Title 5 United States Code

Government Organization And Employees

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§552.  Public information; agency rules, opinions, orders, records, and proceedings[19]

(a)  Each agency shall make available to the public information as follows:

(1)  Each agency shall separately state and currently publish in the Federal Register for the guidance of the public—

(A)  descriptions of its central and field organization and the established places at which, the employees (and in the case of a uniformed service, the members) from whom, and the methods whereby, the public may obtain information, make submittals or requests, or obtain decisions;

(B)  statements of the general course and method by which its functions are channeled and determined, including the nature and requirements of all formal and informal procedures available;

(C)  rules of procedure, descriptions of forms available or the places at which forms may be obtained, and instructions as to the scope and contents of all papers, reports, or examinations;

(D)  substantive rules of general applicability adopted as authorized by law, and statements of general policy or interpretations of general applicability formulated and adopted by the agency; and

(E)  each amendment, revision, or repeal of the foregoing.

Except to the extent that a person has actual and timely notice of the terms thereof, a person may not in any manner be required to resort to, or be adversely affected by, a matter required to be published in the Federal Register and not so published. For the purpose of this paragraph, matter reasonably available to the class of persons affected thereby is deemed published in the Federal Register when incorporated by reference therein with the approval of the Director of the Federal Register.

(2)  Each agency, in accordance with published rules, shall make available for public inspection in an electronic format—

(A)  final opinions, including concurring and dissenting opinions, as well as orders, made in the adjudication of cases;

(B)  those statements of policy and interpretations which have been adopted by the agency and are not published in the Federal Register;

(C)  administrative staff manuals and instructions to staff that affect a member of the public;

(D)  copies of all records, regardless of form or format—

(i)  that have been released to any person under paragraph (3); and

(ii) (I)  that because of the nature of their subject matter, the agency determines have become or are likely to become the subject of subsequent requests for substantially the same records; or

(II)  that have been requested 3 or more times; and

(E)  a general index of the records referred to under subparagraph (D);

unless the materials are promptly published and copies offered for sale. For records created on or after November 1, 1996, within one year after such date, each agency shall make such records available, including by computer telecommunications or, if computer telecommunications means have not been established by the agency, by other electronic means. To the extent required to prevent a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, an agency may delete identifying details when it makes available or publishes an opinion, statement of policy, interpretation, staff manual, instruction, or copies of records referred to in subparagraph (D). However, in each case the justification for the deletion shall be explained fully in writing, and the extent of such deletion shall be indicated on the portion of the record which is made available or published, unless including that indication would harm an interest protected by the exemption in subsection (b) under which the deletion is made. If technically feasible, the extent of the deletion shall be indicated at the place in the record where the deletion was made. Each agency shall also maintain and make available for public inspection in an electronic format current indexes providing identifying information for the public as to any matter issued, adopted, or promulgated after July 4, 1967, and required by this paragraph to be made available or published. Each agency shall promptly publish, quarterly or more frequently, and distribute (by sale or otherwise) copies of each index or supplements thereto unless it determines by order published in the Federal Register that the publication would be unnecessary and impracticable, in which case the agency shall nonetheless provide copies of such index on request at a cost not to exceed the direct cost of duplication. Each agency shall make the index referred to in subparagraph (E) available by computer telecommunications by December 31, 1999. A final order, opinion, statement of policy, interpretation, or staff manual or instruction that affects a member of the public may be relied on, used, or cited as precedent by an agency against a party other than an agency only if—

(i)  it has been indexed and either made available or published as provided by this paragraph; or

(ii)  the party has actual and timely notice of the terms thereof.

(3) (A)  Except with respect to the records made available under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, and except as provided in subparagraph (E), each agency, upon any request for records which (i) reasonably describes such records and (ii) is made in accordance with published rules stating the time, place, fees (if any), and procedures to be followed, shall make the records promptly available to any person.

(B)  In making any record available to a person under this paragraph, an agency shall provide the record in any form or format requested by the person if the record is readily reproducible by the agency in that form or format. Each agency shall make reasonable efforts to maintain its records in forms or formats that are reproducible for purposes of this section.

(C)  In responding under this paragraph to a request for records, an agency shall make reasonable efforts to search for the records in electronic form or format, except when such efforts would significantly interfere with the operation of the agency’s automated information system.

(D)  For purposes of this paragraph, the term “search” means to review, manually or by automated means, agency records for the purpose of locating those records which are responsive to a request.

(E)  An agency, or part of an agency, that is an element of the intelligence community (as that term is defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401a(4))) shall not make any record available under this paragraph to—

(i)  any government entity, other than a State, territory, commonwealth, or district of the United States, or any subdivision thereof; or

(ii)  a representative of a government entity described in clause (i).

(4) (A) (i)  In order to carry out the provisions of this section, each agency shall promulgate regulations, pursuant to notice and receipt of public comment, specifying the schedule of fees applicable to the processing of requests under this section and establishing procedures and guidelines for determining when such fees should be waived or reduced. Such schedule shall conform to the guidelines which shall be promulgated, pursuant to notice and receipt of public comment, by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and which shall provide for a uniform schedule of fees for all agencies.

(ii)  Such agency regulations shall provide that—

(I)  fees shall be limited to reasonable standard charges for document search, duplication, and review, when records are requested for commercial use;

(II)  fees shall be limited to reasonable standard charges for document duplication when records are not sought for commercial use and the request is made by an educational or noncommercial scientific institution, whose purpose is scholarly or scientific research; or a representative of the news media; and

(III)  for any request not described in (I) or (II), fees shall be limited to reasonable standard charges for document search and duplication.

In this clause, the term “a representative of the news media” means any person or entity that gathers information of potential interest to a segment of the public, uses its editorial skills to turn the raw materials into a distinct work, and distributes that work to an audience. In this clause, the term “news” means information that is about current events or that would be of current interest to the public. Examples of news-media entities are television or radio stations broadcasting to the public at large and publishers of periodicals (but only if such entities qualify as disseminators of “news”) who make their products available for purchase by or subscription by or free distribution to the general public. These examples are not all-inclusive. Moreover, as methods of news delivery evolve (for example, the adoption of the electronic dissemination of newspapers through telecommunications services), such alternative media shall be considered to be news-media entities. A freelance journalist shall be regarded as working for a news-media entity if the journalist can demonstrate a solid basis for expecting publication through that entity, whether or not the journalist is actually employed by the entity. A publication contract would present a solid basis for such an expectation; the Government may also consider the past publication record of the requester in making such a determination.

(iii)  Documents shall be furnished without any charge or at a charge reduced below the fees established under clause (ii) if disclosure of the information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester.

(iv)  Fee schedules shall provide for the recovery of only the direct costs of search, duplication, or review. Review costs shall include only the direct costs incurred during the initial examination of a document for the purposes of determining whether the documents must be disclosed under this section and for the purposes of withholding any portions exempt from disclosure under this section. Review costs may not include any costs incurred in resolving issues of law or policy that may be raised in the course of processing a request under this section. No fee may be charged by any agency under this section—

(I)  if the costs of routine collection and processing of the fee are likely to equal or exceed the amount of the fee; or

(II)  for any request described in clause (ii) (II) or (III) of this subparagraph for the first two hours of search time or for the first one hundred pages of duplication.

(v)  No agency may require advance payment of any fee unless the requester has previously failed to pay fees in a timely fashion, or the agency has determined that the fee will exceed $250.

(vi)  Nothing in this subparagraph shall supersede fees chargeable under a statute specifically providing for setting the level of fees for particular types of records.

(vii)  In any action by a requester regarding the waiver of fees under this section, the court shall determine the matter de novo: Provided, That the court’s review of the matter shall be limited to the record before the agency.

(viii) (I)  Except as provided in subclause (II), an agency shall not assess any search fees (or in the case of a requester described under clause (ii)(II) of this subparagraph, duplication fees) under this subparagraph if the agency has failed to comply with any time limit under paragraph (6).

(II) (aa)  If an agency has determined that unusual circumstances apply (as the term is defined in paragraph (6)(B)) and the agency provided a timely written notice to the requester in accordance with paragraph (6)(B), a failure described in subclause (I) is excused for an additional 10 days. If the agency fails to comply with the extended time limit, the agency may not assess any search fees (or in the case of a requester described under clause (ii)(II) of this subparagraph, duplication fees).

(bb)  If an agency has determined that unusual circumstances apply and more than 5,000 pages are necessary to respond to the request, an agency may charge search fees (or in the case of a requester described under clause (ii)(II) of this subparagraph, duplication fees) if the agency has provided a timely written notice to the requester in accordance with paragraph (6)(B) and the agency has discussed with the requester via written mail, electronic mail, or telephone (or made not less than 3 good-faith attempts to do so) how the requester could effectively limit the scope of the request in accordance with paragraph (6)(B)(ii).

(cc)  If a court has determined that exceptional circumstances exist (as that term is defined in paragraph (6)(C)), a failure described in subclause (I) shall be excused for the length of time provided by the court order.

(B)  On complaint, the district court of the United States in the district in which the complainant resides, or has his principal place of business, or in which the agency records are situated, or in the District of Columbia, has jurisdiction to enjoin the agency from withholding agency records and to order the production of any agency records improperly withheld from the complainant. In such a case the court shall determine the matter de novo, and may examine the contents of such agency records in camera to determine whether such records or any part thereof shall be withheld under any of the exemptions set forth in subsection (b) of this section, and the burden is on the agency to sustain its action. In addition to any other matters to which a court accords substantial weight, a court shall accord substantial weight to an affidavit of an agency concerning the agency’s determination as to technical feasibility under paragraph (2)(C) and subsection (b) and reproducibility under paragraph (3)(B).

(C)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the defendant shall serve an answer or otherwise plead to any complaint made under this subsection within thirty days after service upon the defendant of the pleading in which such complaint is made, unless the court otherwise directs for good cause shown.

(D)  [ Repealed.[20]]

(E) (i)  The court may assess against the United States reasonable attorney fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in any case under this section in which the complainant has substantially prevailed.

(ii)  For purposes of this subparagraph, a complainant has substantially prevailed if the complainant has obtained relief through either—

(I)  a judicial order, or an enforceable written agreement or consent decree; or

(II)  a voluntary or unilateral change in position by the agency, if the complainant’s claim is not insubstantial.

(F) (i)  Whenever the court orders the production of any agency records improperly withheld from the complainant and assesses against the United States reasonable attorney fees and other litigation costs, and the court additionally issues a written finding that the circumstances surrounding the withholding raise questions whether agency personnel acted arbitrarily or capriciously with respect to the withholding, the Special Counsel shall promptly initiate a proceeding to determine whether disciplinary action is warranted against the officer or employee who was primarily responsible for the withholding. The Special Counsel, after investigation and consideration of the evidence submitted, shall submit his findings and recommendations to the administrative authority of the agency concerned and shall send copies of the findings and recommendations to the officer or employee or his representative. The administrative authority shall take the corrective action that the Special Counsel recommends.

(ii)  The Attorney General shall—

(I)  notify the Special Counsel of each civil action described under the first sentence of clause (i); and

(II)  annually submit a report to Congress on the number of such civil actions in the preceding year.

(iii)  The Special Counsel shall annually submit a report to Congress on the actions taken by the Special Counsel under clause (i).

(G)  In the event of noncompliance with the order of the court, the district court may punish for contempt the responsible employee, and in the case of a uniformed service, the responsible member.

(5)  Each agency having more than one member shall maintain and make available for public inspection a record of the final votes of each member in every agency proceeding.

(6) (A)  Each agency, upon any request for records made under paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection, shall—

(i)  determine within 20 days (excepting Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) after the receipt of any such request whether to comply with such request and shall immediately notify the person making such request of—

(I)  such determination and the reasons therefor;

(II)  the right of such person to seek assistance from the FOIA Public Liaison of the agency; and

(III)  in the case of an adverse determination—

(aa)  the right of such person to appeal to the head of the agency, within a period determined by the head of the agency that is not less than 90 days after the date of such adverse determination; and

(bb)  the right of such person to seek dispute resolution services from the FOIA Public Liaison of the agency or the Office of Government Information Services; and

(ii)  make a determination with respect to any appeal within twenty days (excepting Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) after the receipt of such appeal. If on appeal the denial of the request for records is in whole or in part upheld, the agency shall notify the person making such request of the provisions for judicial review of that determination under paragraph (4) of this subsection.

The 20-day period under clause (i) shall commence on the date on which the request is first received by the appropriate component of the agency, but in any event not later than ten days after the request is first received by any component of the agency that is designated in the agency’s regulations under this section to receive requests under this section. The 20-day period shall not be tolled by the agency except—

(I)  that the agency may make one request to the requester for information and toll the 20- day period while it is awaiting such information that it has reasonably requested from the requester under this section; or

(II)  if necessary to clarify with the requester issues regarding fee assessment. In either case, the agency’s receipt of the requester’s response to the agency’s request for information or clarification ends the tolling period.

(B) (i)  In unusual circumstances as specified in this subparagraph, the time limits prescribed in either clause (i) or clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) may be extended by written notice to the person making such request setting forth the unusual circumstances for such extension and the date on which a determination is expected to be dispatched. No such notice shall specify a date that would result in an extension for more than ten working days, except as provided in clause (ii) of this subparagraph.

(ii)  With respect to a request for which a written notice under clause (i) extends the time limits prescribed under clause (i) of subparagraph (A), the agency shall notify the person making the request if the request cannot be processed within the time limit specified in that clause and shall provide the person an opportunity to limit the scope of the request so that it may be processed within that time limit or an opportunity to arrange with the agency an alternative time frame for processing the request or a modified request. To aid the requester, each agency shall make available its FOIA Public Liaison, who shall assist in the resolution of any disputes between the requester and the agency, and notify the requester of the right of the requester to seek dispute resolution services from the Office of Government Information Services. Refusal by the person to reasonably modify the request or arrange such an alternative time frame shall be considered as a factor in determining whether exceptional circumstances exist for purposes of subparagraph (C).

(iii)  As used in this subparagraph, “unusual circumstances” means, but only to the extent reasonably necessary to the proper processing of the particular requests—

(I)  the need to search for and collect the requested records from field facilities or other establishments that are separate from the office processing the request;

(II)  the need to search for, collect, and appropriately examine a voluminous amount of separate and distinct records which are demanded in a single request; or

(III)  the need for consultation, which shall be conducted with all practicable speed, with another agency having a substantial interest in the determination of the request or among two or more components of the agency having substantial subject-matter interest therein.

(iv)  Each agency may promulgate regulations, pursuant to notice and receipt of public comment, providing for the aggregation of certain requests by the same requestor, or by a group of requestors acting in concert, if the agency reasonably believes that such requests actually constitute a single request, which would otherwise satisfy the unusual circumstances specified in this subparagraph, and the requests involve clearly related matters. Multiple requests involving unrelated matters shall not be aggregated.

(C) (i)  Any person making a request to any agency for records under paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection shall be deemed to have exhausted his administrative remedies with respect to such request if the agency fails to comply with the applicable time limit provisions of this paragraph. If the Government can show exceptional circumstances exist and that the agency is exercising due diligence in responding to the request, the court may retain jurisdiction and allow the agency additional time to complete its review of the records. Upon any determination by an agency to comply with a request for records, the records shall be made promptly available to such person making such request. Any notification of denial of any request for records under this subsection shall set forth the names and titles or positions of each person responsible for the denial of such request.

(ii)  For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “exceptional circumstances” does not include a delay that results from a predictable agency workload of requests under this section, unless the agency demonstrates reasonable progress in reducing its backlog of pending requests.

(iii)  Refusal by a person to reasonably modify the scope of a request or arrange an alternative time frame for processing a request (or a modified request) under clause (ii) after being given an opportunity to do so by the agency to whom the person made the request shall be considered as a factor in determining whether exceptional circumstances exist for purposes of this subparagraph.

(D) (i)  Each agency may promulgate regulations, pursuant to notice and receipt of public comment, providing for multitrack processing of requests for records based on the amount of work or time (or both) involved in processing requests.

(ii)  Regulations under this subparagraph may provide a person making a request that does not qualify for the fastest multitrack processing an opportunity to limit the scope of the request in order to qualify for faster processing.

(iii)  This subparagraph shall not be considered to affect the requirement under subparagraph (C) to exercise due diligence.

(E) (i)  Each agency shall promulgate regulations, pursuant to notice and receipt of public comment, providing for expedited processing of requests for records—

(I)  in cases in which the person requesting the records demonstrates a compelling need; and

(II)  in other cases determined by the agency.

(ii)  Notwithstanding clause (i), regulations under this subparagraph must ensure—

(I)  that a determination of whether to provide expedited processing shall be made, and notice of the determination shall be provided to the person making the request, within 10 days after the date of the request; and

(II)  expeditious consideration of administrative appeals of such determinations of whether to provide expedited processing.

(iii)  An agency shall process as soon as practicable any request for records to which the agency has granted expedited processing under this subparagraph. Agency action to deny or affirm denial of a request for expedited processing pursuant to this subparagraph, and failure by an agency to respond in a timely manner to such a request shall be subject to judicial review under paragraph (4), except that the judicial review shall be based on the record before the agency at the time of the determination.

(iv)  A district court of the United States shall not have jurisdiction to review an agency denial of expedited processing of a request for records after the agency has provided a complete response to the request.

(v)  For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “compelling need” means—

(I)  that a failure to obtain requested records on an expedited basis under this paragraph could reasonably be expected to pose an imminent threat to the life or physical safety of an individual; or

(II)  with respect to a request made by a person primarily engaged in disseminating information, urgency to inform the public concerning actual or alleged Federal Government activity.

(vi)  A demonstration of a compelling need by a person making a request for expedited processing shall be made by a statement certified by such person to be true and correct to the best of such person’s knowledge and belief.

(F)  In denying a request for records, in whole or in part, an agency shall make a reasonable effort to estimate the volume of any requested matter the provision of which is denied, and shall provide any such estimate to the person making the request, unless providing such estimate would harm an interest protected by the exemption in subsection (b) pursuant to which the denial is made.

(7)  Each agency shall—

(A)  establish a system to assign an individualized tracking number for each request received that will take longer than ten days to process and provide to each person making a request the tracking number assigned to the request; and

(B)  establish a telephone line or Internet service that provides information about the status of a request to the person making the request using the assigned tracking number, including—

(i)  the date on which the agency originally received the request; and

(ii)  an estimated date on which the agency will complete action on the request.

(8) (A)  An agency shall—

(i)  withhold information under this section only if—

(I)  the agency reasonably foresees that disclosure would harm an interest protected by an exemption described in subsection (b); or

(II)  disclosure is prohibited by law; and

(ii) (I)  consider whether partial disclosure of information is possible whenever the agency determines that a full disclosure of a requested record is not possible; and

(II)  take reasonable steps necessary to segregate and release nonexempt information; and

(B)  Nothing in this paragraph requires disclosure of information that is otherwise prohibited from disclosure by law, or otherwise exempted from disclosure under subsection (b)(3).

(b)  This section does not apply to matters that are—

(1) (A)  specifically authorized under criteria established by an Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy and (B) are in fact properly classified pursuant to such Executive order;

(2)  related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of an agency;

(3)  specifically exempted from disclosure by statute (other than section 552b of this title), if that statute—

(A) (i)  requires that the matters be withheld from the public in such a manner as to leave no discretion on the issue; or

(ii)  establishes particular criteria for withholding or refers to particular types of matters to be withheld; and

(B)  if enacted after the date of enactment of the OPEN FOIA Act of 2009[21], specifically cites to this paragraph.

(4)  trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person and privileged or confidential;

(5)  inter-agency or intra-agency memorandums or letters which would not be available by law to a party other than an agency in litigation with the agency, provided that the deliberative process privilege shall not apply to records created 25 years or more before the date on which the records were requested;

(6)  personnel and medical files and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;

(7)  records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes, but only to the extent that the production of such law enforcement records or information (A) could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings, (B) would deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication, (C) could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, (D) could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source, including a State, local, or foreign agency or authority or any private institution which furnished information on a confidential basis, and, in the case of a record or information compiled by criminal law enforcement authority in the course of a criminal investigation or by an agency conducting a lawful national security intelligence investigation, information furnished by a confidential source, (E) would disclose techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or would disclose guidelines for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions if such disclosure could reasonably be expected to risk circumvention of the law, or (F) could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual;

(8)  contained in or related to examination, operating, or condition reports prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of an agency responsible for the regulation or supervision of financial institutions; or

(9)  geological and geophysical information and data, including maps, concerning wells.

Any reasonably segregable portion of a record shall be provided to any person requesting such record after deletion of the portions which are exempt under this subsection. The amount of information deleted, and the exemption under which the deletion is made, shall be indicated on the released portion of the record, unless including that indication would harm an interest protected by the exemption in this subsection under which the deletion is made. If technically feasible, the amount of the information deleted, and the exemption under which the deletion is made, shall be indicated at the place in the record where such deletion is made.

(c) (1)  Whenever a request is made which involves access to records described in subsection (b)(7)(A) and—

(A)  the investigation or proceeding involves a possible violation of criminal law; and

(B)  there is reason to believe that (i) the subject of the investigation or proceeding is not aware of its pendency, and (ii) disclosure of the existence of the records could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings,

the agency may, during only such time as that circumstance continues, treat the records as not subject to the requirements of this section.

(2)  Whenever informant records maintained by a criminal law enforcement agency under an informant’s name or personal identifier are requested by a third party according to the informant’s name or personal identifier, the agency may treat the records as not subject to the requirements of this section unless the informant’s status as an informant has been officially confirmed.

(3)  Whenever a request is made which involves access to records maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation pertaining to foreign intelligence or counterintelligence, or international terrorism, and the existence of the records is classified information as provided in subsection (b)(1), the Bureau may, as long as the existence of the records remains classified information, treat the records as not subject to the requirements of this section.

(d)  This section does not authorize withholding of information or limit the availability of records to the public, except as specifically stated in this section. This section is not authority to withhold information from Congress.

