1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to participation in and benefits from a statewide
1-3 retirement system for volunteer firefighters and other emergency
1-4 services personnel.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Section 1, Texas Statewide Volunteer Fire
1-7 Fighters Retirement Act (Article 6243e.3, Vernon's Texas Civil
1-8 Statutes), is amended by amending Subdivisions (1), (7), (9), (10),
1-9 (11), and (13) and adding Subdivisions (14)-(17) to read as
1-10 follows:
1-11 (1) "Qualified service" means [fire-fighting] service
1-12 for a participating department that is recognized as an emergency
1-13 services department by its governing body and that conducts at
1-14 least 48 hours of drills in a calendar year performed by a member
1-15 who is in good standing in a participating department that has not
1-16 fewer than 10 active members and who either attends at least
1-17 [rendered without monetary remuneration while a member in good
1-18 standing of a fire-fighting unit that has no fewer than 10 active
1-19 members, and a minimum of two drills each month, each drill two
1-20 hours long, and each active member present at] 40 percent of the
1-21 minimum number of hours of annual drills and at least 25 percent of
1-22 the department's emergencies in a calendar year or is absent
1-23 because of [fires. Absence caused by] military duty [does not
1-24 affect qualified service].
2-1 (7) "Fund" means the Texas statewide emergency
2-2 services personnel retirement fund [Fire Fighters' Relief and
2-3 Retirement Fund] created by this Act.
2-4 (9) "Member [fire fighter]" means a volunteer or
2-5 auxiliary [fire fighter] who participates in the pension system
2-6 under this Act.
2-7 (10) "Participating [Member fire] department" means a
2-8 public entity that performs fire, rescue, or emergency medical
2-9 services and [fire department that] participates in the pension
2-10 system under this Act.
2-11 (11) "Current pension plan" means a pension plan in
2-12 which a participating [fire] department is participating when it
2-13 elects to join the pension system created by this Act.
2-14 (13) "Governing body" means the governing body of any
2-15 political subdivision of the state [within which a rural fire
2-16 prevention district created pursuant to the provisions of Chapter
2-17 794, Health and Safety Code, is situated or the governing body of
2-18 any city or town within which a fire department subject to the
2-19 provisions of this Act is situated].
2-20 (14) "Volunteer" means a person who performs emergency
2-21 services for civic, charitable, or humanitarian reasons, receives
2-22 no monetary remuneration from a participating department, and is
2-23 not subject to the compensation requirements provided by the Fair
2-24 Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. Section 201 et seq.) for
2-25 employees.
2-26 (15) "Auxiliary employee" means a person who receives
2-27 compensation from a political subdivision of this state and is
3-1 certified by the political subdivision as being regularly engaged
3-2 in the performance of duties for a participating department in an
3-3 appointive office or position that normally requires services from
3-4 the person for less than 1,000 hours a year at a rate that does not
3-5 exceed the federal minimum wage by more than $2 per hour, as
3-6 established in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C.
3-7 Section 201 et seq.), but excludes a person who is eligible to
3-8 receive credit for the same service in either the Texas County and
3-9 District Retirement System or the Texas Municipal Retirement
3-10 System.
3-11 (16) "Emergency services" means only those services
3-12 relating to fire, rescue, and emergency medical services performed
3-13 by a volunteer or auxiliary employee of a participating department.
3-14 (17) "Emergency services personnel" means persons who
3-15 perform emergency services.
3-16 SECTION 2. Section 1A, Texas Statewide Volunteer Fire
3-17 Fighters Retirement Act (Article 6243e.3, Vernon's Texas Civil
3-18 Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
3-19 Sec. 1A. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the Texas
3-20 Statewide Emergency Services [Volunteer Fire Fighters] Retirement
3-21 Act.
3-22 SECTION 3. Sections 2(a), (b), (c), and (f), Texas Statewide
3-23 Volunteer Fire Fighters Retirement Act (Article 6243e.3, Vernon's
3-24 Texas Civil Statutes), are amended to read as follows:
3-25 (a) The Texas statewide emergency services personnel
3-26 retirement fund [Fire Fighters' Relief and Retirement Fund] is a
3-27 trust fund in the state treasury.
