HOUSE MEMORIAL 57

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008

INTRODUCED BY

William "Bill" R. Rehm

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT AN INTERIM LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE CONSIDER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RETIREMENT PLAN FOR RESERVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

     WHEREAS, applicants for positions as reserve law enforcement officers must pass the same requirements as those of applicants for salaried law enforcement officers regarding physical fitness, mental testing, background investigation and training; and

     WHEREAS, applicants for positions as reserve law enforcement officers are required to complete hundreds of hours of training before they are eligible to be commissioned as reserve law enforcement officers; and

     WHEREAS, successful applicants for positions as reserve law enforcement officers are required to spend thousands of dollars of their own money to purchase uniforms, weapons and other equipment; and

     WHEREAS, reserve law enforcement officers work side by side with salaried reserve law enforcement officers and have many of the same responsibilities; and

     WHEREAS, reserve law enforcement officers place themselves in front of danger to protect New Mexico residents and property and make the state a safer and better place in which to live; and

     WHEREAS, reserve law enforcement officers volunteer numerous hours every month and sacrifice personal time with their own families to fulfill their law enforcement duties; and

     WHEREAS, reserve law enforcement officers are called upon in times of disaster and emergency to come to the aid of their community and their state, and they do so without hesitation; and

     WHEREAS, reserve law enforcement officers face the real possibility of injury while fulfilling their responsibilities as law enforcement officers; and

     WHEREAS, in view of their personal sacrifices for the sake of their communities, reserve law enforcement officers may deserve to receive retirement benefits as a result of their volunteer activities;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to have the appropriate interim legislative committee consider the necessity for and feasibility of establishing a retirement plan for reserve law enforcement officers to be funded by the law enforcement protection fund and administered by the public employees retirement association; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public employees retirement association be requested to examine how the cost of premiums for workers' compensation for the New Mexico mounted patrol officers is paid; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public employees retirement association be requested to conduct a study to determine the actuarial cost of alternative retirement benefits plans for reserve law enforcement officers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the appropriate interim legislative committee report its findings and make its recommendations to the legislature by January 1, 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative council.

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