To extend the break-in-service consideration for firefighter retirements, and other purposes.

Key Points

• This bill changes the rules for federal wildland firefighters who move into office or management roles. Currently, these workers can lose their special retirement benefits if they have any gap in their employment. This plan would allow them to have breaks in service for up to 24 months total without losing their status.
• The change is important because firefighting is a physically demanding job. Many firefighters eventually move into supervisory roles to stay in the workforce longer. This bill ensures that taking a short break between a field job and a desk job does not ruin their retirement plans.
• Workers who were affected by these rules in the past could get credit for their old service going back to October 2003. To get this credit, the employee must pay the extra retirement deductions they would have owed if the law had been in place back then. The government would also have to pay its share of those retirement costs.
• The Office of Personnel Management would be required to find and notify workers who qualify for these benefits. They would also help workers get the records they need from the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the Interior to prove they are eligible for the retirement credit.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.