4-1 (b) Participation in the fund is optional. A [Any]
4-2 governing body may, [not later than 60 days after the effective
4-3 date of this Act and] in accordance with the usual procedures
4-4 prescribed for taking [other] official action [actions] of the
4-5 governing body, elect to participate in [exempt itself from] the
4-6 requirements of this Act. Any action to not participate in
4-7 [provide for an exemption from] the requirements of this Act may be
4-8 rescinded by the governing body at any time. A municipality that
4-9 has elected to participate in this fund may not rescind that
4-10 election.
4-11 (c) Every governing body of a department that is eligible to
4-12 participate in the pension system and that is not currently exempt
4-13 under Subsection (b) of this section shall contribute for each
4-14 member [fire fighter] at least $12 for each month of service
4-15 beginning on the date the member [fire fighter] enters the pension
4-16 system. Contributions must be paid at least every 12 months. If
4-17 the participating [member fire] department is situated in more than
4-18 one political subdivision, the governing bodies of such political
4-19 subdivisions shall contribute equally towards a total of at least
4-20 $12 for each member [fire fighter] for each month of service.
4-21 (f) Any contribution made and any benefits provided pursuant
4-22 to this Act shall not be considered compensation, and members who
4-23 are volunteers [member fire fighters] shall not be deemed to be in
4-24 the paid service of any governing body.
4-25 SECTION 4. Sections 2A, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10, Texas
4-26 Statewide Volunteer Fire Fighters Retirement Act (Article 6243e.3,
4-27 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), are amended to read as follows:
5-1 Sec. 2A. MEMBERSHIP. (a) Except as otherwise provided by
5-2 this section, each person [fire fighter] who performs service as
5-3 [for] a volunteer or auxiliary employee of a participating [fire]
5-4 department is a member of the pension system.
5-5 (b) A person is not a member of the pension system:
5-6 (1) if the governing body [of the fire department] is
5-7 exempt from this Act under Section 2(b) of this Act;
5-8 (2) if the person is less than 18 years of age [a
5-9 minor];
5-10 (3) during a probationary period of service before
5-11 becoming a regular member of a participating [fire] department, if
5-12 the governing body of the [fire] department is not making
5-13 contributions for the probationary service; [or]
5-14 (4) if the person does not receive a certification of
5-15 physical fitness or assignment to support duties under Section 8 of
5-16 this Act; or
5-17 (5) if the person is retired under this Act, whether
5-18 or not the person continues to participate in emergency
5-19 service-related [fire-related] functions for a department from
5-20 which the person retired.
5-21 (c) A member who performs qualified service for more than
5-22 one participating [fire] department under this Act may become
5-23 eligible to receive service retirement benefits for service for
5-24 each department, but, if the person dies while a member, the
5-25 member's beneficiary must choose between an on-duty and off-duty
5-26 death benefit.
5-27 Sec. 3. RETIREMENT BENEFITS. (a) A member [fire fighter]
6-1 shall receive a retirement annuity payable in monthly installments
6-2 on reaching retirement age, subject to the vesting provisions in
6-3 Section 6 of this Act.
6-4 (b) The monthly retirement annuity is equal to six times the
6-5 governing body's average monthly contribution over the member's
6-6 [member fire fighters's] term of qualified service under this Act.
6-7 (c) For each year of additional qualified service in excess
6-8 of 15 years, a member [fire fighter] is entitled to receive an
6-9 additional seven percent of the member's [his] monthly pension
6-10 compounded annually. A member [fire fighter] may receive a
6-11 proportional credit for days or months of qualified service that
6-12 make up less than a year.
6-13 Sec. 4. DISABILITY BENEFITS. (a) A member [fire fighter]
6-14 must, at the time of disability, elect between retirement or
6-15 disability benefits if eligible for both.
6-16 (b) A member [fire fighter] who is disabled during the
6-17 performance of emergency service duties [as a fire fighter] is
6-18 automatically vested 100 percent as of the date of disability, if
6-19 the disability occurs before the member has completed 15 years of
6-20 qualified service. Benefits under this subsection are payable if
6-21 the member [fire fighter] is unable to perform the person's duties
6-22 for the member's participating department [as a fire fighter] or
6-23 the duties of any other occupation for which the person is
6-24 reasonably suited by education, training, and experience.
