Para derogar la Ley 12-2008, con el propósito de eliminar el modelo obligatorio de escaneo de contenedores en los puertos de Puerto Rico; establecer la “Ley para Promover la Seguridad en las Instalaciones Portuarias de Puerto Rico”, promulgar la política pública sobre la seguridad en todas nuestras instalaciones portuarias, la cual se ejecutará en estrecha coordinación con el gobierno federal para evitar la imposición de cargos o estructuras regulatorias innecesarias que encarezcan el comercio y afecten al consumidor; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Puerto Rico repeals the mandatory container scanning law (Law 12-2008) and replaces it with a coordinated Port Security Law to enhance safety while avoiding new trade costs.

Firmado por el Presidente del Senado

Summary of Bill PC 1304 (Session 2025-2028) – Puerto Rico

Purpose and intent

The bill proposes two main objectives: 1) Derogar (repeal) Law 12-2008, which governs the current mandatory container scanning model at Puerto Rico’s ports. 2) Establish a new framework titled the “Ley para Promover la Seguridad en las Instalaciones Portuarias de Puerto Rico” to advance public safety across all port facilities. The policy is to be implemented in close coordination with the federal government to avoid adding unnecessary regulatory charges or structures that could hinder trade or raise costs for consumers.

Key provisions and changes

Repeal of Law 12-2008:

Eliminates the existing mandatory scanning regime for maritime container cargo at Puerto Rico’s ports.
Removes the statutory basis that requires container scanning under the current model (details on transition mechanics, if any, would be defined in the bill text).

New port security policy framework:

Enacts a comprehensive Puerto Rico Port Security Law intended to promote safety across all port facilities.
Establishes public policy guiding security measures, risk management, and related operations at ports.
Emphasizes coordination with the federal government to align security practices with federal standards and to minimize duplicative or burdensome regulatory layers.

Regulatory and economic considerations:

Aims to prevent the imposition of charges or regulatory structures that would increase the cost of trade or impact consumers.
Seeks a balanced approach that maintains port security without unnecessarily slowing commerce or imposing undue costs on port users.

Who is affected

Port authorities and port facility operators in Puerto Rico (including terminal operators, stevedores, and related logistics entities).

Importers, exporters, and shippers that rely on Puerto Rico’s ports for cargo movement.

Consumers, indirectly, through potential impacts on port costs and trade efficiency.

Federal–territorial coordination bodies involved in security and customs/port operations.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Radicado (introduced) on 2026-06-08.

As a proposed measure, it would undergo legislative review, committee consideration, potential amendments, and votes in the Puerto Rico Legislature before any enactment.

Implementation timeline (not specified in the summary): If enacted, the bill would likely include transitional provisions detailing the repeal of Law 12-2008, effective dates for the new port security framework, and phased implementation steps. The exact dates and milestones would be defined in the final bill text and any accompanying regulations or executive orders.

Potential impact and considerations

Trade and competitiveness: By avoiding new charges or heavy regulatory burdens, the bill seeks to preserve or improve trade efficiency at Puerto Rico’s ports.

Security posture: Shifts from a mandatory container scanning mandate to a broader, coordinated port security framework may alter risk assessment, screening practices, and collaboration with federal authorities.

Legal and regulatory coherence: The emphasis on alignment with federal standards aims to streamline compliance for port operators and reduce fragmentation between state/territorial and federal security regimes.

If you would like, I can tailor this summary to a specific audience (e.g., policymakers, industry stakeholders, or the general public) or pull in comparable provisions from the bill text to provide direct quotes and section-by-section mapping.