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| Law Enforcement Availability Pay | 550.181 – 550.187 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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33 FR 12458, Sept. 4, 1968, unless otherwise noted.
5 U.S.C. 5304 note, 5305 note, 5504(d), 5541(2)(iv), 5545a(h)(2)(B) and (i), 5547(b) and (c), 5548, and 6101(c); sections 407 and 2316, Pub. L. 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681-101 and 2681-828 (5 U.S.C. 5545a); section 2(h), Pub. L. 113-277, 128 Stat. 3005; E.O. 12748, 3 CFR, 1992 Comp., p. 316.
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Subscribe to: 5 CFR Part 550 Subpart A - Law Enforcement Availability Pay
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(a) Each employee meeting the definition of criminal investigator in § 550.103, and fulfilling the conditions and requirements of 5 U.S.C. 5545a and §§ 550.181 through 550.186, must receive availability pay to compensate the criminal investigator for unscheduled duty in excess of the 40-hour workweek based on the needs of the employing agency, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section.
(b) Any Office of Inspector General that employs fewer than five criminal investigators may elect not to cover such criminal investigators under the availability pay provisions of 5 U.S.C. 5545a.
[64 FR 4520, Jan. 29, 1999]
(a) Unscheduled Duty Hours. For the purpose of availability pay, unscheduled duty hours are those hours during which a criminal investigator performs work, or (except for a special agent in the Diplomatic Security Service) is determined by the employing agency to be available for work, that are not—
(1) Part of the 40-hour basic workweek of the investigator; or
(2) Regularly scheduled overtime hours compensated under 5 U.S.C. 5542 and § 550.111.
(b) Regularly Scheduled Overtime Hours. For criminal investigators receiving availability pay, regularly scheduled overtime hours compensated under 5 U.S.C. 5542 and § 550.111 are those overtime hours scheduled in advance of the investigator's administrative workweek, excluding—
(1) The first 2 hours of overtime work on any day containing a part of the investigator's basic 40-hour workweek, as required by § 550.111(f)(1)); or
(2) The first 2 hours of overtime work performing protective duties authorized by section 3056(a) of title 18, United States Code, or section 2709(a)(3) of title 22, United States Code, on any day containing a part of the investigator's basic 40-hour workweek, unless the investigator performs 2 or more consecutive hours of unscheduled overtime work on that same day.
(c) Actual work hours. To be considered to be performing work under paragraph (a) of this section, a criminal investigator must be performing work as officially ordered or approved, including work performed without specific supervisory preapproval, if circumstances require the criminal investigator to perform the duty to meet the needs of the employing agency, subject to agency policies and procedures (including any requirements for after-the-fact validation or approval).
(d) Availability Hours. To be considered available for work under paragraph (a) of this section, a criminal investigator must be determined by the employing agency to be generally and reasonably accessible to perform unscheduled duty based on the needs of the agency. Generally, the agency will place the investigator in availability status by directing the investigator to be available during designated periods to meet agency needs, as provided by agency policies and procedures. Placing the investigator in availability status is not considered scheduling the investigator for overtime hours compensated under 5 U.S.C. 5542 and § 550.111. Availability hours may include hours during which an investigator places himself or herself in availability status to meet the needs of the agency, subject to agency policies and procedures (including any requirements for after-the-fact validation or approval). A special agent in the Diplomatic Security Service may not be credited with availability hours and will be credited with only hours actually worked.
(e) Ensuring availability. Except as provided in paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section, an employing agency shall ensure that each criminal investigator's hours of unscheduled duty are sufficient to enable the investigator to meet the substantial hours requirement in § 550.183 and make the certification required under § 550.184.
(f) Voluntary opt-out. Notwithstanding paragraph (d) of this section, an employing agency may, at its discretion, approve a criminal investigator's voluntary request that the investigator generally be assigned no overtime work (including unscheduled duty) for a designated period of time because of a personal or family hardship situation. The investigator must sign a written statement documenting this request and his or her understanding that availability pay will not be payable during the designated period.
