 proposes adding a new administrative unit called the "Office of Community Initiatives and Faith-Based Grassroots" (Oficina de Iniciativas Comunitarias y de Base de Fe) to the mandatory organizational structure of every municipality in Puerto Rico. This office would be established under the Municipal Code to facilitate coordination between local governments and faith-based and community organizations in promoting economic development and social welfare.

Why is this important

This bill would formalize the institutional relationship between municipal governments and faith-based/community organizations across Puerto Rico's 78 municipalities. It aims to strengthen grassroots participation in local governance while addressing social cohesion, economic development, and community values—areas traditionally underserved by standard municipal departments.

Potential points of contention

Separation of church and state concerns: Mandating a faith-based office within government structures raises constitutional questions about government preference for religious institutions over secular community organizations

Unfunded mandate: The bill does not specify funding mechanisms, potentially burdening already-strained municipal budgets to establish and operate these new offices

Vague operational authority: The bill lacks clarity on this office's actual powers, reporting structure, and how it would coordinate with existing departments, creating potential bureaucratic overlap and inefficiency

Selection and accountability: No criteria are specified for determining which faith-based organizations participate, potentially enabling favoritism or exclusionary practices