(e) (1)  On or before February 1 of each year, each agency shall submit to the Attorney General of the United States a report which shall cover the preceding fiscal year and which shall include—

(A)  the number of determinations made by the agency not to comply with requests for records made to such agency under subsection (a) and the reasons for each such determination;

(B) (i)  the number of appeals made by persons under subsection (a)(6), the result of such appeals, and the reason for the action upon each appeal that results in a denial of information; and

(ii)  a complete list of all statutes that the agency relies upon to authorize the agency to withhold information under subsection (b)(3), the number of occasions on which each statute was relied upon, a description of whether a court has upheld the decision of the agency to withhold information under each such statute, and a concise description of the scope of any information withheld;

(C)  the number of requests for records pending before the agency as of September 30 of the preceding year, and the median and average number of days that such requests had been pending before the agency as of that date;

(D)  the number of requests for records received by the agency and the number of requests which the agency processed;

(E)  the median number of days taken by the agency to process different types of requests, based on the date on which the requests were received by the agency;

(F)  the average number of days for the agency to respond to a request beginning on the date on which the request was received by the agency, the median number of days for the agency to respond to such requests, and the range in number of days for the agency to respond to such requests;

(G)  based on the number of business days that have elapsed since each request was originally received by the agency—

(i)  the number of requests for records to which the agency has responded with a determination within a period up to and including 20 days, and in 20-day increments up to and including 200 days;

(ii)  the number of requests for records to which the agency has responded with a determination within a period greater than 200 days and less than 301 days;

(iii)  the number of requests for records to which the agency has responded with a determination within a period greater than 300 days and less than 401 days; and

(iv)  the number of requests for records to which the agency has responded with a determination within a period greater than 400 days;

(H)  the average number of days for the agency to provide the granted information beginning on the date on which the request was originally filed, the median number of days for the agency to provide the granted information, and the range in number of days for the agency to provide the granted information;

(I)  the median and average number of days for the agency to respond to administrative appeals based on the date on which the appeals originally were received by the agency, the highest number of business days taken by the agency to respond to an administrative appeal, and the lowest number of business days taken by the agency to respond to an administrative appeal;

(J)  data on the 10 active requests with the earliest filing dates pending at each agency, including the amount of time that has elapsed since each request was originally received by the agency;

(K)  data on the 10 active administrative appeals with the earliest filing dates pending before the agency as of September 30 of the preceding year, including the number of business days that have elapsed since the requests were originally received by the agency;

(L)  the number of expedited review requests that are granted and denied, the average and median number of days for adjudicating expedited review requests, and the number adjudicated within the required 10 days;

(M)  the number of fee waiver requests that are granted and denied, and the average and median number of days for adjudicating fee waiver determinations;

(N)  the total amount of fees collected by the agency for processing requests;

(O)  the number of full-time staff of the agency devoted to processing requests for records under this section, and the total amount expended by the agency for processing such requests;

(P)  the number of times the agency denied a request for records under subsection (c); and

(Q)  the number of records that were made available for public inspection in an electronic format under subsection (a)(2).

(2)  Information in each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall be expressed in terms of each principal component of the agency and for the agency overall.

(3)  Each agency shall make each such report available for public inspection in an electronic format. In addition, each agency shall make the raw statistical data used in each report available in a timely manner for public inspection in an electronic format, which shall be made available—

(A)  without charge, license, or registration requirement;

(B)  in an aggregated, searchable format; and

(C)  in a format that may be downloaded in bulk.

(4)  The Attorney General of the United States shall make each report which has been made available by electronic means available at a single electronic access point. The Attorney General of the United States shall notify the Chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Chairman and ranking minority member of the Committees on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Judiciary of the Senate, no later than March 1 of the year in which each such report is issued, that such reports are available by electronic means.

(5)  The Attorney General of the United States, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall develop reporting and performance guidelines in connection with reports required by this subsection by October 1, 1997, and may establish additional requirements for such reports as the Attorney General determines may be useful.

(6) (A)  The Attorney General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, and the President a report on or before March 1 of each calendar year, which shall include for the prior calendar year—

(i)  a listing of the number of cases arising under this section;

(ii)  a listing of—

(I)  each subsection, and any exemption, if applicable, involved in each case arising under this section;

(II)  the disposition of each case arising under this section; and

(III)  the cost, fees, and penalties assessed under subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G) of subsection (a)(4); and

(iii)  a description of the efforts undertaken by the Department of Justice to encourage agency compliance with this section.

(B)  The Attorney General of the United States shall make—

(i)  each report submitted under subparagraph (A) available for public inspection in an electronic format; and

(ii)  the raw statistical data used in each report submitted under subparagraph (A) available for public inspection in an electronic format, which shall be made available—

(I)  without charge, license, or registration requirement;

(II)  in an aggregated, searchable format; and

(III)  in a format that may be downloaded in bulk.

(f)  For purposes of this section, the term—

(1)  “agency” as defined in section 551(1) of this title includes any executive department, military department, Government corporation, Government controlled corporation, or other establishment in the executive branch of the Government (including the Executive Office of the President), or any independent regulatory agency; and

(2)  “record” and any other term used in this section in reference to information includes—

(A)  any information that would be an agency record subject to the requirements of this section when maintained by an agency in any format, including an electronic format; and

(B)  any information described under subparagraph (A) that is maintained for an agency by an entity under Government contract, for the purposes of records management.

(g)  The head of each agency shall prepare and make available for public inspection in an electronic format, reference material or a guide for requesting records or information from the agency, subject to the exemptions in subsection (b), including—

(1)  an index of all major information systems of the agency;

(2)  a description of major information and record locator systems maintained by the agency; and

(3)  a handbook for obtaining various types and categories of public information from the agency pursuant to chapter 35 of title 44, and under this section.

(h) (1)  There is established the Office of Government Information Services within the National Archives and Records Administration. The head of the Office shall be the Director of the Office of Government Information Services.

(2)  The Office of Government Information Services shall—

(A)  review policies and procedures of administrative agencies under this section;

(B)  review compliance with this section by administrative agencies; and

(C)  identify procedures and methods for improving compliance under this section.

(3)  The Office of Government Information Services shall offer mediation services to resolve disputes between persons making requests under this section and administrative agencies as a nonexclusive alternative to litigation and may issue advisory opinions at the discretion of the Office or upon request of any party to a dispute.

(4) (A)  Not less frequently than annually, the Director of the Office of Government Information Services shall submit to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, and the President—

(i)  a report on the findings of the information reviewed and identified under paragraph (2);

(ii)  a summary of the activities of the Office of Government Information Services under paragraph (3), including—

(I)  any advisory opinions issued; and

(II)  the number of times each agency engaged in dispute resolution with the assistance of the Office of Government Information Services or the FOIA Public Liaison; and

(III)  legislative and regulatory recommendations, if any, to improve the administration of this section.

(B)  The Director of the Office of Government Information Services shall make each report submitted under subparagraph (A) available for public inspection in an electronic format.

(C)  The Director of the Office of Government Information Services shall not be required to obtain the prior approval, comment, or review of any officer or agency of the United States, including the Department of Justice, the Archivist of the United States, or the Office of Management and Budget before submitting to Congress, or any committee or subcommittee thereof, any reports, recommendations, testimony, or comments, if such submissions include a statement indicating that the views expressed therein are those of the Director and do not necessarily represent the views of the President.

(5)  The Director of the Office of Government Information Services may directly submit additional information to Congress and the President as the Director determines to be appropriate.

(6)  Not less frequently than annually, the Office of Government Information Services shall conduct a meeting that is open to the public on the review and reports by the Office and shall allow interested persons to appear and present oral or written statements at the meeting.

(i)  The Government Accountability Office shall conduct audits of administrative agencies on the implementation of this section and issue reports detailing the results of such audits.

(j) (1)  Each agency shall designate a Chief FOIA Officer who shall be a senior official of such agency (at the Assistant Secretary or equivalent level).

(2)  The Chief FOIA Officer of each agency shall, subject to the authority of the head of the agency—

(A)  have agency-wide responsibility for efficient and appropriate compliance with this section;

(B)  monitor implementation of this section throughout the agency and keep the head of the agency, the chief legal officer of the agency, and the Attorney General appropriately informed of the agency’s performance in implementing this section;

(C)  recommend to the head of the agency such adjustments to agency practices, policies, personnel, and funding as may be necessary to improve its implementation of this section;

(D)  review and report to the Attorney General, through the head of the agency, at such times and in such formats as the Attorney General may direct, on the agency’s performance in implementing this section;

(E)  facilitate public understanding of the purposes of the statutory exemptions of this section by including concise descriptions of the exemptions in both the agency’s handbook issued under subsection (g), and the agency’s annual report on this section, and by providing an overview, where appropriate, of certain general categories of agency records to which those exemptions apply;

(F)  offer training to agency staff regarding their responsibilities under this section;

(G)  serve as the primary agency liaison with the Office of Government Information Services and the Office of Information Policy; and

(H)  designate 1 or more FOIA Public Liaisons.

(3)  The Chief FOIA Officer of each agency shall review, not less frequently than annually, all aspects of the administration of this section by the agency to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section, including—

(A) 

(A)  agency regulations;

(B)  disclosure of records required under paragraphs (2) and (8) of subsection (a);

(C)  assessment of fees and determination of eligibility for fee waivers;

(D)  the timely processing of requests for information under this section;

(E)  the use of exemptions under subsection (b); and

(F)  dispute resolution services with the assistance of the Office of Government Information Services or the FOIA Public Liaison.

(k) (1)  There is established in the executive branch the Chief FOIA Officers Council (referred to in this subsection as the “Council”).

(2)  The Council shall be comprised of the following members:

(A)  The Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget.

(B)  The Director of the Office of Information Policy at the Department of Justice.

(C)  The Director of the Office of Government Information Services.

(D)  The Chief FOIA Officer of each agency.

(E)  Any other officer or employee of the United States as designated by the Co-Chairs.

(3)  The Director of the Office of Information Policy at the Department of Justice and the Director of the Office of Government Information Services shall be the Co-Chairs of the Council.

(4)  The Administrator of General Services shall provide administrative and other support for the Council.

(5) (A)  The duties of the Council shall include the following:

(i)  Develop recommendations for increasing compliance and efficiency under this section.

(ii)  Disseminate information about agency experiences, ideas, best practices, and innovative approaches related to this section.

(iii)  Identify, develop, and coordinate initiatives to increase transparency and compliance with this section.

(iv)  Promote the development and use of common performance measures for agency compliance with this section.

(B)  In performing the duties described in subparagraph (A), the Council shall consult on a regular basis with members of the public who make requests under this section.

(6) (A)  The Council shall meet regularly and such meetings shall be open to the public unless the Council determines to close the meeting for reasons of national security or to discuss information exempt under subsection (b).

(B)  Not less frequently than annually, the Council shall hold a meeting that shall be open to the public and permit interested persons to appear and present oral and written statements to the Council.

(C)  Not later than 10 business days before a meeting of the Council, notice of such meeting shall be published in the Federal Register.

(D)  Except as provided in subsection (b), the records, reports, transcripts, minutes, appendices, working papers, drafts, studies, agenda, or other documents that were made available to or prepared for or by the Council shall be made publicly available.

(E)  Detailed minutes of each meeting of the Council shall be kept and shall contain a record of the persons present, a complete and accurate description of matters discussed and conclusions reached, and copies of all reports received, issued, or approved by the Council. The minutes shall be redacted as necessary and made publicly available.

(l)  FOIA Public Liaisons shall report to the agency Chief FOIA Officer and shall serve as supervisory officials to whom a requester under this section can raise concerns about the service the requester has received from the FOIA Requester Center, following an initial response from the FOIA Requester Center Staff. FOIA Public Liaisons shall be responsible for assisting in reducing delays, increasing transparency and understanding of the status of requests, and assisting in the resolution of disputes.

(m) (1)  The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall ensure the operation of a consolidated online request portal that allows a member of the public to submit a request for records under subsection (a) to any agency from a single website. The portal may include any additional tools the Director of the Office of Management and Budget finds will improve the implementation of this section.

(2)  This subsection shall not be construed to alter the power of any other agency to create or maintain an independent online portal for the submission of a request for records under this section. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall establish standards for interoperability between the portal required under paragraph (1) and other request processing software used by agencies subject to this section.

§552a. Records maintained on individuals[22]

(a)  Definitions.—For purposes of this section—

(1)  the term “agency” means agency as defined in section 552(e)[23] of this title;

(2)  the term “individual” means a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence;

(3)  the term “maintain” includes maintain, collect, use, or disseminate;

(4)  the term “record” means any item, collection, or grouping of information about an individual that is maintained by an agency, including, but not limited to, his education, financial transactions, medical history, and criminal or employment history and that contains his name, or the identifying number, symbol, or other identifying particular assigned to the individual, such as a finger or voice print or a photograph;

(5)  the term “system of records” means a group of any records under the control of any agency from which information is retrieved by the name of the individual or by some identifying number, symbol, or other identifying particular assigned to the individual;

(6)  the term “statistical record” means a record in a system of records maintained for statistical research or reporting purposes only and not used in whole or in part in making any determination about an identifiable individual, except as provided by section 8 of title 13;

(7)  the term “routine use” means, with respect to the disclosure of a record, the use of such record for a purpose which is compatible with the purpose for which it was collected;

(8)  the term “matching program”—

(A)  means any computerized comparison of—

(i)  two or more automated systems of records or a system of records with non-Federal records for the purpose of—

(I)  establishing or verifying the eligibility of, or continuing compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements by, applicants for, recipients or beneficiaries of, participants in, or providers of services with respect to, cash or in-kind assistance or payments under Federal benefit programs, or

(II)  recouping payments or delinquent debts under such Federal benefit programs, or

(ii)  two or more automated Federal personnel or payroll systems of records or a system of Federal personnel or payroll records with non-Federal records,

(B)  but does not include—

(i)  matches performed to produce aggregate statistical data without any personal identifiers;

(ii)  matches performed to support any research or statistical project, the specific data of which may not be used to make decisions concerning the rights, benefits, or privileges of specific individuals;

(iii)  matches performed, by an agency (or component thereof) which performs as its principal function any activity pertaining to the enforcement of criminal laws, subsequent to the initiation of a specific criminal or civil law enforcement investigation of a named person or persons for the purpose of gathering evidence against such person or persons;

(iv)  matches of tax information (I) pursuant to section 6103(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, (II) for purposes of tax administration as defined in section 6103(b)(4) of such Code, (III) for the purpose of intercepting a tax refund due an individual under authority granted by section 404(e), 464, or 1137 of the Social Security Act; or (IV) for the purpose of intercepting a tax refund due an individual under any other tax refund intercept program authorized by statute which has been determined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to contain verification, notice, and hearing requirements that are substantially similar to the procedures in section 1137 of the Social Security Act;

(v)  matches—

(I)  using records predominantly relating to Federal personnel, that are performed for routine administrative purposes (subject to guidance provided by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to subsection (v)); or

(II)  conducted by an agency using only records from systems of records maintained by that agency;

if the purpose of the match is not to take any adverse financial, personnel, disciplinary, or other adverse action against Federal personnel;

(vi)  matches performed for foreign counterintelligence purposes or to produce background checks for security clearances of Federal personnel or Federal contractor personnel;

(vii)  matches performed incident to a levy described in section 6103(k)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

(viii)  matches performed pursuant to section 202(x)(3) or 1611(e)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(x)(3), 1382(e)(1));

(ix)  matches performed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services or the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services with respect to potential fraud, waste, and abuse, including matches of a system of records with non-Federal records; or

(x)  matches performed pursuant to section 3(d)(4) of the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014;[24]

(9)  the term “recipient agency” means any agency, or contractor thereof, receiving records contained in a system of records from a source agency for use in a matching program;

(10)  the term “non-Federal agency” means any State or local government, or agency thereof, which receives records contained in a system of records from a source agency for use in a matching program;

(11)  the term “source agency” means any agency which discloses records contained in a system of records to be used in a matching program, or any State or local government, or agency thereof, which discloses records to be used in a matching program;

(12)  the term “Federal benefit program” means any program administered or funded by the Federal Government, or by any agent or State on behalf of the Federal Government, providing cash or in-kind assistance in the form of payments, grants, loans, or loan guarantees to individuals; and

(13)  the term “Federal personnel” means officers and employees of the Government of the United States, members of the uniformed services (including members of the Reserve Components), individuals entitled to receive immediate or deferred retirement benefits under any retirement program of the Government of the United States (including survivor benefits).

(b)  Conditions of Disclosure.—No agency shall disclose any record which is contained in a system of records by any means of communication to any person, or to another agency, except pursuant to a written request by, or with the prior written consent of, the individual to whom the record pertains, unless disclosure of the record would be—

(1)  to those officers and employees of the agency which maintains the record who have a need for the record in the performance of their duties;

(2)  required under section 552 of this title;

(3)  for a routine use as defined in subsection (a)(7) of this section and described under subsection (e)(4)(D) of this section;

(4)  to the Bureau of the Census for purposes of planning or carrying out a census or survey or related activity pursuant to the provisions of title 13;

(5)  to a recipient who has provided the agency with advance adequate written assurance that the record will be used solely as a statistical research or reporting record, and the record is to be transferred in a form that is not individually identifiable;

(6)  to the National Archives and Records Administration as a record which has sufficient historical or other value to warrant its continued preservation by the United States Government, or for evaluation by the Archivist of the United States or the designee of the Archivist to determine whether the record has such value;

(7)  to another agency or to an instrumentality of any governmental jurisdiction within or under the control of the United States for a civil or criminal law enforcement activity if the activity is authorized by law, and if the head of the agency or instrumentality has made a written request to the agency which maintains the record specifying the particular portion desired and the law enforcement activity for which the record is sought;

(8)  to a person pursuant to a showing of compelling circumstances affecting the health or safety of an individual if upon such disclosure notification is transmitted to the last known address of such individual;

(9)  to either House of Congress, or, to the extent of matter within its jurisdiction, any committee or subcommittee thereof, any joint committee of Congress or subcommittee of any such joint committee;

(10)  to the Comptroller General, or any of his authorized representatives, in the course of the performance of the duties of the General Accounting Office[25]

(11)  pursuant to the order of a court of competent jurisdiction; or

(12)  to a consumer reporting agency in accordance with section 3711(e) of title 31.

(c)  Accounting of Certain Disclosures.—Each agency, with respect to each system of records under its control, shall—

(1)  except for disclosures made under subsections (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section, keep an accurate accounting of—

(A)  the date, nature, and purpose of each disclosure of a record to any person or to another agency made under subsection (b) of this section; and

(B)  the name and address of the person or agency to whom the disclosure is made;

(2)  retain the accounting made under paragraph (1) of this subsection for at least five years or the life of the record, whichever is longer, after the disclosure for which the accounting is made;

(3)  except for disclosures made under subsection (b)(7) of this section, make the accounting made under paragraph (1) of this subsection available to the individual named in the record at his request; and

(4)  inform any person or other agency about any correction or notation of dispute made by the agency in accordance with subsection (d) of this section of any record that has been disclosed to the person or agency if an accounting of the disclosure was made.

(d)  Access to Records.— Each agency that maintains a system of records shall—

(1)  upon request by any individual to gain access to his record or to any information pertaining to him which is contained in the system, permit him and upon his request, a person of his own choosing to accompany him, to review the record and have a copy made of all or any portion thereof in a form comprehensible to him, except that the agency may require the individual to furnish a written statement authorizing discussion of that individual’s record in the accompanying person’s presence;

(2)  permit the individual to request amendment of a record pertaining to him and—

(A)  not later than 10 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) after the date of receipt of such request, acknowledge in writing such receipt; and

(B)  promptly, either—

(i)  make any correction of any portion thereof which the individual believes is not accurate, relevant, timely, or complete; or

(ii)  inform the individual of its refusal to amend the record in accordance with his request, the reason for the refusal, the procedures established by the agency for the individual to request a review of that refusal by the head of the agency or an officer designated by the head of the agency, and the name and business address of that official;

(3)  permit the individual who disagrees with the refusal of the agency to amend his record to request a review of such refusal, and not later than 30 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) from the date on which the individual requests such review, complete such review and make a final determination unless, for good cause shown, the head of the agency extends such 30-day period; and if, after his review, the reviewing official also refuses to amend the record in accordance with the request, permit the individual to file with the agency a concise statement setting forth the reasons for his disagreement with the refusal of the agency, and notify the individual of the provisions for judicial review of the reviewing official’s determination under subsection (g)(1)(A) of this section;

(4)  in any disclosure, containing information about which the individual has filed a statement of disagreement, occurring after the filing of the statement under paragraph (3) of this subsection, clearly note any portion of the record which is disputed and provide copies of the statement and, if the agency deems it appropriate, copies of a concise statement of the reasons of the agency for not making the amendments requested, to persons or other agencies to whom the disputed record has been disclosed; and

(5)  nothing in this section shall allow an individual access to any information compiled in reasonable anticipation of a civil action or proceeding.

(e)  Agency Requirements.— Each agency that maintains a system of records shall—

(1)  maintain in its records only such information about an individual as is relevant and necessary to accomplish a purpose of the agency required to be accomplished by statute or by executive order of the President;

(2)  collect information to the greatest extent practicable directly from the subject individual when the information may result in adverse determinations about an individual’s rights, benefits, and privileges under Federal programs;

(3)  inform each individual whom it asks to supply information, on the form which it uses to collect the information or on a separate form that can be retained by the individual—

(A)  the authority (whether granted by statute, or by executive order of the President) which authorizes the solicitation of the information and whether disclosure of such information is mandatory or voluntary;

(B)  the principal purpose or purposes for which the information is intended to be used;

(C)  the routine uses which may be made of the information, as published pursuant to paragraph (4)(D) of this subsection; and

(D)  the effects on him, if any, of not providing all or any part of the requested information;

(4)  subject to the provisions of paragraph (11) of this subsection, publish in the Federal Register upon establishment or revision a notice of the existence and character of the system of records, which notice shall include—

(A)  the name and location of the system;

(B)  the categories of individuals on whom records are maintained in the system;

(C)  the categories of records maintained in the system;

(D)  each routine use of the records contained in the system, including the categories of users and the purpose of such use;

(E)  the policies and practices of the agency regarding storage, retrievability, access controls, retention, and disposal of the records;

(F)  the title and business address of the agency official who is responsible for the system of records;

(G)  the agency procedures whereby an individual can be notified at his request if the system of records contains a record pertaining to him;

(H)  the agency procedures whereby an individual can be notified at his request how he can gain access to any record pertaining to him contained in the system of records, and how he can contest its content; and

(I)  the categories of sources of records in the system;

(5)  maintain all records which are used by the agency in making any determination about any individual with such accuracy, relevance, timeliness, and completeness as is reasonably necessary to assure fairness to the individual in the determination;

(6)  prior to disseminating any record about an individual to any person other than an agency, unless the dissemination is made pursuant to subsection (b)(2) of this section, make reasonable efforts to assure that such records are accurate, complete, timely, and relevant for agency purposes;

(7)  maintain no record describing how any individual exercises rights guaranteed by the First Amendment unless expressly authorized by statute or by the individual about whom the record is maintained or unless pertinent to and within the scope of an authorized law enforcement activity;

(8)  make reasonable efforts to serve notice on an individual when any record on such individual is made available to any person under compulsory legal process when such process becomes a matter of public record;

(9)  establish rules of conduct for persons involved in the design, development, operation, or maintenance of any system of records, or in maintaining any record, and instruct each such person with respect to such rules and the requirements of this section, including any other rules and procedures adopted pursuant to this section and the penalties for noncompliance;

(10)  establish appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to insure the security and confidentiality of records and to protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to their security or integrity which could result in substantial harm, embarrassment, inconvenience, or unfairness to any individual on whom information is maintained;

(11)  at least 30 days prior to publication of information under paragraph (4)(D) of this subsection, publish in the Federal Register notice of any new use or intended use of the information in the system, and provide an opportunity for interested persons to submit written data, views, or arguments to the agency; and

(12)  if such agency is a recipient agency or a source agency in a matching program with a non-Federal agency, with respect to any establishment or revision of a matching program, at least 30 days prior to conducting such program, publish in the Federal Register notice of such establishment or revision.

