Para ordenar al Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas (DTOP), al Departamento de Desarrollo Económico y Comercio (DDEC) y a los municipios de Puerto Rico, establecer de manera coordinada un plan interagencial de orientación, asistencia y reubicación para los comerciantes de negocios ambulantes que cuentan con patentes municipales vigentes, pero que ubican en servidumbres de paso estatales; establecer una moratoria de desalojos y multas para permitir una transición justa que no menoscabe la capacidad de estos negocios de generar ingresos; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Establish an interagency plan to relocate ambulant vendors with municipal licenses operating in state right-of-ways, including a moratorium on evictions and fines during transition

Vista Pública: Salón de Audiencias #1

RCC 363 (Session 2025-2028) – Puerto Rico

Purpose and intent

Establish a coordinated interagency plan to address ambulant street vendors (comerciantes de negocios ambulantes) who hold valid municipal licenses (patentes municipales) but operate in state-owned right-of-ways (servidumbres de paso estatales).

Coordinate efforts among the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP), the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC), and municipalities.

Provide guidance, assistance, and relocation options for these vendors, while protecting their ability to earn income.

Implement a moratorium on evictions and fines to facilitate a just transition for affected vendors.

Key provisions and changes the bill would make

Interagency plan: Requires DTOP, DDEC, and municipalities to design and execute a unified, interagency plan to manage ambulant vending in state right-of-ways.

Target population: Vendors who operate in servidumbres de paso estatales and possess current municipal licenses.

Guidance, assistance, and relocation: Establishes processes and support (likely including outreach, information, and relocation options) to help vendors transition to compliant locations or practices.

Moratorium on evictions and penalties: Impose a temporary pause on evictions from affected locations and on fines or penalties related to non-compliant vending, to enable a smooth transition.

Coordination framework: Defines roles, responsibilities, and collaboration mechanisms across agencies and municipalities to ensure consistent implementation.

Related municipal licenses: Acknowledges and leverages existing patentes municipales as part of the eligibility and transition framework.

Who or what would be affected

Ambulatory street vendors who have active municipal licenses but operate in state-owned right-of-ways.

Municipal licensing authorities (patente issuers) and the vendors themselves.

State agencies involved (DTOP, DDEC) and local municipalities where vending occurs.

Potential impact on public right-of-way management, traffic flow, and public space planning.

Procedural and timeline considerations

Status: Bill radicado on June 4, 2026 (introductory filing).

Implementation timeline: The text notes a plan and moratorium but does not specify exact dates in the summary provided. A full reading would be needed to determine:

Start date of the interagency plan.
Duration of the eviction/penalty moratorium (e.g., 12–24 months or another period).
Milestones for relocation options, outreach, and evaluation.

Potential impacts and considerations

Economic impact: Aims to preserve vendor income during transition, potentially reducing abrupt closures.

Urban planning and street management: May influence how rights-of-way are allocated and how vending is regulated in public spaces.

Legal/regulatory alignment: Requires interagency cooperation, which may necessitate new memoranda of understanding, funding, and administrative processes.

Equity and inclusion: Seeks to balance vendor livelihoods with public space and safety considerations.

Note: The summary reflects the bill’s stated objectives and provisions as described. Final details (specific timelines, funding provisions, and enforcement mechanisms) would be clarified in the enacted text and any accompanying fiscal notes or amendments.