PC 417 — Summary of the Bill
Overview and Intent
- The bill proposes amending Article 2.006 of Law 201-2003, commonly known as the “Judicature Law of Puerto Rico of 2003.”
- Purpose: to make a Domestic Violence (Violencia Doméstica) training component an inherent part of the judicial education system. It requires that the training be delivered twice per year by the Office of the Procuradora de las Mujeres (Office of the Women’s Advocate) and to address related purposes.
Key Provisions
- Amendment Target: Article 2.006 of Law 201-2003 (Judicature Law of 2003), as amended.
- Training Mandate: Domestic violence training becomes an ongoing, required element of the judicial education system.
- Frequency: Training sessions must be offered two times per year.
- Provider: The Office of the Procuradora de las Mujeres (Office of the Women’s Advocate) is designated to provide the trainings.
- Scope: The provision would extend to the judicial education framework and associated purposes as defined by the bill.
Affected Parties and Impact
- Primary audience: Members of Puerto Rico’s judiciary and participants in the judicial education system (judges, magistrates, clerks, and other judicial personnel involved in ongoing education).
- Expected impact: Increased emphasis on domestic violence issues within the judiciary, standardized training on DV topics, and a formalized role for the Office of the Women’s Advocate in delivering this training.
Procedural and Timeline Details
- Introduced: March 18, 2025.
- First Reading: March 20, 2025.
- Referral: March 20, 2025 (to relevant committees).
- Executive/Committee Activity: September 25, 2025 — noted as an Executive Meeting of the Office of the Commission.
- Legislative Action: September 29, 2025 — the committee issued a “no recommendation for approval” regarding the measure.
- Status: In its latest action, the committee did not recommend passage, which typically halts advancement of the bill in that session unless revived or reconsidered.
Notes
- The bill is specifically positioned as a structural enhancement to judicial education, with a clear emphasis on domestic violence awareness and response within the judiciary.
- As of the latest actions, the bill faces a lack of committee endorsement, limiting its immediate prospects for enactment unless further legislative action is taken in subsequent sessions.
