Puerto Rico House Anticorruption Panel Lacks Quorum, Defers Vote on Bill to Referendum

Héctor Ferger Santiago, president of the House Committee on Anticorruption and Public Integrity, opened a public session June 17 in Hearing Room No. 2 to consider the bill described in the record as “proyecto de la cámara 969,” which seeks to repeal and amend articles of Ley 178-2001, according to the session record.

The committee’s executive director, Jaime Márquez Frankie, told members the convening notice and a draft of the bill were circulated to committee members on June 14 in compliance with rule sections 12.7 and 12.21(a) of the chamber’s rules, and that “no se recibieron enmiendas dentro del período dispuesto.”

Chair Héctor Ferger Santiago asked whether the required quorum was present for a final vote; the executive director reported it was not. “No habiendo el quórum necesario y reglamentario, esta comisión circulará un referéndum para la aprobación de la medida atendida en la tarde de hoy,” the chair said, announcing that the committee would seek approval through a circulated referendum instead of taking a final vote at the session.

The record also notes that Representative Denis Márquez was present, Roberto Rivera Ruiz de Porras had been invited to participate by telephone but was not yet connected, and Representative Lizzy Burgo was excused. Legal adviser Ronny Luzua Pastrana and the committee’s executive director were named for the record as staff assisting the session.

The committee did not consider any amendments during the session because none had been filed in the required period, and no formal vote was taken. The chair declared the meeting adjourned at approximately 2:33 p.m.

The next procedural step indicated on the record is circulation of the referendum for the committee’s measure; the transcript does not state a deadline for that circulation or a timetable for when results will be reported back to the committee.