Bill Summary
This bill, known as the "Hazardous Duty Pay for Frontline Federal Workers Act," aims to provide additional pay for federal employees who are at risk of being exposed to COVID-19 while performing their duties. The bill proposes to amend section 5545 of title 5 of the United States Code to include a pay differential for employees who are exposed to individuals with COVID-19 or have been exposed themselves. This differential will be in effect from March 15, 2020 to September 30, 2020 and will apply to employees under chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53, as well as those appointed under chapter 73 or 74 of title 38. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees, stating that they will also be eligible for hazardous duty pay under the same terms as aforementioned federal employees.
Possible Impacts
1. Employees who are considered "frontline" and are regularly exposed to COVID-19 may receive additional pay through the "Hazardous Duty Pay for Frontline Federal Workers Act". This could positively affect them by providing financial support during a difficult and risky time.
2. The legislation specifies a time period from March 15, 2020 to September 30, 2020 during which employees may receive hazardous duty pay. This could negatively affect employees who were exposed to COVID-19 before or after this time period, as they may not be eligible for the pay differential.
3. The legislation also includes TSA employees in the eligibility for hazardous duty pay. This could positively affect TSA employees by recognizing their role as essential workers and providing them with additional compensation for their work during the pandemic.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6655 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6655
To provide hazardous duty pay for Federal employees who may be exposed
to COVID-19, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 1, 2020
Mr. Payne (for himself, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Correa, Ms.
Titus, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Cleaver, and Ms. Barragan) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight
and Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide hazardous duty pay for Federal employees who may be exposed
to COVID-19, 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. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Hazardous Duty Pay for Frontline
Federal Workers Act''.
SEC. 2. PAY DIFFERENTIAL FOR DUTY RELATED TO COVID-19.
(a) In General.--Section 5545 of title 5, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(e)(1) The Office shall establish a schedule or schedules of pay
differentials for duty during which an employee is exposed to an
individual who has (or who has been exposed to) COVID-19.
``(2) Under such regulations as the Office may prescribe, during
the period beginning on March 15, 2020, and ending on September 30,
2020, an employee to whom chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53
applies, and an employee appointed under chapter 73 or 74 of title 38,
is entitled to be paid the differential under paragraph (1) for any
period in which the employee is carrying out the duty described in such
paragraph.''.
(b) TSA Employees.--Section 111(d)(2) of the Aviation and
Transportation Security Act (49 U.S.C. 44935 note) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(C) Hazardous duty pay for covid-19.--The
provisions of section 5545(e) of title 5, United States
Code, shall to apply to any individual appointed under
paragraph (1).''.
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