6-25 (c) A member [fire fighter] whose disability results from
6-26 performing emergency service duties [as a fire fighter] is
6-27 guaranteed a disability benefit of $300 a month.
7-1 Sec. 5. DEATH BENEFITS. (a) The beneficiary of a deceased
7-2 member [fire fighter] whose death did not result from the
7-3 performance of emergency service duties [as a member of the fire
7-4 department] shall receive a lump-sum benefit that is the greater
7-5 of:
7-6 (1) the sum contributed to the fund on the decedent's
7-7 behalf; or
7-8 (2) the sum which would have been contributed on the
7-9 decedent's behalf from whatever source at the end of 15 years of
7-10 qualified service.
7-11 (b) The beneficiary of a member whose death results from
7-12 performing emergency service duties [as a fire fighter] is
7-13 guaranteed a lump-sum benefit of at least $5,000.
7-14 (c) [(1)] If the death of a member [fire fighter] results
7-15 from the performance of emergency service duties [as a member of
7-16 the fire department], in addition to the lump-sum death benefit,
7-17 the deceased member's spouse and dependents are entitled to receive
7-18 in equal shares a survivor's benefit equal to two-thirds of the
7-19 monthly retirement annuity the decedent would have been entitled to
7-20 receive if the decedent had been able to retire, vested at 100
7-21 percent, under Section 3 of this Act on the date of the decedent's
7-22 death. As long as both spouse and one or more dependents survive,
7-23 an additional one-third of that monthly retirement annuity shall be
7-24 paid to the dependents in equal shares.
7-25 (d) If a person [member fire fighter] dies after retirement,
7-26 the surviving spouse shall receive two-thirds of the monthly
7-27 pension the decedent was receiving at the time of death. If a
8-1 member [fire fighter] dies before retirement but after meeting the
8-2 minimum age and service requirements for service retirement, the
8-3 surviving spouse is entitled to receive two-thirds of the monthly
8-4 pension the decedent would have received if the decedent had
8-5 retired on the date of death.
8-6 (e) The spouse is eligible to receive benefits as long as
8-7 the spouse remains alive.
8-8 (f) Lump-sum death benefits are subject to the laws of
8-9 descent and distribution if the decedent has not provided for
8-10 testamentary disposition.
8-11 (g) When a member [fire fighter] names more than one
8-12 beneficiary for the lump-sum death benefit, the benefit shall be
8-13 divided equally among the named beneficiaries unless the member
8-14 [fire fighter] designates a proportional division. If the member
8-15 [fire fighter] designates a proportional division, each beneficiary
8-16 shall receive the proportion of the lump-sum benefit designated by
8-17 the member [fire fighter].
8-18 (h) The surviving spouse of a deceased member who dies after
8-19 terminating service with all participating departments and meeting
8-20 a vesting requirement under Section 6 of this Act but before
8-21 attaining the age of 55 is entitled to a monthly pension, beginning
8-22 on the date the decedent would have attained that age, that is
8-23 two-thirds of the monthly pension to which the decedent would have
8-24 been entitled on that date.
8-25 Sec. 8. CERTIFICATION OF PHYSICAL FITNESS. A prospective
8-26 member [fire fighter entering service in a member fire department
8-27 after the effective date of this Act] shall present to the local
9-1 board of trustees a certification of physical fitness by a
9-2 qualified physician. If the local board accepts the certification,
9-3 the person [fire fighter] becomes a member of the pension system.
9-4 If the local board does not accept the certification or if the
9-5 person [fire fighter] does not present a certification, the person
9-6 [fire fighter] becomes a member of the pension system only if the
9-7 local board assigns the person [fire fighter] to support duties
9-8 [other than fighting fires].
9-9 Sec. 9. TRANSFER OF ACCRUED BENEFITS. A member [fire
9-10 fighter] who terminates service and later resumes service with the
9-11 same participating [fire] department or transfers to another
9-12 participating [member] department may transfer all accrued benefits
9-13 to the new or resumed service.
9-14 Sec. 10. ENTERING THE PENSION SYSTEM; REQUIRED ELECTION.
9-15 (a) An election must be held within a [the local fire] department
9-16 to merge its current pension plan with the pension system.
