Debate over unified sports calendar exposes fiscal and scope concerns; bill later defeated in final vote

Proyecto de la CE1mara 1151, the proposal to create a Unified Sports Calendar for Puerto Rico and to require advance reporting of events that involve minors, dominated a lengthy floor exchange on June 11.

The bill's author, Representative Carlos Acosta, told the chamber the measure responds to a need to protect minors and to provide continuity of services: "El proyecto de la CE1mara 1151 busca reconocer... que los policías retirados" (note: author spoke in defense of other bills as well); on the sports calendar specifically he said the measure is designed to plan and protect the participation of minors and is "exclusivamente informativo" while allowing the Department of Recreation and Sports to establish regulatory mechanisms.

Critics pushed on scope and enforcement. Representative Ferrer Santiago described the project as having been stalled previously in the Senate and characterized the Houses revival of the measure as improper: "Esto es una chapucerEDa legislativa" (he argued it had been "colgado" and returned with a negative report in the Senate). Other members, including Michel LebrF3n, asked how a six-month advance reporting term would work for competitive leagues and how modest penalties (the bill contemplates a $100 fine per unreported event) square with the claim that the duty to report is solely informational.

Author Carlos Acosta and supporters responded that the $100 penalty is a modest, educational compliance tool and that the funds collected would be directed to a special fund for development of minor categories. Acosta also said he had discussed and incorporated Senate feedback: "hemos aF1adido artEDculos al proyecto para que sea aprobado por el Senado...".

Questions on fiscal implementation persisted: the Department of Recreation and Sports reportedly identified a need for an administrative unit and digital platform with an estimated annual cost of $350,000to $500,000; Acosta said the project identifies funding sources and that the department already runs multiple related platforms. Opponents argued the bill broadly captures private and community activity despite textual exemptions for nonprofit and community events, and that these ambiguities could unduly penalize small organizers.

The chamber approved the measure at committee/consideration steps earlier in the day but, when the House completed the final roll call during the 1:27 p.m. voting window, Proyecto de la CE1mara 1151 was the lone item on the calendar defeated in the final tally.

Next steps: Because the bill failed the final roll call, it will not advance to signature for enactment. Sponsors and critics exchanged requests that the measure be returned to committee for revision; no final follow-up assignment was recorded on the floor.