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Puerto RicoPS 045920th Legislative Assembly (2025-2028)SenateWALLET

Para enmendar el inciso (k) de la Sección 1 y la Sección 3 de la Ley Núm. 40 del 1 de mayo de 1945, según enmendada, conocida como "Ley de Acueductos y Alcantarillados de Puerto Rico", con el fin de reconstituir los miembros de la Junta de Gobierno de la Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados de Puerto Rico; aclarar el alcance de las prohibiciones absolutas a los funcionarios u oficiales ejecutivos por razón de su cargo; realizar enmiendas técnicas; y otros fines relacionados.

Sponsored By: Thomas Rivera Schatz (PNP)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Fixed-term executives and regional leaders

The board appoints an Executive President, an Executive Director of Infrastructure, and five Regional Executive Directors for Metro, North, South, East, and West. Officers serve 5‑year terms and report to the Executive President. The board may create more executive roles as needed. Officers must meet strict independence rules: no big financial ties to contractors, no recent commercial ties (last 2 years), no recent party leadership roles, and no authority officials or union affiliates. They must submit tax, debt, and criminal clearances.

New seven-member board with customer voice

The water authority board now has 7 members. Four are independent experts picked by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. One is a customer representative elected under an Ombudsman‑run vote, and two are chosen by the island’s mayors’ groups. The Governor’s four picks must include an engineer (10+ years), an attorney (10+ years), a finance expert, and another related professional. A search firm with 10+ years of experience must give the Governor a list of at least 10 candidates, with at least 5 Puerto Rico residents if available. If rejected, a new list is due in 30 days; this process lasts 15 years. Terms are staggered at first (two for 5 years, two for 6 years); later terms are 5 years, and no one can serve more than 3 terms. The customer member serves 3 years; vacancies must be filled in 6 months for Governor seats and within 120 days by election for the customer seat. Board pay is set by unanimous board vote, or by the Governor if there is no unanimity, and must be comparable to similar water utilities.

Stronger ethics and no politics on site

Board members and top officers must meet NYSE independence standards. They cannot have big financial ties to authority contractors, recent commercial ties (3 years for directors, 2 years for officers), or recent party leadership roles; authority staff, retirees, union members, and contractors are barred. Candidates must provide tax returns for the last 5 years, debt clearances (Hacienda, ASUME, CRIM, and the Authority), and a criminal background certificate. Being a customer does not disqualify you, and University of Puerto Rico professors may serve. The board must adopt a Code of Ethics and follow Puerto Rico’s Government Ethics Law (Articles 4.1–8.5). Political fundraising and partisan activity are banned on authority property and during work hours; most directors (not the two mayor designees) are absolutely barred from soliciting or collecting political contributions anywhere. Vacancies cannot be filled during the election blackout unless needed for quorum; those temporary appointees serve only until January 1 of the next year. The law clarifies the 2016 blackout was not covered.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Thomas Rivera Schatz

    PNP • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 75 • No: 1

House vote • 5/29/2025

Aprobado por Cámara en Votación Final

Yes: 49 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/31/2025

Aprobado por el Senado en Votación Final

Yes: 26 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Ley Núm. 34 — Firmada por la Gobernadora

    6/30/2025Senate

  2. Enviado a la Gobernadora

    6/19/2025Senate

  3. Firmado por el Presidente de la Cámara

    6/18/2025House

  4. Firmado por el Presidente del Senado

    6/17/2025Senate

  5. Se dispone que sea enrolado

    6/16/2025Senate

  6. Cuerpo de Origen concurre con enmiendas

    6/16/2025Senate

  7. Aprobado por Cámara en Votación Final

    5/29/2025House

  8. Aprobado con enmiendas del informe

    5/29/2025Senate

  9. En el Calendario de Ordenes Especiales de la Cámara

    5/29/2025House

  10. Remitido a Comisión de Calendarios de la Cámara

    5/27/2025House

  11. Entirillado del Informe

    5/27/2025Senate

  12. 1er Informe Comisión rendido con enmiendas

    5/27/2025Senate

  13. Referido a Comisión(es)

    4/7/2025Senate

  14. Aparece en Primera Lectura de la Cámara

    4/7/2025House

  15. Texto de Aprobación Final enviado a la Cámara

    3/31/2025House

  16. Aprobado por el Senado en Votación Final

    3/31/2025Senate

  17. Aprobado sin enmiendas

    3/31/2025Senate

  18. En el Calendario de Ordenes Especiales del Senado

    3/31/2025Senate

  19. Descargado en Senado

    3/31/2025Senate

  20. Referido a Comisión(es)

    3/31/2025Senate

  21. Aparece en Primera Lectura del Senado

    3/31/2025Senate

  22. Radicado

    3/31/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Se dispone que sea enrolado

    6/16/2025

    View

  • Radicado

    3/31/2025

    View

  • Radicado (Senado mirror)

    3/31/2025

    PDF

  • Texto de Aprobación Final enviado a la Cámara

    3/31/2025

    View

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