§1923 Unified Schedules of Rates of Basic Pay and Leave System

Summary

The Capitol Police Board must create one set of pay schedules that applies to all Capitol Police members and civilian staff, whether hired under a Senate officer or a House officer. The Board can change those pay tables for cost of living or to keep pay comparable. Any new or changed pay schedule only takes effect after approval by the Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, and once approved it is legally binding. The Board must also write one unified leave system for the same group. The leave rules must cover things like annual leave (based on years of service), sick leave, administrative leave, leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (29 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.), leave without pay or reduced pay (and benefits rules for those periods), who approves leave, the order leave is used, accrual and carryover rules (including active-duty rules), advance leave, buyback after duty injuries, using leave before leaving the job with a lump-sum for unused annual leave, and a leave-sharing program. No annual or sick leave is earned during leave without pay or reduced pay. All leave rules must be approved by the same two committees and are legally binding. With Board approval, a separated member or employee may get a lump-sum payment for accrued annual leave. That payment must equal the pay they would have received if they had stayed until the end of the leave. It must come from amounts appropriated to the Capitol Police and be based on the pay rate on the last day of service. It cannot be increased by holidays after separation. It counts only as pay for tax purposes and is paid after the Chairman certifies the leave period to the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, as appropriate. A member entering active duty may take the lump sum or keep the leave until return. The Board can make rules to carry out these payments, but those rules need the two committees’ approval and are legally binding. Nothing here changes who has the authority to appoint officers.