Some 16 bills addressing women’s issues addressed in 2nd House session

Rep. Yashira Lebrón Rodríguez

By THE STAR STAFF

Puerto Rico House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Yashira Lebrón Rodríguez announced Sunday that some 16 measures focused on women were addressed, including several bills and research resolutions, during the lower chamber’s second ordinary session, which ended late last month.

“Our speaker, Carlos ‘Johnny’ Méndez, has been clear about the importance of we in the House of Representatives promoting legislation that addresses specific issues for Puerto Rican women, and in this session that began in August and just ended, we took concrete actions with 16 measures, including from members of other delegations, because this issue has no political parties,” Lebrón Rodríguez said.

“We focused on these core issues for our people, including women, during the last session, and the result is there,” she added. “We will continue working to improve the quality of life for women in Puerto Rico.”

Among the measures addressed was House Bill (HB) 176, authored by New Progressive Party (NPP) majority leader in the House, Rep. José “Pichy” Torres Zamora, which adds a new Rule (6.2) to the 1963 Rules of Criminal Procedure to require a psychological evaluation in cases where probable cause is found for a crime under Law No. 54 of Aug. 15, 1989, known as the “Law for the Prevention of and Intervention with Domestic Violence.”

The House also approved HB 165, a bipartisan measure filed by several NPP lawmakers and Dignity Project Rep. Lisie Burgos Muñiz, which would create the “Law for the Protection and Safety of Women in Public Restrooms.” HB 216, introduced by Rep. Luis “Junior” Pérez Ortiz, which amends Law 195-2011 (Law for the Right to Protection of the Primary Residence and the Family Home) to add greater benefits for those requesting safe house protection, and HB 246, filed by Rep. José “Che” Pérez Cordero, which creates a digital platform (Cuéntamelo) to make it easier to report abuse, were also reviewed and approved during the second session of the year.

In addition, three reports were received regarding House Resolution 138, authored by Rep. Wanda del Valle Correa, which directs the Committee on Women’s Affairs to conduct an investigation into all matters related to the full development of women in society. The House also approved HB 548, another measure authored by del Valle, which mandates that prosecutors, family and juvenile advocates complete a certain number of hours of training on domestic violence.