[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6562958,"mediaKeyId","3238211-416d27e7fc54baa4def5321cc1731e6f","parentId",3238211,"title","House approves youth vigilantes program under DRNA amid objections over protections for minors","audioSeconds",2425,"startMs",3209000,"endMs",5634000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3238211-416d27e7fc54baa4def5321cc1731e6f&start=3209&end=5634","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3238211-416d27e7fc54baa4def5321cc1731e6f/thumbnail_3209000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6562958/House-approves-youth-vigilantes-program-under-DRNA-amid-objections-over-protections-for-minors","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562958-c45d69e59fb10e560c13b5e400edd3e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770763220&Signature=JxqLz8HIBwDOocwqPjv68Q01zulai6YdaViI3nDMh95ydGdDXac~IeFHdIeKY4YkI0s68e8um15c~wlPaHPTSEaqSLPYAVldgd~81Pf2J4jKMOYUU9KMx1zomCJ9f-6hDzqUWes1MjF~mVyqORkcEmihDY3nfLx5Fk4pHt-1-4VVt16VczZyUO7oy0AhktFBZX5YjpjGELz3AF-Gi4Nrq3ljmiTay-g2y~LRqKrONlZUTTGTVgDEH8~UOfnsGP-8X9ATCETQpg2A8djE9qg6uUDbxp6jL9mLqJIzcH6lstMyzKDabXNZnHli701yHmSc~WJFi4STUyLw~xJKBP2Z0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Camara de Representantes PR","date","2025-05-09T08:43:02Z","article","SAN JUAN — The Puerto Rico House of Representatives on May 8 approved Projecto de la Cámara 414, creating a volunteer \"Cuerpo de Vigilantes Juveniles\" affiliated with the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA). The measure passed after a roll-call vote, 33 in favor and 16 opposed.

Proponents said the measure aims to promote youth participation in environmental protection and provide academic and professional incentives. \"Los vigilantes juveniles serán voluntarios adscritos al DRNA, entre los 13 y 29 años. Su propósito, fomentar la participación juvenil en la protección y conservación del medio ambiente,\" said Enzo Rodríguez Torres, presenting the bill as president of the House Commission on Youth. He said the DRNA must adopt regulations within 180 days and that the project offers non‑fiscal incentives such as university credit recommendations and preferential scoring on DRNA job announcements.

Opponents warned the bill's language blurred the line between volunteer service and internship or employment, and raised constitutional and labor concerns for minors. \"Por la propia definición del proyecto no es un voluntariado...es una actividad de un internado,\" said Márquez Lebrón, arguing the measure could require youths to perform extended work without guaranteed academic credit or compensation and could expose minors to security‑related tasks that should be reserved for trained officials. He urged return to committee; the House voted down that motion.

The final text approved in the chamber includes amendments inserted on the floor that the participation \"constituye un servicio voluntario\" and that, \"conforme al artículo 6 de la Ley 114‑2022, conocida como 'Ley de Internados Justos de Puerto Rico', quedan excluidos de las disposiciones de dicha ley.\" The enacted language also directs the DRNA to create the statutory body of vigilantes juveniles and to set functions, duties, composition and requirements by law, while creating a separate civil position of \"vigilante ambiental voluntario\" to be regulated by agency rulemaking.

Lawmakers pressing for the measure said it fills an implementation gap left when the prior statute creating a body of vigilantes (Ley 110‑2020) failed to be reglamented. Rodriguez Torres told colleagues the initiative would bolster conservation work, education, reforestation and outreach while offering formal recognition for participants.

Lawmakers who opposed the bill cited multiple concerns raised during debate: protections for minors under Puerto Rico employment and education law, the absence of guaranteed university credit or prearranged institutional agreements, possible constitutional questions about involuntary servitude, and the risk that volunteers could be tasked with security functions that should be performed by trained law‑enforcement officials. Opponents also argued the floor amendments did not fully resolve conflicts with the island's existing volunteer and internship laws.

The House rejected a motion to refer the bill back to committee before the final vote. The measure now moves to the next stages per legislative procedure.

Votes at a glance: Project 414 passed 33–16.

