By Haywood S.B. No. 431 75R2517 ESH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to withdrawal from the volunteer fire fighters' relief and 1-3 retirement fund. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. The Texas Statewide Volunteer Fire Fighters 1-6 Retirement Act (Article 6243e.3, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) is 1-7 amended by adding Section 12B to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 12B. WITHDRAWAL FROM PENSION SYSTEM; ELECTION. (a) A 1-9 member fire department may, not later than August 31, 1998, 1-10 withdraw from the pension system if the action is approved by a 1-11 unanimous vote of: 1-12 (1) all member fire fighters in the department; 1-13 (2) all former member fire fighters receiving 1-14 retirement benefits under Section 3 of this Act because of service 1-15 with the department; 1-16 (3) all former member fire fighters receiving 1-17 disability benefits under Section 4 of this Act because of service 1-18 with the department; and 1-19 (4) all surviving spouses receiving benefits under 1-20 Section 5(d) of this Act because of a former member fire fighter's 1-21 service with the department. 1-22 (b) All contributions made by a governing body for a member 1-23 fire department that withdraws from the pension system under this 1-24 section remain in the fund. 2-1 (c) After the effective date of a department's withdrawal 2-2 from the pension system under this section, a person may not 2-3 receive a benefit from the pension system based on service with the 2-4 department. 2-5 (d) Not later than October 1, 1997, the state board of 2-6 trustees shall notify each member fire department of the 2-7 department's right to withdraw from the pension system under this 2-8 section. 2-9 (e) This section expires September 1, 1998. 2-10 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 2-11 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-12 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-13 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-14 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-15 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.