Puerto Rico House committee hears bill to allow mayors to appoint faith-based advisers; mayors' federation opposes mandatory language

The House Committee on Municipal Affairs held a public hearing March 19, 2025, on House Bill 237, which would add an "inciso AAA" to Section 1.018 of Law 107-2020 (the Puerto Rico Municipal Code) to authorize mayors to appoint a faith-based community adviser to municipal legislatures.

The Federación de Alcaldes de Puerto Rico submitted a written position and sent its executive director, Ángel Morales Vázquez, to present it to the committee. Morales told the committee the association does not support the bill as written. "La federación de alcaldes de Puerto Rico no endosa el proyecto de la cámara dos treinta y siete," he said, adding that municipalities already exercise the powers granted under Law 107-2020 to create administrative units and designate personnel to advise on values, ethics, education and social services.

The federation urged the committee to treat the proposal as an optional prerogative of the mayor rather than a mandatory figure imposed by statute. The committee chair announced a five-day deadline for the federation to provide a current list of municipalities that already have faith-based offices or designated liaisons and asked that the list include contact information. "Le vamos a dar cinco días para que suministre ese listado a la comisión formalmente," the chair said.

Committee members questioned how the position would be structured and whether advisers would be paid. Morales said municipalities use different models and that some positions are municipal employees while others are voluntary. He said the federation would supply the requested list and suggested draft amendments that would preserve municipal autonomy, including language to allow the mayor to designate an "enlace" (liaison) at the mayor's discretion.

Representatives on the panel discussed examples of existing faith‑based collaboration in emergencies and community work, and members of the federation mentioned planned training for faith-based liaisons at the federation's Major Summit in September in Fajardo. "Ya ya le anunciamos lo que va a ser en Major Summit, que va a ser en septiembre en Fajardo, así que ahí vamos a tener un un taller para las personas de base de fe y la y el alcance comunitario," Morales said.

No formal vote or decision on the bill was recorded at the hearing. The record reflects that some committee members signaled openness to amending the measure to make appointment discretionary, and the federation indicated it would return with a revised written position after proposed changes were discussed.

Background and context: proponents of the bill say a designated faith-based adviser would help municipal executives and legislatures address community needs in areas such as emergency response, social services and moral/ethical guidance. The federation argued those functions are already possible under Law 107-2020 and that requiring a statutory appointment could infringe on municipal autonomy. The federation referenced the government circular OSG-2021-012, a central-government policy encouraging collaboration with nonprofit, faith-based and community organizations, and said municipalities are already coordinating with such groups.