SENATE MEMORIAL 15

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

INTRODUCED BY

David Ulibarri

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF PLACING CONSERVATION OFFICERS IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TWENTY-YEAR PLAN 1 RATHER THAN THE TWENTY-FIVE YEAR REGULAR SERVICE PLAN 3.

     WHEREAS, conservation officers are law enforcement officers within the state and take the same risks within the profession as any other law enforcement officers; and

     WHEREAS, conservation officers work alone in isolated and remote areas of the state where individuals are armed as hunters, anglers and trappers; and

     WHEREAS, members of the general public who frequent isolated and remote areas of the state are often armed with firearms, knives, bow and arrows, hatchets, chainsaws and other weapons; and

     WHEREAS, conservation officers must go through and pass the same training as law enforcement officers; and

     WHEREAS, conservation officers are expected to perform the same duties as law enforcement officers; and

     WHEREAS, conservation officers are required to work more years than other law enforcement officers before they can retire;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public employees retirement association be requested to study the feasibility of placing conservation officers in a twenty-year retirement plan along with other law enforcement officers and report its findings to the appropriate interim legislative committee by November 2010; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the executive director of the public employees retirement association and to the governor.

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