(f)  Agency Rules.—In order to carry out the provisions of this section, each agency that maintains a system of records shall promulgate rules, in accordance with the requirements (including general notice) of section 553 of this title, which shall—

(1)  establish procedures whereby an individual can be notified in response to his request if any system of records named by the individual contains a record pertaining to him;

(2)  define reasonable times, places, and requirements for identifying an individual who requests his record or information pertaining to him before the agency shall make the record or information available to the individual;

(3)  establish procedures for the disclosure to an individual upon his request of his record or information pertaining to him, including special procedure, if deemed necessary, for the disclosure to an individual of medical records, including psychological records, pertaining to him;

(4)  establish procedures for reviewing a request from an individual concerning the amendment of any record or information pertaining to the individual, for making a determination on the request, for an appeal within the agency of an initial adverse agency determination, and for whatever additional means may be necessary for each individual to be able to exercise fully his rights under this section; and

(5)  establish fees to be charged, if any, to any individual for making copies of his record, excluding the cost of any search for and review of the record.

The Office of the Federal Register shall biennially compile and publish the rules promulgated under this subsection and agency notices published under subsection (e)(4) of this section in a form available to the public at low cost.

(g) (1)  Civil Remedies.—Whenever any agency—

(A)  makes a determination under subsection (d)(3) of this section not to amend an individual’s record in accordance with his request, or fails to make such review in conformity with that subsection;

(B)  refuses to comply with an individual request under subsection (d)(1) of this section;

(C)  fails to maintain any record concerning any individual with such accuracy, relevance, timeliness, and completeness as is necessary to assure fairness in any determination relating to the qualifications, character, rights, or opportunities of, or benefits to the individual that may be made on the basis of such record, and consequently a determination is made which is adverse to the individual; or

(D)  fails to comply with any other provision of this section, or any rule promulgated thereunder, in such a way as to have an adverse effect on an individual,

the individual may bring a civil action against the agency, and the district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction in the matters under the provisions of this subsection.

(2) (A)  In any suit brought under the provisions of subsection (g)(1)(A) of this section, the court may order the agency to amend the individual’s record in accordance with his request or in such other way as the court may direct. In such a case the court shall determine the matter de novo.

(B)  The court may assess against the United States reasonable attorney fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in any case under this paragraph in which the complainant has substantially prevailed.

(3) (A)  In any suit brought under the provisions of subsection (g)(1)(B) of this section, the court may enjoin the agency from withholding the records and order the production to the complainant of any agency records improperly withheld from him. In such a case the court shall determine the matter de novo, and may examine the contents of any agency records in camera to determine whether the records or any portion thereof may be withheld under any of the exemptions set forth in subsection (k) of this section, and the burden is on the agency to sustain its action.

(B)  The court may assess against the United States reasonable attorney fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in any case under this paragraph in which the complainant has substantially prevailed.

(4)  In any suit brought under the provisions of subsection (g)(1)(C) or (D) of this section in which the court determines that the agency acted in a manner which was intentional or willful, the United States shall be liable to the individual in an amount equal to the sum of—

(A)  actual damages sustained by the individual as a result of the refusal or failure, but in no case shall a person entitled to recovery receive less than the sum of $1,000; and

(B)  the costs of the action together with reasonable attorney fees as determined by the court.

(5)  An action to enforce any liability created under this section may be brought in the district court of the United States in the district in which the complainant resides, or has his principal place of business, or in which the agency records are situated, or in the District of Columbia, without regard to the amount in controversy, within two years from the date on which the cause of action arises, except that where an agency has materially and willfully misrepresented any information required under this section to be disclosed to an individual and the information so misrepresented is material to establishment of the liability of the agency to the individual under this section, the action may be brought at any time within two years after discovery by the individual of the misrepresentation. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any civil action by reason of any injury sustained as the result of a disclosure of a record prior to September 27, 1975.

(h)  Rights of Legal Guardians.—For the purposes of this section, the parent of any minor, or the legal guardian of any individual who has been declared to be incompetent due to physical or mental incapacity or age by a court of competent jurisdiction, may act on behalf of the individual.

(i) (1)  Criminal Penalties.—Any officer or employee of an agency, who by virtue of his employment or official position, has possession of, or access to, agency records which contain individually identifiable information the disclosure of which is prohibited by this section or by rules or regulations established thereunder, and who knowing that disclosure of the specific material is so prohibited, willfully discloses the material in any manner to any person or agency not entitled to receive it, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not more than $5,000.

(2)  Any officer or employee of any agency who willfully maintains a system of records without meeting the notice requirements of subsection (e)(4) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not more than $5,000.

(3)  Any person who knowingly and willfully requests or obtains any record concerning an individual from an agency under false pretenses shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not more than $5,000.

(j)  General Exemptions.—The head of any agency may promulgate rules, in accordance with the requirements (including general notice) of sections 553(b)(1), (2), and (3), (c), and (e) of this title, to exempt any system of records within the agency from any part of this section except subsections (b), (c)(1) and (2), (e)(4)(A) through (F), (e)(6), (7), (9), (10), and (11), and (i) if the system of records is—

(1)  maintained by the Central Intelligence Agency; or

(2)  maintained by an agency or component thereof which performs as its principal function any activity pertaining to the enforcement of criminal laws, including police efforts to prevent, control, or reduce crime or to apprehend criminals, and the activities of prosecutors, courts, correctional, probation, pardon, or parole authorities, and which consists of (A) information compiled for the purpose of identifying individual criminal offenders and alleged offenders and consisting only of identifying data and notations of arrests, the nature and disposition of criminal charges, sentencing, confinement, release, and parole and probation status; (B) information compiled for the purpose of a criminal investigation, including reports of informants and investigators, and associated with an identifiable individual; or (C) reports identifiable to an individual compiled at any stage of the process of enforcement of the criminal laws from arrest or indictment through release from supervision.

At the time rules are adopted under this subsection, the agency shall include in the statement required under section 553(c) of this title, the reasons why the system of records is to be exempted from a provision of this section.

(k)  Specific Exemptions.—The head of any agency may promulgate rules, in accordance with the requirements (including general notice) of sections 553(b)(1), (2), and (3), (c), and (e) of this title, to exempt any system of records within the agency from subsections (c)(3), (d), (e)(1), (e)(4)(G), (H), and (I) and (f) of this section if the system of records is—

(1)  subject to the provisions of section 552(b)(1) of this title;

(2)  investigatory material compiled for law enforcement purposes, other than material within the scope of subsection (j)(2) of this section: Provided, however, That if any individual is denied any right, privilege, or benefit that he would otherwise be entitled by Federal law, or for which he would otherwise be eligible, as a result of the maintenance of such material, such material shall be provided to such individual, except to the extent that the disclosure of such material would reveal the identity of a source who furnished information to the Government under an express promise that the identity of the source would be held in confidence, or, prior to the effective date of this section, under an implied promise that the identity of the source would be held in confidence;

(3)  maintained in connection with providing protective services to the President of the United States or other individuals pursuant to section 3056 of title 18;

(4)  required by statute to be maintained and used solely as statistical records;

(5)  investigatory material compiled solely for the purpose of determining suitability, eligibility, or qualifications for Federal civilian employment, military service, Federal contracts, or access to classified information, but only to the extent that the disclosure of such material would reveal the identity of a source who furnished information to the Government under an express promise that the identity of the source would be held in confidence, or, prior to the effective date of this section, under an implied promise that the identity of the source would be held in confidence;

(6)  testing or examination material used solely to determine individual qualifications for appointment or promotion in the Federal service the disclosure of which would compromise the objectivity or fairness of the testing or examination process; or

(7)  evaluation material used to determine potential for promotion in the armed services, but only to the extent that the disclosure of such material would reveal the identity of a source who furnished information to the Government under an express promise that the identity of the source would be held in confidence, or, prior to the effective date of this section, under an implied promise that the identity of the source would be held in confidence.

At the time rules are adopted under this subsection, the agency shall include in the statement required under section 553(c) of this title, the reasons why the system of records is to be exempted from a provision of this section.

(l) (1)  Archival Records.—Each agency record which is accepted by the Archivist of the United States for storage, processing, and servicing in accordance with section 3103 of title 44 shall, for the purposes of this section, be considered to be maintained by the agency which deposited the record and shall be subject to the provisions of this section. The Archivist of the United States shall not disclose the record except to the agency which maintains the record, or under rules established by that agency which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section.

(2)  Each agency record pertaining to an identifiable individual which was transferred to the National Archives of the United States as a record which has sufficient historical or other value to warrant its continued preservation by the United States Government, prior to the effective date of this section, shall, for the purposes of this section, be considered to be maintained by the National Archives and shall not be subject to the provisions of this section, except that a statement generally describing such records (modeled after the requirements relating to records subject to subsections (e)(4)(A) through (G) of this section) shall be published in the Federal Register.

(3)  Each agency record pertaining to an identifiable individual which is transferred to the National Archives of the United States as a record which has sufficient historical or other value to warrant its continued preservation by the United States Government, on or after the effective date of this section, shall, for the purposes of this section, be considered to be maintained by the National Archives and shall be exempt from the requirements of this section except subsections (e)(4)(A) through (G) and (e)(9) of this section.

(m) (1)  Government Contractors.—When an agency provides by a contract for the operation by or on behalf of the agency of a system of records to accomplish an agency function, the agency shall, consistent with its authority, cause the requirements of this section to be applied to such system. For purposes of subsection (i) of this section any such contractor and any employee of such contractor, if such contract is agreed to on or after the effective date of this section, shall be considered to be an employee of an agency.

(2)  A consumer reporting agency to which a record is disclosed under section 3711(e) of title 31 shall not be considered a contractor for the purposes of this section.

(n)  Mailing Lists.—An individual’s name and address may not be sold or rented by an agency unless such action is specifically authorized by law. This provision shall not be construed to require the withholding of names and addresses otherwise permitted to be made public.

(o)  Matching Agreements.—

(1)[26]  No record which is contained in a system of records may be disclosed to a recipient agency or non-Federal agency for use in a computer matching program except pursuant to a written agreement between the source agency and the recipient agency or non-Federal agency specifying—

(A)  the purpose and legal authority for conducting the program;

(B)  the justification for the program and the anticipated results, including a specific estimate of any savings;

(C)  a description of the records that will be matched, including each data element that will be used, the approximate number of records that will be matched, and the projected starting and completion dates of the matching program;

(D)  procedures for providing individualized notice at the time of application, and notice periodically thereafter as directed by the Data Integrity Board of such agency (subject to guidance provided by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to subsection (v)), to—

(i)  applicants for and recipients of financial assistance or payments under Federal benefit programs, and

(ii)  applicants for and holders of positions as Federal personnel,

that any information provided by such applicants, recipients, holders, and individuals may be subject to verification through matching programs;

(E)  procedures for verifying information produced in such matching program as required by subsection (p);

(F)  procedures for the retention and timely destruction of identifiable records created by a recipient agency or non-Federal agency in such matching program;

(G)  procedures for ensuring the administrative, technical, and physical security of the records matched and the results of such programs;

(H)  prohibitions on duplication and redisclosure of records provided by the source agency within or outside the recipient agency or the non-Federal agency, except where required by law or essential to the conduct of the matching program;

(I)  procedures governing the use by a recipient agency or non-Federal agency of records provided in a matching program by a source agency, including procedures governing return of the records to the source agency or destruction of records used in such program;

(J)  information on assessments that have been made on the accuracy of the records that will be used in such matching program; and

(K)  that the Comptroller General may have access to all records of a recipient agency or a non-Federal agency that the Comptroller General deems necessary in order to monitor or verify compliance with the agreement.

(2) (A)  A copy of each agreement entered into pursuant to paragraph (1) shall—

(i)  be transmitted to the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate[27] and the Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives;[28] and

(ii)  be available upon request to the public.

(B)  No such agreement shall be effective until 30 days after the date on which such a copy is transmitted pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i).

(C)  Such an agreement shall remain in effect only for such period, not to exceed 18 months, as the Data Integrity Board of the agency determines is appropriate in light of the purposes, and length of time necessary for the conduct, of the matching program.

(D)  Within 3 months prior to the expiration of such an agreement pursuant to subparagraph (C), the Data Integrity Board of the agency may, without additional review, renew the matching agreement for a current, ongoing matching program for not more than one additional year if—

(i)  such program will be conducted without any change; and

(ii)  each party to the agreement certifies to the Board in writing that the program has been conducted in compliance with the agreement.

(p)  Verification and Opportunity To Contest Findings.—(1) In order to protect any individual whose records are used in a matching program, no recipient agency, non-Federal agency, or source agency may suspend, terminate, reduce, or make a final denial of any financial assistance or payment under a Federal benefit program to such individual, or take other adverse action against such individual as a result of information produced by such matching program, until—

(A) (i)  the agency has independently verified the information; or

(ii)  the Data Integrity Board of the agency, or in the case of a non-Federal agency the Data Integrity Board of the source agency, determines in accordance with guidance issued by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget that—

(I)  the information is limited to identification and amount of benefits paid by the source agency under a Federal benefit program; and

(II)  there is a high degree of confidence that the information provided to the recipient agency is accurate;

(B)  the individual receives a notice from the agency containing a statement of its findings and informing the individual of the opportunity to contest such findings; and

(C) (i)  the expiration of any time period established for the program by statute or regulation for the individual to respond to that notice; or

(ii)  in the case of a program for which no such period is established, the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which notice under subparagraph (B) is mailed or otherwise provided to the individual.

(2)  Independent verification referred to in paragraph (1) requires investigation and confirmation of specific information relating to an individual that is used as a basis for an adverse action against the individual, including where applicable investigation and confirmation of—

(A)  the amount of any asset or income involved;

(B)  whether such individual actually has or had access to such asset or income for such individual’s own use; and

(C)  the period or periods when the individual actually had such asset or income.

(3)  Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an agency may take any appropriate action otherwise prohibited by such paragraph if the agency determines that the public health or public safety may be adversely affected or significantly threatened during any notice period required by such paragraph.

(q)  Sanctions.—(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no source agency may disclose any record which is contained in a system of records to a recipient agency or non-Federal agency for a matching program if such source agency has reason to believe that the requirements of subsection (p), or any matching agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (o), or both, are not being met by such recipient agency.

(2)  No source agency may renew a matching agreement unless—

(A)  the recipient agency or non-Federal agency has certified that it has complied with the provisions of that agreement; and

(B)  the source agency has no reason to believe that the certification is inaccurate.

(r)  Report on New Systems and Matching Programs.—Each agency that proposes to establish or make a significant change in a system of records or a matching program shall provide adequate advance notice of any such proposal (in duplicate) to the Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Office of Management and Budget in order to permit an evaluation of the probable or potential effect of such proposal on the privacy or other rights of individuals.

(s)  Biennial Report.—The President shall biennially submit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate a report—

(1)  describing the actions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to section 6 of the Privacy Act of 1974 during the preceding 2 years;

(2)  describing the exercise of individual rights of access and amendment under this section during such years;

(3)  identifying changes in or additions to systems of records;

(4)  containing such other information concerning administration of this section as may be necessary or useful to the Congress in reviewing the effectiveness of this section in carrying out the purposes of the Privacy Act of 1974.

(t) (1)  Effect of Other Laws.—No agency shall rely on any exemption contained in section 552 of this title to withhold from an individual any record which is otherwise accessible to such individual under the provisions of this section.

(2)  No agency shall rely on any exemption in this section to withhold from an individual any record which is otherwise accessible to such individual under the provisions of section 552 of this title.

(u)  Data Integrity Boards.—(1) Every agency conducting or participating in a matching program shall establish a Data Integrity Board to oversee and coordinate among the various components of such agency the agency’s implementation of this section.

(2)  Each Data Integrity Board shall consist of senior officials designated by the head of the agency, and shall include any senior official designated by the head of the agency as responsible for implementation of this section, and the inspector general of the agency, if any. The inspector general shall not serve as chairman of the Data Integrity Board.

(3)  Each Data Integrity Board—

(A)  shall review, approve, and maintain all written agreements for receipt or disclosure of agency records for matching programs to ensure compliance with subsection (o), and all relevant statutes, regulations, and guidelines;

(B)  shall review all matching programs in which the agency has participated during the year, either as a source agency or recipient agency, determine compliance with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines, and agency agreements, and assess the costs and benefits of such programs;

(C)  shall review all recurring matching programs in which the agency has participated during the year, either as a source agency or recipient agency, for continued justification for such disclosures;

(D)  shall compile an annual report, which shall be submitted to the head of the agency and the Office of Management and Budget and made available to the public on request, describing the matching activities of the agency, including—

(i)  matching programs in which the agency has participated as a source agency or recipient agency;

(ii)  matching agreements proposed under subsection (o) that were disapproved by the Board;

(iii)  any changes in membership or structure of the Board in the preceding year;

(iv)  the reasons for any waiver of the requirement in paragraph (4) of this section for completion and submission of a cost-benefit analysis prior to the approval of a matching program;

(v)  any violations of matching agreements that have been alleged or identified and any corrective action taken; and

(vi)  any other information required by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to be included in such report;

(E)  shall serve as a clearinghouse for receiving and providing information on the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of records used in matching programs;

(F)  shall provide interpretation and guidance to agency components and personnel on the requirements of this section for matching programs;

(G)  shall review agency recordkeeping and disposal policies and practices for matching programs to assure compliance with this section; and

(H)  may review and report on any agency matching activities that are not matching programs.

(4) (A)  Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), a Data Integrity Board shall not approve any written agreement for a matching program unless the agency has completed and submitted to such Board a cost-benefit analysis of the proposed program and such analysis demonstrates that the program is likely to be cost effective.

(B)  The Board may waive the requirements of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph if it determines in writing, in accordance with guidelines prescribed by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, that a cost-benefit analysis is not required.

(C)  A cost-benefit analysis shall not be required under subparagraph (A) prior to the initial approval of a written agreement for a matching program that is specifically required by statute. Any subsequent written agreement for such a program shall not be approved by the Data Integrity Board unless the agency has submitted a cost-benefit analysis of the program as conducted under the preceding approval of such agreement.

(5) (A)  If a matching agreement is disapproved by a Data Integrity Board, any party to such agreement may appeal the disapproval to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Timely notice of the filing of such an appeal shall be provided by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives.

(B)  The Director of the Office of Management and Budget may approve a matching agreement notwithstanding the disapproval of a Data Integrity Board if the Director determines that—

(i)  the matching program will be consistent with all applicable legal, regulatory, and policy requirements;

(ii)  there is adequate evidence that the matching agreement will be cost-effective; and

(iii)  the matching program is in the public interest.

(C)  The decision of the Director to approve a matching agreement shall not take effect until 30 days after it is reported to committees described in subparagraph (A).

(D)  If the Data Integrity Board and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget disapprove a matching program proposed by the inspector general of an agency, the inspector general may report the disapproval to the head of the agency and to the Congress.

(6)  In the reports required by paragraph (3)(D), agency matching activities that are not matching programs may be reported on an aggregate basis, if and to the extent necessary to protect ongoing law enforcement or counterintelligence investigations.

(v)  Office of Management and Budget Responsibilities.—The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall—

(1)  develop and, after notice and opportunity for public comment, prescribe guidelines and regulations for the use of agencies in implementing the provisions of this section; and

(2)  provide continuing assistance to and oversight of the implementation of this section by agencies.

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§553. Rule making

(a)  This section applies, according to the provisions thereof, except to the extent that there is involved—

(1)  a military or foreign affairs function of the United States; or

(2)  a matter relating to agency management or personnel or to public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts.

(b)  General notice of proposed rule making shall be published in the Federal Register, unless persons subject thereto are named and either personally served or otherwise have actual notice thereof in accordance with law. The notice shall include—

(1)  a statement of the time, place, and nature of public rule making proceedings;

(2)  reference to the legal authority under which the rule is proposed; and

(3)  either the terms or substance of the proposed rule or a description of the subjects and issues involved.

Except when notice or hearing is required by statute, this subsection does not apply—

(A)  to interpretative rules, general statements of policy, or rules of agency organization, procedure, or practice; or

(B)  when the agency for good cause finds (and incorporates the finding and a brief statement of reasons therefor in the rules issued) that notice and public procedure thereon are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.

(c)  After notice required by this section, the agency shall give interested persons an opportunity to participate in the rule making through submission of written data, views, or arguments with or without opportunity for oral presentation. After consideration of the relevant matter presented, the agency shall incorporate in the rules adopted a concise general statement of their basis and purpose. When rules are required by statute to be made on the record after opportunity for an agency hearing, sections 556 and 557 of this title apply instead of this subsection.

(d)  The required publication or service of a substantive rule shall be made not less than 30 days before its effective date, except—

(1)  a substantive rule which grants or recognizes an exemption or relieves a restriction;

(2)  interpretative rules and statements of policy; or

(3)  as otherwise provided by the agency for good cause found and published with the rule.

(e)  Each agency shall give an interested person the right to petition for the issuance, amendment, or repeal of a rule.

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§603. Initial regulatory flexibility analysis[29]

(a)  Whenever an agency is required by section 553 of this title, or any other law, to publish general notice of proposed rulemaking for any proposed rule, or publishes a notice of proposed rulemaking for an interpretative rule involving the internal revenue laws of the United States, the agency shall prepare and make available for public comment an initial regulatory flexibility analysis. Such analysis shall describe the impact of the proposed rule on small entities. The initial regulatory flexibility analysis or a summary shall be published in the Federal Register at the time of the publication of general notice of proposed rulemaking for the rule. The agency shall transmit a copy of the initial regulatory flexibility analysis to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. In the case of an interpretative rule involving the internal revenue laws of the United States, this chapter applies to interpretative rules published in the Federal Register for codification in the Code of Federal Regulations, but only to the extent that such interpretative rules impose on small entities a collection of information requirement.

(b)  Each initial regulatory flexibility analysis required under this section shall contain—

(1)  a description of the reasons why action by the agency is being considered;

(2)  a succinct statement of the objectives of, and legal basis for, the proposed rule;

(3)  a description of and, where feasible, an estimate of the number of small entities to which the proposed rule will apply;

(4)  a description of the projected reporting, recordkeeping and other compliance requirements of the proposed rule, including an estimate of the classes of small entities which will be subject to the requirement and the type of professional skills necessary for preparation of the report or record;

(5)  an identification, to the extent practicable, of all relevant Federal rules which may duplicate, overlap or conflict with the proposed rule.

