Para crear el“Código Anticorrupción y Ética de Puerto Rico de 2025”; establecer la normas éticas para contratistas, suplidores ysolicitantes de incentivos económicos del Gobierno; enmendar los Artículos 191 y 280, añadir un nuevo Artículo250 derogar los actuales Artículos 250 al 267 y reenumerar los Artículos 268 al 309 como los Artículos 251 al 292 de la Ley 146-2012, según enmendada, conocida como “Código Penal de Puerto Rico”; derogar la Ley 2-2018, según enmendada, conocida como “Código Anticorrupción para el Nuevo Puerto Rico”; derogar la Ley 99 de 5 de mayo de 1941, según enmendada; y para otros fines

2025-2028 Session

Puerto Rico replaces its 2018 anti-corruption law with a new comprehensive ethics code establishing mandatory standards for government contractors, suppliers, and economic incentive applicants.

Referido a Comisión(es)

Legislative bill overview

Bill PC 1202 creates a comprehensive "Anti-Corruption and Ethics Code of Puerto Rico 2025" that establishes ethical standards for government contractors, suppliers, and applicants seeking economic incentives. The bill significantly restructures Puerto Rico's anti-corruption legal framework by replacing the 2018 Anti-Corruption Code with new provisions, amending the Penal Code, and repealing several older corruption-related laws dating back to 1941.

Why is this important

Puerto Rico has faced persistent governance challenges and corruption concerns that have affected public trust and economic development. Consolidating fragmented anti-corruption laws into a single, updated code could streamline enforcement, clarify ethical expectations for private entities doing business with government, and potentially reduce administrative confusion. However, the effectiveness depends entirely on implementation quality and political will to enforce the new standards uniformly.

Potential points of contention

Retroactive application: Unclear whether new standards apply to existing contracts or only prospective ones, creating potential disputes with current government contractors

Definition ambiguity: The bill references "ethical norms" without providing detailed definitions in the summary, risking inconsistent interpretation and enforcement

Enforcement mechanisms: No clear information on which agency enforces the code, how complaints are processed, or what penalties apply to violations, potentially weakening deterrent effect

Private sector burden: Expanded requirements for suppliers and contractors may increase compliance costs and administrative burden, particularly for small businesses

Transition provisions: Repealing the 2018 Code creates a gap in legal clarity during the transition period between bill passage and full implementation