Amendments To Puerto Rico's Act 54 On Domestic Violence Will Impact Employer Policies

• Published date: 08 September 2023
• Law Firm: Littler Mendelson
• Author: Mr Daniel Limés Rodríguez

The governor of Puerto Rico recently signed into law amendments to Act No. 54 of August 15, 1989, "Act for the Prevention and Intervention with Domestic Violence." The amendments include "economic violence" as a form of domestic violence, and provide additional remedies for addressing this specific type of domestic violence, such as specifically tailored protective orders.

Economic violence, as defined by the statute, is conduct aimed at undermining the victim's present or future financial capacity, economic stability or secure housing. Economic violence may be perpetrated through various means, including threats, coercion, fraud, restriction or denial of access or use of accounts, assets, financial information, government assistance, or hiding relevant information to pay for housing, among other conduct. It may also include interference with...