Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act

Bill: 117-hr-962
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-9]
Introduced: 2021-02-11
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Customs enforcement

Department of Homeland Security

Department of Veterans Affairs

Department of the Treasury

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Law enforcement officers

Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Latest action: action_date: 2021-02-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-02-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><STRONG>Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act</STRONG></p> <p>This bill expands the definition of <i>law enforcement officer</i> under provisions of the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS).</p> <p>Specifically, the bill expands the definition to include (1) federal employees whose duties encompass the investigation or apprehension of suspected or convicted criminals and who are authorized to carry a firearm; (2) Internal Revenue Service employees whose duties are primarily the collection of delinquent taxes and the securing of delinquent returns; (3) U.S. Postal Inspection Service employees; (4) Department of Veterans Affairs police officers; and (5) certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees who are seized-property specialists with duties relating to custody, management, and disposition of seized and forfeited property. </p> <p>The bill deems service performed by an incumbent law enforcement officer on or after the enactment date of this bill to be service performed as a law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. The past service of such incumbents shall be treated as service performed by a law enforcement officer for retirement purposes only if a written election is submitted to the Office of Personnel Management within five years after the enactment of this bill or before separation from government service, whichever is earlier. An incumbent who makes an election before the enactment of this bill may pay a deposit into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund to cover prior service. </p> <p>A law enforcement officer shall not be subject to mandatory separation during the three-year period beginning on the enactment of this bill.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 962 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 11, 2021 Mr. Pascrell (for himself, Mr. Garbarino , Mr. Connolly , and Mr. Fitzpatrick ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform A BILL To amend title 5, United States Code, to include certain Federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act . 2. Including certain positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for purposes of retirement (a) Federal Employees Retirement System Section 8401(17) of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (C)— (A) by striking subparagraph (A) and (B) and inserting subparagraphs (A), (B), (E), (F), (G), (H), and (I) ; and (B) by striking and at the end; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (E) an employee not otherwise covered by this paragraph— (i) the duties of whose position include the investigation or apprehension of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses against the criminal laws of the United States; and (ii) who is authorized to carry a firearm; (F) an employee of the Internal Revenue Service, the duties of whose position are primarily the— (i) collection of delinquent taxes; and (ii) securing of delinquent returns; (G) an employee of the United States Postal Inspection Service; (H) an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs who is a Department police officer under section 902 of title 38; and (I) an employee of U.S. Customs and Border Protection— (i) who is a seized property specialist in the GS–1801 job series; and (ii) the duties of whose position include activities relating to the efficient and effective custody, management, and disposition of seized and forfeited property; . (b) Civil Service Retirement System Section 8331(20) of title 5, United States Code, is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)— (1) by inserting and an individual described in any of subparagraphs (E) through (I) of section 8401(17) after United States ; and (2) by striking this activity and inserting such activity or described in any such subparagraph . (c) Application The amendments made by this section shall apply to any— (1) individual who is appointed as a law enforcement officer— (A) as defined in section 8331(20) or 8401(17) of title 5, United States Code (as amended by this section); and (B) on or after the date of enactment of this Act; and (2) incumbent (as defined in section 3(a)(3)), consistent with the requirements of section 3. 3. Incumbent law enforcement officers (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term Director means the Director of the Office of Personnel Management; (2) the term Fund means the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (3) the term incumbent means an individual who— (A) was appointed as a law enforcement officer before the date of enactment of this Act; and (B) is serving as a law enforcement officer on the date of enactment of this Act; (4) the term law enforcement officer means an individual who satisfies the requirements of section 8331(20) or 8401(17) of title 5, United States Code, by virtue of the amendments made by section 2; (5) the term prior service means, with respect to an incumbent who makes an election under subsection (b)(2), service performed by the incumbent before the date on which appropriate retirement deductions begin to be made under the election; and (6) the term service means service performed by an individual as a law enforcement officer. (b) Treatment of service performed by incumbents (1) Service on or after date of enactment Service performed by an incumbent on or after the date of enactment of this Act shall be treated as service performed as a law enforcement officer. (2) Service before date of enactment Service performed by an incumbent before the date of enactment of this Act shall, for purposes of subchapter III of chapter 83 and chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, be treated as service performed as a law enforcement officer only if the incumbent submits a written election to the Director by the earlier of— (A) the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act; or (B) the day before the date on which the incumbent separates from the service. (c) Individual contributions for prior service (1) In general An incumbent who makes an election under subsection (b)(2) may, with respect to prior service performed by the incumbent, pay a deposit into the Fund equal to the sum of— (A) the difference between— (i) the amount that would have been deducted during the period of prior service under section 8334 or 8422 of title 5, United States Code, from the pay of the incumbent if the amendments made by section 2 had been in effect during the prior service; and (ii) the amount that was deducted during the period of prior service under section 8334 or 8422 of title 5, United States Code; and (B) interest on the amount described in subparagraph (A)(i), as computed under— (i) paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 8334(e) of title 5, United States Code; and (ii) regulations promulgated by the Director. (2) Effect of not contributing If an incumbent does not pay the full amount of the deposit described in paragraph (1), all prior service of the incumbent— (A) shall remain fully creditable as a law enforcement officer; and (B) the resulting annuity shall be reduced— (i) in a manner similar to that described in section 8334(d)(2) of title 5, United States Code; and (ii) to the extent necessary to make up the amount unpaid. (d) Government contributions for prior service (1) In general If an incumbent makes an election under subsection (b)(2), an agency that employed the incumbent during any prior service of the incumbent shall remit to the Director, for deposit in the Fund, an amount equal to the sum of— (A) the difference between— (i) the total amount of Government contributions that would have been paid under section 8334 or 8423 of title 5, United States Code, if the amendments made by section 2 had been in effect during the prior service; and (ii) the total amount of Government contributions paid under section 8334 or 8423 of title 5, United States Code; and (B) interest on the amount described in subparagraph (A)(i), as computed in accordance with— (i) paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 8334(e) of title 5, United States Code; and (ii) regulations promulgated by the Director. (2) Contributions to be made ratably Government contributions under this subsection on behalf of an incumbent shall be made by the agency ratably (not less frequently than annually) over the 10-year period beginning on the date described in subsection (a)(5). (e) Exemption from mandatory separation Notwithstanding section 8335(b) or 8425(b) of title 5, United States Code, a law enforcement officer shall not be subject to mandatory separation during the 3-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act. (f) Regulations The Director shall prescribe regulations to carry out this Act, including regulations for the application of this section in the case of any individual entitled to a survivor annuity (based on the service of an incumbent who dies before making an election under subsection (b)(2)), to the extent of any rights that would have been available to the decedent if still living. (g) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be considered to apply in the case of a reemployed annuitant.