I 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4729 

To provide for the more accurate computation of retirement benefits for 

certain firefighters employed by the Federal Government. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 14, 2016 

Mr. CONNOLLY (for himself and Mr. FITZPATRICK) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government 

Reform 

A BILL 

To provide for the more accurate computation of retirement 

benefits for certain firefighters employed by the Federal 

Government. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Firefighter 

5 Pay Equity Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 

7 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 4729 IH

1 (1) certain firefighters employed by the Federal 

2 Government are required by law to work a regular 

3 tour of duty consisting of 72 hours per week; 

4 (2) 19 of those 72 hours per week are consid5 ered to be overtime hours for purposes of computing 

6 pay; 

7 (3) the pay computed for those 19 overtime 

8 hours each week are not accurately accounted for 

9 when computing such firefighters’ retirement bene10 fits; and 

11 (4) those inaccurate computations have led to 

12 reduced retirement benefits for Federal firefighters. 

13 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to correct 

14 the manner in which retirement benefits for Federal fire15 fighters are computed so as to account for pay earned for 

16 regularly scheduled overtime hours during a normal tour 

17 of duty. 

18 SEC. 3. COMPUTATION OF ANNUITY BASED ON CERTAIN 

19 FIREFIGHTER SERVICE. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5545b of title 5, United 

21 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol22 lowing: 

23 ‘‘(e) For purposes of any determination of ‘average 

24 pay’ under section 8331(4) or 8401(3), in the case of a 

25 firefighter who is subject to subsection (b), the rate of 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 4729 IH

1 basic pay in effect for such firefighter for a year of cred2 itable service (or, in the case of an annuity under sub3 section (d) or (e)(1) of section 8341 or under chapter 84 

4 based on less than 3 years of creditable service, for any 

5 other period of creditable service) shall, in addition to the 

6 amount determined under subsection (b) for such year (or 

7 other period), include an amount equal to one-half the 

8 firefighter’s basic hourly rate (as computed under sub9 section (b)(1)(A)) for such year (or other period) times 

10 the number of overtime hours included as part of such 

11 firefighter’s regular tour of duty during such year (or 

12 other period).’’. 

13 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Sections 8331(4) 

14 and 8401(3) of title 5, United States Code, are amended 

15 by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting ‘‘, sub16 ject to section 5545b(e);’’. 

17 SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

18 The amendments made by this Act shall apply with 

19 respect to any annuity, entitlement to which is based on 

20 a separation from service occurring after the end of the 

21 60-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of 

22 this Act. 

Æ 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS