Para enmendar el Artículo 2 y añadir nuevos Artículos 18 al 28 y reenumerar los actuales Artículos 18 y 19 como Artículos 29 y 30 de la Ley Núm. 238-2004, según enmendada, mejor conocida como “La Carta de Derechos de las Personas con Impedimentos”, a los fines de incorporar nuevas definiciones; disponer el derecho de las personas con impedimentos o diversidad funcional a solicitar una orden de protección por la violación de ciertos derechos dispuestos en la Ley; establecer la competencia del Tribunal de Primera Instancia para expedirlas y disponer el trámite procesal; disponer penalidades por la violación de las condiciones de las órdenes de protección; tipificar nuevos delitos y penalidades por actos de maltrato y negligencia; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Puerto Rico law expands disability rights protections by enabling judicial protective orders, criminalizing violations, and establishing enforcement procedures through courts.

Ley 104-2026

Legislative bill overview

Bill PC 1027 amends Puerto Rico's 2004 Rights Charter for Persons with Disabilities by adding new provisions that allow individuals with disabilities to seek protective orders when their rights are violated. The bill establishes Court of First Instance jurisdiction over these cases, defines criminal penalties for violations of protective orders, and creates new criminal offenses related to disability rights violations.

Why is this important

This legislation creates a legal mechanism to enforce disability rights protections that previously lacked specific enforcement procedures. It provides disabled individuals with court recourse against violations and establishes criminal consequences for non-compliance, potentially strengthening protections in employment, housing, services, and other areas covered by the existing disability rights law.

Potential points of contention

Definition scope: The bill's new definitions and covered violations may be broadly or narrowly interpreted, affecting how many situations qualify for protective orders and which entities face liability

Criminal penalties burden: Creating new criminal offenses raises questions about proportionality—whether criminal charges are appropriate for all violations or only severe ones, and potential impacts on enforcement resources

Implementation capacity: Courts and government agencies must develop new procedures and training to handle these cases; unclear whether adequate resources are allocated for timely processing

Balance between protection and due process: Protective order procedures must be robust enough to protect rights while ensuring fair hearings for those accused of violations