To amend chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, to provide special pay for board certified Federal employees who are employed in health science positions, and for other purposes.

April 30, 2003

Ms. LANDRIEU introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs

To amend chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, to provide special pay for board certified Federal employees who are employed in health science positions, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SPECIAL PAY FOR FEDERAL BOARD CERTIFIED HEALTH SCIENTISTS.

(a) IN GENERAL- Chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5377 the following:

`Sec. 5377a. Special pay for board certified health scientists

`(a) In this section--

`(1) the term `agency'--

`(A) has the meaning given under section 5102; and

`(B) shall not include the government of the District of Columbia;

`(2) the term `board certified' means certification of a scientific specialty by a nationally recognized professional body;

`(3) the term `creditable service' means creditable service under chapter 83 or 84; and

`(4) the term `health science position' means a position relating to--

`(A) dentistry;

`(B) human medicine;

`(C) nursing;

`(D) veterinary medicine;

`(E) pharmacy;

`(F) psychology; or

`(G) optometry.

`(b) Subject to subsection (d), an employee is entitled to special pay as provided under subsection (c) if the employee is--

`(1) employed in a health science position in an agency; and

`(2) board certified in a specialty directly related to that position.

`(c)(1) The rate of special pay to which an employee is entitled under subsection (b) shall be--

`(A) $2,500 per year, if the employee has less than 10 years of creditable service;

`(B) $3,500 per year, if the employee has at least 10 but less than 12 years of creditable service;

`(C) $4,000 per year, if the employee has at least 12 but less than 14 years of creditable service;

`(D) $5,000 per year, if the employee has at least 14 but less than 18 years of creditable service; or

`(E) $6,000 per year, if the employee has 18 or more years of creditable service.

`(2)(A) With respect to employees of Executive agencies, the President may provide for an inflation adjustment in any calendar year of the amounts under paragraph (1) by a percentage not to exceed the percentage adjustment under section 5303 (including any locality-based comparability payment under section 5304) for that calendar year.

`(B) With respect to employees of any agency (other than an Executive agency), the head of an agency may provide for an inflation adjustment in any calendar year of the amounts under paragraph (1) by a percentage not to exceed the percentage adjustment made under subparagraph (A).

`(d) Pay under this section--

`(1) is not an equivalent increase in pay within the meaning of section 5335;

`(2) is not part of basic pay; and

`(3) shall be subject to section 5307.

`(e)(1) With respect to employees of Executive agencies, the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section after consultation with agencies, including regulations that designate--

`(A) scientific health positions;

`(B) scientific specialties; and

`(C) boards which provide certification.

`(2) With respect to employees of any agency (other than an Executive agency), the head of that agency shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section, including regulations that designate--

`(A) scientific health positions;

`(B) scientific specialties; and

`(C) boards which provide certification.'.

(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT- The table of sections for chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5377 the following:

`5377a. Special pay for board certified health scientists.'.

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE- This Act shall take effect on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

END