The title deed of the areas of natural interest purchased by the nonprofit organization with funds matched by the Program shall be property of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the organization shall be bound to transfer the title deed to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico with no restriction other than a conservation easement on behalf of the organization to guarantee the protection and management of the natural resources that made the area worthy of being included in the Natural Patrimony Program. To comply with this provision, the organization shall transfer the title deed to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in accordance with the terms stipulated by the Secretary of Natural and Environmental Resources. The property acquired by the Commonwealth for the purposes of this chapter, whether by a nonprofit organization, by the Program or by any Government agency, shall be exempted from property taxes. This exemption shall be effective on January 1 of the year in which the property is acquired by the nonprofit organization to be transferred to the Program on the date it is bound to transfer it to the Commonwealth. The granting of this exemption shall not be subject to the limitations in surface areas imposed by the Political-Administrative Code on nonprofit organizations to be eligible for property tax exemption. Nothing provided herein shall be understood to impair requirements provided by law for the acquisition of land by the government agencies and instrumentalities.
History —Aug. 4, 1988, No. 150, p. 636, § 12.