San Juan, Puerto Rico — Despite unequivocal opposition from civil society, community leaders, media, academia, and journalism associations, Senate Bill 63 (PS63), a measure that undermines the constitutional right to access public information, could be brought to a vote this week in the House of Representatives without giving all the organizations that have rejected it a chance to be heard.
Last week, Representative Víctor Parés, who heads the House Government Committee, announced that the bill, which was under his committee’s review, would be evaluated next year during the legislative session that begins in January. But that same day, the measure was withdrawn from his committee and reassigned to the Judiciary Committee, chaired by José “Ché” Pérez Cordero. On Friday, November 7, at 5:35 p.m., the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo (CPI) received a summons to a public hearing scheduled for Wednesday, November 11, at 9:00 a.m. More than 20 organizations that have expressed opposition to the measure were not invited to participate and were not given sufficient time to prepare written statements.
“There’s a holiday in between. We attended the committee meeting today, Monday, and were informed that it’s unclear whether there will be additional hearing days, as House Speaker Carlos ‘Johnny’ Méndez had suggested, or whether all the organizations opposing the measure will be invited. This suggests an effort to bring the bill to a fast-track vote this week without listening to the public. It’s an affront to citizen participation,” said Carla Minet, executive director of the CPI.
“What was promised as an open and deliberative process has turned into an accelerated attempt to approve a bill that restricts rights. We demand that the public be heard before lawmakers legislate against them,” said Issel Masses, executive director of the organization Sembrando Sentido.
Senate Bill 63 proposes extending the government’s deadline to release public information from 20 to 40 days while adding new layers of bureaucracy; removing the obligation to compile data when requested information is dispersed across various documents or formats; allowing the classification of information as confidential without due process; eliminating the option to request data in open formats; requiring notification to the agency head for every information request filed; and removing protections for the identity of those requesting information.
Despite widespread opposition from dozens of organizations, academics, journalists, community leaders, and residents, the measure was approved by the Senate on October 14 without a public hearing and sent to the House for consideration.
Rushed Process in the House
The call for a public hearing, issued with minimal notice, limited publicity, and restricted to a single invited organization, contradicts the public commitments to transparency and deliberation previously expressed by House Speaker Carlos “Johnny” Méndez and Government Committee Chair Víctor Parés.
Last week, Representative Víctor Parés told El Nuevo Día that PS63 would not come up for a vote during this legislative session. He said the measure would undergo amendments and that lawmakers would open a broad, participatory process with requests for written statements and more public hearings. The reality, however, has been different: there will now be only one rushed hearing with limited access, preventing meaningful participation from those who have spoken out against the bill.
“Representative Pérez Cordero sponsored and led a citizen participation effort during the previous four-year term to discuss amendments that strengthened and expanded the Transparency Act. Now he wants to amend that same law on a fast track and in a non-transparent way. He must reflect on this contradiction and show leadership,” said Wilma Maldonado Arrigoitía, president of the Overseas Press Club.
A Bill Without Public Support
PS63 was not requested by any civic organization, media outlet, professional association, or community group, and it has only received support from the State Elections Commission. The measure has been widely rejected by civic organizations, academics, journalists, and citizens who defend access to public information as a fundamental right essential to democracy and government accountability.
“We urge the public, the media, and community groups to contact the House of Representatives to request participation in the hearings, demand an expanded deliberative process, and oppose the approval of PS63 without hearing from all affected sectors,” Masses said.
This translation was generated with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and clarity.
