AN ACT DEFINING THE FUNCTIONS OF THE U.P. LAW CENTER

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 3870

Functions of the U.P. Law Center
- Undertake technical studies and research in law, with emphasis on Philippine law, particularly on projects for reforms in the judiciary, public administration, civil rights protection, international relations, and law enforcement. (Section 1(1))
- Undertake law institutes or study programs for continuing legal education. (Section 1(2))
- Undertake legal studies and research on request from government agencies concerned with law reform, including the committees on Revision of Laws of the House of Representatives and the Senate. (Section 1(3))
- Undertake publications of studies, monographs, research papers, articles, and other writings on law, with special emphasis on those related to its general objectives, and distribute them at cost to government agencies, judges, lawyers, government administrators and other interested parties. (Section 1(4))
- Perform all other acts necessary for the achievement of its objectives and functions, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the University, including granting research awards, prizes, scholarships, and fellowships. (Section 1(5))

Appointments and Employment
- Appointments to the administrative or research staff of the U.P. Law Center may be on a part-time basis and shall be exempt from the requirements and restrictions of the Civil Service Law, the Retirement Law, and Section 529 of the Revised Administrative Code. (Section 2)
- Any retiree employed in the U.P. Law Center shall not be required to reimburse or refund any gratuity received from the Government, nor shall any pension or annuity be suspended or reduced due to employment in the U.P. Law Center. (Section 2)

Copyright and Distribution Requirements
- No book, treatise, or other literary work on law shall be deemed entitled to copyright protection unless two copies are filed with the U.P. Law Center, as shown by official receipt. (Section 3)
- All government agencies, including appellate courts, administrative courts, boards, and commissions performing adjudicative or quasi-legislative functions, are obliged to furnish the U.P. Law Center, free of charge and on request, with at least one copy of each decision, resolution, regulation, bulletin, or report promulgated or published by such agencies in the regular course of business. (Section 3)
- The materials gathered shall be open to all researchers, whether in the government service or otherwise. (Section 3)

Funding and Legal Research Fund
- An additional amount of five pesos shall be collected by the clerks of appellate courts, and an additional amount of two pesos shall be collected by the clerks of all other courts under the supervision of the Department of Justice, for each action or special proceeding filed, as part of a special fund known as the Legal Research Fund. (Section 4)
- The additional amounts shall be receipted for separately and shall be remitted at the end of each fiscal year to the University of the Philippines for the use of the U.P. Law Center. (Section 4)

Penalties
- Any person who willfully violates any provision of this Act shall be punished with a fine of not more than two thousand pesos or with imprisonment. (Section 5)
- The clerks of court shall turn over violators to the chief accountant of the Department of Justice, who shall remit the fines at the end of each fiscal year to the University of the Philippines for the use of the U.P. Law Center. (Section 5)

Effectivity
- This Act shall take effect upon its approval. (Section 6)