(c)  Each initial regulatory flexibility analysis shall also contain a description of any significant alternatives to the proposed rule which accomplish the stated objectives of applicable statutes and which minimize any significant economic impact of the proposed rule on small entities. Consistent with the stated objectives of applicable statutes, the analysis shall discuss significant alternatives such as—

(1)  the establishment of differing compliance or reporting requirements or timetables that take into account the resources available to small entities;

(2)  the clarification, consolidation, or simplification of compliance and reporting requirements under the rule for such small entities;

(3)  the use of performance rather than design standards; and

(4)  an exemption from coverage of the rule, or any part thereof, for such small entities.

(d) (1)  For a covered agency, as defined in section 609(d)(2), each initial regulatory flexibility analysis shall include a description of—

(A)  any projected increase in the cost of credit for small entities;

(B)  any significant alternatives to the proposed rule which accomplish the stated objectives of applicable statutes and which minimize any increase in the cost of credit for small entities; and

(C)  advice and recommendations of representatives of small entities relating to issues described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) and subsection (b).

(2)  A covered agency, as defined in section 609(d)(2), shall, for purposes of complying with paragraph (1)(C)—

(A)  identify representatives of small entities in consultation with the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration; and

(B)  collect advice and recommendations from the representatives identified under subparagraph (A) relating to issues described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) and subsection (b).

§604. Final regulatory flexibility analysis[30]

(a)  When an agency promulgates a final rule under section 553 of this title, after being required by that section or any other law to publish a general notice of proposed rulemaking, or promulgates a final interpretative rule involving the internal revenue laws of the United States as described in section 603(a), the agency shall prepare a final regulatory flexibility analysis. Each final regulatory flexibility analysis shall contain—

(1)  a statement of the need for, and objectives of, the rule;

(2)  a statement of the significant issues raised by the public comments in response to the initial regulatory flexibility analysis, a statement of the assessment of the agency of such issues, and a statement of any changes made in the proposed rule as a result of such comments;

(3)  the response of the agency to any comments filed by the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration in response to the proposed rule, and a detailed statement of any change made to the proposed rule in the final rule as a result of the comments;

(4)  a description of and an estimate of the number of small entities to which the rule will apply or an explanation of why no such estimate is available;

(5)  a description of the projected reporting, recordkeeping and other compliance requirements of the rule, including an estimate of the classes of small entities which will be subject to the requirement and the type of professional skills necessary for preparation of the report or record;

(6)[31]  a description of the steps the agency has taken to minimize the significant economic impact on small entities consistent with the stated objectives of applicable statutes, including a statement of the factual, policy, and legal reasons for selecting the alternative adopted in the final rule and why each one of the other significant alternatives to the rule considered by the agency which affect the impact on small entities was rejected; and

(6)  for a covered agency, as defined in section 609(d)(2), a description of the steps the agency has taken to minimize any additional cost of credit for small entities.

(b)  The agency shall make copies of the final regulatory flexibility analysis available to members of the public and shall publish in the Federal Register such analysis or a summary thereof.

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§706. Scope of review

To the extent necessary to decision and when presented, the reviewing court shall decide all relevant questions of law, interpret constitutional and statutory provisions, and determine the meaning or applicability of the terms of an agency action. The reviewing court shall—

(1)  compel agency action unlawfully withheld or unreasonably delayed; and

(2)  hold unlawful and set aside agency action, findings, and conclusions found to be—

(A)  arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law;

(B)  contrary to constitutional right, power, privilege, or immunity;

(C)  in excess of statutory jurisdiction, authority, or limitations, or short of statutory right;

(D)  without observance of procedure required by law;

(E)  unsupported by substantial evidence in a case subject to sections 556 and 557 of this title or otherwise reviewed on the record of an agency hearing provided by statute; or

(F)  unwarranted by the facts to the extent that the facts are subject to trial de novo by the reviewing court.

In making the foregoing determinations, the court shall review the whole record or those parts of it cited by a party, and due account shall be taken of the rule of prejudicial error.

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§3109. Employment of experts and consultants; temporary or intermittent[32]

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

(b)  When authorized by an appropriation or other statute, the head of an agency may procure by contract the temporary (not in excess of 1 year) or intermittent services of experts or consultants or an organization thereof, including stenographic reporting services. Services procured under this section are without regard to—

(1)  the provisions of this title governing appointment in the competitive service;

(2)  chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of this title; and

(3)  section 6101(b) to (d) of title 41, except in the case of stenographic reporting services by an organization.

However, an agency subject to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of this title may pay a rate for services under this section in excess of the daily equivalent of the highest rate payable under section 5332 of this title only when specifically authorized by the appropriation or other statute authorizing the procurement of the services.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

(d)  The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations necessary for the administration of this section. Such regulations shall include—

(1)  criteria governing the circumstances in which it is appropriate to employ an expert or consultant under the provisions of this section;

(2)  criteria for setting the pay of experts and consultants under this section; and

(3)  provisions to ensure compliance with such regulations.

(e)  Each agency shall report to the Office of Personnel Management on an annual basis with respect to—

(1)  the number of days each expert or consultant employed by the agency during the period was so employed; and

(2)  the total amount paid by the agency to each expert and consultant for such work during the period.

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§3132. Definitions and exclusions

(a)  *  *  *

(7)  “noncareer appointee” means an individual in a Senior Executive Service position who is not a career appointee, a limited term appointee, or a limited emergency appointee;

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§3343. Details; to international organizations

(a)  For the purpose of this section—

(1)  “agency”, “employee”, and “international organization” have the meanings given them by section 3581 of this title; and

(2)  “detail” means the assignment or loan of an employee to an international organization without a change of position from the agency by which he is employed to an international organization.

(b)  The head of an agency may detail, for a period of not more than 5 years, an employee of his agency to an international organization which requests services, except that under special circumstances, where the President determines it to be in the national interest, he may extend the 5-year period for up to an additional 3 years.

(c)  An employee detailed under subsection (b) of this section is deemed, for the purpose of preserving his allowances, privileges, rights, seniority, and other benefits, an employee of the agency from which detailed, and he is entitled to pay, allowances, and benefits from funds available to that agency. The authorization and payment of these allowances and other benefits from appropriations available therefor is deemed to comply with section 5536 of this title.

(d)  Details may be made under subsection (b) of this section—

(1)  without reimbursement to the United States by the international organization; or

(2)  with agreement by the international organization to reimburse the United States for all or part of the pay, travel expenses, and allowances payable during the detail, and the reimbursement shall be credited to the appropriation, fund, or account used for paying the amounts reimbursed.

(e)  An employee detailed under subsection (b) of this section may be paid or reimbursed by an international organization for allowances or expenses incurred in the performance of duties required by the detail, without regard to section 209 of title 18.

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§3371. Definitions[33]

For the purpose of this subchapter—

(1)  “State” means—

(A)  a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and a territory or possession of the United States; and

(B)  an instrumentality or authority of a State or States as defined in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph (1) and a Federal-State authority or instrumentality;

(2)  “local government” means—

(A)  any political subdivision, instrumentality, or authority of a State or States as defined in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1);

(B)  any general or special purpose agency of such a political subdivision, instrumentality, or authority; and

(C)  any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688), which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians and includes any tribal organization as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act;

(3)  “Federal agency” Executive agency, military department, a court of the United States, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the Library of Congress, the Botanic Garden, the Government Publishing Office, the Congressional Budget Office, the United States Postal Service, the Postal Regulatory Commission, the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, the Office of Technology Assessment, and such other similar agencies of the legislative and judicial branches as determined appropriate by the Office of Personnel Management; and

(4)  “other organization” means—

(A)  a national, regional, State-wide, area-wide, or metropolitan organization representing member State or local governments;

(B)  an association of State or local public officials;

(C)  a nonprofit organization which has as one of its principal functions the offering of professional advisory, research, educational, or development services, or related services, to governments or universities concerned with public management; or

(D)  a federally funded research and development center.

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§3372. General provisions[34]

(a)  On request from or with the concurrence of a State or local government, and with the consent of the employee concerned, the head of a Federal agency may arrange for the assignment of—

(1)  an employee of his agency, other than a noncareer appointee, limited term appointee, or limited emergency appointee (as such terms are defined in section 3132(a) of this title) in the Senior Executive Service and an employee in a position which has been excepted from the competitive service by reason of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character, to a State or local government; and

(2)  an employee of a State or local government to his agency;

for work of mutual concern to his agency and the State or local government that he determines will be beneficial to both. The period of an assignment under this subchapter may not exceed two years. However, the head of a Federal agency may extend the period of assignment for not more than two additional years. In the case of assignments made to Indian tribes or tribal organizations as defined in section 3371(2)(C) of this subchapter, the head of an executive agency may extend the period of assignment for any period of time where it is determined that this will continue to benefit both the executive agency and the Indian tribe or tribal organization. If the assigned employee fails to complete the period of assignment and there is another employee willing and available to do so, the Secretary may assign the employee to complete the period of assignment and may execute an agreement with the tribal organization with respect to the replacement employee. That agreement may provide for a different period of assignment as may be agreed to by the Secretary and the tribal organization.

(b)  This subchapter is authority for and applies to the assignment of—

(1)  an employee of a Federal agency to an institution of higher education;

(2)  an employee of an institution of higher education to a Federal agency;

(3)  an employee of a Federal agency to any other organization; and

(4)  an employee of an other organization to a Federal agency.

(c) (1)  An employee of a Federal agency may be assigned under this subchapter only if the employee agrees, as a condition of accepting an assignment under this subchapter, to serve in the civil service upon the completion of the assignment for a period equal to the length of the assignment.

(2)  Each agreement required under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall provide that in the event the employee fails to carry out the agreement (except for good and sufficient reason, as determined by the head of the Federal agency from which assigned) the employee shall be liable to the United States for payment of all expenses (excluding salary) of the assignment. The amount shall be treated as a debt due the United States.

(d)  Where the employee is assigned to a tribal organization, the employee shall be eligible for promotions, periodic step-increases, and additional step-increases, as defined in chapter 53 of this title, on the same basis as other Federal employees.

(e)  Under regulations prescribed pursuant to section 3376 of this title—

(1)  an assignment of an employee of a Federal agency to an other organization or an institution of higher education, and an employee so assigned, shall be treated in the same way as an assignment of an employee of a Federal agency to a State or local government, and an employee so assigned, is treated under the provisions of this subchapter governing an assignment of an employee of a Federal agency to a State or local government, except that the rate of a pay of an employee assigned to a federally funded research and development center may not exceed the rate of pay that such employee would be paid for continued service in the position in the Federal agency from which assigned; and

(2)  an assignment of an employee of an other organization or an institution of higher education to a Federal agency, and an employee so assigned, shall be treated in the same way as an assignment of an employee of a State or local government to a Federal agency, and an employee so assigned, is treated under the provisions of this subchapter governing an assignment of an employee of a State or local government to a Federal agency.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

§3373. Assignment of employees to State or local governments[35]

(a)  An employee of a Federal agency assigned to a State or local government under this subchapter is deemed, during the assignment, to be either—

(1)  on detail to a regular work assignment in his agency; or

(2)  on leave without pay from his position in the agency.

An employee assigned either on detail or on leave without pay remains an employee of his agency. The Federal Tort Claims Act and any other Federal tort liability statute apply to an employee so assigned. The supervision of the duties of an employee on detail may be governed by agreement between the Federal agency and the State or local government concerned.

(b)  The assignment of an employee of a Federal agency either on detail or on leave without pay to a State or local government under this subchapter may be made with or without reimbursement by the State or local government for the travel and transportation expenses to or from the place of assignment and for the pay, or supplemental pay, or a part thereof, of the employee during assignment. Any reimbursements shall be credited to the appropriation of the Federal agency used for paying the travel and transportation expenses or pay.

(c)  For any employee so assigned and on leave without pay—

(1)  if the rate of pay for his employment by the State or local government is less than the rate of pay he would have received had he continued in his regular assignment in the agency, he is entitled to receive supplemental pay from the agency in an amount equal to the difference between the State or local government rate and the agency rate;

(2)  he is entitled to annual and sick leave to the same extent as if he had continued in his regular assignment in the agency; and

(3)  he is entitled, notwithstanding other statutes—

(A)  to continuation of his insurance under chapter 87 of this title, and coverage under chapter 89 of this title or other applicable authority, so long as he pays currently into the Employee’s Life Insurance Fund and the Employee’s Health Benefits Fund or other applicable health benefits system (through his employing agency) the amount of the employee contributions;

(B)  to credit the period of his assignment under this subchapter toward periodic step-increases, retention, and leave accrual purposes, and, on payment into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund or other applicable retirement system of the percentage of his State or local government pay, and of his supplemental pay, if any, that would have been deducted from a like agency pay for the period of the assignment and payment by the Federal agency into the fund or system of the amount that would have been payable by the agency during the period of the assignment with respect to a like agency pay, to treat his service during that period as service of the type performed in the agency immediately before his assignment; and

(C)  for the purpose of subchapter I of chapter 85 of this title, to credit the service performed during the period of his assignment under this subchapter as Federal service, and to consider his State or local government pay (and his supplemental pay, if any) as Federal wages. To the extent that the service could also be the basis for entitlement to unemployment compensation under a State law, the employee may elect to claim unemployment compensation on the basis of the service under either the State law or subchapter I of chapter 85 of this title.

However, an employee or his beneficiary may not receive benefits referred to in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph (3), based on service during an assignment under this subchapter for which the employee or, if he dies without making such an election, his beneficiary elects to receive benefits, under any State or local government retirement or insurance law or program, which the Office of Personnel Management determines to be similar. The Federal agency shall deposit currently in the Employee’s Life Insurance Fund, the Employee’s Health Benefits Fund or other applicable health benefits system, respectively, the amount of the Government’s contributions on account of service with respect to which employee contributions are collected as provided in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph (3).

(d) (1)  An employee so assigned and on leave without pay who dies or suffers disability as a result of personal injury sustained while in the performance of his duty during an assignment under this subchapter shall be treated, for the purpose of subchapter I of chapter 81 of this title, as though he were an employee as defined by section 8101 of this title who had sustained the injury in the performance of duty. When an employee (or his dependents in case of death) entitled by reason of injury or death to benefits under subchapter I of chapter 81 of this title is also entitled to benefits from a State or local government for the same injury or death, he (or his dependents in case of death) shall elect which benefits he will receive. The election shall be made within one year after the injury or death, or such further time as the Secretary of Labor may allow for reasonable cause shown. When made, the election is irrevocable unless otherwise provided by law.

(2)  An employee who elects to receive benefits from a State or local government may not receive an annuity under subchapter III of chapter 83 of this title and benefits from the State or local government for injury or disability to himself covering the same period of time. This provision does not—

(A)  bar the right of a claimant to the greater benefit conferred by either the State or local government or subchapter III of chapter 83 of this title for any part of the same period of time;

(B)  deny to an employee an annuity accruing to him under subchapter III of chapter 83 of this title on account of service performed by him; or

(C)  deny any concurrent benefit to him from the State or local government on account of the death of another individual.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

§3374. Assignments of employees from State or local governments[36]

(a)  An employee of a State or local government who is assigned to a Federal agency under an arrangement under this subchapter may—

(1)  be appointed in the Federal agency without regard to the provisions of this title governing appointment in the competitive service for the agreed period of the assignment; or

(2)  be deemed on detail to the Federal agency.

(b)  An employee given an appointment is entitled to pay in accordance with chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of this title or other applicable law, and is deemed an employee of the Federal agency for all purposes except—

(1)  subchapter III of chapter 83 of this title or other applicable retirement system;

(2)  chapter 87 of this title; and

(3)  chapter 89 of this title or other applicable health benefits system unless his appointment results in the loss of coverage in a group health benefits plan the premium of which has been paid in whole or in part by a State or local government contribution.

The above exceptions shall not apply to non-Federal employees who are covered by chapters 83, 87, and 89 of this title by virtue of their non-Federal employment immediately before assignment and appointment under this section.

(c)  During the period of assignment, a State or local government employee on detail to a Federal agency—

(1)  is not entitled to pay from the agency, except to the extent that the pay received from the State or local government is less than the appropriate rate of pay which the duties would warrant under the applicable pay provisions of this title or other applicable authority;

(2)  is deemed an employee of the agency for the purpose of chapter 73 of this title, the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, chapter 21 of title 41, sections 203, 205, 207, 208, 209, 602, 603, 606, 607, 643, 654, 1905, and 1913 of title 18, sections 1343, 1344, and 1349(b) of title 31, and the Federal Tort Claims Act and any other Federal tort liability statute; and

(3)  is subject to such regulations as the President may prescribe.

The supervision of the duties of such an employee may be governed by agreement between the Federal agency and the State or local government concerned. A detail of a State or local government employee to a Federal agency may be made with or without reimbursement by the Federal agency for the pay, or a part thereof, of the employee during the period of assignment, or for the contribution of the State or local government, or a part thereof, to employee benefit systems.

(d)  A State or local government employee who is given an appointment in a Federal agency for the period of the assignment or who is on detail to a Federal agency and who suffers disability or dies as a result of personal injury sustained while in the performance of his duty during the assignment shall be treated, for the purpose of subchapter I of chapter 81 of this title, as though he were an employee as defined by section 8101 of this title who had sustained the injury in the performance of duty. When an employee (or his dependents in case of death) entitled by reason of injury or death to benefits under subchapter I of chapter 81 of this title is also entitled to benefits from a State or local government for the same injury or death, he (or his dependents in case of death) shall elect which benefits he will receive. The election shall be made within 1 year after the injury or death, or such further time as the Secretary of Labor may allow for reasonable cause shown. When made, the election is irrevocable unless otherwise provided by law.

(e)  If a State or local government fails to continue the employer’s contribution to State or local government retirement, life insurance, and health benefit plans for a State or local government employee who is given an appointment in a Federal agency, the employer’s contributions covering the State or local government employee’s period of assignment, or any part thereof, may be made from the appropriations of the Federal agency concerned.

§3375. Travel expenses[37]

(a)  Appropriations of a Federal agency are available to pay, or reimburse, a Federal or State or local government employee in accordance with—

(1)  subchapter I of chapter 57 of this title, for the expenses of—

(A)  travel, including a per diem allowance, to and from the assignment location;

(B)  a per diem allowance at the assignment location during the period of the assignment; and

(C)  travel, including a per diem allowance, while traveling on official business away from his designated post of duty during the assignment when the head of the Federal agency considers the travel in the interest of the United States;

(2)  section 5724 of this title, for the expenses of transportation of his immediate family and of his household goods and personal effects to and from the assignment location;

(3)  section 5724a(a) of this title, for the expenses of per diem allowances for the immediate family of the employee to and from the assignment location;

(4)  section 5724a(c) of this title, for subsistence expenses of the employee and his immediate family while occupying temporary quarters at the assignment location and on return to his former post of duty;

(5)  section 5724a(g) of this title, to be used by the employee for miscellaneous expenses related to change of station where movement or storage of household goods is involved; and

(6)  section 5726(c) of this title, for the expenses of nontemporary storage of household goods and personal effects in connection with assignment at an isolated location.

(b)  Expenses specified in subsection (a) of this section, other than those in paragraph (1)(C), may not be allowed in connection with the assignment of a Federal or State or local government employee under this subchapter, unless and until the employee agrees in writing to complete the entire period of his assignment or one year, whichever is shorter, unless separated or reassigned for reasons beyond his control that are acceptable to the Federal agency concerned. If the employee violates the agreement, the money spent by the United States for these expenses is recoverable from the employee as a debt due the United States. The head of the Federal agency concerned may waive in whole or in part a right of recovery under this subsection with respect to a State or local government employee on assignment with the agency.

(c)  Appropriations of a Federal agency are available to pay expenses under section 5742 of this title with respect to a Federal or State or local government employee assigned under this subchapter.

§3376. Regulations

The President may prescribe regulations for the administration of this subchapter.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

§3581. Definitions[38]

For the purpose of this subchapter—

(1)  “agency” means—

(A)  an Executive agency;

(B)  a military department; and

(C)  an employing authority in the legislative branch;

(2)  “employee” means an employee in or under an agency;

(3)  “international organization” means a public international organization or international-organization preparatory commission in which the Government of the United States participates;

(4)  “transfer” means the change of position by an employee from an agency to an international organization; and

(5)  “reemployment” means—

(A)  the reemployment of an employee under section 3582(b) of this title; or

(B)  the reemployment of a Congressional employee within 90 days from his separation from an international organization;

following a term of employment not extending beyond the period named by the head of the agency at the time of consent to transfer or, in the absence of a named period, not extending beyond the first 5 consecutive years, or any extension thereof, after entering the employ of the international organization.

§3582. Rights of transferring employees[39]

(a)  An employee serving under an appointment not limited to 1 year or less who transfers to an international organization with the consent of the head of his agency is entitled—

(1)  to retain coverage, rights, and benefits under any system established by law for the retirement of employees, if necessary employee deductions and agency contributions in payment for the coverage, rights, and benefits for the period of employment with the international organization are currently deposited in the system’s fund or depository; and the period during which coverage, rights, and benefits are retained under this paragraph is deemed creditable service under the system, except that such service under the system, except that such service shall not be considered creditable service for the purpose of any retirement system for transferring personnel, if such service forms the basis, in whole or in part, for an annuity or pension under the retirement system of the international organization;

(2)  to retain coverage, rights, and benefits under chapters 87 and 89 of this title, if necessary employee deductions and agency contributions in payment for the coverage, rights, and benefits for the period of employment with the international organization are currently deposited in the Employees’ Life Insurance Fund and the Employees’ Health Benefits Fund, as applicable, and the period during which coverage, rights, and benefits are retained under this paragraph is deemed service as an employee under chapters 87 and 89 of this title;

(3)  to retain coverage, rights, and benefits under subchapter I of chapter 81 of this title, and for this purpose his employment with the international organization is deemed employment by the United States, but if he or his dependents receive from the international organization a payment, allowance, gratuity, payment under an insurance policy for which the premium is wholly paid by the international organization, or other benefit of any kind on account of the same injury or death, the amount thereof, is credited against disability or death compensation, as the case may be, payable under subchapter I of chapter 81 of this title; and

(4)  to elect to retain to his credit all accumulated and current accrued annual leave to which entitled at the time of transfer which would otherwise be liquidated by a lump-sum payment. On his request at any time before reemployment, he shall be paid for the annual leave retained. If he receives a lump-sum payment and is reemployed within 6 months after transfer, he shall refund to the agency the amount of the lump-sum payment. This paragraph does not operate to cause a forfeiture of retained annual leave following reemployment or to deprive an employee of a lump-sum payment to which he would otherwise be entitled.

