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PS 1268

“Para crear la “Ley de Acuerdos de Gestación por Subrogación de Puerto Rico”, a los fines de establecer los requisitos, procedimientos, salvaguardas, consentimientos, derechos, obligaciones y efectos jurídicos de los acuerdos de gestación por subrogación gestacional; regular la determinación filiatoria de los menores nacidos mediante dichos acuerdos; disponer un procedimiento judicial especial previo al nacimiento; establecer normas de inscripción ante el Registro Demográfico; proteger los derechos de la persona gestante, de la persona o personas progenitoras intencionales y del menor; prohibir la subrogación tradicional; regular la intervención de clínicas de reproducción asistida, profesionales de la salud, intermediarios y representantes legales; y para otros fines relacionados.”

2025-2028 Session

Establishes a rights-based framework for gestational surrogacy, including prenatal court orders, independent counsel, and clear filiación rules to protect all parties and the child

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Bill Summary · PS 1268

Overview

Bill PS 1268 (Session 2025-2028, Puerto Rico) proposes establishing a comprehensive framework to regulate gestational surrogacy (gestación por subrogación gestacional) in Puerto Rico. The measure creates a dedicated law, the “Ley de Acuerdos de Gestación por Subrogación de Puerto Rico,” to set requirements, procedures, safeguards, consents, rights, obligations, and legal effects of surrogacy agreements, governs filiations of children born via surrogacy, and outlines a special judicial process prior to birth. It also prescribes registration rules with the Demographic Registry, protects the rights of the gestational person, intended parents, and the child, prohibits traditional surrogacy, and regulates involvement of reproductive clinics, health professionals, intermediaries, and legal representatives.

Purpose and policy

  • Recognize and regulate gestational surrogacy as a permissible modality of assisted reproduction, grounded in dignity, reproductive autonomy, informed consent, confidentiality, child welfare, and protection against exploitation.
  • Prohibit traditional (genetic-link) surrogacy to avoid filiatory disputes and to prioritize the minor’s best interests.
  • Establish a clear, standardized framework for consent, medical/psychological evaluation, legal representation, judicial validation before birth, and civil registration of the resulting filiations.

Key provisions and changes

  • Article 4: Authorization of gestational surrogacy gestacional only under the new law; explicit ban on traditional surrogacy.
  • Article 3 (Definitions): Clarifies terms for gestación por subrogación gestacional, gestante, progenitoras intencionales, voluntad procreativa, donante, clínica de reproducción asistida, and prenatal court order.
  • Article 5 (Gestante requirements):
    • Age 21+; full legal capacity; medical and psychological evaluation; independent legal counsel; informed written consent; no genetic contribution; no coercion or exploitation; medical risk-minimization criteria.
  • Article 6 (Intencionales requirements):
    • Age 21+; full capacity; written informed voluntad procreativa; independent legal counsel; explicit assumption of all parental rights and responsibilities; acknowledgment that filiación may not depend on genetic links; cover reasonable medical/legal/psychological costs.
  • Article 7 (Minimum content of the agreement):
    • Written agreement with parties’ identities, explicit voluntad procreativa, gestante’s informed consent, independent legal counsel, medical/psychological evaluations, acknowledgment of non-genetic gestation, cost provisions, parental filiación to intends, confidentiality, contingency provisions for complications, and prohibitions against clauses harming dignity, consent, health, or child welfare.
  • Article 8 (Independent legal representation):
    • Separate lawyers for gestante and intencionales; no shared counsel for both sides.
  • Article 9 (Medical/Psychological evaluation):
    • Pre-transfer evaluations required; clinics must maintain records.
  • Article 10 (Prenatal judicial proceeding):
    • Intencionales must seek a Court of First Instance order before embryo transfer; the court must verify capacity, informed consent, independent counsel, absence of genetic link, evaluations, compliance with law, and child welfare.
  • Article 11 (Effect of prenatal order):
    • Once issued, filiación of the child lies with intencionales from birth; gestante is not the legal mother nor holder of parental rights unless the court nullifies the agreement and assigns others per child welfare.
  • Article 12 (Registration):
    • Demographic Registry records birth per prenatal order; birth certificate does not disclose reproductive technology or surrogacy details.
  • Article 13 (Confidentiality):
    • All related records are confidential unless a court orders otherwise or parties consent in writing.
  • Article 14 (Prohibitions):
    • Prohibits coercion, exploitation, abusive intermediaries, waivers of essential medical decisions, or clauses forcing unwanted procedures or harming child welfare.
  • Article 15 (Nullity):
    • Agreements failing essential consent, capacity, independent representation, genetic non-link, medical/psychological eval, or prenatal approval are null; rights of the child remain protected and the court can determine filiations per child best interests.
  • Article 16 (Regulation):
    • Health Department, in coordination with the Demographic Registry and Courts Administration, to issue implementing regulations within 90 days of enactment.
  • Article 17 (Severability) and Article 18 (Effective date):
    • If parts are struck down, the rest remains in force; law takes effect immediately after approval.

Who/what is affected

  • Individuals acting as gestantes (gestational surrogates) who meet the age, consent, and health criteria.
  • Intencionales (intended parents) who will obtain legal filiación and parental rights as determined by the prenatal order.
  • Reproductive clinics, health professionals, intermediaries, and legal representatives involved in surrogacy arrangements.
  • The Demographic Registry (Registro Demográfico) for birth registration and filiación.
  • The judiciary, particularly the Tribunal de Primera Instancia, which would issue prenatal orders.
  • The Department of Health, which would regulate implementation.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Prenatal judicial process must be completed before embryo transfer (Article 10).
  • Regulatory framework to be issued within 90 days of enactment (Article 16).
  • Law becomes effective immediately upon approval (Article 18).

Potential impact

  • Provides a structured, rights-based framework intended to protect gestational surrogates, intended parents, and the child.
  • Aims to reduce legal uncertainty by establishing clear filiación and registration rules from birth.
  • Prohibits traditional surrogacy to avoid genetic-based contention and potential exploitation.
  • Introduces procedural safeguards (independent counsel, medical/psychological evaluations, and court validation) prior to birth.
  • Balances confidentiality with the need for formal filiación records and child welfare considerations.

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

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