108

During the period comprised between July 1 of the year a general election is held, and the date the new officials elected in said general election are sworn into office, it shall be unlawful to incur expenses or obligations that exceed fifty percent (50%) of the budgetary appropriation of each item. The Secretaries and Directors of the agencies shall be directly responsible for any violation of this provision, which shall constitute a misdemeanor which is punishable by imprisonment for a term of six (6) months or a fine of five hundred dollars ($500), or both penalties, in the discretion of the court. Provided, however, That this limitation shall not apply to the Judicial Branch, the Legislative Branch, to any appropriation for matching federal funds which require an advance, the capital improvements programs, the payment of the public debt, the appropriations to the University of Puerto Rico, and the appropriations for specific legal purposes that do not constitute regular operating expenses. History —June 18, 1980, No. 147, p. 645, § 8, renumbered as § 10 on Aug. 3, 1995, No. 110, § 11.