P.R. Laws tit. 3, § 972
For the purpose of promoting changes in the data and statistics compilation systems for these to be more complete, reliable, and swiftly and universally accessible, the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics is hereby created, henceforth “the Institute”, as an autonomous administrative and fiscal entity of the Executive Branch. In order to ensure and promote the abovementioned independence, which is necessary to exercise the sensitive functions entrusted to the same, the Institute shall be exempted from §§ 1001 et seq. of this title, known as the “Public Documents Administration Act”, §§ 8161 et seq. of this title, known as the “Act for Regulating Certain Government Financing and Personal Property Leasing Contracts”, §§ 1461 et seq. of this title, known as the “Public Service Human Resources Administration Act of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico”, §§ 1451 et seq. of this title, known as the “Puerto Rico Public Service Labor Relation Act”, §§ 283—283p of this title, known as the “Puerto Rico Government Accounting Act”, §§ 931 et seq. of this title, known as the “General Services Administration Act”, and from the Register for Bidders attached to such Administration, and §§ 458 et seq. of Title 1, known as the “Transitional Process of Government Act”.
The Institute shall have the power to adopt, promulgate, amend, and repeal any rules, orders, and regulations to govern the processes related to the management, contracting or recruiting of its human capital, the property, and the administration of its budget, among others, as it may deem necessary and appropriate in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties. In the exercise of this power, the Institute may incorporate any progressive administrative principles that ensure the contracting, selection and recruitment of persons that meet the criteria of personal and professional integrity, excellence, competence, and objectivity; promote professional development, the protection of rights, and the granting of benefits deemed appropriate for the personnel; maximize resources; and guarantee the proper and prudent use of public property and funds.
The main mission of the Institute is to coordinate the Statistical Production Service of the government bodies of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, require information from both the public and private sector, within the parameters defined in this chapter, and draft, in coordination with the Executive Power and the Legislature, the policy on the development of public government statistics.
The fiscal operations of the Institute shall be audited and examined by the Office of the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, at least once every two (2) years.
The Institute shall have its own juridical personality, and shall be able to sue and be sued. In addition, it shall be able to acquire, for value or for free, the equipment, materials and services necessary to comply with this chapter.
History —Aug. 28, 2003, No. 209, § 3; Aug. 9, 2008, No. 217, § 1.