S-279 : Still Just a Bill

The "Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act," or S. 279, addresses pay and benefits for Federal wildland firefighters.

• Pay Increases: Establishes special base rates of pay for wildland firefighters based on their GS grade, increasing their basic pay. It also adjusts wage rates for prevailing rate employees to align with these increases.
• Premium Pay: Introduces "incident response premium pay" for firefighters deployed to qualifying incidents like wildfires and severity incidents, with a daily rate calculation and annual cap.
• Pay Limitations: Sets special limitations on premium pay, ensuring that total pay doesn't exceed certain Executive Schedule levels, with provisions for waivers under specific criteria.
• Rest and Recuperation: Provides paid rest and recuperation leave for firefighters after qualifying incidents.
• Health Provisions: Mandates the creation of a database to track chronic diseases among firefighters, establishes a mental health awareness and support program, including mental health leave, and directs the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs to recognize and cover stress-related injuries.
• Retirement: Allows credit for prior service for retirement purposes, considers certain diseases as disabilities for annuity eligibility, includes overtime pay in basic pay calculations, and adjusts normal-cost percentages.
• Pay Parity for Structural Firefighters: Requires that pay and benefits for Federal structural firefighters be comparable to those provided to wildland firefighters.
• Annual Adjustments: Mandates annual pay adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index.
• Other Matters: Includes provisions for recruitment and retention bonuses, housing allowances, and career transition programs.
• Casualty Assistance Program: Establishes a program to provide assistance to affected firefighters and their families in cases of injury, illness, or death.
• Continuing Accrual of Service: Modifies the definition of "firefighter" to allow for the continuing accrual of service credit even with certain breaks in service.