(S.B. 2434) (No. 321) (Approved September 2, 2000) AN ACT

Transcription

1 (S.B. 2434) (No. 321) (Approved September 2, 2000) AN ACT To amend Sections 1, 4, 7 and 8 of Act No. 155 of July 17, 1999, as amended, with the purpose of granting academic and operational independence to the Criminal Justice College. STATEMENT OF MOTIVES Act No. 53 of June 10, 1996, as amended, known as the Puerto Rico Police Act of 1996 empowered the Police Superintendent to make the Puerto Rico Police Academy a higher education institution that confers college degrees. The Council on Higher Education granted an authorization license to the Criminal Justice College to grant an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice. In this manner, the Police Academy became a college institution. The College began to take all necessary steps to obtain the accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, which is an indispensable requirement to receive Federal funds. Through Act No. 155 of June 17, 1999, as amended, the Puerto Rico Police was provided a means of improvement with the creation of the Criminal Justice College as a higher education institution. At present, the Criminal Justice College is attached to the Puerto Rico Police, where its Superintendent shall be an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors of the Collage, and shall also preside the same. This is the reason why this educational institution does not have total autonomy. The regulations of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and that of the Federal Government for granting funds require the real autonomy

2 of the Collage. It is pertinent to amend the statute in order to grant it the necessary independence for the best operation of the institution. This government has the true commitment of offering an education and formation of excellence to all officers of the Puerto Rico Police. Police officers have a better professional future with an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice. Furthermore, a better education positively contributes to the Puerto Rico Police s fulfillment of duty, provides physical security and that of the material property of the Puerto Rican people. With the idea of being instruments of change, this Legislature is committed to the formation of these men and women, at times unknown heroes, and with the continuous improvement of the Puerto Rico Criminal Justice College. This Legislature deems that these amendments contribute to the development and improvement of the operation of the Puerto Rico Criminal Justice College. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF PUERTO RICO: Section 1.- To amend Section 1 to read as follows: Section 1.- Statement of purposes With the purpose of achieving academic and operational independence The Criminal Justice College, hereinafter referred to as the College, is hereby established as an higher education institution empowered to grant college degrees. Section 2.- To amend Subsection (a) of Section 4 to read as follows: Section 4.- Creation of the Board of Directors (a) The Board shall be constituted by nine (9) members, of which eight (8) shall be appointed by the Governor. They shall be of legal age, residents of Puerto Rico, and shall have a bachelor s degree as minimum educational level required. At least one of

3 the members shall be a criminal justice expert. The Police Superintendent, in his/her functions as President of the College, shall be an ex officio member of the Board. Section 3.- To amend Section 7 to read as follows: Section 7.- Integration of fiscal and administrative functions The Puerto Rico Criminal Justice College is hereby authorized to open a checking account in a banking institution, insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Board of Directors shall determine the banking institution and the officers whose signatures shall be authorized for said account. The College is hereby exempted from complying with the provisions of Act No. 164 of July 23, 1974, as amended, known as the General Services Administration Organic Act in all matters concerning procurement procedures, subject to the development and implementation of the corresponding regulations and procedures. The members of the Board of Directors appointed by the Governor are exempted from rendering reports to the Office of Governmental Ethics of Puerto Rico, pursuant to the provisions of Act No. 12 of July 24, Section 4.- To amend Section 8 to read as follows: Section 8.- Transfers (a) (b) The personnel, property, archives, resources, documents, available and remaining funds from any source, and licenses, if any; (c) (d)

4 (e) The Chancellor, on behalf of the College, is hereby authorized to receive from the Police Academy and the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Education and Training as transfer, all real and personal property, records, resources, documents, available and remaining funds from any source, and licenses, physical facilities, materials, laboratories, land, and any other real or personal property. Section 5.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.

5 CERTIFICATION I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 321 (S.B. 2434) of the 7 th Session of the 13 th Legislature of Puerto Rico: AN ACT to amend Sections 1, 4, 7 and 8 of Act No. 155 of July 17, 1999, as amended, with the purpose of granting academic and operational independence to the Criminal Justice College, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today 1st of February of Luis Fusté-Lacourt Director