Sec. 311. Bilateral Negotiating Commission
380 words·~2 min read·
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If a plebiscite held under this Act results in a majority vote for sovereignty in free association with the United States, there shall be established, in accordance with this section, a commission, to be known as the Bilateral Negotiating Commission , which shall conduct negotiations on articles of free association with the United States. Not later than 90 days after the date of establishment of the constitutional convention— the constitutional convention shall elect, by majority vote of the delegates to the constitutional convention, 5 members from among the delegates of the constitutional convention to join the Bilateral Negotiating Commission on behalf of Puerto Rico; and the President shall appoint 5 members to the Bilateral Negotiating Commission, 1 of whom shall be nominated as ambassador, to negotiate on behalf of the United States.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the election and appointment of the members to the Bilateral Negotiating Commission under subsection (b), the members of the Bilateral Negotiating Commission shall meet at such time and place as the Legislative Assembly determines to be appropriate. The initial meeting under paragraph
(1)shall be considered to be the establishment of the Bilateral Negotiating Commission. The Bilateral Negotiating Commission shall— be responsible for expediting the orderly transfer to the nation of Puerto Rico of all functions exercised on the day before the date of the Proclamation by the Government of the United States in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; provide to Congress recommendations on any appropriate legislation to carry out the transfer under paragraph (1), including such appropriate enabling legislation as may be required by the articles of free association; negotiate all matters pertaining to the government-to-government relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States through the development of the articles of free association, including foreign affairs, trade, finance, taxation, security, and defense, dispute resolution, immigration, economic benefits (including grants), and termination of the free association status; and to the maximum extent practicable, complete the articles of free association not later than 2 years after the date of establishment of the constitutional convention. The Commonwealth government and Federal agencies shall collaborate with the Bilateral Negotiating Commission to provide for the orderly transfer of the functions of government as required by the articles of free association completed under this section.