Para ordenar a la Comisión de Adultos Mayores y Bienestar Social de la Cámara de Representantes de Puerto Rico, realizar una investigación sobre la implementación, cumplimiento y efectividad de las políticas públicas y legislación vigente para combatir el abandono de adultos mayores por parte de su familia, tutor o persona responsable; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

RC 276 directs a House committee to investigate how well Puerto Rico’s laws protect older adults from abandonment in practice and to recommend improvements.

Cuerpo aprueba informe final rendido

Summary — RC 276 (House Resolution)

Title (Spanish): Para ordenar a la Comisión de Adultos Mayores y Bienestar Social de la Cámara de Representantes de Puerto Rico, realizar una investigación sobre el cumplimiento y efectividad de las leyes dirigidas a atender el abandono de adultos mayores por parte de su familia, tutor o persona responsable; y para otros fines relacionados.
Classification: Resolution
Introduced: April 25, 2025

Purpose / Intent

RC 276 directs the House of Representatives’ Commission on Older Adults and Social Welfare to carry out an official investigation into how effectively and how well laws in Puerto Rico are being complied with and enforced to prevent and address the abandonment of older adults by family members, guardians, or other responsible persons. The resolution aims to identify gaps in implementation and recommend measures to improve protection for older persons at risk of abandonment.

Key provisions

Orders the Comisión de Adultos Mayores y Bienestar Social of the House of Representatives to conduct an investigation focused on:

Compliance with existing statutes and regulations intended to prevent or remedy abandonment of older adults.
The effectiveness of those laws in practice (how well they protect older adults, detect abandonment, and produce remedies or sanctions).
Any related matters necessary to evaluate legal and administrative responses to abandonment.

Implicit tasks typically associated with such investigations (not detailed in the text provided) may include collecting data, reviewing agency practices, interviewing officials and stakeholders, and preparing findings and recommendations for legislative or administrative action.

Who is affected

Primary beneficiaries: older adults in Puerto Rico, especially those vulnerable to neglect or abandonment.

Entities examined/impacted: family members, legal guardians, persons responsible for elderly care; government agencies and programs tasked with elder protection and social services; service providers and advocates working with older adults.

Potentially leads to changes affecting enforcement practices, agency responsibilities, funding priorities, or new legislative proposals.

Procedural status and timeline

Filed (Radicado): April 25, 2025

First reading in the House: April 28, 2025 — referred to committee(s)

Committee actions: 1st committee report with amendments issued July 8, 2025; referred to House Calendars Committee same day

Floor actions (November 18, 2025): Placed on Special Orders Calendar; approved by the House unanimously with report amendments; Final approval text recorded November 18, 2025

After House approval the resolution was again recorded as referred to committee(s) (procedural follow-up)

Effect and next steps

As a House resolution directing an internal commission, RC 276 itself does not amend statutory law but initiates formal legislative oversight. The investigation’s report could produce specific findings and recommendations that the Legislature or executive agencies might act on — for example, proposing bill changes, allocating resources, or improving enforcement and services for older adults.