PIP files bill to restrict governor’s delegated powers

Representatives of the Puerto Rican Independence Party Denis Márquez Lebrón , Adriana Gutiérrez Colón and Nelie Lebrón Robles.

By THE STAR STAFF

Representatives of the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) Denis Márquez Lebrón , Adriana Gutiérrez Colón and Nelie Lebrón Robles filed House Bill 1333 to establish clear limits on the delegation of powers by the governor and to prohibit people who have lobbied in the last 15 years from receiving delegated powers.

The measure would repeal Law 104 of 1956 and replace it with new legislation that expressly defines which powers of the governor can be delegated and which must remain non-delegable by constitutional or legal provision.

The bill limits delegations to administrative coordination, monitoring, and implementation of public policy. It also prohibits delegating powers related to public procurement, personnel appointments and actions, budget management, and other functions assigned by law to agency heads, executive directors, and governing boards.

The proposal also establishes that only officials confirmed by the Senate may receive delegated powers, incorporates rules of transparency, accountability and disqualification for conflicts of interest, and prohibits former lobbyists from exercising such functions.

Márquez Lebrón argued that the measure is a response to years of excessive delegations of power through executive orders, which, he said, have concentrated authority beyond what is permitted by law. As an example, he cited the Secretary of the Governor’s Office, Francisco Domenech, whom he described as an unelected official who has accumulated broad powers without proper legislative oversight.

Gutiérrez Colón indicated that the project seeks to prevent partisan or private political interests from prevailing over sound public administration, while Lebrón Robles highlighted that the initiative strengthens transparency and governmental integrity by requiring senatorial confirmation and stricter rules on conflicts of interest.

According to the PIP delegation, the measure aims to preserve administrative efficiency without undermining the principles of transparency, public accountability, and democratic oversight.