(b)  An employee entitled to the benefits of subsection (a) of this section is entitled to be reemployed within 30 days of his application for reemployment in his former position or a position of like seniority, status, and pay in the agency from which he transferred, if—

(1)  he is separated from the international organization within 5 years, or any extension thereof, after entering on duty with the international organization or within such shorter period as may be named by the head of the agency at the time of consent to transfer; and

(2)  he applies for reemployment not later than 90 days after the separation.

On reemployment, an employee entitled to the benefits of subsection (a) is entitled to the rate of basic pay to which the employee would have been entitled had the employee remained in the civil service. On reemployment, the agency shall restore the sick leave account of the employee, by credit or charge, to its status at the time of transfer. The period of separation caused by the employment of the employee with the international organization and the period necessary to effect reemployment are deemed creditable service for all appropriate civil service employment purposes. This subsection does not apply to a congressional employee.

(c)  This section applies only with respect to so much of a period of employment with an international organization as does not exceed 5 years, or any extension thereof, or such shorter period named by the head of the agency at the time of consent to transfer, except that for retirement and insurance purposes this section continues to apply during the period after separation from the international organization in which—

(1)  an employee, except a Congressional employee, is properly exercising or could exercise the reemployment right established by subsection (b) of this section; or

(2)  a Congressional employee is effecting or could effect a reemployment.

During that reemployment period, the employee is deemed on leave without pay for retirement and insurance purposes.

(d)  During the employee’s period of service with the international organization, the agency from which the employee is transferred shall make contributions for retirement and insurance purposes from the appropriations or funds of that agency so long as contributions are made by the employee.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

§5303. Annual adjustments to pay schedules[40]

(a)  Effective as of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1 of each calendar year, the rates of basic pay for each statutory pay system shall be increased by the percentage (rounded to the nearest one-tenth of 1 percent) equal to one-half of 1 percentage point less than the percentage by which the ECI for the base quarter of the year before the preceding calendar year exceeds the ECI for the base quarter of the second year before the preceding calendar year (if at all).

(b) (1)  If, because of national emergency or serious economic conditions affecting the general welfare, the President should consider the pay adjustment which would otherwise be required by subsection (a) in any year to be inappropriate, the President shall—

(A)  prepare and transmit to Congress before September 1 of the preceding calendar year a plan for such alternative pay adjustments as he considers appropriate, together with the reasons therefor; and

(B)  adjust the rates of pay of each statutory pay system, in accordance with such plan, effective on the same day as the increase under subsection (a) would otherwise take effect.

(2)  In evaluating an economic condition affecting the general welfare under this subsection, the President shall consider pertinent economic measures including, but not limited to, the Indexes of Leading Economic Indicators, the Gross National Product, the unemployment rate, the budget deficit, the Consumer Price Index, the Producer Price Index, the Employment Cost Index, and the Implicit Price Deflator for Personal Consumption Expenditures.

(3)  The President shall include in the report to Congress under paragraph (1)(A) his assessment of the impact that the alternative pay adjustments under this subsection will have on the Government’s ability to recruit and retain well-qualified employees.

(c)  The rates of basic pay that take effect under this section—

(1)  shall modify, supersede, or render inapplicable, as the case may be, to the extent inconsistent therewith, any prior rates of basic pay under the statutory pay system involved (as last adjusted under this section or prior provisions of law); and

(2)  shall be printed in the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations.

(d)  An increase in rates of basic pay that takes effect under this section is not an equivalent increase in pay within the meaning of section 5335.

(e)  This section does not impair any authority pursuant to which rates of basic pay may be fixed by administrative action.

(f)  Pay may not be paid, by reason of any provision of this section (disregarding any comparability payment payable), at a rate in excess of the rate of basic pay payable for level V of the Executive schedule.

(g)  Any rate of pay under this section shall be initially adjusted, effective on the effective date of the rate of pay, under conversion rules prescribed by the President or by such agency or agencies as the President may designate.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

§5312. Positions at level I[41]

Level I of the Executive Schedule applies to the following positions for which the annual rate of basic pay shall be the rate determined with respect to such level under chapter 11 of title 2, as adjusted by section 5318 of this title:

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

Commissioner of Social Security, Social Security Administration.

§5313. Positions at level II[42]

Level II of the Executive Schedule applies to the following positions, for which the annual rate of basic pay shall be the rate determined with respect to such level under chapter 11 of title 2, as adjusted by section 5318 of this title:

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

Deputy Commissioner of Social Security, Social Security Administration.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

§5316. Positions at level V[43]

Level V of the Executive Schedule applies to the following positions, for which the annual rate of basic pay shall be the rate determined with respect to such level under chapter 11 of title 2, as adjusted by section 5318 of this title:

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

Commissioner of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Health and Human Services.

Commissioner of Welfare, Department of Health and Human Services.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

Director, Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services.

§5317. Presidential authority to place positions at levels IV and V[44]

In addition to the positions listed in sections 5315 and 5316 of this title, the President, from time to time, may place in levels IV and V of the Executive Schedule positions held by not to exceed 34 individuals when he considers that action necessary to reflect changes in organization, management responsibilities, or workload in an Executive agency. Such an action with respect to a position to which appointment is made by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate is effective only at the time of a new appointment to the position. Notice of each action taken under this section shall be published in the Federal Register, except when the President determines that the publication would be contrary to the interest of national security. The President may not take action under this section with respect to a position the pay for which is fixed at a specific rate by this subchapter or by statute enacted after August 14, 1964.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

§5332. The General Schedule[45]

(a) (1)  The General Schedule, the symbol for which is “GS”, is the basic schedule for positions to which this subchapter applies. Each employee to whom this subchapter applies is entitled to basic pay in accordance with the General Schedule.

(2)  The General Schedule is a schedule of annual rates of basic pay, consisting of 15 grades, designated “GS-1” through “GS-15”, consecutively, with 10 rates of pay for each such grade. The rates of pay of the General Schedule are adjusted in accordance with section 5303.

(b)  When payment is made on the basis of an hourly, daily, weekly, or biweekly rate, the rate is computed from the appropriate annual rate of basic pay named by subsection (a) of this section in accordance with the rules prescribed by section 5504(b) of this title.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

§5351. Definitions[46]

For the purpose of this subchapter—

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

(2)  “student-employee” means—

(A)  a student nurse, medical or dental intern, resident-in-training, student dietitian, student physical therapist, and student occupational therapist, assigned or attached to a hospital, clinic, or medical or dental laboratory operated by an agency; and

(B)  any other student-employee, assigned or attached primarily for training purposes to a hospital, clinic, or medical or dental laboratory operated by an agency, who is designated by the head of the agency with the approval of the Office of Personnel Management.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

§5382. Establishment of rates of pay for the Senior Executive Service[47]

(a)  Subject to regulations prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management, there shall be established a range of rates of basic pay for the Senior Executive Service, and each senior executive shall be paid at one of the rates within the range, based on individual performance, contribution to the agency’s performance, or both, as determined under a rigorous performance management system. The lowest rate of the range shall not be less than the minimum rate of basic pay payable under section 5376, and the highest rate, for any position under this system or an equivalent system as determined by the President’s Pay Agent designated under section 5304(d), shall not exceed the rate for level III of the Executive Schedule. The payment of the rates shall not be subject to the pay limitation of section 5306(e) or 5373.

(b)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), the applicable maximum shall be level II of the Executive Schedule for any agency that is certified under section 5307 as having a performance appraisal system which, as designed and applied, makes meaningful distinctions based on relative performance.

(c)  No employee may suffer a reduction in pay by reason of transfer from an agency with an applicable maximum rate of pay prescribed under subsection (b) to an agency with an applicable maximum rate of pay prescribed under subsection (a).

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

§5514. Installment deduction for indebtedness to the United States[48]

(a) (1)  When the head of an agency or his designee determines that an employee, member of the Armed Forces or Reserve of the Armed Forces, is indebted to the United States for debts to which the United States is entitled to be repaid at the time of the determination by the head of an agency or his designee, or is notified of such a debt by the head of another agency or his designee the amount of indebtedness may be collected in monthly installments, or at officially established pay intervals, by deduction from the current pay account of the individual. The deductions may be made from basic pay, special pay, incentive pay, retired pay, retainer pay, or, in the case of an individual not entitled to basic pay, other authorized pay. The amount deducted for any period may not exceed 15 percent of disposable pay, except that a greater percentage may be deducted upon the written consent of the individual involved. If the individual retires or resigns, or if his employment or period of active duty otherwise ends, before collection of the amount of the indebtedness is completed, deduction shall be made from subsequent payments of any nature due the individual from the agency concerned. All Federal agencies to which debts are owed and which have outstanding delinquent debts shall participate in a computer match at least annually of their delinquent debt records with records of Federal employees to identify those employees who are delinquent in repayment of those debts. The preceding sentence shall not apply to any debt under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Matched Federal employee records shall include, but shall not be limited to, records of active Civil Service employees government-wide, military active duty personnel, military reservists, United States Postal Service employees, employees of other government corporations, and seasonal and temporary employees. The Secretary of the Treasury shall establish and maintain an interagency consortium to implement centralized salary offset computer matching, and promulgate regulations for this program. Agencies that perform centralized salary offset computer matching services under this subsection are authorized to charge a fee sufficient to cover the full cost for such services.

(2)  Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, prior to initiating any proceedings under paragraph (1) of this subsection to collect any indebtedness of an individual, the head of the agency holding the debt or his designee, shall provide the individual with—

(A)  a minimum of thirty days written notice, informing such individual of the nature and amount of the indebtedness determined by such agency to be due, the intention of the agency to initiate proceedings to collect the debt through deductions from pay, and an explanation of the rights of the individual under this subsection;

(B)  an opportunity to inspect and copy Government records relating to the debt;

(C)  an opportunity to enter into a written agreement with the agency, under terms agreeable to the head of the agency or his designee, to establish a schedule for the repayment of the debt; and

(D)  an opportunity for a hearing on the determination of the agency concerning the existence or the amount of the debt, and in the case of an individual whose repayment schedule is established other than by a written agreement pursuant to subparagraph (C), concerning the terms of the repayment schedule.

A hearing, described in subparagraph (D), shall be provided if the individual, on or before the fifteenth day following receipt of the notice described in subparagraph (A), and in accordance with such procedures as the head of the agency may prescribe, files a petition requesting such a hearing. The timely filing of a petition for hearing shall stay the commencement of collection proceedings. A hearing under subparagraph (D) may not be conducted by an individual under the supervision or control of the head of the agency, except that nothing in this sentence shall be construed to prohibit the appointment of an administrative law judge. The hearing official shall issue a final decision at the earliest practicable date, but not later than sixty days after the filing of the petition requesting the hearing.

(3)  Paragraph (2) shall not apply to routine intra-agency adjustments of pay that are attributable to clerical or administrative errors or delays in processing pay documents that have occurred within the four pay periods preceding the adjustment and to any adjustment that amounts to $50 or less, if at the time of such adjustment, or as soon thereafter as practical, the individual is provided written notice of the nature and the amount of the adjustment and a point of contact for contesting such adjustment.

(4)  The collection of any amount under this section shall be in accordance with the standards promulgated pursuant to sections 3711 and 3716–3718 of title 31 or in accordance with any other statutory authority for the collection of claims of the United States or any agency thereof.

(5)  For purposes of this subsection—

(A)  “disposable pay” means that part of pay of any individual remaining after the deduction from those earnings of any amounts required by law to be withheld; and

(B)  “agency” includes executive departments and agencies, the United States Postal Service, the Postal Regulatory Commission, any nonappropriated fund instrumentality described in section 2105(c) of this title, the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and any court, court administrative office, or instrumentality in the judicial or legislative branches of the Government, and government corporations.

(b) (1)  The head of each agency shall prescribe regulations, subject to the approval of the President, to carry out this section and section 3530(d) of title 31. Regulations prescribed by the Secretaries of the military departments shall be uniform for the military services insofar as practicable.

(2)  For purposes of section 7117(a) of this title, no regulation prescribed to carry out subsection (a)(2) of this section shall be considered to be a Government-wide rule or regulation.

(c)  Subsection (a) of this section does not modify existing statutes which provide for forfeiture of pay or allowances. This section and section 3530(d) of title 31 do not repeal, modify, or amend section 4837(d) or 9837(d) of title 10 or section 1007(b), (c) of title 37.

(d)  A levy pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall take precedence over other deductions under this section.

(e)  An employee of a nonappropriated fund instrumentality described in section 2105(c) of this title is deemed an employee covered by this section.

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§5703. Per diem, travel, and transportation expenses; experts and consultants; individuals serving without pay[49]

An employee serving intermittently in the Government service as an expert or consultant and paid on a daily when-actually-employed basis, or serving without pay or at $1 a year, may be allowed travel or transportation expenses, under this subchapter, while away from his home or regular place of business and at the place of employment or service.

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§5948. Physicians comparability allowances[50]

(a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and in order to recruit and retain highly qualified Government physicians, the head of an agency, subject to the provisions of this section, section 5307, and such regulations as the President or his designee may prescribe, may enter into a service agreement with a Government physician which provides for such physician to complete a specified period of service in such agency in return for an allowance for the duration of such agreement in an amount to be determined by the agency head and specified in the agreement, but not to exceed—

(1)  $14,000 per annum if, at the time the agreement is entered into, the Government physician has served as a Government physician for twenty-four months or less, or

(2)  $30,000 per annum if the Government physician has served as a Government physician for more than twenty-four months.

For the purpose of determining length of service as a Government physician, service as a physician under section 4104 or 4114 of title 38 or active service as a medical officer in the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service under Title II of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. ch. 6A) shall be deemed service as a Government physician.

(b)  An allowance may not be paid pursuant to this section to any physician who—

(1)  is employed on less than a half-time or intermittent basis,

(2)  occupies an internship or residency training position,

(3)  is a reemployed annuitant, or

(4)  is fulfilling a scholarship obligation.

(c)  The head of an agency, pursuant to such regulations, criteria, and conditions as the President or his designee may prescribe, shall determine categories of positions applicable to physicians in such agency with respect to which there is a significant recruitment and retention problem. Only physicians serving in such positions shall be eligible for an allowance pursuant to this section. The amounts of each such allowance shall be determined by the agency head, subject to such regulations, criteria, and conditions as the President or his designee may prescribe, and shall be the minimum amount necessary to deal with the recruitment and retention problem for each such category of physicians.

(d)  Any agreement entered into by a physician under this section shall be for a period of one year of service in the agency involved unless the physician requests an agreement for a longer period of service.

(e)  Unless otherwise provided for in the agreement under subsection (f) of this section, an agreement under this section shall provide that the physician, in the event that such physician voluntarily, or because of misconduct, fails to complete at least one year of service pursuant to such agreement, shall be required to refund the total amount received under this section, unless the head of the agency, pursuant to such regulations as may be prescribed under this section by the President or his designee, determines that such failure is necessitated by circumstances beyond the control of the physician.

(f)  Any agreement under this section shall specify, subject to such regulations as the President or his designee may prescribe, the terms under which the head of the agency and the physician may elect to terminate such agreement, and the amounts, if any, required to be refunded by the physician for each reason for termination.

(g)  For the purpose of this section—

(1)  “Government physician” means any individual employed as a physician or dentist who is paid under—

(A)  section 5332 of this title, relating to the General Schedule;

(B)  subchapter VIII of chapter 53 of this title, relating to the Senior Executive Service;

(C)  section 5371, relating to certain health care positions;

(D)  section 3 of the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933 (16 U.S.C. 831b), relating to the Tennessee Valley Authority;

(E)  chapter 4 of title I of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3961 and following), relating to the Foreign Service;

(F)  section 10 of the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 (50 U.S.C. 403j), relating to the Central Intelligence Agency;

(G)  section 1202 of the Panama Canal Act of 1979, relating to the Panama Canal Commission;

(H)  section 2 of the Act of May 29, 1959 (Public Law 86-36, as amended, 50 U.S.C. 402 note), relating to the National Security Agency;

(I)  section 5376, relating to certain senior-level positions;

(J)  section 5377, relating to critical positions; or

(K)  subchapter IX of chapter 53, relating to special occupational pay systems; and

(2)  “agency” means an Executive agency, as defined in section 105 of this title, the Library of Congress, and the District of Columbia government.

(h) (1)  Any allowance paid under this section shall not be considered as basic pay for the purposes of subchapter VI and section 5595 of chapter 55, chapter 81 or 87 of this title, or other benefits related to basic pay.

(2)  Any allowance under this section for a Government physician shall be paid in the same manner and at the same time as the physician’s basic pay is paid.

(i)  Any regulations, criteria, or conditions that may be prescribed under this section by the President or his designee shall not be applicable to the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Tennessee Valley Authority shall have sole responsibility for administering the provisions of this section with respect to Government physicians employed by the Authority.

(j)  Not later than June 30 of each year, the President shall submit to each House of Congress a written report on the operation of this section. Each report shall include, with respect to the year covered by such report, information as to—

(1)  which agencies entered into agreements under this section;

(2)  the nature and extent of the recruitment or retention problems justifying the use of authority by each agency under this section;

(3)  the number of physicians with whom agreements were entered into by each agency;

(4)  the size of the allowances and the duration of the agreements entered into; and

(5)  the degree to which the recruitment or retention problems referred to in paragraph (2) were alleviated under this section.

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§6103. Holidays[51]

(a)  The following are legal public holidays:

New Year’s Day, January 1.

Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., the third Monday in January.

Washington’s Birthday, the third Monday in February.

Memorial Day, the last Monday in May.

Independence Day, July 4.

Labor Day, the first Monday in September.

Columbus Day, the second Monday in October.

Veterans Day, November 11.

Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November.

Christmas Day, December 25.

(b)  For the purpose of statutes relating to pay and leave of employees, with respect to a legal public holiday and any other day declared to be a holiday by Federal statute or Executive order, the following rules apply:

(1)  Instead of a holiday that occurs on a Saturday, the Friday immediately before is a legal holiday for—

(A)  employees whose basic workweek is Monday through Friday; and

(B)  the purpose of section 6309 of this title.

(2)  Instead of a holiday that occurs on a regular weekly non-workday of an employee whose basic workweek is other than Monday through Friday, except the regular weekly non- workday administratively scheduled for the employee instead of Sunday, the workday immediately before that regular weekly non-workday is a legal public holiday for the employee.

(3)  Instead of a holiday that is designated under subsection (a) to occur on a Monday, for an employee at a duty post outside the United States whose basic workweek is other than Monday through Friday, and for whom Monday is a regularly scheduled workday, the legal public holiday is the first workday of the workweek in which the Monday designated for the observance of such holiday under subsection (a) occurs.

This subsection, except subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), does not apply to an employee whose basic workweek is Monday through Saturday.

(c)  January 20 of each fourth year after 1965, Inauguration Day, is a legal public holiday for the purpose of statutes relating to pay and leave of employees as defined by section 2105 of this title and individuals employed by the government of the District of Columbia employed in the District of Columbia, Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties in Maryland, Arlington and Fairfax Counties in Virginia, and the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church in Virginia. When January 20 of any fourth year after 1965 falls on Sunday, the next succeeding day selected for the public observance of the inauguration of the President is a legal public holiday for the purpose of this subsection.

(d) (1)  For purposes of this subsection—

(A)  the term “compressed schedule” has the meaning given such term by section 6121(5); and

(B)  the term “adverse agency impact” has the meaning given such term by section 6131(b).

(2)  An agency may prescribe rules under which employees on a compressed schedule may, in the case of a holiday that occurs on a regularly scheduled non-workday for such employees, and notwithstanding any other provision of law or the terms of any collective bargaining agreement, be required to observe such holiday on a workday other than as provided by subsection (b), if the agency head determines that it is necessary to do so in order to prevent an adverse agency impact.

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§8332. Creditable service[52]

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(k) (1)  An employee who enters on approved leave without pay to serve as a full-time officer or employee of an organization composed primarily of employees as defined by section 8331(1) of this title, within 60 days after entering on that leave without pay, may file with his employing agency an election to receive full retirement credit for his periods of that leave without pay and arrange to pay currently into the Fund, through his employing agency, amounts equal to the retirement deductions and agency contributions that would be applicable if he were in pay status. If the election and all payments provided by this paragraph are not made, the employee may not receive credit for the periods of leave without pay occurring after July 17, 1966, notwithstanding the third 5 sentence of subsection (f) of this section. For the purpose of the preceding sentence, “employee” includes an employee who was on approved leave without pay and serving as a full-time officer or employee of such an organization on July 18, 1966, and who filed a similar election before September 17, 1966.

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§8333. Eligibility for annuity[53]

(a)  An employee must complete at least 5 years of civilian service before he is eligible for an annuity under this subchapter.

(b)  An employee or Member must complete, within the last 2 years before any separation from service, except a separation because of death or disability, at least 1 year of creditable civilian service during which he is subject to this subchapter before he or his survivors are eligible for annuity under this subchapter based on the separation. If an employee or Member, except an employee or Member separated from the service because of death or disability, fails to meet the service requirement of the preceding sentence, the amounts deducted from his pay during the service for which no eligibility for annuity is established based on the separation shall be returned to him on the separation. Failure to meet this service requirement does not deprive the individual or his survivors of annuity rights which attached on a previous separation.

(c)  A Member or his survivor is eligible for an annuity under this subchapter only if the amounts named by section 8334 of this title have been deducted or deposited with respect to his last 5 years of civilian service, or, in the case of a survivor annuity under section 8341(d) or (e)(1) of this title, with respect to his total service.

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§8334. Deductions, contributions, and deposits[54]

(a) (1) (A)  The employing agency shall deduct and withhold from the basic pay of an employee, Member, Congressional employee, law enforcement officer, firefighter, bankruptcy judge, judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, United States magistrate, Court of Federal Claims judge, or member of the Capitol Police, member of the Supreme Court Police, nuclear materials courier, or customs and border protection officer, as the case may be, the percentage of basic pay applicable under subsection (c).

(B) (i)  Except as provided in clause (ii), an equal amount shall be contributed from the appropriation or fund used to pay the employee or, in the case of an elected official, from an appropriation or fund available for payment of other salaries of the same office or establishment. When an employee in the legislative branch is paid by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, the Chief Administrative Officer may pay from the applicable accounts of the House of Representatives the contribution that otherwise would be contributed from the appropriation or fund used to pay the employee.

(ii)  In the case of an employee of the United States Postal Service, no amount shall be contributed under this subparagraph.

(2)  The amounts so deducted and withheld, together with the amounts so contributed, shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Fund under such procedures as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe. Deposits made by an employee or Member also shall be credited to the Fund.

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§8336. Immediate retirement[55]

(a)  An employee who is separated from the service after becoming 55 years of age and completing 30 years of service is entitled to an annuity.

(b)  An employee who is separated from the service after becoming 60 years of age and completing 20 years of service is entitled to an annuity.