9-17 (b) The election must be held within 14 days after:
9-18 (1) a petition calling for an election and signed by
9-19 50 percent of the active emergency services personnel [fire
9-20 fighters] in the department is filed at the local department; and
9-21 (2) the disclosure required by Section 16 of this Act
9-22 is made to the emergency services personnel [fire fighters] in the
9-23 local department.
9-24 (c) If the current pension plan of the [fire] department is
9-25 not solvent, the election to enter the pension system in this Act
9-26 must be decided by a majority of the votes cast by qualified
9-27 emergency services personnel [fire fighters] in the department.
10-1 (d) If the current pension plan of the [fire] department is
10-2 solvent, the election to enter the pension system in this Act must
10-3 be decided by at least 60 percent of all votes cast.
10-4 (e) In the election required in this section, a person's
10-5 [fire fighter's] vote must be multiplied by the number of years of
10-6 participation in the current pension plan.
10-7 SECTION 5. Sections 11(a), (d), (e), and (f), Texas
10-8 Statewide Volunteer Fire Fighters Retirement Act (Article 6243e.3,
10-9 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), are amended to read as follows:
10-10 (a) When a [fire] department under a current pension plan
10-11 elects to participate in the pension system in this Act, the
10-12 current pension plan is merged with the pension system.
10-13 (d) Following merger, a member's retirement benefits in the
10-14 pension system are determined by either the future-service method
10-15 or the buy-back method. [The options are available only to fire
10-16 fighters participating in the current pension plan.]
10-17 (e)(1) In the future-service method, the qualified service
10-18 required to earn retirement benefits in the pension system begins
10-19 as of the date of merger. For determining a person's retirement
10-20 benefits in the pension system, a department [fire fighter] may
10-21 choose the formula for benefits used in the current pension plan or
10-22 the formula for benefits as outlined in this Act. Any retirement
10-23 benefits accrued prior to the date of merger will also be paid on
10-24 retirement according to the formula for benefits under the current
10-25 pension plan.
10-26 (2) In the buy-back method in determining the member's
10-27 [fire fighters'] retirement benefits in the pension system, a
11-1 department [fire fighter] may choose the formula for benefits used
11-2 in the current pension plan or the formula for benefits as outlined
11-3 in this Act. A member [The fire fighter] who has less than 15
11-4 years of service remaining before retirement as of the date of
11-5 merger may count time served under the current pension plan before
11-6 the date of merger as qualified service if the service complies
11-7 with the [minimum drill and fire] attendance requirements provided
11-8 for qualified service. The time period necessary to make 15 years
11-9 of service before retirement may be used.
11-10 (f) A person [fire fighter] who terminates service prior to
11-11 the date of merger of the person's [his fire] department's current
11-12 pension plan with the pension system is entitled to receive at
11-13 retirement age the retirement benefits vested under the pension
11-14 plan in effect during the person's [his] service. The pension
11-15 system pays the person's [his] benefits.
11-16 SECTION 6. Sections 11A, 12, 12A, 15, and 16, Texas
11-17 Statewide Volunteer Fire Fighters Retirement Act (Article 6243e.3,
11-18 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), are amended to read as follows:
11-19 Sec. 11A. PRIOR SERVICE OF MEMBERS WITHOUT A PENSION PLAN
11-20 BEFORE PARTICIPATION. A governing body that wishes to participate
11-21 [is participating] in the fund and whose [fire] department did not
11-22 have a pension plan in effect immediately before the date of
11-23 participation may purchase, on terms acceptable to the
11-24 commissioner, credit for prior service by its emergency services
11-25 personnel [member fire fighters]. The commissioner, after
11-26 consultation with a qualified actuary, shall determine the amount
11-27 required to purchase prior-service credit under this section. The
12-1 requirements of Section 11 of this Act apply to the purchase of
12-2 prior-service credit under this section to the extent that they are
12-3 applicable. The value of prior service purchased under this
12-4 section is the same as if it had been performed as a member of the
12-5 fund.
12-6 Sec. 12. WITHDRAWING FROM THE PENSION SYSTEM. (a) A
12-7 current pension plan that merges with the pension system may
12-8 withdraw from the pension system within five years after the date
12-9 of merger on a majority vote of the emergency services personnel
12-10 [fire fighters] in the department voting in the same manner as
12-11 provided in Section 10 of this Act.
