S. 2473: Federal Firefighters Families First Act

This bill, known as the Federal Firefighters Families First Act, aims to enhance the compensation and retirement benefits of federal firefighters. Here are the key components of the bill:

Pay Equality

The bill seeks to achieve pay equality between federal firefighters, other federal employees, and firefighters in municipal and public sectors. This means that the pay structure will be aligned to ensure fairness and competitiveness, which could help attract and retain qualified personnel within the federal firefighting service.

Recruitment and Retention

One primary goal of the legislation is to improve the recruitment and retention of federal firefighters. By addressing pay disparities and improving compensation, it aims to maintain high-quality firefighting services across the federal government.

Retirement Benefits Computation

The bill proposes changes to how retirement benefits are calculated for firefighters. Specifically, it would include all regularly scheduled hours worked, including overtime hours, when determining the average pay for retirement calculations. This change could lead to increased retirement benefits for federal firefighters, making the profession more attractive and financially viable in the long term.

Regular Workweek Establishment

Additionally, the legislation intends to establish a defined maximum number of work hours for federal firefighters. The bill specifies that the maximum number of regularly recurring hours should not exceed an average of 60 hours per week, which the Office of Personnel Management is directed to formalize through regulations within one year of the bill's enactment.

Implementation Timeline

Any amendments made by this act will apply to annuity entitlements based on service separations occurring 60 days after the bill becomes law. This allows for a transition period during which affected individuals can prepare for the changes in compensation.

Relevant Companies

None found