(g) When availability pay is suspended. The employing agency is not subject to the requirement of paragraph (d) of this section in the case of a criminal investigator for whom availability pay is suspended in accordance with § 550.184(d) due to denial or cancellation of the required certification based on—
(1) Failure to perform unscheduled duty as assigned or reported; or
(2) Inability to perform unscheduled duty for an extended period because of a physical or health condition.
[59 FR 66151, Dec. 23, 1994, as amended at 64 FR 4520, Jan. 29, 1999]
(a) A criminal investigator shall be eligible for availability pay only if the annual average number of hours of unscheduled duty per regular workday is 2 hours or more, as certified in accordance with § 550.184. This average is computed by dividing the total unscheduled duty hours for the annual period (numerator) by the number of regular workdays (denominator).
(b) For the purpose of this section, regular workday means each day in the criminal investigator's basic workweek during which the investigator works at least 4 hours, excluding—
(1) Overtime hours compensated under 5 U.S.C. 5542 and § 550.111;
(2) Unscheduled duty hours compensated by availability pay under 5 U.S.C. 5545a and this subpart; and
(3) Hours during which an investigator is engaged in agency-approved training, is traveling under official travel orders, is on approved leave, or is on excused absence with pay (including paid holidays).
(c) In computing average hours under paragraph (a) of this section, the total unscheduled duty hours in the numerator shall include—
(1) Any unscheduled duty hours on a regular workday; and
(2) Any unscheduled duty hours actually worked by an investigator on days that are not regular workdays.
[59 FR 66151, Dec. 23, 1994]
(a) Each newly hired criminal investigator who will receive availability pay and the appropriate supervisory officer (as designated by the head of the agency or authorized designee) shall make an initial certification to the head of the agency attesting that the investigator is expected to meet the substantial hours requirement in § 550.183 during the upcoming 1-year period. A similar certification shall be made for a criminal investigator who will begin receiving availability pay after a period of nonreceipt (e.g., a designated voluntary opt-out period under § 550.182(e)).
(b) Each criminal investigator who is receiving availability pay and the appropriate supervisory officer (as designated by the head of the agency or authorized designee) shall make an annual certification to the head of the agency attesting that the investigator currently meets, and is expected to continue to meet during the upcoming 1-year period, the substantial hours requirement in § 550.183.
(c) A certification shall no longer apply when the employee separates from Federal service, is employed by another agency, moves to a position that does not qualify as a criminal investigator position, or begins a voluntary opt-out period under § 550.182(e).
(d) The employing agency shall ensure that criminal investigators receiving availability pay comply with the substantial hours requirement in § 550.183, as certified in accordance with this section. The employing agency may deny or cancel a certification based on a finding that an investigator has failed to perform unscheduled duty (availability or work) as assigned or reported, or is unable to perform unscheduled duty for an extended period due to physical or health reasons. If a certification is denied or canceled, the investigator's entitlement to availability pay shall be suspended for an appropriate period, consistent with agency policies. If the investigator's certification was valid when made, the suspension of availability pay shall be effected prospectively.
(e) An involuntary suspension of availability pay resulting from a denial or cancellation of certification under paragraph (d) of this section is a reduction in pay for the purpose of applying the adverse action procedures of 5 U.S.C. 7512 and part 752 of this chapter, except for special agents in the Foreign Service. For special agents in the Foreign Service, an involuntary suspension of availability pay resulting from a denial or cancellation of certification under paragraph (d) of this section will be administered under procedures established by regulations of the Department of State.
(f) The head of an agency (or authorized designee) may prescribe any additional regulations necessary to administer the certification requirement, including procedures for retroactive correction in cases in which a certification is issued belatedly or lapses due to administrative error.
[59 FR 66151, Dec. 23, 1994, as amended at 64 FR 4520, Jan. 29, 1999]
(a) Availability pay is paid only for periods of time during which a criminal investigator receives basic pay. Availability pay is an amount equal to the lesser of—(1) 25 percent of a criminal investigator's rate of basic pay, as defined in § 550.103, including amounts designated as “salary” for special agents in the Diplomatic Security Service; or
(2) The maximum amount that may be paid to avoid exceeding the maximum earnings limitation on premium pay for law enforcement officers in 5 U.S.C. 5547(c).
