Para enmendar el Artículo 1.016 de la Ley 107-2020, según enmendada, conocida como “Código Municipal de Puerto Rico” a los fines de que sean las legislaturas municipales las encargadas de someter un proyecto de ordenanza para establecer el orden de sucesión interina del alcalde por vacante permanente en los municipios y no los alcaldes; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

PC 68 would require municipal legislatures to draft the interim mayoral succession order, shifting this duty from mayors to councils.

Comisión no recomienda aprobación de la medida

Overview

PC 68 seeks to amend Article 1.016 of Law 107-2020 (the Puerto Rico “Código Municipal”) to require municipal legislatures (las legislaturas municipales) to submit a draft ordinance establishing the interim succession order for the mayor in the event of a permanent vacancy. The intent is to shift the responsibility for proposing the succession framework from mayors to the municipal legislatures, with related provisions as applicable.

Main purpose and intent

Reassign the duty to establish the interim succession order from mayors to the municipal legislatures.

Create or formalize a process and order of interim succession in the event of a permanent vacancy in the office of mayor.

Address related governance and procedural goals as indicated by the bill’s broader wording (“y para otros fines relacionados”).

Key provisions and changes (as reflected by the bill description)

Amend Article 1.016 of Law 107-2020 (Código Municipal) to obligate municipal legislatures to submit a draft ordinance that sets the order of interim mayoral succession in cases of permanent vacancy.

Shift the initiating/ownership role for the ordinance from the mayor to the municipal council.

The bill may include other related provisions connected to the succession framework, though specifics are not detailed in the summary provided.

Who/what would be affected

Affected entities:

Municipal legislatures (councils) across Puerto Rico would be responsible for proposing the succession ordinance.
Mayors would no longer have the procedural responsibility to submit the ordinance (per the bill’s intent).

Broader impact:

Potentially greater standardization of the succession process across municipalities.
Implications for governance continuity and how vacancies are managed pending interim arrangements.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduced: January 2, 2025.

First Reading: January 16, 2025.

Referred to Committee(s): January 16, 2025.

Legislative Action: November 19, 2025 — Comisión no recomienda aprobación de la medida (Committee does not recommend approval).

Current status: Not recommended for approval by the committee; effectively stalled unless further action is taken.

Potential implications and considerations

Positive: Could improve checks and balances by placing the succession framework in the legislative branch, potentially increasing transparency and consistency.

Challenges: Requires agreement among municipal legislatures; if not universally adopted, may lead to uneven approaches or delays in adopting the ordinance.

Legal/operational: Depending on the final text, may affect how vacancies are managed during transitions and could interact with other municipal procedures or state requirements.

Bottom line: PC 68 would reorganize who initiates the interin succession framework for mayors by shifting it to municipal legislatures, but as of the latest action, the committee did not recommend its passage.

Bill