Governor files new bill to regulate police escorts

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón

By THE STAR STAFF

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón has vetoed Senate Bill (SB) 752, citing the exclusion of critical recommendations from the island Justice Department.

After reviewing the final version of the measure, the governor concluded that it failed to meet key legal standards and procedural safeguards advocated by the Justice Department. As a result, she exercised her veto power to prevent the bill from becoming law, as previously reported by the STAR.

On Monday, González Colón introduced a new legislative proposal -- Administration Bill 86 -- simultaneously in Puerto Rico’s House and Senate. The governor’s administration is presenting the bill as a replacement for the vetoed measure, focusing on security privileges granted to former governors and political candidates.

The proposed legislation would revoke security detail privileges for any former governor convicted of a felony or misdemeanor under Puerto Rico or federal law, ensuring that criminal convictions directly affect continued protection services. It also eliminates state-funded security for sitting gubernatorial and resident commissioner candidates during election campaigns, a move aimed at preventing the misuse of official protections as a campaign advantage.

However, the bill includes an exception that allows the police superintendent to authorize security services if a candidate faces a credible threat. Such a determination would rest solely on the superintendent’s discretion, based on threat assessments. If approved by both chambers and signed into law, the measure would take effect immediately, reflecting the administration’s intent to curb perceived abuses without delay.

The governor said her veto of SB 752 underscores her commitment to legal rigor in matters involving high-profile officeholders. By introducing a revised framework, González Colón said, she seeks to align policy outcomes with justice-oriented safeguards. The proposal also addresses concerns about electoral fairness by stripping candidates of official security during campaigns, aiming to level the playing field. Additionally, by granting the police superintendent authority over exceptional security measures, the bill emphasizes objectivity in determining threat levels rather than leaving such decisions to elected officials.