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, a criminal investigator who is eligible for availability pay shall continue to receive such pay during any period such investigator is attending agency-sanctioned training, on agency-ordered travel status, on agency-approved leave with pay, or on excused absence with pay for relocation purposes.
(c) Agencies may, at their discretion, provide availability pay to criminal investigators during training that is considered initial, basic training usually provided in the first year of service.
(d) Agencies may, at their discretion, provide for the continuation of availability pay when a criminal investigator is on excused absence with pay, except where payment is mandatory under paragraph (b) of this section.
(e) The amount of availability pay payable to a criminal investigator for a pay period is not affected by the occurrence of a paid holiday during that period.
[59 FR 66151, Dec. 23, 1994, as amended at 60 FR 67287, Dec. 29, 1995; 64 FR 4521, Jan. 29, 1999]
(a) Standby duty pay under § 550.141 and administratively uncontrollable overtime pay under § 550.151 may not be paid to a criminal investigator receiving availability pay. Receipt of availability pay does not affect an investigator's entitlement to other types of premium pay (including overtime pay under § 550.111) based on hours other than unscheduled duty hours. However, a criminal investigator receiving availability pay may not be paid any other premium pay based on unscheduled duty hours.
(b) Availability pay is treated as part of basic pay or basic salary only for the following purposes:
(1) 5 U.S.C. 5524a, pertaining to advances in pay;
(2) 5 U.S.C. 5595(c), pertaining to severance pay;
(3) 5 U.S.C. 8114(e), pertaining to workers' compensation;
(4) 5 U.S.C. 8331(3) and 5 U.S.C. 8401(4), pertaining to retirement benefits;
(5) Subchapter III of chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, pertaining to the Thrift Savings Plan;
(6) 5 U.S.C. 8704(c), pertaining to life insurance;
(7) Sections 609(b)(1), 805, 806, and 856 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended (Pub. L. 96-465), pertaining to Foreign Service retirement benefits; and
(8) For any other purposes explicitly provided for by law or as the Office of Personnel Management or the Secretary of State (for matters exclusively within the jurisdiction of the Secretary) may prescribe by regulation.
(c) The minimum wage and the hours of work and overtime pay provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act do not apply to criminal investigators receiving availability pay.
[59 FR 66151, Dec. 23, 1994, as amended at 64 FR 4521, Jan. 29, 1999; 64 FR 36771, July 8, 1999]
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, not later than the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after October 30, 1994, each criminal investigator qualified to receive availability pay and the appropriate supervisory officer (as designated by the agency head or authorized designee) shall make an initial certification to the head of the agency that the investigator is expected to meet the substantial hours requirement in § 550.183. The head of an agency may prescribe procedures necessary to administer this paragraph.
(b)
(1) In the case of criminal investigators who are employed in offices of Inspectors General and who, immediately prior to September 30, 1994, were not receiving administratively uncontrollable overtime pay, or were receiving such pay at a rate of less than 25 percent, the employing office may delay implementation of availability pay; however, availability pay shall be implemented (in accordance with §§ 550.181 through 550.186) no later than—
(i) September 30, 1995, for investigators who are not receiving administratively uncontrollable overtime pay; or
(ii) The first day of the last pay period ending on or before September 30, 1995, for investigators who were receiving administratively uncontrollable overtime pay at a rate of less than 25 percent immediately prior to September 30, 1994.
(2) A criminal investigator who is employed in an Inspector General office and was receiving administratively uncontrollable overtime pay at a rate of less than 25 percent immediately prior to September 30, 1994, shall continue to receive at least that rate or a higher rate, if increased by the employing agency, until the availability pay provision is implemented for the position (no later than as provided in paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section).
(3) Implementation of availability pay for criminal investigators under paragraph (b)(1) of this section shall be in accordance with the requirements and conditions set forth in §§ 550.181 through 550.186. For qualified investigators, an initial certification shall be made, consistent with paragraph (a) of this section.
[59 FR 66151, Dec. 23, 1994]