P.R. Laws tit. 2, § 707
The Ombudsman may delegate any of the duties provided herein, except those established in §§ 708, 717, 718 of this title, to his Assistant or to any other designated official.
Notwithstanding [t]he above, the Assistant Ombudsman may perform the functions established in the abovementioned sections, when holding office as Acting Ombudsman.
The person designated as Assistant Ombudsman shall meet all the requirements stated in § 705 of this title for the office of Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman may avail himself of the benefits of the Retirement Act, §§ 761—788 of Title 3.
The Ombudsman may also recruit and appoint the personnel needed to carry out the provisions of this chapter, which shall be excluded from the provisions of Act No. 5 of October 14, 1975, known as the “Public Service Personnel Act”, and the Personnel Regulations of the Office of the Citizen’s Investigating Official, duly approved by the Ombudsman for such purpose, shall be applicable to them. The personnel of the Office of the Ombudsman may avail themselves of the benefits of §§ 761—788 of Title 3, known as the “Public Employees Retirement System Act”, and is also authorized to contract the technical and professional services deemed necessary to implement this chapter.
The Ombudsman may appoint Special Ombudsmen or Citizen’s Investigating Officials in those areas of public endeavor that need to be investigated with special emphasis on the way the services are rendered to the citizens. They shall bear the title of Ombudsman of their area.
The Special Ombudsmen shall report directly to the Ombudsman and shall be subject to the regulations established by the Ombudsman to perform their functions.
The Ombudsman shall provide all the resources the Special Ombudsmen need to perform their duties. When appointing a Special Ombudsman, the Ombudsman shall evaluate the legislation or regulations in effect in other jurisdictions to establish the duties said official will perform, and the prevailing practices of their areas.
The Ombudsman shall appoint the Small Businesses Ombudsman. The Small Businesses Ombudsman shall answer directly to the Ombudsman and shall be subject to the regulations that the Ombudsman establishes for the performance of his/her duties.
The Ombudsman shall provide the necessary resources so that the Small Businesses Ombudsman may discharge his/her duties. On designating the Small Businesses Ombudsman, the Ombudsman shall evaluate the legislation or regulations in effect in other jurisdictions to establish the duties to be performed by said official.
The Ombudsman may appoint the administrative personnel needed to assist and support the duties of the Small Businesses Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman shall be empowered to implement and enforce the purposes of this chapter in order to comply with its public policy.
History —June 30, 1977, No. 134, p. 393, § 7; Mar. 16, 1987, No. 6, p. 15, § 3; Dec. 21, 2000, No. 432, § 2; Dec. 28, 2000, No. 454, § 14, eff. 90 days after Dec. 28, 2000.