[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 174 (Tuesday, November 25, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S16045]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY AND BENEFITS PARITY ACT

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to consideration of Calendar No. 409, S. 1683.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1683) to provide for a report on parity of pay 
     and benefits among Federal law enforcement officers and to 
     establish an exchange program between Federal law enforcement 
     employees and State and local law enforcement employees.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third 
time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and 
any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1683) was read the third time and passed, as follows:

                                S. 1683

       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 ``Federal Law Enforcement Pay 
     and Benefits Parity Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY AND BENEFITS PARITY REPORT.

       (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``law 
     enforcement officer'' means an individual--
       (1)(A) who is a law enforcement officer defined under 
     section 8331 or 8401 of title 5, United States Code; or
       (B) the duties of whose position include the investigation, 
     apprehension, or detention of individuals suspected or 
     convicted of offenses against the criminal laws of the United 
     States; and
       (2) who is employed by the Federal Government.
       (b) Report.--Not later than April 30, 2004, the Office of 
     Personnel Management shall submit a report to the President 
     of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
     and the appropriate committees and subcommittees of Congress 
     that includes--
       (1) a comparison of classifications, pay, and benefits 
     among law enforcement officers across the Federal Government; 
     and
       (2) recommendations for ensuring, to the maximum extent 
     practicable, the elimination of disparities in 
     classifications, pay and benefits for law enforcement 
     officers throughout the Federal Government.

     SEC. 3. EMPLOYEE EXCHANGE PROGRAM BETWEEN FEDERAL EMPLOYEES 
                   AND EMPLOYEES OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the term ``employing agency'' means the Federal, State, 
     or local government agency with which the participating 
     employee was employed before an assignment under the Program;
       (2) the term ``participating employee'' means an employee 
     who is participating in the Program; and
       (3) the term ``Program'' means the employee exchange 
     program established under subsection (b).
       (b) Establishment.--The President shall establish an 
     employee exchange program between Federal agencies that 
     perform law enforcement functions and agencies of State and 
     local governments that perform law enforcement functions.
       (c) Conduct of Program.--The Program shall be conducted in 
     accordance with subchapter VI of chapter 33 of title 5, 
     United States Code.
       (d) Qualifications.--An employee of an employing agency who 
     performs law enforcement functions may be selected to 
     participate in the Program if the employee--
       (1) has been employed by that employing agency for a period 
     of more than 3 years;
       (2) has had appropriate training or experience to perform 
     the work required by the assignment;
       (3) has had an overall rating of satisfactory or higher on 
     performance appraisals from the employing agency during the 
     3-year period before being assigned to another agency under 
     this section; and
       (4) agrees to return to the employing agency after 
     completing the assignment for a period not less than the 
     length of the assignment.
       (e) Written Agreement.--An employee shall enter into a 
     written agreement regarding the terms and conditions of the 
     assignment before beginning the assignment with another 
     agency.

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