One bill recently introduced in the Senate would make some retired law-enforcement personnel eligible for increases in their pensions, while another would award law-enforcement status to some other government workers for retirement purposes.
The first bill, S. 1934, was introduced by Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., on Feb. 12.
GovExec.com reports that the measure would give retired agents from the Secret Service's uniformed division and the U.S. Park Police an automatic increase in their pensions whenever their active counterparts received a cost-of-living adjustment.
The bill aims to amend the 2000 Law Enforcement Pay Equity Act, which created new pay scales for active employees in the Secret Service's uniformed division and the Park Police but also severed the tie between pensions and COLAs for those retirees.
Mikulski also introduced S. 1935, which would allow Immigration and Customs inspectors, canine enforcement officers, and IRS revenue officers to retire after 20 years of service, just as federal law enforcement officers can, according to GovExec.com.
Inspectors, canine enforcement officers, and revenue officers are currently eligible for retirement after 25 years of federal service, typically at age 55.
The four groups are not classified as law enforcement officers, yet INS and Customs inspectors and canine enforcement officers often perform law enforcement duties. They are all authorized to carry firearms, must undergo training for handling criminal suspects, and frequently make drug seizures and arrests.
Both bills were referred to the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.
