HOUSE BILL 220

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

John L. Zimmerman

AN ACT

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS; RECOGNIZING THAT NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES FOR UP TO FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($400,000) THROUGH THE FEDERAL SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE PROGRAM.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 20-4-7.2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2005, Chapter 2, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "20-4-7.2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.--

          A. The legislature finds that:

                (1) the [New Mexico] national guard of New Mexico has a proud tradition of military service with thousands of New Mexicans having answered the call of the nation and served in the national guard;

                (2) there have been instances in which the dependents of members of the [New Mexico] national guard of New Mexico have been left without adequate financial resources when a national guard member has been killed while on active duty;

                (3) members of the [New Mexico] national guard of New Mexico are now being asked to serve extended periods of active duty in combat areas; 

                (4) members of the [New Mexico] national guard of New Mexico are eligible for life insurance policies that are currently limited to [two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000)] four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) through the federal servicemembers' group life insurance program; and

                (5) members of the [New Mexico] national guard of New Mexico provide New Mexico and its citizens valuable benefits through their service inside this state and through their recently extended periods of active duty in combat areas outside of New Mexico, and in exchange for these extended periods of active duty they should receive assistance with their premiums for the federal servicemembers' group life insurance program.

          B. The purpose of creating and funding the service members' life insurance reimbursement fund is to provide a benefit to members of the [New Mexico] national guard of New Mexico in exchange for and in recognition of their assumption of extended periods of active duty in combat areas, in addition to their increased contributions to the safety and welfare of the citizens of the state of New Mexico."

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