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PS 117

Para establecer la “Ley de Transparencia y Salud Fiscal en el Uso de Fondos Federales”; establecer el Comité Ejecutivo de Monitoreo y Fiscalización del uso de fondos federales asignados al Estado Libre Asociado; establecer las facultades y las responsabilidades de la Oficina de Presupuesto de la Asamblea Legislativa; establecer las responsabilidades de las entidades gubernamentales recipientes de fondos federales; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Creates federal fund tracking committee and transparency requirements for Puerto Rico agencies receiving federal dollars, but legislative commission recommended against approval.

Comisión no recomienda aprobación de la medida
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Bill Summary · PS 117

Legislative bill overview

Bill PS 117 establishes a "Fiscal Transparency and Health Law for Federal Funds" in Puerto Rico, creating an Executive Monitoring and Oversight Committee to track federal fund usage across government entities. The bill also defines the budgetary powers and responsibilities of the Legislative Assembly's Budget Office and mandates accountability requirements for all government agencies receiving federal funds.

Why is this important

Federal funds represent a significant portion of Puerto Rico's budget, particularly post-disaster recovery funding. Without robust tracking mechanisms, funds can be misallocated, misused, or wasted without clear accountability. This legislation addresses concerns about transparency in how millions of federal dollars are spent across government agencies.

Potential points of contention

  • Bureaucratic overhead: Creating new oversight committees and reporting mechanisms adds administrative costs and complexity to already-strained government operations
  • Implementation capacity: Government agencies may lack the technical infrastructure or personnel to comply with enhanced reporting and transparency requirements
  • Committee composition and independence: Questions about whether the Executive Monitoring Committee will have sufficient independence from political influence to conduct genuine oversight, and how partisan balance will be maintained
  • Federal versus local authority: Potential jurisdictional tensions between federal requirements and Puerto Rico's implementation of oversight mechanisms

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

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