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.166501.1

SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 26

48

TH LEGISLATURE

- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -

FIRST SESSION

, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Cynthia Nava

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

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.166501.1

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

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.

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