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H.R. 7033: Federal Correctional Officer Paycheck Protection Act of 2026

This bill, known as the Federal Correctional Officer Paycheck Protection Act of 2026, aims to enhance the recruitment and retention of federal correctional officers by providing them with higher pay rates. Here is a breakdown of its key components:

Special Pay Rates for Correctional Officers

The bill establishes a special base rate of pay for federal correctional officers, which will replace their existing General Schedule or Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) special pay rates. This new pay rate will be calculated as 35% more than the applicable General Schedule base rate or LEO special base rate and rounded to the nearest dollar, with a cap at the pay level of V of the Executive Schedule.

Definition of Federal Correctional Officer

A "federal correctional officer" is defined within the bill as anyone employed by the Bureau of Prisons who is responsible for the custody, control, or supervision of inmates, or who frequently interacts with inmates in a custodial setting. This applies to officers as well as to those in supervisory or administrative positions when their duties relate to inmate supervision.

Wage Increases for Certain Employees

The bill also necessitates that the Attorney General increase the wages of other employees classified as "covered employees" by 35%. These employees also perform duties associated with the custody and supervision of inmates.

Duration and Review of the Bill's Provisions

The special pay provisions established by this bill will be effective for five years. Before the end of this period, a review will be conducted to assess the impacts of the bill. The Inspector General of the Department of Justice will examine whether the Bureau of Prisons has made progress in reducing the reliance on non-custodial staff for duties typically assigned to correctional officers and whether it has decreased excessive mandatory overtime for these officers.

If measurable progress is demonstrated, the provisions may continue beyond the initial five-year term.

Clerical Amendments

Additionally, the bill amends existing legal texts to incorporate these new provisions related to correctional officer pay and employment classifications.

Implications for Institutional Operations

Overall, this bill is designed to address recruitment and retention challenges faced by the Bureau of Prisons by enhancing pay for correctional officers, thereby potentially improving safety and operational conditions within federal correctional facilities.