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Gov. García Padilla signs new executive orders

By on November 26, 2016

SAN JUAN – Gov. Alejandro García Padilla has signed three executive orders that his administration expects to have a positive effect on Puerto Rican society, for they grant benefits to inmates, make use of public schools in disuse and exclude marijuana from the Controlled Substance Detection Programs of the executive branch, La Fortaleza announced Saturday.

The first order directs the heads of agencies related to the Morales Feliciano lawsuit to adopt the measures and sign collaboration understandings established by the Corrections Department secretary after a transaction agreement was reached.

As part of this agreement, several benefits will be granted for one year to inmates imprisoned after 1980 but before 1987 who in the past were affected by the conditions of Puerto Rico’s prisons.

García Padilla’s administration stated that it has been a pioneer in the establishment of measures and processes to achieve the social rehabilitation of members of the correctional population in order to help their reincorporation into society.

According to La Fortaleza, the outgoing administration carried out its constitutional obligation, paying special attention to the “deplorable circumstances of the penal system, which had been postponed by past administrations.”

As a result, inmates currently have adequate healthcare, food, safety and recreational services, the La Fortaleza statement adds.

The public agencies and corporations that will be providing the new inmate benefits are the Education, Sports and Recreation, Housing, Health, Fire, State, and Agriculture departments, as well as the University of Puerto Rico, the Metropolitan Bus Authority and the Permits Office.

In order to make use of abandoned Education Department property and utilize these for activities that “benefit the communities and the economy,” the governor ordered these be sold.

Gov. Alejandro García Padilla

Gov. Alejandro García Padilla

García Padilla said the executive order addresses poor urban planning and excessive construction, as well as unnecessary leasing by agencies, municipalities and other government entities.

Consequently, the Education Department secretary must submit an inventory of property available for sale on the last business day of July each year to both the Transportation Department (DTOP by its Spanish initials) and the Land Authority.

The DTOP will then determine whether these aren’t of public use and if in condition to be sold.

Finally, the Land Authority will be responsible for the marketing and sales process. Any revenue from the property sales will be transferred to the Education Department to repair and recondition schools.

Through another executive order, García Padilla ordered that agencies under the executive branch exclude marijuana from their Controlled Substances Detection Programs.

However, the order doesn’t apply to candidates or government employee hopefuls because in these cases, doping tests are mandatory.

The decree reaffirms the García Padilla administration’s interest in decriminalizing cannabis use.

“In compliance with the public policy established by this administration in the prosecution of cases for possession of marijuana, where it is established that they are not a priority for the state, this new order reiterates the commitment of this administration to refocus the legal resources of the State,” the La Fortaleza release reads.

The governor last year changed Health Department rules to authorize the medical use of marijuana derivatives.

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