Ending: The House debate reflected a split between members who emphasized youth engagement and agency implementation and those who urged additional safeguards and clearer separation between volunteer service and internships or employment. The bill text requires DRNA rulemaking and further statutory detail to define the scope and protections of the new youth body.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hemiciclo","oneSentenceSummary","SAN JUAN — The Puerto Rico House of Representatives on May 8 approved Projecto de la Cámara 414, creating a volunteer \"Cuerpo de Vigilantes Juveniles\" affiliated with the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA). The measure passed after a roll-call vote, 33 in favor and 16 opposed.","taxTitle","House of Representatives, House, Committees, Legislative, Puerto Rico","taxId",77854,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6562953,"Votes at a glance: House passes digital farmers registry and multiple measures; several unanimous votes",5005,2594000,7599000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3238211-416d27e7fc54baa4def5321cc1731e6f&start=2594&end=7599","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3238211-416d27e7fc54baa4def5321cc1731e6f/thumbnail_2594000.jpg","/articles/6562953/Votes-at-a-glance-House-passes-digital-farmers-registry-and-multiple-measures-several-unanimous-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562953-b6a6bf92fe4374a37e1435ac716ca137/orig.mp4?Expires=1770763220&Signature=FdoTOfZ7kuF1w1dxrAwlJv46G6EO9LyV~ntYi~5QhuSrgXeOaOZuC9AxKbJ4joIKBMHW5VtG6Z9q-7sTvab5ZNY3-KplydKUfCOqK8usxDDVdOWta-ep7GYbNpOJNA4BW89dT0my5I-VEmnZfTkwZLyuss-U6tkRQWf9GRxMZIJBqPawNwkwEYA8mzgSEJyRMQjkQ3vicV~fy3lPpABDX-b3i9NZyvyN8EwqnztLjVhKn0bgwDifdWczCU~lu59HMKzTUO0OWRF3uZ2HP0P1V0cBOaXKwdSn6Dsn3bydzIr26ZGX2P6bjn0pepaC0tg0iQLOmx0UxyN2EsoeNWFC~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","SAN JUAN — The Puerto Rico House of Representatives on May 8 approved several bills and joint resolutions during its session. Most measures passed with strong majorities; a summary of actions and final roll‑call tallies follows.

Key approvals and tallies

- Projecto de la Cámara 231 (concurrence with Senate amendments): 49–0 in favor.
- Projecto de la Cámara 286, \"Ley del Registro Digital de Agricultores y Productos Locales\": 49–0. Law establishes a public digital registry of bona fide farmers and the products they grow, to be developed and implemented by the Department of Agriculture with the stated goal of improving access to information about local producers.
- Projecto de la Cámara 414 (Cuerpo de Vigilantes Juveniles, DRNA): 33–16 (see separate article for full debate and context).
- Projecto de la Cámara 486 (amend to Law 270‑2011, Vietnam Veterans Day): 46–3.
- Projecto de la Cámara 466 (create a youth committee under the Department of Economic Development and Commerce): 49–0.
- Joint Resolution of the House 44 (street naming, Padre Lorenzo Ruiz): 49–0.
- Joint Resolution of the House 56 (bridge naming, José A Rivera Díaz): 46–3.
- Joint Resolution of the House 58 (avenue naming, Arcadio \"Callito\" Concepción Báez): 49–0.
- Joint Resolution of the House 64 (release of agricultural restrictions on ~2.6488 cuerdas in Adjuntas): 46–3.
- Joint Resolution of the House 111 (extend and expand terms of a revolving recovery fund): 33–16.

Several measures were read, amended on the floor and received final approval in roll‑call votes. A number of ceremonial motions and recognitions were approved in block without recorded opposition.

Context and next steps

Lawmakers said the farmers' registry (Project 286) is intended to improve visibility of local producers and support food security and agribusiness development; proponents noted Puerto Rico imports roughly 85 percent of its food. The resolution extending a revolving recovery fund (Joint Resolution 111) was presented by the House Committee on Finance with an explanation that the extension is intended to facilitate reconstruction and recovery projects, with $750 million mentioned during debate as financing authorized under the measure; the final text and administrative controls include reporting to the Fiscal Oversight Board.

Ending: The session concluded with the body adjourning until May 12, 2025. Members approved a broad set of administrative, naming, agricultural and recovery‑related measures; vote records are public in the House roll‑call for May 8, 2025.","On May 8, 2025 the Puerto Rico House approved a slate of bills and joint resolutions, including a digital registry for bona fide farmers, amendments creating youth vigilantes (see separate article), and multiple namings and administrative measures. Tally summary included below.","actionData","errors"]

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House approves youth vigilantes program under DRNA amid objections over protections for minors

Votes at a glance: House passes digital farmers registry and multiple measures; several unanimous votes