(a) The sum of one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000), originating from the Puerto Rico Economic Stimulus Fund, shall be assigned to and distributed among municipalities according to their population and in the manner provided for under subsection (b) of this section, so that the latter may carry out infrastructure improvement projects ready for bidding and awarding, such as improvements to storm sewer systems, canalization of ravines, construction of aqueducts and sanitary systems, public lighting projects, and construction of or improvements to roads and bridges, among others, through a program to be known as Our Infrastructure Investment Plan, and for the special uses provided for in subsection (e) of this section. Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, these funds may not be used for rehabilitating or furbishing government buildings, schools or sports facilities or for operating or payroll expenses of the municipalities.
(b) The amount of one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be distributed among municipalities as follows:
(1) Each of the following municipalities shall be entitled to receive up to a total sum of eight hundred forty-eight thousand, four hundred eighty-five dollars ($848,485) for projects that qualify: Culebra, Maricao, Vieques, Las Marías, Florida, Maunabo, Rincón, Hormigueros, Jayuya, Ceiba, Arroyo, Adjuntas, Ciales, Luquillo, Comerío, Patillas, Santa Isabel, Guánica, Barceloneta, Guayanilla, Naguabo, Orocovis, Quebradillas, Sabana Grande, Lajas, Aibonito, Peñuelas, Villalba, Añasco, Barranquitas, Aguas Buenas, Naranjito, and Morovis.
(2) Each of the following municipalities shall be entitled to receive up to a total sum of one million, three hundred fifty-two thousand, nine hundred forty-one dollars ($1,352,941) for projects that qualify: Cataño, Salinas, Loíza, Dorado, Lares, Las Piedras, Camuy, Utuado, Juncos, Gurabo, Corozal, San Germán, Coamo, Vega Alta, Hatillo, Yabucoa, and Moca.
(3) Each of the following municipalities shall be entitled to receive up to a total sum of one million, five hundred seventy-eight thousand, nine hundred forty-seven dollars ($1,578,947) for projects that qualify: Fajardo, San Lorenzo, Aguada, Cidra, Canóvanas, San Sebastián, Guayama, Isabela, Manatí, Yauco, Cabo Rojo, Cayey, Juana Díaz, Río Grande, Humacao, Vega Baja, Toa Alta, Aguadilla, and Trujillo Alto.
(4) Each of the following municipalities shall be entitled to receive up to a total sum of two million, one hundred eleven thousand, one hundred eleven dollars ($2,111,111) for projects that qualify: Toa Baja, Mayagüez, Guaynabo, Arecibo, Caguas, Carolina, Ponce, Bayamón, and San Juan.
(c) The Evaluating Committee on Our Infrastructure Investment Plan (the “Committee”) is hereby created, to administer the plan, establish the conditions, requirements and standards of the plan, evaluate proposals by municipalities, approve the selection of participating projects and the disbursement of funds from the Puerto Rico Economic Stimulus Fund for such projects, and see to the compliance with the requirements of the plan. The Committee shall be composed of the following three (3) persons: the Executive President of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (or his/her delegate), the Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Infrastructure Financing Authority (or his/her delegate), and one official from the Office of the Governor in the area of infrastructure, planning, and urban development. The Committee may create subcommittees as necessary to discharge any of its functions. Each subcommittee shall be composed of Committee members or other officials or persons from the public sector designated by the Committee who are stakeholders or experts in the matters to be addressed by the subcommittee.
(d) Any municipality that, within the term established by the Committee, has not commenced the works for which the Committee has allocated funds, shall lose such allocation, and the Committee may reallocate such funds to other municipalities, to be used in projects that qualify and which can be commenced within the briefest term and which yield the greatest economic benefit, as determined by the Committee.
(e) Any municipality that has a budgetary deficit may request that all or part of the funds to which it is entitled under Our Infrastructure Investment Plan be used to pay off existing debts of such municipality with the Central Government, public corporations, or Puerto Rico Government employee retirement systems. To this end, it shall be required for the Bank to certify that the municipality has a budgetary deficit, that these debts exist and the amount of such debts of the municipality with the Central Government, public corporations, or Puerto Rico Government employee retirement systems, and that the municipality has executed a spending cutback plan or approved an ordinance or a resolution to increase its revenues in a manner acceptable to the Bank. Once these requirements are met, the Bank shall make the corresponding disbursements directly to the Secretary of the Treasury or the applicable public corporations or retirement systems.
(f) The funds which, by the date established by the Committee, have not been allocated for any project or use under the Our Infrastructure Investment Plan established by virtue of this section, shall be reverted to the Puerto Rico Economic Stimulus Fund, to be used as provided for in § 154 of this title.
History —Mar. 9, 2009, No. 9, § 13.