Here is a summary of Senate Bill 273 (PS0273), introduced on January 23, 2025, by Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, which would transfer the functions of the ICP to the Department of Economic Development and Commerce.
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The Senate Bill 273, filed on January 23, 2025, by Sen. Rivera Schatz and introduced on January 27 in the first reading of the Senate, proposes the elimination of the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (ICP) and the transfer of its functions to the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC).
The bill was rejected by ICP Executive Director Carlos Ruiz Cortés. "The mere possibility of transferring these functions to another entity, focused solely on economic development, puts at risk the preservation of our rich history and cultural heritage," he said in a statement.
💡 Here is a summary of the main points of bill 273
Justification:
The bill argues that "the [ICP's] structure has become obsolete and incapable of responding to the contemporary needs of the cultural sector and economic development" (p.1). It points out that there is a "duplication of functions in critical areas such as the evaluation of permits related to construction and reconstruction work" (p.2).
Proposed Changes:
Repeals Law No. 89 of June 21, 1955 that created the ICP
Transfers all cultural functions to the DDEC
Creates a "Puerto Rican Culture Program" within the DDEC
Moves the evaluation of permits related to cultural heritage to the Oficina de Gerencia de Permisos (OGPe)
Transfer of Resources: "All assets, personnel, contracts, movable and immovable property belonging to the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (ICP) will be transferred to the Department of Economic Development (DDEC)" (p.5).
New Focus: The bill proposes "integrating the promotion and preservation of culture with economic development strategies, maximizing administrative efficiency and aligning cultural resources with Puerto Rico's strategic objectives" (p.2).
Implementation:
The law would take effect "immediately upon approval" (p.6)
The DDEC has 180 days to adopt the necessary regulations (p.6)
Public Policy: The bill establishes as public policy "protecting, promoting and leveraging the historical, cultural and artistic heritage of our Island as an essential resource for sustainable economic development" (p.3), and emphasizes that it seeks to make culture "accessible, inclusive and relevant to all citizens, converting it into a strategic resource for economic development" (p.2).
Similarly, the ICP's mission, as described on its website, states that the corporation's objective is "to research, conserve, promote and disseminate Puerto Rican culture in its diversity and complexity. With the memory and promise of culture, the different levels, sectors, ages and interests of the community create the set of ways of life, customs and artistic expressions that identify us as a country. The ICP exists to preserve and disseminate this knowledge, to spread our talent internationally and to enrich the love of what is our own."
Stay informed on the issue with fact-based sources (fact-based media).
Follow the bill's progress in the Sistema Único de Trámite Legislativo (SUTRA), which lists all bills introduced in the Legislature, their current status and related documents. You can filter the search by typing PS0273.
Write or call your legislator. Both the House and Senate websites list legislators along with their office phone numbers and email addresses. For Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, the author of P. del S. 273, you can call 787-724-2030 or write to trivera@senado.pr.gov.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
