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A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO CREATE AN

INTERIM COMMITTEE OR ASSIGN AN APPROPRIATE INTERIM COMMITTEE

TO REVIEW OPTIONS FOR AMENDING 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 New Mexico legislative council

be requested to appoint an interim committee or assign an

appropriate interim committee to study the provisions of the

Volunteer Firefighters Retirement Act and consider necessary

amendments to the act; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public employees

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retirement association, the state fire marshal's office, the

fire service council, the New Mexico municipal league and the

New Mexico association of counties be consulted during the

interim study; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be

transmitted to the legislative council service for

distribution to the New Mexico legislative council.