SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 44

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

INTRODUCED BY

Cynthia Nava

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION, THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL, THE STATE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER ASSOCIATION, THE FIRE SERVICE COUNCIL, THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE AND THE NEW MEXICO ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES REPORT TO THE APPROPRIATE INTERIM COMMITTEE TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS RETIREMENT ACT.

     WHEREAS, volunteer firefighters provide vital services in a number of localities across the state; and

     WHEREAS, as volunteers, these people, unlike career firefighters, do not qualify for retirement programs through their local governments; and

     WHEREAS, the volunteer firefighter retirement program can assist local fire departments in the recruiting and retention of personnel; and

     WHEREAS, the administration of the program has become problematic in determining service credit, reporting service credit, calculating benefits and removing inactive members from the retirement database;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public employees retirement association, the state fire marshal's office, the state volunteer firefighter association, the fire service council, the New Mexico municipal league and the New Mexico association of counties report to the appropriate interim committee after June 1, 2008 to propose amendments to the Volunteer Firefighters Retirement Act; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the public employees retirement association, the state fire marshal's office, the state volunteer firefighter association, the fire service council, the New Mexico municipal league and the New Mexico association of counties.

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