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 238-2004, según enmendada, mejor conocida como “La Carta de Derechos de las Personas con Impedimentos”, a los fines de incorporar nuevas definiciones para 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; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Puerto Rico bill creates protective orders and criminal penalties to enforce disability rights, establishing court procedures and new crimes for violations of disabled persons' protections.

Referido a Comisión(es)

Legislative bill overview

Bill PS 925 amends Puerto Rico's "Charter of Rights of Persons with Disabilities" (Law 238-2004) to create new legal protections for individuals with disabilities or functional diversity. The bill adds protective order procedures, establishes court jurisdiction, defines new criminal offenses, and sets penalties for violations of these orders and rights.

Why is this important

This legislation directly affects an estimated 1.6 million Puerto Ricans with disabilities by creating enforceable legal remedies for rights violations and establishing a formal court process for protection orders. It represents a shift from general rights declarations to enforceable mechanisms with criminal consequences for violations, potentially improving safety and accountability.

Potential points of contention

Scope of protected rights and definitions: The bill adds Articles 18-28 with new definitions and rights categories, but the specific rights covered and how "functional diversity" is defined may be subject to debate regarding breadth and practical applicability.

Criminal penalties and enforcement burden: New criminalized offenses require clear definitions to avoid vague enforcement; concerns may arise about whether courts and law enforcement have adequate resources and training to implement these protections consistently.

Balance between protection and due process: Protective order procedures must balance rapid issuance for safety with respondents' due process rights, particularly regarding temporary vs. final orders and burden of proof standards.