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PS 1105

Para enmendar el inciso 5 de la Sección 2.1 del Artículo 2, según enmendada, conocida como “Ley para la Administración y Transformación de los Recursos Humanos en el Gobierno de Puerto Rico”; enmendar el inciso (y) del Artículo 1.2 de la Ley 1-2012, según enmendada, conocida como “Ley Orgánica de la Oficina de Ética Gubernamental de Puerto Rico”; enmendar la Sección 1 de la Ley Núm. 99 de 5 de mayo de 1941, según enmendada, conocida como “Ley para Prohibir el Nepotismo en el Nombramiento de Funcionarios y Empleados de la Asamblea Legislativa de Puerto Rico”; enmendar el inciso (r) del Artículo 3.1 de la Ley 2-2018, según enmendada, conocida como “Código Anticorrupción para el Nuevo Puerto Rico”; a los fines de extender las prohibiciones relacionadas al nepotismo y al nombramiento o contratación de familiares para incluir a la pareja por relación afectiva análoga a la conyugal, según reconocida en el Código Civil de Puerto Rico de 2020; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Extends nepotism rules to include spouses and intimate partners in analogous relationships, barring hiring/appointments tied to officials to curb favoritism.

Quedó Pendiente de Acción Posterior en el Senado
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Bill Summary · PS 1105

Summary of Bill PS 1105 (Session 2025-2028, Puerto Rico)

Purpose and intent

  • The bill aims to close a gap in nepotism and related conflicto de interés protections by explicitly extending prohibitions against nepotism and the hiring/appointment of relatives to include a same-system category: a spouse or partner in a domestic relationship with an analogous affection to marriage, recognized under Puerto Rico’s Civil Code of 2020.
  • Specifically, it modifies several existing laws to uniformly prohibit hiring or appointing relatives and, now, the identified intimate partner, to positions within Puerto Rico government bodies and the Legislative Assembly.
  • The overarching goal is to strengthen transparency, integrity, and merit-based public service and procurement by reducing potential favoritism and conflicts of interest.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Amendment to Law 8-2017 (Administration and Transformation of Human Resources in the Puerto Rico Government) – Section 2.1, Item 5

    • Replaces current language to require that all public employees be selected, trained, promoted, and retained based on merit and ability, without discrimination, and explicitly states that relational ties from family or an analogous intimate relationship will not be used to favor or influence employment decisions.

  2. Amendment to Law 1-2012 (Ethics Office Organic Law) – Article 1.2, Section (y)

    • Expands the definition of “Relative” to include, in addition to existing relatives, the spouse and the “pareja por relación afectiva de afectividad análoga a la conyugal” (a partner in an affective relationship analogous to marriage) as recognized by the Puerto Rico Civil Code.

  3. Amendment to Law 99-1941 (Nepotism Law for the Legislative Assembly) – Section 1

    • Prohibits the appointment or employment of any person who is a relative up to the third degree of consanguinity or second degree of affinity, or who is a partner in an affective relationship analogous to marriage, with any member of the Legislative Assembly, its Commissions, dependencies, or offices.
    • Contains sunset language indicating protections do not apply to those who entered into such a relationship after their original appointment or hiring.

  4. Amendment to Law 2-2018 ( anticorruption code) – Section (r) Article 3.1

    • Updates the definition of “Unidad familiar” (family unit) to include the spouse and the aforementioned intimate partner, along with dependents and other related relatives, aligning with the broader scope of nepotism controls.

  5. Definition and scope – Section 5 (new)

    • Adds the explicit definition of “pareja por relación de afectividad análoga a la conyugal” as a person in a stable, cohabiting, publicly known intimate partnership with mutual support, similar to a married spouse.

  6. Separability and effective date

    • The act retains standard separability provisions.
    • The bill states that it would take effect immediately upon approval.

Affected entities and individuals

  • Public employees and job applicants within the Government of Puerto Rico, and those seeking or holding positions in the Legislative Assembly and its commissions and related offices.
  • Current or prospective spouses or intimate partners (as defined) of public officials, insofar as such relationships could trigger nepotism/anti-corruption prohibitions.
  • Government ethics authorities and compliance offices responsible for enforcing nepotism and conflict-of-interest rules.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Intro date: February 24, 2026 (Senate, under P. del S. 1105).
  • Referred to: Comisión de Innovación, Reforma y Nombramientos; later actions include reports and scheduling in committee.
  • The bill is part of the legislative process with standard readings, committee consideration, and potential amendments prior to floor votes.
  • La Ley entraría en vigor immediately upon enactment, per the text.

Practical impact and considerations

  • Creates uniform standards to prevent favoritism for both relatives and intimate partners analogous to a spouse.
  • Clarifies definitions to close loopholes in existing nepotism and ethics laws.
  • May affect current personnel decisions and future appointments where intimate partnerships exist with officials or their close staff.
  • Could necessitate enhanced disclosure requirements and conflict-of-interest checks within agencies to identify prohibited relationships.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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