P.R. Laws tit. 29, § 2
The Secretary of Labor and Human Resources is hereby empowered to deliver these amounts to the workers or employees on whose behalf they were deposited. If the amounts collected or deposited for any reason cannot be paid to the workers or employees who are entitled to receive them, they shall remain in custody of the Secretary of Labor and Human Resources in a current bank account to attend to future claims of the workers or employees to whom they appertain pursuant to the regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Labor and Human Resources to that effect.
The Secretary of Labor and Human Resources is hereby authorized to endorse and deposit in said account those bank checks, money orders and any other securities drawn by the employers on behalf of the workers as payment for claims, when such workers cannot be found to receive and cash them.
In case of death of any worker or employee entitled to receive a certain amount for the aforesaid reason, the Secretary of Labor and Human Resources shall make the payment to the heirs of such workers or employee in accordance with his determination in that respect and in the proportions corresponding to them under the Civil Code.
The status of heirs, as provided in this section, shall be established before the Secretary of Labor and Human Resources as the latter may provide by regulation.
When the persons entitled to a payment are minors or disabled persons, such payments shall be made to the person in charge of said minors or disabled persons, if, after the proper investigation is made, it is found advisable to do so.
After payment of a claim is made as provided herein, the Secretary of Labor and Human Resources and his agents and employees shall be released of all future liability.
History —Apr. 17, 1952, No. 77, p. 158, § 2; June 16, 1959, No. 44, p. 109, § 1; June 4, 1960, No. 51, p. 85, § 1; June 2, 1976, No. 116, p. 342, § 1; July 11, 1988, No. 76, p. 329, § 1.