By Moncrief                                            S.R. No. 605
         76R11525 ELG-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Texas has a willing and dedicated force of volunteer
 1-2     firefighters who stand ready to meet the challenge of protecting
 1-3     the citizens and property of our state; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Although these courageous individuals serve without
 1-5     compensation, often at the risk of their own lives, many of them
 1-6     are not eligible for retirement, disability, or death benefits in
 1-7     exchange for their years of dedicated service; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, Indeed, the recent deaths of three heroic North
 1-9     Texas volunteer firefighters, who made the ultimate sacrifice for
1-10     the safety of their neighbors and fellow Texans, serve to
1-11     illustrate the grievous injustice that results when the families of
1-12     volunteer firefighters are not adequately provided for in the event
1-13     of their disability or death; and
1-14           WHEREAS, As a symbol of the deep respect and admiration held
1-15     for them, the legislature established the Texas statewide emergency
1-16     services personnel retirement fund in 1977 to provide for
1-17     retirement, disability, and death benefits for volunteer
1-18     firefighters; and
1-19           WHEREAS, Governing bodies of volunteer fire departments must
1-20     specifically elect to participate in this optional retirement fund,
1-21     and volunteer firefighters who are members are eligible for death
1-22     and disability benefits regardless of whether their injuries occur
1-23     on or off duty; now, therefore, be it
1-24           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 76th Texas Legislature
 2-1     hereby  urge the governing bodies of all Texas political
 2-2     subdivisions that have or use volunteer fire departments to elect
 2-3     to participate in the Texas statewide emergency personnel services
 2-4     retirement fund; and, be it further
 2-5           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
 2-6     prepared and forwarded to the fire fighters' pension commissioner,
 2-7     with the request that the commissioner distribute or otherwise
 2-8     publicize the senate's strong sentiments regarding this issue to
 2-9     the governing bodies of the appropriate political subdivisions.