Title 5, Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-110

§4523 Award Authority

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

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

An agency can give a cash award up to 5 percent of basic pay to any law enforcement officer who has and use 1 or more foreign languages regularly while doing official duties. The agency head (or a designee) must create rules for these awards, including how to check language skill, how to pick who gets an 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 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

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110