Para enmendar el inciso (40) del Artículo 1-104de la Ley Núm. 447 del 15 de mayo de 191, según enmendada, conocida como “Ley del Sistema de Retiro de los Empleados del Gobierno del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico”, a los fines de incluir a los Jefes de Instituciones Juveniles, Agentes del Negociado de Investigaciones Especiales, Fiscales de Distrito, Fiscales Auxiliares del 1 al IV, Procuradores de Menores Y de Familia y a los Agentes de Rentas Internas del Departamento de Hacienda en la definición de “Servidores Públicos de Alto Riesgo”; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Bill expands "high-risk" public servant status to seven job categories in Puerto Rico, increasing pension obligations for an already fiscally strained retirement system.

Referido a Comisión(es)

Legislative bill overview

Bill PS 762 proposes to amend Puerto Rico's Public Employee Retirement System law to expand the definition of "High-Risk Public Servants" to include seven additional job categories: institutional youth leaders, special investigations agents, district prosecutors, assistant prosecutors, family court officers, and internal revenue agents. This reclassification would grant these employees enhanced retirement benefits typically reserved for higher-risk positions.

Why is this important

Expanding the "high-risk" designation has direct fiscal consequences for Puerto Rico's retirement system, as these classifications typically trigger more generous pension formulas and earlier retirement eligibility. Given Puerto Rico's ongoing fiscal crisis and struggles with pension fund solvency, this expansion would increase long-term obligations during a period of financial constraint. The bill affects public sector employees in law enforcement and judicial functions, potentially improving their compensation packages.

Potential points of contention

Fiscal impact: Adding new categories to high-risk status increases pension liabilities at a time when Puerto Rico's retirement funds face significant underfunding and the territory operates under a fiscal oversight board

Classification justification: The rationale for why these specific roles warrant "high-risk" status (typically reserved for physical danger/hazardous conditions) may be questioned, particularly regarding administrative prosecutors and revenue agents

Equitable treatment concerns: Selective expansion may create inconsistencies—other public employees in genuinely hazardous roles might argue for similar reclassification, potentially triggering broader demands for benefit increases across the system