Para crear el Negociado de Mercados y Competencia, adscrito al Departamento de Asuntos del Consumidor, con autonomía fiscal, programática y administrativa a los fines de garantizar, preservar y promover el correcto funcionamiento del comercio, así como la transparencia y la existencia de una competencia efectiva en todos los mercados y sectores productivos en beneficio de los consumidores y usuarios; eliminar la Oficina de Asuntos Monopolísticos del Departamento de Justicia de Puerto Rico; disponer para la transición hacia la integración de dicha Oficina al Negociado; establecer los poderes, y prerrogativas del mismo; enmendar los Artículos 3, 5, 15, 16, 17, 19 y 23 de la Ley Núm. 77 de 25 de junio de 1964, según enmendada, conocida como “Ley Antimonopolística de Puerto Rico; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Puerto Rico creates autonomous Markets and Competition Bureau under Consumer Affairs, transferring monopoly enforcement from Justice and modernizing competition law oversight.

Comisión no recomienda aprobación de la medida

Legislative bill overview

Bill PS 118 proposes creating a new Markets and Competition Bureau (Negociado de Mercados y Competencia) under the Department of Consumer Affairs with fiscal, programmatic, and administrative autonomy. The bill would eliminate the Office of Monopolistic Affairs from the Department of Justice and transfer its functions to this new bureau, while amending Puerto Rico's 1964 Antimonopoly Law to modernize competition oversight.

Why is this important

Competition regulation directly affects consumer prices, market access for businesses, and economic fairness across all sectors. Consolidating monopoly enforcement under a dedicated, autonomous agency could strengthen enforcement capabilities and responsiveness, though the reorganization carries implementation risks and budget implications for Puerto Rico's government.

Potential points of contention

Institutional autonomy trade-offs: Granting fiscal and administrative autonomy may reduce oversight but could enable faster decision-making; the appropriate balance between independence and accountability is debatable

Transition costs and staffing: Moving an entire office between departments requires resources, institutional knowledge transfer, and potential disruption during the transition period

Scope creep concerns: Expanding authority under amended antimonopoly provisions could increase regulatory burden on businesses, or conversely, may be insufficient without adequate funding and personnel