Non-Foreign Area Retirement Equity Assurance Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3013
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2008-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Alaska
Annuities
Armed Forces and National Security
Civil service retirement
Cost of living adjustments
Department of Veterans Affairs
Economics and Public Finance
Federal employees
Federal officials
Government trust funds
Hawaii
Health
Labor and Employment
Law
Medical personnel
Northern Mariana Islands
Office of Personnel Management
Puerto Rico
Salaries
Territories (U.S.)
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-13
text: 
Non-Foreign Area Retirement Equity Assurance Act of 2008 or the Non-Foreign AREA Act of 2008 - Revises federal employee locality-based comparability payments provisions to include U.S. territories and possessions, including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, within a pay locality. Revises the calculation of allowances based on living costs and conditions of environment for pay of employees stationed outside the continental United States or in Alaska to apply it only to areas designated as of December 31, 2008. Provides a formula for adjustment of such rate using a transition schedule for calendar years 2009-2011.

 Requires adjustment of special rates of pay in such areas in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) or by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for VA personnel. Allows a temporarily raised limitation on the amount of special rates during the transition period.

Expresses the sense of Congress that application of this Act to an employee should not result in a decrease in take home pay.

Defines as covered employees for purposes of this Act those who are or will be eligible for a cost-of-living allowance (COLA).

Allows an employee subject to this Act's transition schedule and who retires from service during the period from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2011, to elect to have the COLA paid during that period considered as basic pay for purposes of annuity computation.

Provides procedures for employees to make an irrevocable election to be covered by this Act.

action_date: 2008-10-01
text: 
Non-Foreign Area Retirement Equity Assurance Act of 2008 or the Non-Foreign AREA Act of 2008 - Revises federal employee locality-based comparability payments provisions to include U.S. territories and possessions, including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, within a pay locality. Sets forth maximum rates of pay for Senior Executive Service (SES) personnel in such areas.

Revises the calculation of allowances based on living costs and conditions of environment for pay of employees stationed outside the continental United States or in Alaska to apply it only to areas designated as of December 31, 2008. Provides a formula for adjustment of such rate using a transition schedule for calendar years 2009-2011.

Requires adjustment of special rates of pay in such areas in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) or by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for VA personnel. Allows a temporarily raised limitation on the amount of special rates during the transition period.

Expresses the sense of Congress that application of this Act to an employee should not result in a decrease in take home pay.

Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Bureau of Labor Statistics will conduct separate surveys pursuant to the establishment by the President's Pay Agent of one new locality area for each of the entire state of Hawaii and the entire state of Alaska; and (2) upon the completion of the phase-in period no employee shall receive less than the rest of the U.S. locality pay rate.

Describes application of this Act to postal employees.

Defines as covered employees for purposes of this Act those who are or will be eligible for a cost-of-living allowance (COLA).

Allows an employee subject to this Act's transition schedule and who retires from service during the period from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2011, to elect to have the COLA paid during that period considered as basic pay for purposes of annuity computation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-10-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-10-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-10-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-10-02
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2008-10-02
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2008-10-01
text: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S10392-10394)
action_date: 2008-10-01
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S10392-10394)
action_date: 2008-10-01
text: The committee amendments were agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2008-10-01
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S10390-10394; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S10390-10392)
action_date: 2008-09-11
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 954.
action_date: 2008-09-11
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with amendments. With written report No. 110-456.
action_date: 2008-09-11
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with amendments. With written report No. 110-456.
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2008-06-19
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia.
action_date: 2008-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4109-4111)
action_date: 2008-05-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4109)
action_date: 2008-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate