MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Finance

By: Senator(s) Carlton (By Request)

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THAT ALL FIREFIGHTERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AT THE TIME OF THEIR RETIREMENT BE GIVEN THE OPTION, IN WRITING BY THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM, OF BEING DESIGNATED AS A DISASTER VOLUNTEER; TO REQUIRE THAT THE NAMES, ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF RETIRED FIREFIGHTERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO ELECT TO BE DESIGNATED AS A DISASTER VOLUNTEER SHALL BE FORWARDED BY THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO THE MISSISSIPPI EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY; TO PROVIDE THAT IN THE EVENT OF A MAJOR DISASTER THE MISSISSIPPI EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY SHALL DETERMINE THE NEED FOR DISASTER VOLUNTEERS AND SHALL NOTIFY DISASTER VOLUNTEERS OF THE NEED FOR THEIR SERVICES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI;

SECTION 1. (1) At the time of their retirement, every firefighter or law enforcement officer shall be given the option, in writing by the Public Employees Retirement System, of being designated as a disaster volunteer. If a retired firefighter or law enforcement officer elects to be designated as a disaster volunteer, the name, address and telephone number of such retired firefighter or law enforcement officer shall be forwarded by the Public Employees Retirement System to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

(2) In the event of a major disaster, as defined in Section 41-41-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency shall determine the need for disaster volunteers designated as such in subsection (1) of this section and shall notify such designated disaster volunteers of the need for their services.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1998.