Para enmendar el Subinciso (24), Inciso (b), Artículo 2.04 de la Ley Núm. 85 de 29 de marzo de 2018, según enmendada, conocida como “Ley de Reforma Educativa de Puerto Rico”, que autoriza y faculta al Secretario del Departamento de Educación a gestionar, instar, aceptar, recibir y administrar, a nombre del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, cualesquiera fondos, cosas materiales y derechos sujetos al dominio, textos, obras o algún otro bien que sea asignado, provisto, donado o suministrado por el Gobierno Federal de los Estados Unidos de América o sus dependencias; a los fines de que se establezca un inventario detallado de todos los recursos y bienes recibidos bajo dicho estatuto, designados para el desarrollo y progreso de las bibliotecas públicas del país, el que se notificará anualmente a dichas instituciones públicas con el propósito de que puedan tener un efectivo y real acceso a los bienes y fondos.

2025-2028 Session

Bill authorizes Puerto Rico's Education Secretary to manage federal library resources and requires annual inventories shared with public libraries to improve resource access.

Referido a Comisión(es)

Legislative bill overview

This bill amends Puerto Rico's 2018 Education Reform Law to expand the Education Secretary's authority to receive, manage, and administer federal funds, materials, and assets designated for public libraries. It requires the creation of a detailed inventory of all resources received and mandates annual notification to public library institutions about available funds and materials.

Why is this important

Public libraries serve as critical community resources for education, digital access, and information services, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas. Better inventory management and transparency about available federal resources could significantly improve library services across Puerto Rico and ensure equitable distribution of materials and funding to institutions that need them most.

Potential points of contention

Administrative burden: Creating and maintaining detailed inventories of all federal resources requires additional staffing and systems; unclear if budget allocations exist for this requirement

Implementation timeline: No specified deadline for establishing the inventory system or for annual notifications, creating potential delays in library access to resources

Oversight gaps: The bill grants broad authority to the Education Secretary without establishing independent oversight mechanisms or penalties for mismanagement of federal resources