Federal Firefighters Families First Act
This bill increases pay rates and retirement pensions for federal firefighters while limiting their standard working hours. It adjusts the wage formula so that firefighter hourly pay is calculated using the standard federal work year rather than a longer fire-service schedule, effectively raising their hourly rate. In addition, the legislation includes regularly scheduled overtime when calculating pension benefits and caps regular firefighter workweeks at an average of 60 hours.
What this bill touches.
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Federal firefightersReceives an increase in basic hourly pay rates by reducing the annual divisor from 2,756 to 2,087 hours, gains higher retirement annuity calculations that incorporate regular overtime pay, and is protected by an average 60-hour weekly cap on regularly scheduled hours.
Who it burdens
- Office of Personnel ManagementMust draft and issue regulations within one year to establish maximum regular workweek hours for federal firefighters that average no more than 60 hours per week.
- Federal agencies employing firefightersMust pay higher hourly wage rates, adapt retirement contribution and computation reporting, and limit standard firefighter work schedules to an average of no more than 60 hours per week.
The provisions, in plain language.
Increases federal firefighters' basic hourly rate of pay by calculating it based on 2,087 hours per year rather than 2,756 hours per year.
Includes pay for regularly scheduled overtime hours in the calculation of federal firefighters' retirement benefits under the Civil Service Retirement System and Federal Employees Retirement System, starting for retirements occurring more than 60 days after enactment.
Directs the Office of Personnel Management to issue rules within one year capping a federal firefighter's regular workweek at an average of no more than 60 hours per week.