Title 5 — Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73

§4523 Award authority

Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart C— - Employee Performance › Chapter CHAPTER 45— - INCENTIVE AWARDS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - AWARD TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE CAPABILITIES › § 4523

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

An agency can give a cash bonus of up to 5 percent of an officer’s basic pay to any law enforcement officer who has and makes substantial use of one or more foreign languages in their official duties. The agency head or their designee must write rules that say how language ability is checked, how officers are chosen for the award, and any other rules needed to run the program.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §4523

Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)An agency may pay a cash award, up to 5 percent of basic pay, to any law enforcement officer employed in or under such agency who possesses and makes substantial use of 1 or more foreign languages in the performance of official duties.

(b)Awards under this section shall be paid under regulations prescribed by the head of the agency involved (or designee thereof). Regulations prescribed by an agency head (or designee) under this subsecton 11 So in original. Probably should be “subsection”. shall include—

(1)procedures under which foreign language proficiency shall be ascertained;

(2)criteria for the selection of individuals for recognition under this section; and

(3)any other provisions which may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subchapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1992, see section 529 [title IV, § 408(d)] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out as a note under section 4521 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 4523

Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73