(c) (1)  An employee who is separated from the service after becoming 50 years of age and completing 20 years of service as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, nuclear materials courier, or customs and border protection officer, or any combination of such service totaling at least 20 years, is entitled to an annuity.

(2)  An employee is entitled to an annuity if the employee—

(A)  was a law enforcement officer or firefighter employed by the Panama Canal Company or the Canal Zone Government at any time during the period beginning March 31, 1979, and ending September 30, 1979; and

(B)  is separated from the service before January 1, 2000, after becoming 48 years of age and completing 18 years of service as a law enforcement officer or firefighter, or any combination of such service totaling at least 18 years.

(d)  An employee who—

(1)  is separated from the service involuntarily, except by removal for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency; or

(2) (A)  has been employed continuously, by the agency in which the employee is serving, for at least the 31-day period ending on the date on which such agency requests the determination referred to in subparagraph (D);

(B)  is serving under an appointment that is not time limited;

(C)  has not been duly notified that such employee is to be involuntarily separated for misconduct or unacceptable performance;

(D)  is separated from the service voluntarily during a period in which, as determined by the office of Personnel Management (upon request of the agency) under regulations prescribed by the Office—

(i)  such agency (or, if applicable, the component in which the employee is serving) is undergoing substantial delayering, substantial reorganization, substantial reductions in force, substantial transfer of function, or other substantial workforce restructuring (or shaping);

(ii)  a significant percentage of employees servicing in such agency (or component) are likely to be separated or subject to an immediate reduction in the rate of basic pay (without regard to subchapter VI of chapter 53, or comparable provisions); or

(iii)  identified as being in positions which are becoming surplus or excess to the agency’s future ability to carry out its mission effectively; and

(E)  as determined by the agency under regulations prescribed by the Office, is within the scope of the offer of voluntary early retirement, which may be made on the basis of—

(i)  1 or more organizational units;

(ii)  1 or more occupational series or levels;

(iii)  1 or more geographical locations;

(iv)  specific periods;

(v)  skills, knowledge, or other factors related to a position; or

(vi)  any appropriate combination of such factors;

after completing 25 years of service or after becoming 50 years of age and completing 20 years of service is entitled to an annuity. For purposes of paragraph (1) of this subsection, separation for failure to accept a directed reassignment to a position outside the commuting area of the employee concerned or to accompany a position outside of such area pursuant to a transfer of function shall not be considered to be a removal for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this subsection, an employee described in paragraph (1) of this subsection is not entitled to an annuity under this subsection if the employee has declined a reasonable offer of another position in the employee’s agency for which the employee is qualified, which is not lower than 2 grades (or pay levels) below the employee’s grade (or pay level), and which is within the employee’s commuting area.

(e)  An employee who is voluntarily or involuntarily separated from the service, except by removal for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency, after completing 25 years of service as an air traffic controller or after becoming 50 years of age and completing 20 years of service as an air traffic controller, is entitled to an annuity.

(f)  An employee who is separated from the service after becoming 62 years of age and completing 5 years of service is entitled to an annuity.

(g)  A Member who is separated from the service after becoming 62 years of age and completing 5 years of civilian service or after becoming 60 years of age and completing 10 years of Member service is entitled to an annuity. A Member who is separated from the service after becoming 55 years of age (but before becoming 60 years of age) and completing 30 years of service is entitled to a reduced annuity. A Member who is separated from the service, except by resignation or expulsion, after completing 25 years of service or after becoming 50 years of age and (1) completing 20 years of service or (2) serving in 9 Congresses is entitled to an annuity.

(h) (1)  A member of the Senior Executive Service who is removed from the Senior Executive Service for less than fully successful executive performance (as determined under subchapter II of chapter 43 of this title) after completing 25 years of service or after becoming 50 years of age and completing 20 years of service is entitled to an annuity.

(2)  A member of the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service or the Senior Cryptologic Executive Service who is removed from such service for less than fully successful executive performance after completing 25 years of service or after becoming 50 years of age and completing 20 years of service is entitled to an annuity.

(3)  A member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service who is removed from such service for less than fully successful executive performance after completing 25 years of service or after becoming 50 years of age and completing 20 years of service is entitled to an annuity.

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§8336a[56]. Phased retirement

(a)  For the purposes of this section—

(1)  the term “composite retirement annuity” means the annuity computed when a phased retiree attains full retirement status;

(2)  the term “full retirement status” means that a phased retiree has ceased employment and is entitled, upon application, to a composite retirement annuity;

(3)  the term “phased employment” means the less-than-full- time employment of a phased retiree

(4)  the term “phased retiree” means a retirement-eligible employee who—

(A)  makes an election under subsection (b); and

(B)  has not entered full retirement status;

(5)  the term “phased retirement annuity” means the annuity payable under this section before full retirement;

(6)  the term “phased retirement percentage” means the percentage which, when added to the working percentage for a phased retiree, produces a sum of 100 percent;

(7)  the term “phased retirement period” means the period beginning on the date on which an individual becomes entitled to receive a phased retirement annuity and ending on the date on which the individual dies or separates from phased employment;

(8)  the term “phased retirement status” means that a phased retiree is concurrently employed in phased employment and eligible to receive a phased retirement annuity;

(9)  the term “retirement-eligible employee”—

(A)  means an individual who, if the individual separated from the service, would meet the requirements for retirement under subsection (a) or (b) of section 8336; but

(B)  does not include an employee described in section 8335 after the date on which the employee is required to be separated from the service by reason of such section; and

(10)  the term “working percentage ”means the percentage of full-time employment equal to the quotient obtained by dividing—

(A)  the number of hours per pay period to be worked by a phased retiree, as scheduled in accordance with subsection (b)(2); by

(B)  the number of hours per pay period to be worked by an employee serving in a comparable position on a full-time basis.

(b)(1)  With the concurrence of the head of the employing agency, and under regulations promulgated by the Director, a retirement- eligible employee who has been employed on a full-time basis for not less than the 3-year period ending on the date on which the retirement-eligible employee makes an election under this subsection may elect to enter phased retirement status the retirement-eligible employee makes an election under this subsection may elect to enter phased retirement status.

(2)(A)  Subject to subparagraph (B), at the time of entering phased retirement status, a phased retiree shall be appointed to a position for which the working percentage is 50 percent.

(B)  The Director may, by regulation, provide for working percentages different from the percentage specified under subparagraph (A), which shall be not less than 20 percent and not more than 80 percent.

(C)  The working percentage for a phased retiree may not be changed during the phased retiree’s phased retirement period.

(D)(i)  Not less than 20 percent of the hours to be worked by a phased retiree shall consist of mentoring.

(ii)  The Director may, by regulation, provide for exceptions to the requirement under clause (i).

(iii)  Clause (i) shall not apply to a phased retiree serving in the United States Postal Service. Nothing in this clause shall prevent the application of clause (i) or (ii) with respect to a phased retiree serving in the Postal Regulatory Commission.

(3)  A phased retiree—

(A)  may not be employed in more than one position at any time; and

(B)  may transfer to another position in the same or a different agency, only if the transfer does not result in a change in the working percentage.

(4)  A retirement-eligible employee may make not more than one election under this subsection during the retirement-eligible employee’s lifetime.

(5)  A retirement-eligible employee who makes an election under this subsection may not make an election under section 8343a.

(c)(1)  Except as otherwise provided under this subsection, the phased retirement annuity for a phased retiree is the product obtained by multiplying—

(A)  the amount of an annuity computed under section 8339 that would have been payable to the phased retiree if, on the date on which the phased retiree enters phased retirement status, the phased retiree had separated from service and retired under section 8336(a) or (b); by

(B)  the phased retirement percentage for the phased retiree.

(2)  A phased retirement annuity shall be paid in addition to the basic pay for the position to which a phased retiree is appointed during phased employment.

(3)  A phased retirement annuity shall be adjusted in accordance with section 8340.

(4)(A)  A phased retirement annuity shall not be subject to reduction for any form of survivor annuity, shall not serve as the basis of the computation of any survivor annuity, and shall not be subject to any court order requiring a survivor annuity to be provided to any individual. ‘‘(B) A phased retirement annuity shall be subject to a court order providing for division, allotment, assignment, execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process on the same basis as other annuities.

(B)  A phased retirement annuity shall be subject to a court order providing for division, allotment, assignment, execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process on the same basis as other annuities.

(5)  Any reduction of a phased retirement annuity based on an election under section 8334(d)(2) shall be applied to the phased retirement annuity after computation under paragraph (1).

(6)(A)  Any deposit, or election of an actuarial annuity reduction in lieu of a deposit, for military service or for creditable civilian service for which retirement deductions were not made or refunded shall be made by a retirement-eligible employee at or before the time the retirement-eligible employee enters phased retirement status. No such deposit may be made, or actuarial adjustment in lieu thereof elected, at the time a phased retiree enters full retirement status.

(B)  Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), if a phased retiree does not make such a deposit and dies in service as a phased retiree, a survivor of the phased retiree shall have the same right to make such deposit as would have been available had the employee not entered phased retirement status and died in service.

(C)  If a phased retiree makes an election for an actuarial annuity reduction under section 8334(d)(2) and dies in service as a phased retiree, the amount of any deposit upon which such actuarial reduction shall have been based shall be deemed to have been fully paid.

(7)  A phased retirement annuity shall commence on the date on which a phased retiree enters phased employment. ‘‘(8) No unused sick leave credit may be used in the computation of the phased retirement annuity.

(8)  No unused sick leave credit may be used in the computation of the phased retirement annuity.

(d)  All basic pay not in excess of the full-time rate of pay for the position to which a phased retiree is appointed shall be deemed to be basic pay for purposes of section 8334.

(e)  Under such procedures as the Director may prescribe, a phased retiree may elect to enter full retirement status at any time. Upon making such an election, a phased retiree shall be entitled to a composite retirement annuity.

(f)(1)  Except as provided otherwise under this subsection, a composite retirement annuity is a single annuity computed under regulations prescribed by the Director, equal to the sum of—

(A)  the amount of the phased retirement annuity as of the date of full retirement, before any reduction based on an election under section 8334(d)(2), and including any adjustments made under section 8340; and

(B)  the product obtained by multiplying—

(i)  the amount of an annuity computed under section 8339 that would have been payable at the time of full retirement if the individual had not elected a phased retirement and as if the individual was employed on a full-time basis in the position occupied during the phased retirement period and before any reduction for survivor annuity or reduction based on an election under section 8334(d)(2); by

(ii)  the working percentage.

(2)  After computing a composite retirement annuity under paragraph (1), the Director shall adjust the amount of the annuity for any applicable reductions for a survivor annuity and any previously elected actuarial reduction under section 8334(d)(2).

(3)  A composite retirement annuity shall be adjusted in accordance with section 8340, except that subsection (c)(1) of that section shall not apply.

(4)  In computing a composite retirement annuity under paragraph (1)(B)(i), the unused sick leave to the credit of a phased retiree at the time of entry into full retirement status shall be adjusted by dividing the number of hours of unused sick leave by the working percentage.

(g)(1)  Under such procedures and conditions as the Director may provide, and with the concurrence of the head of the employing agency, a phased retiree may elect to terminate phased retirement status and return to a full-time work schedule.

(2)  Upon entering a full-time work schedule based upon an election under paragraph (1), the phased retirement annuity of a phased retiree shall terminate.

(3)  After the termination of a phased retirement annuity under this subsection, the individual’s rights under this subchapter shall be determined based on the law in effect at the time of any subsequent separation from service. For purposes of this subchapter or chapter 84, at time of the subsequent separation from service, the phased retirement period shall be treated as if it had been a period of part-time employment with the work schedule described in subsection (b)(2).

(h)  For purposes of section 8341—

(1)  the death of a phased retiree shall be deemed to be the death in service of an employee; and

(2)  the phased retirement period shall be deemed to have been a period of part-time employment with the work schedule described in subsection (b)(2).

(i)  Employment of a phased retiree shall not be deemed to be part-time career employment, as defined in section 3401(2).

(j)  A phased retiree is not eligible to apply for an annuity under section 8337

(k)  For purposes of section 8341(h)(4), retirement shall be deemed to occur on the date on which a phased retiree enters into full retirement status

(l)  For purposes of sections 8343 and 8351, and subchapter III of chapter 84, a phased retiree shall be deemed to be an employee.

(m)  A phased retiree is not subject to section 8344

(n)  For purposes of chapter 87, a phased retiree shall be deemed to be receiving basic pay at the rate of a full-time employee in the position to which the phased retiree is appointed.

§8337.  Disability retirement[57]

(a)  An employee who completes 5 years of civilian service and has become disabled shall be retired on the employee's own application or on application by the employee's agency. Any employee shall be considered to be disabled only if the employee is found by the Office of Personnel Management to be unable, because of disease or injury, to render useful and efficient service in the employee's position and is not qualified for reassignment, under procedures prescribed by the Office, to a vacant position which is in the agency at the same grade or level and in which the employee would be able to render useful and efficient service. For the purpose of the preceding sentence, an employee of the United States Postal Service shall be considered not qualified for a reassignment described in that sentence if the reassignment is to a position in a different craft or is inconsistent with the terms of a collective bargaining agreement covering the employee. A judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces who completes 5 years of civilian service and who is found by the Office to be disabled for useful and efficient service as a judge of such court or who is removed for mental or physical disability under section 942(c) of title 10 shall be retired on the judge's own application or upon such removal. A Member who completes 5 years of Member service and is found by the Office to be disabled for useful and efficient service as a Member because of disease or injury shall be retired on the Member's own application. An annuity authorized by this section is computed under section 8339(g) of this title, unless the employee or Member is eligible for a higher annuity computed under section 8339(a) through (e), (n), (q), (r), or (s).

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§8338. Deferred retirement[58]

(a)  An employee who is separated from the service or transferred to a position in which he does not continue subject to this subchapter after completing 5 years of civilian service is entitled to an annuity beginning at the age of 62 years.

(b)  A Member who, after December 31, 1955, is separated from the service as a Member after completing 5 years of civilian service is entitled to an annuity beginning at the age of 62 years. A Member who is separated from the service after completing 10 or more years of Member service is entitled to an annuity beginning at the age of 60 years. A Member who is separated from the service after completing 20 or more years of service, including 10 or more years of Member service, is entitled to a reduced annuity beginning at the age of 50 years.

(c)  A judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces who is separated from the service after completing 5 years of civilian service is entitled to an annuity beginning at the age of 62 years. A judge of such court who is separated from the service after completing the term of service for which he was appointed is entitled to an annuity. If an annuity is elected before the judge becomes 60 years of age, it shall be a reduced annuity.

(d)  An annuity or reduced annuity authorized by this section is computed under section 8339 of this title.

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§8341. Survivor annuities[59]

(a)  For the purpose of this section—

(1)  “widow” means the surviving wife of an employee or Member who—

(A)  was married to him for at least 9 months immediately before his death; or

(B)  is the mother of issue by that marriage;

(2)  “widower” means the surviving husband of an employee or Member who—

(A)  was married to her for at least 9 months immediately before her death; or

(B)  is the father of issue by that marriage;

(3)  “dependent”, in the case of any child, means that the employee or Member involved was, at the time of the employee or Member’s death, either living with or contributing to the support of such child, as determined in accordance with such regulations as the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe; and

(4)  “child” means—

(A)  an unmarried dependent child under 18 years of age, including (i) an adopted child, and (ii) a stepchild but only if the stepchild lived with the employee or Member in a regular parent-child relationship, and (iii) a recognized natural child, and (iv) a child who lived with and for whom a petition of adoption was filed by an employee or Member, and who is adopted by the surviving spouse of the employee or Member after his death;

(B)  such unmarried dependent child regardless of age who is incapable of self-support because of mental or physical disability incurred before age 18; or

(C)  such unmarried dependent child between 18 and 22 years of age who is a student regularly pursuing a full-time course of study or training in residence in a high school, trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or comparable recognized educational institution.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

(b) (1)  Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, if an employee or Member dies after having retired under this subchapter and is survived by a widow or widower, the widow or widower is entitled to an annuity equal to 55 percent (or 50 percent if retired before October 11, 1962) of an annuity computed under section 8339(a)–(i), (n), (p), (q), (r), and (s) as may apply with respect to the annuitant, or of such portion thereof as may have been designated for this purpose under section 8339(j)(1) of this title, unless the right to a survivor annuity was waived under such section 8339(j)(1) or, in the case of remarriage, the employee or Member did not file an election under section 8339(j)(5)(C) or section 8339(k)(2) of this title, as the case may be.

(2)  If an annuitant—

(A)  who retired before April 1, 1948; or

(B)  who elected a reduced annuity provided in paragraph (2) of section 8339(k) of this title;

dies and is survived by a widow or widower, the widow or widower is entitled to an annuity in an amount which would have been paid had the annuitant been married to the widow or widower at the time of retirement.

(3)  A spouse acquired after retirement is entitled to a survivor annuity under this subsection only upon electing this annuity instead of any other survivor benefit to which he may be entitled under this subchapter or another retirement system for Government employees. The annuity of the widow or widower under this subsection commences on the day after the annuitant dies. This annuity and the right thereto terminate on the last day of the month before the widow or widower—

(A)  dies; or

(B)  except as provided in subsection (k), remarries before becoming 55 years of age.

(4)  Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this subsection, the annuity payable under this subsection to the widow or widower of a retired employee or Member may not exceed the difference between—

(A)  the amount which would otherwise be payable to such widow or widower under this subsection (determined without regard to any waiver or designation under section 8339(j)(1) of this title or a prior similar provision of law), and

(B)  the amount of the survivor annuity payable to any former spouse of such employee or Member under subsection (h) of this section.

(c)  The annuity of a survivor named under section 8339(k)(1) of this title is 55 percent of the reduced annuity of the retired employee or Member. The annuity of the survivor commences on the day after the retired employee or Member dies. This annuity and the right thereto terminate on the last day of the month before the survivor dies.

(d)  If an employee or Member dies after completing at least 18 months of civilian service, his widow or widower is entitled to an annuity equal to 55 percent of an annuity computed under section 8339(a)–(f), (i), (n), (p), (q), (r), and (s) as may apply with respect to the employee or Member, except that, in the computation of the annuity under such section, the annuity of the employee or Member shall be at least the smaller of—

(1)  40 percent of his average pay; or

(2)  the sum obtained under such section after increasing his service of the type last performed by the period elapsing between the date of death and the date he would have become 60 years of age.

Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the annuity payable under this subsection to the widow or widower of an employee or Member may not exceed the difference between—

(A)  the amount which would otherwise be payable to such widow or widower under this subsection, and

(B)  the amount of the survivor annuity payable to any former spouse of such employee or Member under subsection (h) of this section.

The annuity of the widow or widower commences on the day after the employee or Member dies. This annuity and the right thereto terminate on the last day of the month before the widow or widower—

(i)  dies; or

(ii)  except as provided in subsection (k), remarries before becoming 55 years of age.

(e)  *  *  *

(3)  The annuity of a child under this subchapter or under the Act of May 29, 1930, as amended from and after February 28, 1948, commences on the day after the employee or Member dies, or commences or resumes on the first day of the month in which the child later becomes or again becomes a student as described by subsection (a)(3) of this section, if any lump sum paid is returned to the Fund. This annuity and the right thereto terminate on the last day of the month before the child—

(A)  becomes 18 years of age unless he is then a student as described or incapable of self-support;

(B)  becomes capable of self-support after becoming 18 years of age unless he is then such a student;

(C)  becomes 22 years of age if he is then such a student and capable of self-support;

(D)  ceases to be such a student after becoming 18 years of age unless he is then incapable of self-support; or

(E)  dies or marries;

whichever first occurs. On the death of the surviving spouse or former spouse or termination of the annuity of a child, the annuity of any other child or children shall be recomputed and paid as though the spouse, former spouse, or child had not survived the employee or Member.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

(k) (1)  Subsections (b)(3)(B), (d)(ii), and (h)(3)(B)(i) (to the extent that they provide for termination of a survivor annuity because of a remarriage before age 55) shall not apply if the widow, widower, or former spouse was married for at least 30 years to the individual on whose service the survivor annuity is based.

(2)  A remarriage described in paragraph (1) shall not be taken into account for purposes of section 8339(j)(5)(B) or (C) or any other provision of this chapter which the Office may by regulation identify in order to carry out the purposes of this subsection.

§8342. Lump-sum benefits; designation of beneficiary; order of precedence[60]

(a)  Subject to subsection (j) of this section, an employee or Member who—

(1) (A)  is separated from the service for at least thirty-one consecutive days; or

(B)  is transferred to a position in which he is not subject to this subchapter, or chapter 84 of this title, and remains in such a position for at least thirty-one consecutive days;

(2)  files an application with the Office of Personnel Management for payment of the lump-sum credit;

(3)  is not reemployed in a position in which he is subject to this subchapter, or chapter 84 of this title, at the time he files the application; and

(4)  will not become eligible to receive an annuity within thirty-one days after filing the application,

is entitled to be paid the lump-sum credit. Except as provided in section 8343a or 8334(d)(2) of this title, the receipt of the payment of the lump-sum credit by the employee or Member voids all annuity rights under this subchapter based on the service on which the lump-sum credit is based, until the employee or Member is reemployed in the service subject to this subchapter. In applying this subsection to an employee or Member who becomes subject to chapter 84 (other than by an election under title III of the Federal Employees’ Retirement System Act of 1986) and who, while subject to such chapter, files an application with the Office for a payment under this subsection—

(i)  entitlement to payment of the lump-sum credit shall be determined without regard to paragraph (1) or (3) if, or to the extent that, such lump-sum credit relates to service of a type described in clauses (i) through (iii) of section 302(a)(1)(C) of the Federal Employees’ Retirement System Act of 1986; and

(ii)  if, or to the extent that, the lump-sum credit so relates to service of a type referred to in clause (i), it shall (notwithstanding section 8331(8)) consist of—

(I)  the amount by which any unrefunded amount described in section 8331(8)(A) or (B) relating to such service, exceeds 1.3 percent of basic pay for such service; and

(II)  interest on the amount payable under subclause (I), computed in a manner consistent with applicable provisions of section 8331(8).

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

§8345. Payment of benefits; commencement, termination, and waiver of annuity[61]

(a)  Each annuity is stated as an annual amount, one-twelfth of which, rounded to the next lowest dollar, constitutes the monthly rate payable on the first business day of the month after the month or other period for which it has accrued.

(b) (1)  Except as otherwise provided—

(A)  an annuity of an employee or Member commences on the first day of the month after—

(i)  separation from the service; or

(ii)  pay ceases and the service and age requirements for title to annuity are met; and

(B)  any other annuity payable from the Fund commences on the first day of the month after the occurrence of the event on which payment thereof is based.

(2)  The annuity of—

(A)  an employee involuntarily separated from service, except by removal for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency; and

(B)  an employee or Member retiring under section 8337 of this title due to a disability;

shall commence on the day after separation from the service or the day after pay ceases and the service and age or disability requirements for title to annuity are met.

