Summary of Bill PC 262
A. Overview and purpose
- PC 262 proposes a reorganizational update to the Plan de Reorganización Núm. 4-2010 for the Department of Agriculture (Departamento de Agricultura) of Puerto Rico.
- The bill inserts a new Chapter IV (Plan de Reorganización Núm. 4-2010, según enmendado) and, in the process, makes amendments to existing structure and numbering.
- A central element is the creation of the Food Security Advisory Council (Consejo Asesor de Seguridad Alimentaria), which would be attached to the Department of Agriculture. The council’s role would be to advise on matters related to food security for Puerto Rico.
B. Key provisions
- Insertion of a new Chapter IV of the reorganizational plan (Núm. 4-2010), as amended, known as “Plan de Reorganización del Departamento de Agricultura de 2010.”
- Amendments to the plan: revise Article 6 and Article 7-A of Plan de Reorganización Núm. 4-2010, según enmendado.
- Renumbering of sections:
- Re-enumerate the current Chapters IV through VII as Chapters V through IX.
- Re-enumerate the current Articles 25 through 51 as Articles 30 through 56.
- Establishment of the Food Security Advisory Council attached to the Department of Agriculture, to provide guidance on food security policy, coordination, and related matters.
C. Affected entities
- Department of Agriculture (adds a formal advisory council and a revised internal structure).
- The Government of Puerto Rico (commonwealth government structure) and stakeholders involved in agricultural policy, food security, and public administration.
- Legislative and administrative references: the renumbering may affect citations and cross-references within the reorganizational framework and related statutes.
D. Procedural and timeline aspects
- Introduced: January 22, 2025.
- Legislative actions:
- January 28, 2025: Appears in Primera Lectura de la Cámara (First Reading).
- January 28, 2025: Referred to Commission(es).
- January 28, 2025: Radicado (filed/recorded) date shown as the same day as readings and referrals.
- Status: Referido a Comisión(es) (referred to committees) for consideration and potential amendments before floor action.
E. Potential impact and considerations
- Administrative: The internal reorganizational framework of the Department of Agriculture would be updated, including renumbering of chapters and articles, which could affect internal processes, regulation references, and record-keeping.
- Governance: The Food Security Advisory Council would provide institutional input on food security policy and coordination, potentially influencing program planning, resource allocation, and cross-agency collaboration.
- Fiscal and implementation considerations: The bill as presented does not specify appropriations; if the Council or reorganization requires funding, the fiscal implications would be addressed in later amendments or in the fiscal notes accompanying the bill.
