§5545a — Title 5 Government Organization and Employees | U.S. Code

Summary

Pays criminal investigators an extra 25% of their basic pay to make sure they are available for unscheduled work beyond a 40-hour work week. “Available” means the investigator must be generally and reasonably reachable for unscheduled duty. “Criminal investigator” means a law enforcement officer who has special investigative skills and knowledge (investigative techniques, evidence rules, surveillance, long-term complex cases, federal criminal law, and the ability to follow leads). “Unscheduled duty” means hours outside the investigator’s 40-hour week and not paid as overtime under section 5542. “Regular work day” means any day in the basic work week when the investigator works at least 4 non-overtime hours. An investigator gets availability pay if the yearly average of (1) unscheduled hours worked past each regular work day and (2) unscheduled hours the investigator is available when asked, together average at least 2 hours. Hours worked on days that are not regular work days count. The investigator and a designated supervisor must certify each year that the investigator meets the rule; denial of certification can lead to an involuntary pay cut treated as a pay reduction under law. Availability pay continues during agency-approved training, sick or annual leave, travel status, and certain relocation absences; agencies may also authorize it for initial training or other excused absences. Availability pay replaces most other premium pay except scheduled overtime under section 5542 and pay for night, Sunday, and holiday work. The pay is treated as part of basic pay for certain federal pay and benefit rules. The rule also covers certain Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine law enforcement officers and allows small Offices of Inspector General with fewer than 5 investigators to opt out. Special agents under title II of Public Law 99–399 can be included if they meet the definition and hour rules, with some special pay treatment.

Title 5, §5545a

Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)For purposes of this section—

(1)the term “available” refers to the availability of a criminal investigator and means that an investigator shall be considered generally and reasonably accessible by the agency employing such investigator to perform unscheduled duty based on the needs of an agency;

(2)the term “criminal investigator” means a law enforcement officer as defined under section 5541(3) (other than an officer occupying a position under title II of Public Law 99–399, subject to subsection (k)) who is required to—

(A)possess a knowledge of investigative techniques, laws of evidence, rules of criminal procedure, and precedent court decisions concerning admissibility of evidence, constitutional rights, search and seizure, and related issues;

(B)recognize, develop, and present evidence that reconstructs events, sequences and time elements for presentation in various legal hearings and court proceedings;

(C)demonstrate skills in applying surveillance techniques, undercover work, and advising and assisting the United States Attorney in and out of court;

(D)demonstrate the ability to apply the full range of knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for cases which are complex and unfold over a long period of time (as distinguished from certain other occupations that require the use of some investigative techniques in short-term situations that may end in arrest or detention);

(E)possess knowledge of criminal laws and Federal rules of procedure which apply to cases involving crimes against the United States, including—

(i)knowledge of the elements of a crime;

(ii)evidence required to prove the crime;

(iii)decisions involving arrest authority;

(iv)methods of criminal operations; and

(v)availability of detection devices; and

(F)possess the ability to follow leads that indicate a crime will be committed rather than initiate an investigation after a crime is committed;

(3)the term “unscheduled duty” means hours of duty a criminal investigator works, or is determined to be available for work, that are not—

(A)part of the 40 hours in the basic work week of the investigator; or

(B)overtime hours paid under section 5542; and

(4)the term “regular work day” means each day in the investigator’s basic work week during which the investigator works at least 4 hours that are not overtime hours paid under section 5542 or hours considered part of section 5545a.

(b)The purpose of this section is to provide premium pay to criminal investigators to ensure the availability of criminal investigators for unscheduled duty in excess of a 40 hour work week based on the needs of the employing agency.

(c)Each criminal investigator shall be paid availability pay as provided under this section. Availability pay shall be paid to ensure the availability of the investigator for unscheduled duty. The investigator is generally responsible for recognizing, without supervision, circumstances which require the investigator to be on duty or be available for unscheduled duty based on the needs of the agency. Availability pay provided to a criminal investigator for such unscheduled duty shall be paid instead of premium pay provided by other provisions of this subchapter, except premium pay for regularly scheduled overtime work as provided under section 5542, night duty, Sunday duty, and holiday duty.

(d)(1)A criminal investigator shall be paid availability pay, if the average of hours described under paragraph (2)(A) and (B) is equal to or greater than 2 hours.

