The Evaluating Commission for Psychoactive Substance Use Prevention Specialist Certification shall be composed of seven (7) persons of proven capabilities and leadership, of legal age and residents of Puerto Rico. A commissioner shall serve for a period of three (3) years, except when elected president, for which two (2) additional years shall be conferred in order for him/her to discharge his/her functions, or when elected secretary, for which one (1) additional year shall be conferred. These positions shall be filled on an elective basis, by the vote of the members of the Commission. The president shall be elected one year before the president in office completes his/her term; thus, the former may study under and collaborate with the latter during his/her last year of tenure.
The Evaluating Commission for Psychoactive Substance Use Prevention Specialist Certification shall be constituted by: one (1) member to represent an accredited university institution; one (1) member to represent faith-based organizations providing prevention services; one (1) member to represent community-based organizations; one (1) member to represent private sector entities engaged in human development, community service, education, prevention, and rehabilitation; one (1) member to represent the government sector; one (1) member to represent the Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration; and one (1) member from the citizenry to represent the public interest.
The member representing the community or the public interest must be recommended by two (2) or more members of the Commission. This commissioner is different from the commissioner representing community-based organizations. The community or public interest commissioner, if he or she has been through rehabilitation, shall have a minimum of two (2) years from having completed his/her recovery process and be motivated by a genuine interest in the prevention of psychoactive substance use. At the same time, he she shall not have relatives up to the fourth degree of consanguinity or second degree of affinity who have participated or are participating in a business or professional field associated with psychoactive substance use prevention, and he or she must not have had a financial interest with a person subject to the regulations of the Commission for two (2) years preceding his/her appointment.
Members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Governor after recommendations from the represented sectors have been submitted. Each sector shall submit their candidates in light of the criteria established in this chapter. In the government sector, the secretaries and/or administrators of the public agencies shall designate a candidate that meets the requirements set foeth in this chapter. On the other hand, nongovernment organizations shall recommend their candidates in order for the Governor to be duly advised when making his/her selection.
The Commission shall create through regulations, all the commitees it deems necessary to exercise the functions provided for in this chapter.
History —Sept. 16, 2004, No. 369, § 4, eff. 90 days after Sept. 16, 2004.