SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 41

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

Cynthia Nava

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION AND THE FIRE MARSHAL DIVISION OF THE PUBLIC REGULATION COMMISSION TO STUDY POTENTIAL REVENUE SOURCES TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY FIRE DEPARTMENTS AS THEY CONTINUE TO PROVIDE PROPERTY- AND LIFE-SAVING SERVICES AND TO HELP WITH THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico is dependent on volunteer firefighters to operate fire departments in counties throughout the state; and

     WHEREAS, eighty-five percent of New Mexico firefighters are volunteers; and

     WHEREAS, over eighty-five percent of New Mexico communities depend entirely or partially on volunteer firefighters; and

     WHEREAS, the national average age of volunteer firefighters is fifty-seven years; and

     WHEREAS, as volunteer firefighters age, they are not being replaced as readily by younger or new firefighters; and

     WHEREAS, most of New Mexico's local governments cannot afford to replace volunteer firefighters with career firefighters; and

     WHEREAS, most of those same local governments are experiencing more difficulty in recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters; and

     WHEREAS, the lack of adequate numbers of volunteer firefighters may put firefighters at greater risk of injury or death; and

     WHEREAS, the shortage of volunteer firefighters may also be detrimental to the community fire protection rating and, thus, potentially decrease local governments' share of the fire protection fund; and

     WHEREAS, the shortage also has the potential to increase the cost of insurance coverage for individuals, businesses and governments;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the local government division of the department of finance and administration and the fire marshal division of the public regulation commission study potential revenue sources to support community fire departments so that they may continue to provide property- and life-saving services; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study also look at ways for local governments to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the divisions make periodic reports to appropriate interim committees and a final report to the governor and the legislature by October 31, 2010; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the director of the local government division, the secretary of finance and administration, the state fire marshal and the chair of the public regulation commission.

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