(c)  The annuity of a retired employee or Member terminates on the day death or other terminating event provided by this subchapter occurs. The annuity of a survivor terminates on the last day of the month before death or other terminating event occurs.

(d)  An individual entitled to annuity from the Fund may decline to accept all or any part of the annuity by a waiver signed and filed with the Office of Personnel Management. The waiver may be revoked in writing at any time. Payment of the annuity waived may not be made for the period during which the waiver was in effect.

(e)  Payment due a minor, or an individual mentally incompetent or under other legal disability, may be made to the person who is constituted guardian or other fiduciary by the law of the State of residence of the claimant or is otherwise legally vested with the care of the claimant or his estate. If a guardian or other fiduciary of the individual under legal disability has not been appointed under the law of the State of residence of the claimant, payment may be made to any person who, in the judgment of the Office, is responsible for the care of the claimant, and the payment bars recovery by any other person.

(f)  [ Repealed.[62]]

(g)  The Office shall prescribe regulations to provide that the amount of any monthly annuity payable under this section accruing for any month and which is computed with regard to service that includes any service referred to in section 8332(b)(6) performed by an individual prior to January 1, 1969, shall be reduced by the portion of any benefits under any State retirement system to which such individual is entitled (or on proper application would be entitled) for such month which is attributable to such service performed by such individual before such date.

(h)  An individual entitled to an annuity from the Fund may make allotments or assignments of amounts from his annuity for such purposes as the Office of Personnel Management in its sole discretion considers appropriate.

(i) (1)  No payment shall be made from the Fund unless an application for benefits based on the service of an employee or Member is received in the Office of Personnel Management before the one hundred and fifteenth anniversary of his birth.

(2)  Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, after the death of an employee, Member, or annuitant, no benefit based on his service shall be paid from the Fund unless an application therefor is received in the Office of Personnel Management within 30 years after the death or other event which gives rise to title to the benefit.

(j) (1)  Payments under this subchapter which would otherwise be made to an employee, Member, or annuitant based on service of that individual shall be paid (in whole or in part) by the Office to another person if and to the extent expressly provided for in the terms of—

(A)  any court decree of divorce, annulment, or legal separation, or the terms of any court order or court-approved property settlement agreement incident to any court decree of divorce, annulment, or legal separation; or

(B)  any court order or other similar process in the nature of garnishment for the enforcement of a judgment rendered against such employee, Member, or annuitant, for physically, sexually, or emotionally abusing a child.

In the event that the Office is served with more than 1 decree, order, or other legal process with respect to the same moneys due or payable to any individual, such moneys shall be available to satisfy such processes on a first-come, first-served basis, with any such process being satisfied out of such moneys as remain after the satisfaction of all such processes which have been previously served.

(2)  Paragraph (1) shall only apply to payments made by the Office under this subchapter after the date of receipt in the Office of written notice of such decree, order, other legal process, or agreement, and such additional information and documentation as the Office may prescribe.

(3)  For purposes of this subsection—

(A)  the term “court” means any court of any State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands, and any Indian court.

(B)  the term "judgment rendered for physically, sexually, or emotionally abusing a child" means any legal claim perfected through a final enforceable judgment, which claim is based in whole or in part upon the physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of a child, whether or not that abuse is accompanied by other actionable wrongdoing, such as sexual exploitation or gross negligence; and

(C)  the term "child" means an individual under 18 years of age.

(k) (1)  The Office shall, in accordance with this subsection, enter into an agreement with any State within 120 days of a request for agreement from the proper State official. The agreement shall provide that the Office shall withhold State income tax in the case of the monthly annuity of any annuitant who voluntarily requests, in writing, such withholding. The amounts withheld during any calendar quarter shall be held in the Fund and disbursed to the States during the month following that calendar quarter.

(2)  An annuitant may have in effect at any time only one request for withholding under this subsection, and an annuitant may not have more than two such requests in effect during any one calendar year.

(3)  Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, an annuitant may change the State designated by that annuitant for purposes of having withholdings made, and may request that the withholdings be remitted in accordance with such change. An annuitant also may revoke any request of that annuitant for withholding. Any change in the State designated or revocation is effective on the first day of the month after the month in which the request or the revocation is processed by the Office, but in no event later than on the first day of the second month beginning after the day on which such request or revocation is received by the Office.

(4)  This subsection does not give the consent of the United States to the application of a statute which imposes more burdensome requirements on the United States than on employers generally, or which subjects the United States or any annuitant to a penalty or liability because of this subsection. The Office may not accept pay from a State for services performed in withholding State income taxes from annuities. Any amount erroneously withheld from an annuity and paid to a State by the Office shall be repaid by the State in accordance with regulations issued by the Office.

(5)  For the purpose of this subsection, “State” means a State, the District of Columbia, or any territory or possession of the United States.

(l)  Transfers of contributions and deposits authorized by section 408(a)(3) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 shall be deemed to be a complete and final payment of benefits under this chapter.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

§8347. Administration; regulations[63]

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

(m)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the purpose of ensuring the accuracy of information used in the administration of this chapter, at the request of the Director of the Office of Personnel Management—

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

(3)  the Commissioner of Social Security or the Secretary’s[64] designee shall provide information contained in the records of the Social Security Administration; and

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

CHAPTER 84—FEDERAL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM

SUBCHAPTER I—General Provisions

§8401. Definitions[65]

For the purpose of this chapter—

(1)  the term “account” means an account established and maintained under section 8439(a) of this title;

(2)  the term “annuitant” means a former employee or Member who, on the basis of that individual’s service, meets all requirements for title to an annuity under subchapter II or V of this chapter and files claim therefor;

(3)  the term “average pay” means the largest annual rate resulting from averaging an employee’s or Member’s rates of basic pay in effect over any 3 consecutive years of service or, in the case of an annuity under this chapter based on service of less that 3 years, over the total service, with each rate weighted by the period it was in effect;

(4)  the term “basic pay” has the meaning given such term by section 8331(3);

(5)  the term “Board” means the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board established by section 8472(a) of this title;

(6)  the term “Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund” or “Fund” means the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund under section 8348;

(7)  the term “court” means any court of any State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands, and any Indian court;

(8)  the term “Director” means the Director of the Office of Personnel Management;

(9)  the term “dynamic assumptions” means economic assumptions that are used in determining actuarial costs and liabilities of a retirement system and in anticipating the effects of long-term future—

(A)  investment yields;

(B)  increases in rates of basic pay; and

(C)  rates of price inflation;

(10)  the term “earnings”, when used with respect to the Thrift Savings Fund, means the amount of the gain realized or yield received from the investment of sums in such Fund;

(11)  the term “employee” means—

(A)  an individual referred to in subparagraph (A), (E), (F), (H), (I), (J), or (K) of section 8331(1) of this title;

(B)  a Congressional employee as defined in section 2107 of this title, including a temporary Congressional employee and an employee of the Congressional Budget Office; and

(C)  an employee described in section 2105(c) who has made an election under section 8461(n)(1) to remain covered under this chapter;

whose civilian service after December 31, 1983, is employment for the purposes of title II of the Social Security Act and chapter 21 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, except that such term does not include—

(i)  any individual referred to in—

(I)  clause (i), (vi), or (ix) of paragraph (1) of section 8331;

(II)  clause (ii) of such paragraph; or

(III)  the undesignated material after the last clause of such paragraph;

(ii)  any individual excluded under section 8402(c) of this title;

(iii)  a member of the Foreign Service described in section 103(6) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980; or

(iv)  an employee who has made an election under section 8461(n)(2) to remain covered by a retirement system established for employees described in section 2105(c);

(12)  the term “former spouse” means a former spouse of an individual—

(A)  if such individual performed at least 18 months of civilian service creditable under section 8411 as an employee or Member; and

(B)  if the former spouse was married to such individual for at least 9 months;

(13)  the term “Executive Director” means the Executive Director appointed under section 8474(a);

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

(18)  the term “loss”, as used with respect to the Thrift Savings Fund, includes the amount of any loss resulting from the investment of sums in such Fund, or from the breach of any responsibility, duty, or obligation under section 8477.[66]

(19)  the term “lump-sum credit” means the unrefunded amount consisting of—

(A)  retirement deductions made from the basic pay of an employee or Member under section 8422(a) of this title (or under section 204 of the Federal Employees’ Retirement Contribution Temporary Adjustment Act of 1983);

(B)  amounts deposited by an employee or Member under section 8422(e);

(C)  amounts deposited by an employee, Member, or survivor under section 8411(f) or 8422(i); and

(D)  interest on the deductions and deposits which, for any calendar year, shall be equal to the overall average yield to the Fund during the preceding fiscal year from all obligations purchased by the Secretary of the Treasury during such fiscal year under section 8348(c), (d), and (e), as determined by the Secretary (compounded annually);

but does not include interest—

(i)  if the service covered thereby aggregates 1 year or less; or

(ii)  for a fractional part of a month in the total service;

(20)  the term “Member” has the same meaning as provided in section 2106, except that such term does not include an individual who irrevocably elects, by written notice to the official by whom such individual is paid, not to participate in the Federal Employees’ Retirement System, and who (in the case of an individual who is a Member of the House of Representatives, including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) serves as a Member prior to the date of the enactment of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2004;

(21)  the term “net earnings” means the excess of earnings over losses;

(22)  the term “net losses” means the excess of losses over earnings;

(23)  the term “normal-cost percentage” means the entry-age normal cost of the provisions of the System which relate to the Fund, computed by the Office in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practice and standards (using dynamic assumptions) and expressed as a level percentage of aggregate basic pay;

(24)  the term “Office” means the Office of Personnel Management;

(25)  the term “price index” has the same meaning as provided in section 8331(15);

(26)  the term “service” means service which is creditable under section 8411;

(27)  the term “supplemental liability” means the estimated excess of—

(A)  the actuarial present value of all future benefits payable from the Fund under this chapter based on the service of current or former employees or Members, over

(B)  the sum of—

(i)  the actuarial present value of deductions to be withheld from the future basic pay of employees and Members currently subject to this chapter pursuant to section 8422;

(ii)  the actuarial present value of the future contributions to be made pursuant to section 8423(a) with respect to employees and Members currently subject to this chapter;

(iii)  the Fund balance as of the date the supplemental liability is determined, to the extent that such balance is attributable—

(I)  to the System, or

(II)  to contributions made under the Federal Employees’ Retirement Contribution Temporary Adjustment Act of 1983 by or on behalf of an individual who became subject to the System; and

(iv)  any other appropriate amount, as determined by the Office in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practices and principles;

(28)  the term “survivor” means an individual entitled to an annuity under subchapter IV of this chapter;

(29)  the term “System” means the Federal Employees’ Retirement System described in section 8402(a);

(30)  the term “military technician (dual status)” means an employee described in section 10216 of title 10;

(31)  the term “military service” means honorable active service—

(A)  in the armed forces;

(B)  in the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service after June 30, 1960; or

(C)  in the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or a predecessor entity in function, after June 30, 1961;

and includes service as a cadet at the United States Military Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, or the United States Coast Guard Academy, or as a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy, but does not include service in the National Guard except when ordered to active duty in the service of the United States or full-time National Guard duty (as such term is defined in section 101(d) of title 10) if such service interrupts creditable civilian service under this subchapter and is followed by reemployment in accordance with chapter 43 of title 38 that occurs on or after August 1, 1990;

(32)  the term “nonforfeitable account balance” means any amounts in an account, established and maintained under subchapter III, which are nonforfeitable (as determined under section 8432(g));

(33)  “Nuclear materials courier” has the meaning given that term in section 8331(27);

(34)  the term “Government physician” has the meaning given such term under section 5948;

(35)  the term “air traffic controller” or “controller” means—

(A)  a controller within the meaning of section 2109(1); and

(B)  a civilian employee of the Department of Transportation or the Department of Defense who is the immediate supervisor of a person described in section 2109(1)(B);

(36)  the term “customs and border protection officer” means an employee in the Department of Homeland Security (A) who holds a position within the GS–1895 job series (determined applying the criteria in effect as of September 1, 2007) or any successor position, and (B) whose duties include activities relating to the arrival and departure of persons, conveyances, and merchandise at ports of entry, including any such employee who is transferred directly to a supervisory or administrative position in the Department of Homeland Security after performing such duties (as described in subparagraph (B)) in 1 or more positions (as described in subparagraph (A)) for at least 3 years;

(37)  the term “revised annuity employee” means any individual who—

(A)  on December 31, 2012—

(i)  is not an employee or Member covered under this chapter;

(ii)  is not performing civilian service which is creditable service under section 8411; and

(iii)  has less than 5 years of creditable civilian service under section 8411; and

(B)  after December 31, 2012, and before January 1, 2014, becomes employed as an employee or becomes a Member covered under this chapter performing service which is creditable service under section 8411; and

(38)  the term “further revised annuity employee” means any individual who—

(A)  on December 31, 2013—

(i)  is not an employee or Member covered under this chapter;

(ii)  is not performing civilian service which is creditable service under section 8411; and

(iii)  has less than 5 years of creditable civilian service under section 8411; and

(B)  after December 31, 2013, becomes employed as an employee or becomes a Member covered under this chapter performing service which is creditable service under section 8411.

§8402. Federal Employees’ Retirement System; exclusions[67]

(a)  The provisions of this chapter comprise the Federal Employees’ Retirement System.

(b)  The provisions of this chapter shall not apply with respect to—

(1)  any individual who has performed service of a type described in subparagraph (C), (D), (E), or (F) of section 210(a)(5) of the Social Security Act continuously since December 31, 1983 (determined in accordance with the provisions of section 210(a)(5)(B) of the Social Security Act, relating to continuity of employment); or

(2) (A)  any employee or Member who has separated from the service after—

(i)  having been subject to—

(I)  subchapter III of chapter 83 of this title;

(II)  subchapter I of chapter 8 of title I of the Foreign Service Act of 1980; or

(III)  the benefit structure for employees of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System appointed before January 1, 1984, that is a component of the Retirement Plan for Employees of the Federal Reserve System, established under section 10 of the Federal Reserve Act; and

(ii)  having completed—

(I)  at least 5 years of civilian service creditable under subchapter III of chapter 83 of this title;

(II)  at least 5 years of civilian service creditable under subchapter I of chapter 8 of title I of the Foreign Service Act of 1980; or

(III)  at least 5 years of civilian service (other than any service performed in the employ of a Federal Reserve Bank) creditable under the benefit structure for employees of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System appointed before January 1, 1984, that is a component of the Retirement Plan for Employees of the Federal Reserve System, established under section 10 of the Federal Reserve Act,

determined without regard to any deposit or redeposit requirement under either such subchapter or under such benefit structure, or any requirement that the individual become subject to either such subchapter or to such benefit structure after performing the service involved; or

(B)  any employee having at least 5 years of civilian service performed before January 1, 1987, creditable under subchapter III of chapter 83 of this title (determined without regard to any deposit or redeposit requirement under such subchapter, any requirement that the individual become subject to such subchapter after performing the service involved, or any requirement that the individual give notice in writing to the official by whom such individual is paid of such individual’s desire to become subject to such subchapter);

except to the extent provided for under subsection (d) of this section or title III of the Federal Employees’ Retirement System Act of 1986 pursuant to an election under such title to become subject to this chapter.

(c) (1)  The Office may exclude from the operation of this chapter an employee or group of employees in or under an Executive agency, the United States Postal Service, or the Postal Regulatory Commission, whose employment is temporary or intermittent, except an employee whose employment is part-time career employment (as defined in section 3401(2)).

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

(d)  Paragraph (2) of subsection (b) shall not apply to an individual who—

(1)  becomes subject to—

(A)  subchapter II of chapter 8 of title I of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (relating to the Foreign Service Pension System) pursuant to an election; or

(B)  the benefit structure in which employees of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System appointed on or after January 1, 1984, participate, which benefit structure is a component of the Retirement Plan for Employees of the Federal Reserve System, established under section 10 of the Federal Reserve Act (and any redesignated or successor version of such benefit structure, if so identified in writing by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for purposes of this chapter); and

(2)  subsequently enters a position in which, but for paragraph (2) of subsection (b), such individual would be subject to this chapter.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

§8403. Relationship to the Social Security Act

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the benefits payable under the System are in addition to the benefits payable under the Social Security Act.

SUBCHAPTER II—BASIC ANNUITY

§8410. Eligibility for annuity

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an employee or Member must complete at least 5 years of civilian service creditable under section 8411 in order to be eligible for an annuity under this subchapter.

§8411. Creditable service[68]

(a) (1)  The total service of an employee or Member is the full years and twelfth parts thereof, excluding from the aggregate the fractional part of a month, if any.

(2)  Credit may not be allowed for a period of separation from the service in excess of 3 calendar days.

(b)  For the purpose of this chapter, creditable service of an employee or Member includes—

(1)  employment as an employee, and any service as a Member (including the period from the date of the beginning of the term for which elected or appointed to the date of taking office as a Member), after December 31, 1986;

(2)  except as provided in subsection (f), service with respect to which deductions and withholdings under section 204(a)(1) of the Federal Employees’ Retirement Contribution Temporary Adjustment Act of 1983 have been made;

(3)  except as provided in subsection (f), any civilian service (performed before January 1, 1989, other than any service under paragraph (1) or (2)) which, but for the amendments made by subsections (a)(4) and (b) of section 202 of the Federal Employees’ Retirement System Act of 1986, would be creditable under subchapter III of chapter 83 of this title (determined without regard to any deposit or redeposit requirement under such subchapter, any requirement that the individual become subject to such subchapter after performing the service involved, or any requirement that the individual give notice in writing to the official by whom such individual is paid of such individual’s desire to become subject to such subchapter);

(4)  a period of service (other than any service under any other paragraph of this subsection and other than any military service) that was creditable under the Foreign Service Pension System described in subchapter II of chapter 8 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, if the employee or Member waives credit for such service under the Foreign Service Pension System and makes a payment to the Fund equal to the amount that would have been deducted from pay under section 8422(a) had the employee been subject to this chapter during such period of service (together with interest on such amount computed under paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 8334(e));

(5)  a period of service (other than any service under any other paragraph of this subsection, any military service, and any service performed in the employ of a Federal Reserve Bank) that was creditable under the Bank Plan (as defined in subsection (i)), if the employee waives credit for such service under the Bank Plan and makes a payment to the Fund equal to the amount that would have been deducted from pay under section 8422(a) had the employee been subject to this chapter during such period of service (together with interest on such amount computed under paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 8334(e)); and

Paragraph (5) shall not apply in the case of any employee as to whom subsection (g) (or, to the extent subchapter III of chapter 83 is involved, section 8332(n)) otherwise applies.

(6)  service performed by any individual as an employee paid from nonappropriated funds of an instrumentality of the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard described in section 2105(c) that is not otherwise creditable, if the individual elects (in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Office) to have such service credited under this paragraph.

(c) (1)  Except as provided in paragraph (2), (3) and (5), an employee or Member shall be allowed credit for—

(A)  each period of military service performed before January 1, 1957; and

(B)  each period of military service performed after December 31, 1956, and before the separation on which title to annuity is based, if a deposit (including interest, if any) is made with respect to such period in accordance with section 8422(e).

(2)  If an employee or Member is awarded retired pay based on any period of military service, the service of the employee or Member may not include credit for such period of military service unless the retired pay is awarded—

(A)  based on a service-connected disability—

(i)  incurred in combat with an enemy of the United States; or

(ii)  caused by an instrumentality of war and incurred in line of duty during a period of war as defined by section 301 of title 38; or

(B)  under chapter 1223 of title 10 (or under chapter 67 of that title as in effect before the effective date of the Reserve Officer Personnel Management Act).

(3)  An employee or Member who has made a deposit under section 8334(j) (or a similar prior provision of law) with respect to a period of military service, and who has not taken a refund of such deposit—

(A)  shall be allowed credit for such service without regard to the deposit requirement under paragraph (1)(B); and

(B)  shall be entitled, upon filing appropriate application therefor with the Office, to a refund equal to the difference between—

(i)  the amount deposited with respect to such period under such section 8334(j) (or prior provision), excluding interest; and

(ii)  the amount which would otherwise have been required with respect to such period under paragraph (1)(B).

(4) (A)  Notwithstanding paragraph (2), for purposes of computing a survivor annuity for a survivor of an employee or Member—

(i)  who was awarded retired pay based on any period of military service, and

(ii)  whose death occurs before separation from the service,

creditable service of the deceased employee or Member shall include each period of military service includable under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) or under paragraph (3). In carrying out this subparagraph, any amount deposited under section 8422(e)(5) shall be taken into account.

(B)  A survivor annuity computed based on an amount which, under authority of subparagraph (A), takes into consideration any period of military service shall be reduced by the amount of any survivor’s benefits—

(i)  payable to a survivor (other than a child) under a retirement system for members of the uniformed services;

(ii)  if, or to the extent that, such benefits are based on such period of military service.

(C)  The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations to carry out this paragraph, including regulations under which—

(i)  a survivor may elect not to be covered by this paragraph; and

(ii)  this paragraph shall be carried out in any case which involves a former spouse.

(5)  If, after January 1, 1997, an employee or Member waives retired pay that is subject to a court order for which there has been effective service on the Secretary concerned for purposes of section 1408 of title 10, the military service on which the retired pay is based may be credited as service for purposes of this chapter only if the employee or Member authorizes the Director to deduct and withhold from the annuity payable to the employee or Member under this subchapter an amount equal to the amount that, if the annuity payment was instead a payment of the employee’s or Member’s retired pay, would have been deducted and withheld and paid to the former spouse covered by the court order under such section 1408. The amount deducted and withheld under this paragraph shall be paid to that former spouse. The period of civil service employment by the employee or Member shall not be taken into consideration in determining the amount of the deductions and withholding or the amount of the payment to the former spouse. The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations to carry out this paragraph.

(d)  Credit under this chapter shall be allowed for leaves of absence without pay granted an employee while performing military service, or while receiving benefits under subchapter I of chapter 81. An employee or former employee who returns to duty after a period of separation is deemed, for the purpose of this subsection, to have been on leave of absence without pay for that part of the period in which that individual was receiving benefits under subchapter I of chapter 81. Credit may not be allowed for so much of other leaves of absence without pay as exceeds 6 months in the aggregate in a calendar year.

(e)  Credit shall be allowed for periods of approved leave without pay granted an employee to serve as a full-time officer or employee of an organization composed primarily of employees (as defined by section 8331(1) or 8401(11)), subject to the employee arranging to pay, through the employee’s employing agency, within 60 days after commencement of such leave without pay, amounts equal to the retirement deductions and agency contributions which would be applicable under sections 8422(a) and 8423(a), respectively, if the employee were in pay status. If the election and all payments provided by this subsection are not made, the employee may not receive credit for the periods of leave without pay, notwithstanding the third sentence of subsection (d).

