P.R. Laws tit. 29, § 151

2019-02-20
§ 151. Discrimination because of age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, social or national origin or social status, political affiliation, or political or religious ideology, or for being a victim or perceived as a victim of domestic violence, sexual aggression or stalking, for being a servicemember, ex-servicemember, serving or having served in the United States Armed Forces, or holding veteran status—Definitions

The following terms, as used in §§ 146 et seq. of this title, shall have the following meanings:

(1) Age.— Means any age from the minimum age at which minors are legally allowed to work, according to the occupation or industry concerned, without any limit whatsoever.

(2) Employer.— Includes any natural or [juridical] person employing laborers, workers or employees, and the chief, official, manager, officer, managing partner, administrator, superintendent, foreman, overseer, agent or representative of such natural or [juridical] person. It shall include all such agencies or instrumentalities of the Government of Puerto Rico as may be operating as private businesses or enterprises.

(3) Labor union.— Has the same meaning and scope of the same term as used in the Labor Relations Act of Puerto Rico, §§ 61—76 of this title, but it shall also include the officers, directors or representatives of the labor union.

(4) Stalking.— Shall mean the conduct typified in §§ 4013—4026 of Title 33, as amended by Act No. 376 of September 16, 2004.

(5) Sexual assault.— Shall mean the conduct typified in § 4770 of Title 33.

(6) Domestic violence.— Shall mean the conduct typified in §§ 601 et seq. of Title 8.

(7) Sexual orientation.— Means the ability of any person of having an emotional, affectional, or sexual attachment to persons of the other gender, the same gender, or more than one gender. In order to accomplish all the purposes provided herein, this definition shall be interpreted as broadly as possible to extend the benefits thereof to any citizen who is a victim of discrimination, whether it is a one-time event or a pattern.

(8) Gender identity.— Means the manner in which an individual identifies or recognizes him/herself in relation to his/her gender, with or without regard to the individual’s designated sex at birth. In order to accomplish all the purposes provided herein, this definition shall be interpreted, as broadly as possible to extend the benefits thereof to any citizen who is a victim of discrimination, whether it is a one-time event or a pattern, and in accordance with the provisions of Public Law No. 111-84 (2009), the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

(9) Servicemember.— Means any person serving in the Armed Forces in any of the seven (7) uniformed services of the Government of the United States, to wit: the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the legal successors thereof. Moreover, it shall include such servicemembers whose service in the Armed Forces or the National Guard meets the requirements provided by Federal laws currently in effect. This term shall also include retirees from all Armed Forces components.

(10) Ex-servicemember.— Means any person who has honorably served in any of the seven (7) uniformed services of the Government of the United States, to wit: the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the legal successors thereof; including retirees other than veterans, as defined in this Act. Moreover, it shall include ex-servicemembers whose service in the Armed Forces or the National Guard meets the requirements provided by Federal laws currently in effect.

(11) Veteran.— Shall have the meaning as provided in §§ 735-743 of this title, better known as the “Bill of Rights of the Puerto Rican Veteran for the 21st Century”.

History

—June 30, 1959, No. 100, p. 284, § 6; May 30, 1972, No. 50, p. 114, § 1; June 7, 1977, No. 37, p. 81, § 5; June 3, 1983, No. 67, p. 142, § 5; Dec. 8, 1990, No. 32, p. 1538, § 1; Dec. 17, 2006, No. 271, § 7; Sept. 13, 2012, No. 232, § 2; May 29, 2013, No. 22, § 16.