P.R. Laws tit. 21, § 4160

2019-02-20 00:00:00+00
§ 4160. Vacancy—Impeachment

Members of the Legislature may only be removed from office once they have taken office, by an impeachment procedure filed by one third (⅓) of the total number of its members and for the following reasons:

(a) Have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor implying moral turpitude.

(b) Have incurred immoral conduct.

(c) Have incurred illegal acts that imply dereliction of duty, inexcusable neglect, or conduct which is injurious to the best public interest in the performance of his/her functions.

Once the impeachment process is initiated, the President of the Legislature shall call a special session to judge and issue a decision on the charges filed against the municipal legislator concerned. The municipal legislatores who signed the charges may participate in the process, but not in the deliberations nor in the decision rendered on the charges.

A conviction shall only be produced in an impeachment process with the concurrent vote of a majority of the members of the Legislature that did not sign the charges. The decision thus issued shall be final and binding as of the date of its official notification to the impeached municipal legislator, as stated in the receipt acknowledgment of the same.

A conviction shall cause the definite removal of the person as member of the Municipal Legislature. Furthermore, the person shall be liable and subject to any civil, penal and administrative procedure.

History —Aug. 30, 1991, No. 81, § 4.010.