12-12 (b) On withdrawal from the pension system, the allocated
12-13 assets and liabilities as apportioned by an actuary retained by the
12-14 pension system must be transferred to the plan chosen to replace
12-15 the pension system.
12-16 (c) If a member [fire fighter] terminates service before
12-17 retirement, vested retirement benefits must be paid to the member
12-18 [fire fighter] at retirement age. There is no penalty for
12-19 nonconsecutive years of service.
12-20 Sec. 12A. BENEFITS FOR MEMBER OF DEPARTMENT THAT CEASES TO
12-21 EXIST. (a) The commissioner shall continue to administer benefits
12-22 of the pension system for members and retirees who performed
12-23 service for a former [member fire] department that has not
12-24 withdrawn from the pension system under Section 12 of this Act and
12-25 has ceased to exist.
12-26 (b) The governing body of a political subdivision in which a
12-27 former [member fire] department described by Subsection (a) of this
13-1 section was located shall perform the duties provided by Section 23
13-2 of this Act for the members and retirees who performed service for
13-3 the former [member fire] department.
13-4 Sec. 15. PENSION PLANS REQUIRED TO BE SOLVENT. (a) Every
13-5 person who performs emergency service duties as a fire fighter in
13-6 the state and who serves without monetary remuneration must be a
13-7 member of a solvent pension plan.
13-8 (b) After the effective date of this Act, an insolvent
13-9 pension plan for emergency services personnel [fire fighters] who
13-10 serve without monetary remuneration must become actuarially sound
13-11 within three years. An insolvent pension plan must demonstrate to
13-12 the commissioner within six months after becoming insolvent that
13-13 steps are being taken to become actuarially sound.
13-14 Sec. 16. DISCLOSURE OF PENSION PLAN INFORMATION REQUIRED.
13-15 (a) The governing body shall disclose to each person [fire
13-16 fighter] who [serves without monetary remuneration and who] is
13-17 eligible for participation in the pension system the information
13-18 required by this section.
13-19 (b) The commissioner shall distribute to each emergency
13-20 services [fire] department and each governing body the following
13-21 information:
13-22 (1) all benefits that are available in the pension
13-23 system in this Act;
13-24 (2) the contributions required by the pension system;
13-25 (3) the expected return on the investment for [of] a
13-26 member [fire fighter];
13-27 (4) when benefits vest;
14-1 (5) the transferability of benefits;
14-2 (6) rights of withdrawing members;
14-3 (7) procedures for filing claims and appeals; and
14-4 (8) [tax consequences; and]
14-5 [(9)] changes in the law.
14-6 (c) Each [The local fire] department shall disclose to all
14-7 personnel who are eligible to participate in the fund [each fire
14-8 fighter in the department and to each new fire fighter on his
14-9 commissioning] the information in Subsection (b) of this section.
14-10 (d) After a petition for an election as required in Section
14-11 10 of this Act has been filed and before the election occurs, the
14-12 directors of a current pension plan must disclose to its members
14-13 the information required in Subsection (b) of this section about
14-14 the current pension plan.
14-15 SECTION 7. Section 19(a), Texas Statewide Volunteer Fire
14-16 Fighters Retirement Act (Article 6243e.3, Vernon's Texas Civil
14-17 Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
14-18 (a) The commissioner may not administer any [fire fighters']
14-19 pension plan other than the pension system created by this Act and
14-20 the system created by Chapter 125, Acts of the 45th Legislature,
14-21 Regular Session, 1937, as amended (Article 6243e, Vernon's Texas
14-22 Civil Statutes).
14-23 SECTION 8. Section 21(b), Texas Statewide Volunteer Fire
14-24 Fighters Retirement Act (Article 6243e.3, Vernon's Texas Civil
14-25 Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
14-26 (b) The board shall establish rules [and regulations]
14-27 necessary for the administration of the fund. The board shall
15-1 adopt rules to provide a proration of the requirements for
15-2 qualified service for a member who performs service for only a
15-3 portion of a calendar year and may provide by rule for the manner
15-4 in which member attendance or drill hours are to be computed.
