P.R. Laws tit. 24, § 3155
The Council shall have the following duties and powers among any others provided in this chapter or inherent to its faculties and responsibilities:
(1) To determine the hereditary conditions for which laboratory or medical tests shall be required for the purpose of detecting and diagnosing the presence of any hereditary condition or disease.
(2) To specify the laboratory or medical tests to be required, the methods to be used in such tests, and the quality control methods to be applied.
(3) In coordination with the Secretary, to adopt the Program’s regulations, which shall include the hereditary conditions for which laboratory or medical tests shall be required, the type of tests to be performed and all the quality-control measures therefor. Said regulations shall be adopted within sixty (60) days following the date of the first Council meeting.
Prior to adopting the regulations of the Program, the Council shall hold public hearings to listen to the opinions and recommendations of health professionals and the community in general. Such public hearings shall be published in two (2) newspapers of general circulation no less than one (1) week prior to the date the same shall be held.
The Program’s regulations shall not take effect until the same have been filed at the Department of State, and thirty (30) days have elapsed from the date of notice of their approval, in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
(4) To examine, from time to time, the existing medical information to determine the hereditary conditions that should be included in the Program’s regulations.
(5) To periodically evaluate the effectiveness of the program, to check its effectiveness (cost-benefit), and to submit the corresponding reports to the Secretary of Health and to the Governor of Puerto Rico.
(6) To advise the Secretary of Health on the content, measures and other actions that should be adopted to orient the community, ethically and professionally, on the importance and need of early detection, and efficient control of hereditary diseases.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 84, p. 318, § 5.