(2)The hours referred to under paragraph (1) are—

(A)the annual average of unscheduled duty hours worked by the investigator in excess of each regular work day; and

(B)the annual average of unscheduled duty hours such investigator is available to work on each regular work day upon request of the employing agency.

(3)Unscheduled duty hours which are worked by an investigator on days that are not regular work days shall be considered in the calculation of the annual average of unscheduled duty hours worked or available for purposes of certification.

(4)An investigator shall be considered to be available when the investigator cannot reasonably and generally be accessible due to a status or assignment which is the result of an agency direction, order, or approval as provided under subsection (f)(1).

(e)(1)Each criminal investigator receiving availability pay under this section and the appropriate supervisory officer, to be designated by the head of the agency, shall make an annual certification to the head of the agency that the investigator has met, and is expected to meet, the requirements of subsection (d). The head of a law enforcement agency may prescribe regulations necessary to administer this subsection.

(2)Involuntary reduction in pay resulting from a denial of certification under paragraph (1) shall be a reduction in pay for purposes of section 7512(4) of this title.

(f)(1)A criminal investigator who is eligible for availability pay shall receive such pay during any period such investigator is—

(A)attending agency sanctioned training;

(B)on agency approved sick leave or annual leave;

(C)on agency ordered travel status; or

(D)on excused absence with pay for relocation purposes.

(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(A), agencies or departments may provide availability pay to investigators during training which is considered initial, basic training usually provided in the first year of service.

(3)Agencies or departments may provide availability pay to investigators when on excused absence with pay, except as provided in paragraph (1)(D).

(g)section 5545(c) shall not apply to any criminal investigator who is paid availability pay under this section.

(h)Availability pay under this section shall be—

(1)25 percent of the rate of basic pay for the position; and

(2)treated as part of the basic pay for purposes of—

(A)section 5595(c), 8114(e), 8331(3), and 8704(c); and

(B)such other purposes as may be expressly provided for by law or as the Office of Personnel Management may by regulation prescribe.

(i)The provisions of subsections (a)–(h) providing for availability pay shall apply to any employee of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, or any successor organization, who is a law enforcement officer as defined under section 5541(3). For the purpose of this section, section 5542(d) of this title, and section 13(a)(16) and (b)(30) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 213(a)(16) and (b)(30)), such employee shall be deemed to be a criminal investigator as defined in this section. The Office of Personnel Management may prescribe regulations to carry out this subsection.

(j)Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any Office of Inspector General which employs fewer than 5 criminal investigators may elect not to cover such criminal investigators under this section.

(k)(1)For purposes of this section, the term “criminal investigator” includes a special agent occupying a position under title II of Public Law 99–399 if such special agent—

(A)meets the definition of such term under paragraph (2) of subsection (a) (applied disregarding the parenthetical matter before subparagraph (A) thereof); and

(B)such special agent satisfies the requirements of subsection (d) without taking into account any hours described in paragraph (2)(B) thereof.

(2)In applying subsection (h) with respect to a special agent under this subsection—

(A)any reference in such subsection to “basic pay” shall be considered to include amounts designated as “salary”;

(B)paragraph (2)(A) of such subsection shall be considered to include (in addition to the provisions of law specified therein) section 609(b)(1), 805, 806, and 856 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980; and

(C)paragraph (2)(B) of such subsection shall be applied by substituting for “Office of Personnel Management” the following: “Office of Personnel Management or the Secretary of State (to the extent that matters exclusively within the jurisdiction of the Secretary are concerned)”.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Title II of Public Law 99–399, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2) and (k)(1), is title II of Pub. L. 99–399, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 858, which is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 4821 et seq.) of chapter 58 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 4801 of Title 22 and Tables. section 609(b)(1), 805, 806, and 856 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, referred to in subsec. (k)(2)(B), are classified to section 4009(b)(1), 4045, 4046, and 4071e, respectively, of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

