(S.B. 986) (No. 263) (Approved November 16, 2002) AN ACT To provide that all government agencies, departments, public corporations and instrumentalities of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in charge of museums, parks, offices or any tourist attraction establishment shall implement a Uniform Work Schedule Program for weekends and holidays. STATEMENT OF MOTIVES Puerto Rico stands out worldwide for the beauty of its beaches, the enchantment of its forests, its historic sites, numerous museums, parks and excellent hotels and restaurants. Thanks to this, each year we are visited by thousands of persons from around the world, thus making the tourist industry one of the pillars of the Puerto Rican economy. To maintain and increase the number of tourists that visit our Island, we need to find new strategies and alternatives that would help to strengthen and solidify this economic sector. During the past years, the government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has invested millions of dollars promoting tourism through public communications media overseas, and has granted tax benefits to this economic sector. In spite of our efforts to maintain this industry at an optimum level, we have heard on countless occasions complaints from local and foreign tourists, about the schedules of our tourist sites. Several museums, parks, and tourist information offices throughout the Island do not operate during
weekends and holidays. This situation adversely affects the government s interest in strengthening the tourist industry, and for the same to be the benchmark for the new economic development model. Faced with this situation, the Legislature deems that a Uniform Work Schedule Program for weekends and holidays should be implemented in those government instrumentalities in charge of museums, parks, offices or any other tourist attraction. Each entity shall establish the schedule according to its specific limitations and needs. This Act guarantees the operation of tourist centers during weekends and holidays. Thus, the Puerto Rican industry shall be able to face the challenger of other Caribbean tourist destinies and, at the same time, create new employment opportunities, which shall improve our people s quality of life. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF PUERTO RICO: Section 1.- It is hereby provided that directors of all government agencies, departments, public corporations and instrumentalities of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in charge of museums, parks, offices or any tourist attraction establishment shall implement a Uniform Work Schedule Program for weekends and holidays in said tourist places. Section 2.- All the directors of all government agencies, departments, public corporations and instrumentalities of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico affected by this Act shall conduct a study to evaluate the schedule that is most suitable to each. The schedule shall be adjusted according to the nature, needs and features of each tourist facility. In addition, said study shall include the fiscal impact that the implementation of this Act shall have on the agency, department, public corporation and instrumentality. Section 3.- All the directors of all government agencies, departments, public corporations and instrumentalities of the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico affected by this Act shall forward a copy of the evaluating studies performed to the Office of the Secretary of the Senate and of the Clerk of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, respectively, within sixty (60) days after the approval of this Act. Section 4.- One hundred and eighty (180) days after the implementation of the Program set forth in this Act, each of the directors of all government agencies, departments, public corporations and instrumentalities shall render a report to the Governor and the Legislature for the evaluation, modification, extension or elimination of the Program. Section 5.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
CERTIFICATION I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 263 (S.B. 986) of the 4 rd Session of the 14 th Legislature of Puerto Rico: AN ACT to provide that all government agencies, departments, public corporations and instrumentalities of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in charge of museums, parks, offices or any tourist attraction establishment shall implement a Uniform Work Schedule Program for weekends and holidays, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today 30 th of June of 2004. Elba Rosa Rodríguez-Fuentes Director