An Act to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that hearing examiners shall be known as administrative law judges, and to increase the number of such positions which the Civil Service Commission may establish and place at GS-16 of the General Schedule.
PL 95-251 (H.R.6975), enacted 03/27/1978

PUBLIC LAW 95-251—MAR. 27, 1978 
92 STAT. 183 
Public Law 95-251 
95th Congress 
An Act 
To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that hearing examiners shall 
be known as administrative law judges, and to increase the number of such 
positions which the Civil Service Commission may establish and place at GS-16 
of the General Schedule. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled., That section 5108 
(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking out "240 
hearing examiner positions" and inserting in lieu thereof "340 admin-
istrative law judge positions". 
SEC. 2. (a) The provisions described in paragraphs (1) through (12) 
of this subsection are each amended by striking out "hearing examiner" 
or "hearing examiners", as appropriate, each place it appears, and 
inserting in lieu thereof "administrative law judge" or "administrative 
law judges", as appropriate— 
(1) sections 554(a) (2), 556(b) (3), 559, 1305, 3105, 3344, 4301, 
:, 
5335,5362, and 7521, of title 5, United States Code; 
(2) section 6(c) (2) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136d(c) (2)); 
(3) section 11 (k) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 
248(k)); 
(4) subsections (b) and (c) of the first section of the Act 
entitled "An Act to authorize the Securities and Exchange Com-
mission to delegate certain functions", approved August 20, 1962 
(15 U.S.C. 78d-l (b) and (c)); 
(5) section 1416(a) of the Interstate Land Sales Full Dis-
closure Act (15 U.S.C. 1715(a)) ; 
(6) section 509(i) of title 28, United States Code; 
(7) sections 12(e), 12(j), and 12(k) of the Occupational Safety 
and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 661(d), 661(i), 661(j)); 
(8) section 502(e) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 
792(e)); 
(9) sections 5(e) and 428(b) of the Federal Coal Mine Health 
and Safety Act of 1969 (-30 U.S.C. 804(e), 938(b)); 
(10) sections 19(d) and 21(b) of the Longshoreman's and Har-
bor Workers' Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 919(d), 921(b)); 
(11) section 705(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 
2000e^(a)); and 
(12) sections 6(h) and 9(a) of the Department of Transporta-
tion Act (49 U.S.C. 1655(h), 1657(a)). 
(b) (1) Sections 1305 and 5362 of title 5, United States Code, are 
each amended in the catchline, by striking out "Hearing examiners" 
and inserting "Administrative law judges" in lieu thereof. 
(2) Sections 3105 and 3344 of title 5, United States Code, are each 
amended in the catchline by striking out "hearing examiners" and 
inserting "administrative law judges" in lieu thereof. 
(c) (1) The table of sections for chapter 13 of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended so that the item relating to section 1305 reads as 
follows: 
"1305, Administrative law judges.". 
Mar. 27, 1978 
[H.R. 69751 
Hearing 
examiners 
reclassified as 
administrative 
law judges. 
92 STAT. 184 
PUBLIC LAW 95-251—MAR. 27, 1978 
(2) The table of sections for chapter 31 of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended so that the item relating to section 3105 reads as 
follows: 
"3105. Appointment of administrative law judges.". 
'' 
" 
(3) The table of sections for chapter 33 of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended so that the item relating to section 3344 reads as 
follows: 
. 
"3344. Details; administrative law judges.". 
(4) The table of sections for chapter 53 of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended so that the item relating to section 5362 reads as 
follows: 
"5362. Administrative law judges.". 
(d) (1) The second sentence of section 3105 of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended by striking out "Hearing examiners" and inserting 
"Administrative law judges" in lieu thereof. 
(2) Section 1416(a) of the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure 
Act (15 U.S.C. 1715(a)) is amended in the catchline by striking out 
"hearing officers" and inserting "administrative law judges" in 
lieu thereof. 
5 use 3105 note. 
SEC. 3. Any reference in any law, regulation, or order to a hearing 
examiner appointed under section 3105 of title 5, United States Code, 
shall be deemed to be a reference to an administrative law judge. 
Approved March 27, 1978. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-321 (Comm. on Post Office and Civil Service). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-697 (Comm. on Governmental Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 123 (1977): July 18, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 124 (1978): Mar. 14, considered and passed Senate.