P.R. Laws tit. 27, § 1054
(a) The Commission or its Chairman may, by order, assign or refer any matter to one or more Commissioners or to one or more employees or examiners, who shall be designated in said order, and who shall be empowered as stated in subsection (c) of this section.
(b) Any person aggrieved by any action taken in accordance with any order assigning or referring, may file a petition for review with the Commission within such time and in such manner as the Commission may by regulation prescribe. If the petition is granted, the Commission may reaffirm, modify, or leave without effect such action, or may order that a new hearing be held.
(c) Examiners shall have authority to:
(1) Administer oaths and take depositions;
(2) issue summonses;
(3) receive and pass upon pertinent evidence;
(4) take or cause to be taken depositions;
(5) regulate the course of the hearing;
(6) hold conferences to simplify matters upon consent of the parties (to this end the Commission’s Bureau of Legal Matters shall be deemed a party);
(7) dispose of suit processes or similar matters, and
(8) recommend decisions.
(d) Any Commissioner or employee of the Commission designated to preside over a hearing or inquiry shall have the same powers provided for examiners in subsection (c) of this section.
(e) The following powers and duties shall be delegated to the directors of the regional offices:
(1) Granting of extensions for inspection.
(2) Authorization of license plate reinstatement.
(3) Authorization of applications to render ineffective substitutions, exchanges, or any other procedure delegated to the regional offices.
(4) Approval of the substitution of vehicles within the authorized term.
(5) Issue and renewal of operator’s licenses within the established parameters.
(6) Authorize the exchange of routes and vehicles.
(7) Renewal of authorizations filed on time.
(8) Issue provisional permits to:
(A) Operate vehicles to transport workers.
(B) Operate substitute vehicles.
(C) Operate vehicles with PD, HD, or RD license plates.
(9) Take of certificates of improvements to rental vehicles [sic].
(10) Taking of oaths.
(11) Issuance of summons.
(12) Imposition of administrative fines within the established parameters.
(13) Issue authorizations to change license plates.
(14) Authorize the transfer of authorizations and/or units and ratify the substitutions and reinstatement of license plates within the term of one year from the authorization date, and any others that the Commission may deem necessary and convenient from time to time in order to expedite the procedures in the Public Service Commission. Provided, That the directors of the regional offices shall not authorize any transfer of authorizations or units in those cases established through regulations by the Commission or when the documents filed by the applicant show any irregularity on their face.
The Public Service Commission shall adopt the rules needed to exercise the powers conferred herein.
Any person injured by actions carried out pursuant to the provisions of this section may present a request for reconsideration to the Commission within the term prescribed in the Public Service Commission Rules of Procedure in force. Should the reconsideration be granted, the Commission may ratify, modify, or render ineffective such action, or order a public hearing to be held.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 7; June 22, 1992, No. 14, § 1; Aug. 12, 1998, No. 232, § 1.