Opinion ID: 755183
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Statutory Authority for Maximum Age Policies

Text: 14 In 1974, Congress enacted Public Law 93-350, 88 Stat. 355, a major piece of legislation designed to enhance the youth and vigor of federal law enforcement personnel. 1 Together with provisions on mandatory retirement 2 and incentives for early retirement, 3 Public law 93-350 provided agencies employing law enforcement officers with authority to set maximum ages for appointment to law enforcement positions. See 5 U.S.C. § 3307(d). 4 Under 5 U.S.C. § 8331(20), the term law enforcement officer is defined to include Bureau of Prisons employees whose duties in connection with individuals in detention suspected or convicted of offenses against the criminal laws of the United States ... require frequent (as determined by the appropriate administrative authority with the concurrence of the Office) direct contact with these individuals in their detention, direction, supervision, inspection, training, employment, care, transportation, or rehabilitation. Finally, 5 U.S.C. § 3307(d) provides that a maximum age rule must be concurred in by an agency designated by the President. Subsequent executive orders assigned this concurrence responsibility to the Civil Service Commission and its successor, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). 15