Amendments

2016—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 114–250 substituted “apply to any employee of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, or any successor organization,” for “apply to a pilot employed by the United States Customs Service” and “such employee” for “such pilot”. 1998—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 105–277, § 101(b) [title IV, § 407(c)(1)] and § 2316(c)(1), amended subsec. (a)(2) identically, substituting “Public Law 99–399, subject to subsection (k))” for “Public Law 99–399)” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 105–277, § 101(b) [title IV, § 407(a)] and § 2316(a), amended section identically, adding subsec. (k). 1996—Subsec. (h)(2)(A). Pub. L. 104–208 struck out “8431,” after “8331(3),”. 1995—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 104–19, § 901(1)(A), inserted “who” before “is required to” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (a)(2)(E)(v). Pub. L. 104–19, § 901(1)(B), inserted “and” at end. Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 104–19, § 902(a), added subsec. (i). Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 104–19, § 901(2), added subsec. (j).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2016 Amendment Pub. L. 114–250, § 1(b), Dec. 8, 2016, 130 Stat. 1001, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after the date that is 14 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 8, 2016].”

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of 1998 AmendmentFor

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of amendment by Pub. L. 105–277, see section 101(b) [title IV, § 407(d)] and section 2316(d) of Pub. L. 105–277, set out as a note under section 5542 of this title.

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of 1996 Amendment Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(f) [title VI, § 659 [title II, § 207]], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–314, 3009–378, provided that: “This title [title II (§§ 201–207) of section 659 of section 101(f) of Pub. L. 104–208, amending this section and section 8351, 8401, 8433, 8435, and 8440a to 8440c of this title, repealing section 8431 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under section 8401 and 8433 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 5343 of this title] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 30, 1996] and withdrawals and elections as provided under the

Amendments

made by this title shall be made at the earliest practicable date as determined by the Executive Director in

Regulations

.”

Effective Date

of 1995 Amendment Pub. L. 104–19, title I, § 902(b),

July 27, 1995, 109 Stat. 230, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) of this section [amending this section] shall take effect on the first day of the first applicable pay period which begins on or after the 30th day following the date of enactment of this Act [

July 27, 1995].”

Effective Date

Pub. L. 103–329, title VI, § 633(e), Sept. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 2428, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [enacting this section and amending section 5542 and 5547 of this title and section 213 of Title 29, Labor] shall take effect on the first day of the first applicable pay period which begins on or after the later of

October 1, 1994, or the 30th day following the date of enactment of this Act [Sept. 30, 1994], except that: “(1) Criminal investigators, employed in Offices of Inspectors General, who are not receiving administratively uncontrollable overtime compensation or who are receiving such premium pay at a rate less than 25 percent prior to the date of enactment of this Act, may implement availability pay at any time prior to

September 30, 1995, after which date availability pay as authorized under this section shall be provided to such criminal investigators. “(2) Criminal investigators, employed by Offices of Inspectors General, who are receiving administratively uncontrollable overtime at a rate less than 25 percent, shall continue to receive this compensation at the same rate or higher until availability pay compensation is provided, which shall be no later than the last pay period ending on or before

September 30, 1995.” Implementation Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(b) [title IV, § 407(b)], div. G, subdiv. B, title XXIII, § 2316(b), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–50, 2681–102, 2681–828, provided that: “Not later than the date on which the

Amendments

made by this section [amending this section and section 5542 of this title] take effect [see

Effective Date

of 1998 Amendment note set out above], each special agent of the Diplomatic Security Service who satisfies the requirements of subsection (k)(1) of section 5545a of title 5, United States Code, as amended by this section, and the appropriate supervisory officer, to be designated by the Secretary of State, shall make an initial certification to the Secretary of State that the special agent is expected to meet the requirements of subsection (d) of such section 5545a. The Secretary of State may prescribe procedures necessary to administer this subsection.”

Transfer of Functions

For

Transfer of Functions

, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see section 203(1), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6. For establishment of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security, treated as if included in Pub. L. 107–296 as of Nov. 25, 2002, see section 211 of Title 6, as amended generally by Pub. L. 114–125, and section 802(b) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6. Certification of Criminal Investigators Pub. L. 103–329, title VI, § 633(f), Sept. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 2428, provided that: “Not later than the

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of this section [see

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note above], each criminal investigator under section 5545a of title 5, United States Code, as added by this section, and the appropriate supervisory officer, to be designated by the head of the agency, shall make an initial certification to the head of the agency that the criminal investigator is expected to meet the requirements of subsection (d) of such section 5545a. The head of a law

Enforcement

agency may prescribe procedures necessary to administer this paragraph.”

§5545a Availability pay for criminal investigators

Summary

Title 5, §5545a

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