15-5 SECTION 9. Sections 22(a) and (d), Texas Statewide Volunteer
15-6 Fire Fighters Retirement Act (Article 6243e.3, Vernon's Texas Civil
15-7 Statutes), are amended to read as follows:
15-8 (a) The local board of trustees is composed of the
15-9 following:
15-10 (1) one representative selected by the governing body;
15-11 (2) five members representing a participating [of the
15-12 local fire] department chosen by a majority of the emergency
15-13 services personnel in the department who are eligible to
15-14 participate in the pension system [fire fighters in qualified
15-15 service]; and
15-16 (3) two residents of a participating political
15-17 subdivision [tax-paying voters] who are chosen by the other members
15-18 of the board.
15-19 (d) On the first local board, the [fire department]
15-20 representatives of the participating department shall serve
15-21 staggered terms. These [The fire department] representatives shall
15-22 draw by lot at the first board meeting to determine the length of
15-23 term to be served. Three representatives shall serve two-year
15-24 terms, and two representatives shall serve one-year terms. The
15-25 first appointments of the [tax-paying or citizen] representatives
15-26 appointed by other members of the board shall be one appointed for
15-27 a two-year term and one appointed for a one-year term. Thereafter,
16-1 all appointments are for two-year terms.
16-2 SECTION 10. Sections 23(a) and (e), Texas Statewide
16-3 Volunteer Fire Fighters Retirement Act (Article 6243e.3, Vernon's
16-4 Texas Civil Statutes), are amended to read as follows:
16-5 (a) The local board of trustees shall monitor the timely
16-6 submission of required [collect all governing body contributions at
16-7 least annually and send the] contributions to the commissioner.
16-8 (e) The local board shall require a member [fire fighter]
16-9 who is receiving temporary disability benefits to file a disability
16-10 rating report from a physician every three months. The board may
16-11 choose the physician. When the reports indicate a significant
16-12 change of condition, the local board, after notice and a hearing,
16-13 may enter an order to terminate benefit payments or place the
16-14 member [fire fighter] on permanent disability. The order is sent
16-15 to the commissioner. If the board terminates benefits, the member
16-16 [fire fighter] is presumed able to perform the person's duties for
16-17 a participating department [as a fire fighter] or perform the
16-18 duties of another occupation for which the person is reasonably
16-19 suited by education, training, and experience.
16-20 SECTION 11. Section 25, Texas Statewide Volunteer Fire
16-21 Fighters Retirement Act (Article 6243e.3, Vernon's Texas Civil
16-22 Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
16-23 Sec. 25. ACT NOT TO REPEAL STATUTORY AUTHORITY. This Act
16-24 does not repeal the statutory authority for any existing or current
16-25 pension plan. This Act is intended to provide a pension system and
16-26 death and disability benefits for emergency services personnel who
16-27 are volunteers or auxiliary employees [fire fighters who serve
17-1 without monetary remuneration]. The provisions of this Act are not
17-2 to be interpreted to affect fully paid emergency services personnel
17-3 [fire fighters] or their pension systems in any way.
17-4 SECTION 12. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1997,
17-5 except that the definition of "qualified service" in Section 1,
17-6 Texas Statewide Emergency Services Retirement Act (Article 6243e.3,
17-7 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), as amended by this Act, takes
17-8 effect January 1, 1998.
17-9 (b) A governing body that elected to provide coverage for
17-10 volunteer firefighters under the Texas Statewide Volunteer Fire
17-11 Fighters Retirement Act as it was enacted by Chapter 269, Acts of
17-12 the 65th Legislature, Regular Session, 1977, may elect to exempt
17-13 itself from providing additional coverage to auxiliary emergency
17-14 services personnel who were not eligible for coverage under the
17-15 original provisions of the Texas Statewide Volunteer Fire Fighters
17-16 Retirement Act. This exemption must be exercised within 60 days
17-17 after the general effective date of this Act.
17-18 SECTION 13. The importance of this legislation and the
17-19 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
17-20 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
17-21 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
17-22 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 337 was passed by the House on March
25, 1997, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in
Senate amendments to H.B. No. 337 on May 19, 1997, by a non-record
vote; and that the House adopted S.C.R. No. 105 authorizing certain
corrections in H.B. No. 337 on May 22, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 337 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 15, 1997, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0; and that the Senate adopted S.C.R. No. 105 authorizing certain
corrections in H.B. No. 337 on May 22, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor