Para establecer un sorteo extraordinario adicional anual de la Lotería Tradicional de Puerto Rico; disponer que una porción del producto neto de dicho sorteo se destine, al pago de una asignación de cien ($100.00) dólares mensuales a favor de los maestros jubilados que, a partir del año 2013, hayan sufrido la eliminación o pérdida de la aportación gubernamental al plan médico; disponer, además, que el balance del producto neto se transfiera y deposite en una cuenta especial del Fondo General para ser distribuida mediante pagos mensuales entre los policías jubilados; estableciéndose que los maestros y los policías jubilados elegibles serán aquellos que se acogieron al retiro al amparo de la Ley Núm. 3 de 4 de abril de 2013, según enmendada; entendiéndose, además, por “policías jubilados” los miembros de la Policía de Puerto Rico; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Puerto Rico establishes extra annual lottery drawing to fund $100/month payments to retired teachers and police who lost healthcare benefits under 2013 fiscal restructuring law.

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Legislative bill overview

Bill PC 1135 establishes an additional annual extraordinary lottery drawing for Puerto Rico's Traditional Lottery, with net proceeds allocated to provide $100 monthly payments to retired teachers and monthly payments to retired police officers who lost government healthcare contributions starting in 2013 under Law 3 of 2013.

Why is this important

This bill addresses a specific financial hardship affecting two public sector groups—retired teachers and police—who experienced healthcare benefit cuts during Puerto Rico's fiscal crisis. The funding mechanism uses lottery revenue rather than direct government appropriations, which has implications for both the lottery's operations and the sustainability of these benefit payments.

Potential points of contention

Lottery dependency: Using lottery revenues for mandatory social benefits creates unpredictable funding streams; lottery revenues fluctuate and may not consistently cover required payments, potentially creating future shortfalls or disputes over payment fulfillment

Fairness and scope: The bill benefits only retirees from Law 3 of 2013, excluding other government retirees who lost healthcare benefits through different legislative actions or time periods, raising equity questions

Revenue allocation: An "additional" lottery drawing increases gambling activity; critics may question whether expanding lottery dependency is appropriate policy for addressing pension/healthcare issues, particularly given Puerto Rico's economic recovery status