(f) (1)  An employee or Member who has received a refund of retirement deductions under subchapter III of chapter 83 with respect to any service described in subsection (b)(2) or (b)(3) may not be allowed credit for such service under this chapter unless such employee or Member deposits an amount equal to 1.3 percent of basic pay for such service, with interest. A deposit under this paragraph may be made only with respect to a refund received pursuant to an application filed with the Office before the date on which the employee or Member first becomes subject to this chapter.

(2)  An employee or Member may not be allowed credit under this chapter for any service described in subsection (b)(3) for which retirement deductions under subchapter III of chapter 83 have not been made, unless such employee or Member deposits an amount equal to 1.3 percent of basic pay for such service, with interest.

(3)  Interest under paragraph (1) or (2) shall be computed in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 8334(e) and regulations prescribed by the Office.

(4)  For the purpose of survivor annuities, deposits authorized by the preceding provisions of this subsection may also be made by a survivor of an employee or Member.

(g)  Any employee who—

(1)  served in a position in which the employee was excluded from coverage under this subchapter because the employee was covered under a retirement system established under section 10 of the Federal Reserve Act; and

(2)  transferred without a break in service to a position to which the employee was appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and in which position the employee is subject to this subchapter,

shall be treated for all purposes of this subchapter as if any service that would have been creditable under the retirement system established under section 10 of the Federal Reserve Act was service performed while subject to this subchapter if any employee and employer deductions, contributions or rights with respect to the employee’s service are transferred from such retirement system to the Fund.

(h)  An employee or Member shall be allowed credit for service as a volunteer or volunteer leader under part A of title VIII of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as a full-time volunteer enrolled in a program of at least 1 year’s duration under part A, B, or C of title I of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, or as a volunteer or volunteer leader under the Peace Corps Act performed at any time prior to the separation on which the entitlement to any annuity under this subchapter is based if the employee or Member has made a deposit with interest, if any, with respect to such service under section 8422(f).

(i)  [69] For purposes of subsection (b)(5), the term “Bank Plan” means the benefit structure in which employees of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System appointed on or after January 1, 1984, participate, which benefit structure is a component of the Retirement Plan for Employees of the Federal Reserve System, established under section 10 of the Federal Reserve Act (and any redesignated or successor version of such benefit structure, if so identified in writing by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for purposes of this chapter).

(i)[70] (1)  Upon application to the Office of Personnel Management, any individual who was an employee on the date of enactment of this paragraph, and who has on such date or thereafter acquired 5 years or more of creditable civilian service under this section (exclusive of service for which credit is allowed under this subsection) shall be allowed credit (as service as a congressional employee) for service before December 31, 1990, while employed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic National Congressional Committee, or the Republican National Congressional Committee, if—

(A)  such employee has at least 4 years and 6 months of service on such committees as of December 31, 1990; and

(B)  such employee deposits to the Fund an amount equal to 1.3 percent of the base pay for such service, with interest.

(2)  The Office shall accept the certification of the President of the Senate (or the President’s designee) or the Speaker of the House of Representatives (or the Speaker’s designee), as the case may be, concerning the service of, and the amount of compensation received by, an employee with respect to whom credit is to be sought under this subsection.

(3)  An individual shall not be granted credit for such service under this subsection if eligible for credit under section 8332(m) for such service.

(k) (1)  [71] The Office of Personnel Management shall accept, for the purposes of this chapter, the certification of the head of a nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the United States concerning service of the type described in subsection (b)(6) that was performed for such nonappropriated fund instrumentality.

(2)  Service credited under subsection (b)(6) may not also be credited under any other retirement system provided for employees paid from nonappropriated funds of a nonappropriated fund instrumentality.

(l)  (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the service of an individual finally convicted of an offense described in paragraph (2) shall not be taken into account for purposes of this chapter, except that this sentence applies only to service rendered as a Member (irrespective of when rendered). Any such individual (or other person determined under section 8424(d), if applicable) shall be entitled to be paid so much of such individual’s lump-sum credit as is attributable to service to which the preceding sentence applies.

(2)  An offense described in this paragraph is any offense described in section 8332(o)(2)(B) for which the following apply:

(A)  Every act or omission of the individual (referred to in paragraph (1)) that is needed to satisfy the elements of the offense occurs while the individual is a Member, the President, Vice-President, or an elected official of a State or local government.

(B)  Every act or omission of the individual that is needed to satisfy the elements of the offense directly relates to the performance of the individual’s official duties as a Member, the President, Vice-President, or an elected official of a State or local government.

(C)  The offense is committed after the date of enactment of this subsection.

(3)  An individual convicted of an offense described in paragraph (2) shall not, after the date of the final conviction, be eligible to participate in the retirement system under this chapter while serving as a Member.

(4)  The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe any regulations necessary to carry out this subsection. Such regulations shall include—

(A)  provisions under which interest on any lump-sum payment under the second sentence of paragraph (1) shall be limited in a manner similar to that specified in the last sentence of section 8316(b); and

(B)  provisions under which the Office may provide for—

(i)  the payment, to the spouse or children of any individual referred to in the first sentence of paragraph (1), of any amounts which (but for this clause) would otherwise have been nonpayable by reason of such first sentence, subject to paragraph (5); and

(ii)  an appropriate adjustment in the amount of any lump-sum payment under the second sentence of paragraph (1) to reflect the application of clause (i).

(5)  Regulations to carry out clause (i) of paragraph (4)(B) shall include provisions to ensure that the authority to make any payment under such clause to the spouse or children of an individual shall be available only to the extent that the application of such clause is considered necessary and appropriate taking into account the totality of the circumstances, including the financial needs of the spouse or children, whether the spouse or children participated in an offense described in paragraph (2) of which such individual was finally convicted, and what measures, if any, may be necessary to ensure that the convicted individual does not benefit from any such payment.

(6)  For purposes of this subsection—

(A)  the terms “finally convicted” and “final conviction” refer to a conviction (i) which has not been appealed and is no longer appealable because the time for taking an appeal has expired, or (ii) which has been appealed and the appeals process for which is completed;

(B)  the term “Member” has the meaning given such term by section 2106, notwithstanding section 8401(20); and

(C)  the term “child” has the meaning given such term by section 8441.

§8412. Immediate retirement[72]

(a)  An employee or Member who is separated from the service after attaining the applicable minimum retirement age under subsection (h) and completing 30 years of service is entitled to an annuity.

(b)  An employee or Member who is separated from the service after becoming 60 years of age and completing 20 years of service is entitled to an annuity.

(c)  An employee or Member who is separated from the service after becoming 62 years of age and completing 5 years of service is entitled to an annuity.

(d)  An employee who is separated from the service, except by removal for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency—

(1)  after completing 25 years of service as a law enforcement officer, member of the Capitol Police or Supreme Court Police, firefighter, nuclear materials courier, or customs and border protection officer, or any combination of such service totaling at least 25 years, or

(2)  after becoming 50 years of age and completing 20 years of service as a law enforcement officer, member of the Capitol Police or Supreme Court Police, firefighter, nuclear materials courier, or customs and border protection officer, or any combination of such service totaling at least 20 years,

is entitled to an annuity.

(e)  An employee who is separated from the service, except by removal for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency—

(1)  after completing 25 years of service as an air traffic controller, or

(2)  after becoming 50 years of age and completing 20 years of service as an air traffic controller,

is entitled to an annuity.

(f)  A Member who is separated from the service, except by resignation or expulsion—

(1)  after completing 25 years of service, or

(2)  after becoming 50 years of age and completing 20 years of service,

is entitled to an annuity.

(g) (1)  An employee or Member who is separated from the service after attaining the applicable minimum retirement age under subsection (h) and completing 10 years of service is entitled to an annuity. This subsection shall not apply to an employee or Member who is entitled to an annuity under any other provision of this section.

(2)  An employee or Member entitled to an annuity under this subsection may defer the commencement of such annuity by written election. The date to which the commencement of the annuity is deferred may not precede the 31st day after the date of filing the election, and must precede the date on which the employee or Member becomes 62 years of age.

(3)  The Office shall prescribe regulations under which an election under paragraph (2) shall be made.

(h) (1)  The applicable minimum retirement age under this subsection is—

(A)  for an individual whose date of birth is before January 1, 1948, 55 years of age;

(B)  for an individual whose date of birth is after December 31, 1947, and before January 1, 1953, 55 years of age plus the number of months in the age increase factor determined under paragraph (2)(A);

(C)  for an individual whose date of birth is after December 31, 1952, and before January 1, 1965, 56 years of age;

(D)  for an individual whose date of birth is after December 31, 1964, and before January 1, 1970, 56 years of age plus the number of months in the age increase factor determined under paragraph (2)(B); and

(E)  for an individual whose date of birth is after December 31, 1969, 57 years of age.

(2) (A)  For an individual whose date of birth occurs during the 5-year period consisting of calendar years 1948 through 1952, the age increase factor shall be equal to two-twelfths times the number of months in the period beginning with January 1948 and ending with December of the year in which the date of birth occurs.

(B)  For an individual whose date of birth occurs during the 5-year period consisting of calendar years 1965 through 1969, the age increase factor shall be equal to two- twelfths times the number of months in the period beginning with January 1965 and ending with December of the year in which the date of birth occurs.

§8412a. Phased retirement[73]

(a)  For the purposes of this section—

(1)  the term “composite retirement annuity” means the annuity computed when a phased retiree attains full retirement status; ‘‘(2) the term ‘full retirement status’ means that a phased retiree has ceased employment and is entitled, upon application, to a composite retirement annuity;

(2)  the term “full retirement status” means that a phased retiree has ceased employment and is entitled, upon application, to a composite retirement annuity;

(3)  the term “phased employment” means the less-than-full- time employment of a phased retiree;

(4)  the term “phased retiree” means a retirement-eligible employee who—

(A)  makes an election under subsection; and

(B)  has not entered full retirement status;

(5)  the term “phased retirement annuity” means the annuity payable under this section before full retirement;

(6)  the term “phased retirement percentage” means the percentage which, when added to the working percentage for a phased retiree, produces a sum of 100 percent;

(7)  the term “phased retirement period” means the period beginning on the date on which an individual becomes entitled to receive a phased retirement annuity and ending on the date on which the individual dies or separates from phased employment;

(8)  the term “phased retirement status” means that a phased retiree is concurrently employed in phased employment and eligible to receive a phased retirement annuity;

(9)  the term “retirement-eligible employee”— ‘(B) does not include— ‘‘(i) an individual who, if the individual separated from the service, would meet the requirements for retirement under subsection (d) or (e) of section 8412; but ‘‘(ii) does not include an employee described in section 8425 after the date on which the employee is required to be separated from the service by reason of such section; and

(A)  means an individual who, if the individual separated from the service, would meet the requirements for retirement under subsection (a) or (b) of section 8412; and

(B)  does not include—

(i)  an individual who, if the individual separated from the service, would meet the requirements for retirement under subsection (d) or (e) of section 8412; but

(ii)  does not include an employee described in section 8425 after the date on which the employee is required to be separated from the service by reason of such section; and

(10)  the term “working percentage” means the percentage of full-time employment equal to the quotient obtained by dividing—

(A) 

(B)  the number of hours per pay period to be worked by an employee serving in a comparable position on a full-time basis.

(b)(1)  With the concurrence of the head of the employing agency, and under regulations promulgated by the Director, a retirement- eligible employee who has been employed on a full-time basis for not less than the 3-year period ending on the date on which the retirement-eligible employee makes an election under this subsection may elect to enter phased retirement status.

(2) 

(A)  Subject to subparagraph (B), at the time of entering phased retirement status, a phased retiree shall be appointed to a position for which the working percentage is 50 percent.

(B)  The Director may, by regulation, provide for working percentages different from the percentage specified under subparagraph (A), which shall be not less than 20 percent and not more than 80 percent.

(C)  The working percentage for a phased retiree may not be changed during the phased retiree’s phased retirement period.

(D)(i)  Not less than 20 percent of the hours to be worked by a phased retiree shall consist of mentoring.

(ii)  The Director may, by regulation, provide exceptions to the requirement under clause (i).

(iii)  Clause (i) shall not apply to a phased retiree serving in the United States Postal Service. Nothing in this clause shall prevent the application of clause (i) or (ii) with respect to a phased retiree serving in the Postal Regulatory Commission.

(3)  A phased retiree—

(A)  may not be employed in more than one position at any time; and ‘‘(B) may transfer to another position in the same or a different agency, only if the transfer does not result in a change in the working percentage.

(B)  may transfer to another position in the same or a different agency, only if the transfer does not result in a change in the working percentage.

(4)  A retirement-eligible employee may make not more than one election under this subsection during the retirement-eligible employee’s lifetime.

(5)  A retirement-eligible employee who makes an election under this subsection may not make an election under section 8420a.

(c)(1)  Except as otherwise provided under this subsection, the phased retirement annuity for a phased retiree is the product obtained by multiplying—

(A)  the amount of an annuity computed under section 8415 that would have been payable to the phased retiree if, on the date on which the phased retiree enters phased retirement status, the phased retiree had separated from service and retired under section 8412 (a) or (b); by ‘‘(B) the phased retirement percentage for the phased retiree.

(B)  the phased retirement percentage for the phased retiree.

(2)  A phased retirement annuity shall be paid in addition to the basic pay for the position to which a phased retiree is appointed during the phased employment.

(3)  A phased retirement annuity shall be adjusted in accordance with section 8462

(4)(A)  A phased retirement annuity shall not be subject to reduction for any form of survivor annuity, shall not serve as the basis of the computation of any survivor annuity, and shall not be subject to any court order requiring a survivor annuity to be provided to any individual.

(B)  A phased retirement annuity shall be subject to a court order providing for division, allotment, assignment, execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process on the same basis as other annuities

(5)(A)  Any deposit, or election of an actuarial annuity reduction in lieu of a deposit, for military service or for creditable civilian service for which retirement deductions were not made or refunded, shall be made by a retirement-eligible employee at or before the time the retirement-eligible employee enters phased retirement status. No such deposit may be made, or actuarial adjustment in lieu thereof elected, at the time a phased retiree enters full retirement status.

(B)  Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), if a phased retiree does not make such a deposit and dies in service as a phased retiree, a survivor of the phased retiree shall have the same right to make such deposit as would have been available had the employee not entered phased retirement status and died in service.

(6)  A phased retirement annuity shall commence on the date on which a phased retiree enters phased employment. No unused sick leave credit may be used in the computation of the phased retirement annuity.

(7)  No unused sick leave credit may be used in the computation of the phased retirement annuity.

(d)  All basic pay not in excess of the full-time rate of pay for the position to which a phased retiree is appointed shall be deemed to be basic pay for purposes of sections 8422 and 8423

(e)  Under such procedures as the Director may prescribe, a phased retiree may elect to enter full retirement status at any time. Upon making such an election, a phased retiree shall be entitled to a composite retirement annuity.

(f)(1)  All basic pay not in excess of the full-time rate of pay for the position to which a phased retiree is appointed shall be deemed to be basic pay for purposes of sections 8422 and 8423.Except as provided otherwise under this subsection, a composite retirement annuity is a single annuity computed under regulations prescribed by the Director, equal to the sum of—

(A)  the amount of the phased retirement annuity as of the date of full retirement, including any adjustments made under section 8462; and the product obtained by multiplying—

(B)  the product obtained by multiplying

(i)  the amount of an annuity computed under section 8412 that would have been payable at the time of full retirement if the individual had not elected a phased retirement and as if the individual was employed on a full-time basis in the position occupied during the phased retirement period and before any adjustment to provide for a survivor annuity; by

(ii)  the working percentage.

(2)  After computing a composite retirement annuity under paragraph (1), the Director shall adjust the amount of the annuity for any applicable reductions for a survivor annuity.

(3)  A composite retirement annuity shall be adjusted in accordance with section 8462, except that subsection (c)(1) of that section shall not apply.

(4)  In computing a composite retirement annuity under paragraph (1)(B)(i), the unused sick leave to the credit of a phased retiree at the time of entry into full retirement status shall be adjusted by dividing the number of hours of unused sick leave by the working percentage

(g)(1)  Under such procedures and conditions as the Director may provide, and with the concurrence of the head of employing agency, a phased retiree may elect to terminate phased retirement status and return to a full-time work schedule.

(2)  Upon entering a full-time work schedule based on an election under paragraph (1), the phased retirement annuity of a phased retiree shall terminate.

(3)  After termination of the phased retirement annuity under this subsection, the individual’s rights under this chapter shall be determined based on the law in effect at the time of any subsequent separation from service. For purposes of this chapter, at the time of the subsequent separation from service, the phased retirement period shall be treated as if it had been a period of part-time employment with the work schedule described in subsection (b)(2).

(h)  For purposes of subchapter IV—

(1)  the death of a phased retiree shall be deemed to be the death in service of an employee;

(2)  except for purposes of section 8442(b)(1)(A)(i), the phased retirement period shall be deemed to have been a period of part-time employment with the work schedule described in subsection (b)(2) of this section; and

(3)  for purposes of section 8442(b)(1)(A)(i), the phased retiree shall be deemed to have been at the full-time rate of pay for the position occupied.

(i)  Employment of a phased retiree shall not be deemed to be part-time career employment, as defined in section 3401(2).

(j)  A phased retiree is not eligible to receive an annuity supplement under section 8421.

(k)  For purposes of subchapter III, a phased retiree shall be deemed to be an employee.

(l)  For purposes of section 8445(d), retirement shall be deemed to occur on the date on which a phased retiree enters into full retirement status.

(m)  A phased retiree is not eligible to apply for an annuity under subchapter V.

(n)  A phased retiree is not subject to section 8468.

(o)  For purposes of chapter 87, a phased retiree shall be deemed to be receiving basic pay at the rate of a full-time employee in the position to which the phased retiree is appointed

§8413. Deferred retirement[74]

(a)  An employee or Member who is separated from the service, or transferred to a position in which the employee or Member does not continue subject to this chapter, after completing 5 years of service is entitled to an annuity beginning at the age of 62 years.

(b) (1)  An employee or Member who is separated from the service, or transferred to a position in which the employee or Member does not continue subject to this chapter, after completing 10 years of service but before attaining the applicable minimum retirement age under section 8412(h) is entitled to an annuity beginning on the date designated by the employee or Member in a written election under this subsection. The date designated under this subsection may not precede the date on which the employee or Member attains such minimum retirement age and must precede the date on which the employee or Member becomes 62 years of age.

(2)  The election of an annuity under this subsection shall not be effective unless—

(A)  it is made at such time and in such manner as the Office shall by regulation prescribe; and

(B)  the employee or Member will not otherwise be eligible to receive an annuity within 31 days after filing the election.

(3)  The election of an annuity under this subsection extinguishes the right of the employee or Member to receive any other annuity based on the service on which the annuity under this subsection is based.

§8414. Early retirement[75]

(a) (1)  A member of the Senior Executive Service who is removed from the Senior Executive Service for less than fully successful executive performance (as determined under subchapter II of chapter 43 of this title) after completing 25 years of service, or after becoming 50 years of age and completing 20 years of service, is entitled to an annuity.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

§8415. Computation of basic annuity[76]

(a)  Except as otherwise provided in this section, the annuity of an employee retiring under this subchapter is 1 percent of that individual’s average pay multiplied by such individual’s total service.

(b)  The annuity of a Member, or former Member with title to a Member annuity, retiring under this subchapter is computed under subsection (a), except that if the individual has had at least 5 years of service as a Member or Congressional employee, or any combination thereof, so much of the annuity as is computed with respect to either such type of service (or a combination thereof), not exceeding a total of 20 years, shall be computed by multiplying 1 7/10 percent of the individual’s average pay by the years of such service.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

(f)  The annuity of an air traffic controller or former air traffic controller retiring under section 8412(a) is computed under subsection (a), except that if the individual has at least 5 years of service in any combination as—

(1)  an air traffic controller as defined by section 2109(1)(A)(i);

(2)  a first level supervisor of an air traffic controller as defined by section 2109(1)(A)(i); or

(3)  a second level supervisor of an air traffic controller as defined by section 2109(1)(A)(i);

so much of the annuity as is computed with respect to such type of service shall be computed by multiplying 1 7/10 percent of the individual's average pay by the years of such service.

(g) (1)  In computing an annuity under this subchapter for an employee whose service includes service performed on a part-time basis—

(A)  the average pay of the employee, to the extent that it includes pay for service performed in any position on a part-time basis, shall be determined by using the annual rate of basic pay that would be payable for full-time service in the position; and

(B)  the benefit so computed shall then be multiplied by a fraction equal to the ratio which the employee's actual service, as determined by prorating the employee's total service to reflect the service that was performed on a part-time basis, bears to the total service that would be creditable for the employee if all of the service had been performed on a full-time basis.

(2)  For the purpose of this subsection, employment on a part-time basis shall not be considered to include employment on a temporary or intermittent basis.

(h) (1)  The annuity of an employee or Member retiring under section 8412(g) or 8413(b) is computed in accordance with applicable provisions of this section, except that the annuity shall be reduced by five-twelfths of 1 percent for each full month by which the commencement date of the annuity precedes the sixty-second anniversary of the birth of the employee or Member.

(2) (A)  Paragraph (1) does not apply in the case of an employee or Member retiring under section 8412(g) or 8413(b) if the employee or Member would satisfy the age and service requirements for title to an annuity under section 8412(a), (b), (d)(2), (e)(2), or (f)(2), determined as if the employee or Member had, as of the date of separation, attained the age specified in subparagraph (B).

(B)  A determination under subparagraph (A) shall be based on how old the employee or Member will be as of the date on which the annuity under section 8412(g) or 8413(b) is to commence.

(i) (1)  In applying subsection (a) with respect to an employee under paragraph (2), the percentage applied under such subsection shall be 1.1 percent, rather than 1 percent.

(2)  This subsection applies in the case of an employee who—

(A)  retires entitled to an annuity under section 8412; and

(B)  at the time of the separation on which entitlement to the annuity is based, is at least 62 years of age and has completed at least 20 years of service;

but does not apply in the case of a Congressional employee, military technician (dual status), law enforcement officer, member of the Supreme Court Police, firefighter, nuclear materials courier, air traffic controller, or customs and border protection officer[77]

(j)  The annuity of a Member who has served in a position in the executive branch for which the rate of basic pay was reduced for the duration of the service of the Member in that position to remove the impediment to the appointment of the Member imposed by article I, section 6, clause 2 of the Constitution, shall, subject to a deposit in the Fund as provided under section 8422(g), be computed as though the rate of basic pay which would otherwise have been in effect during that period of service had been in effect.

(k) (1)  For purposes of this subsection, the term “physicians comparability allowance” refers to an amount described in section 8331(3)(H).

(2)  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, no part of a physicians comparability allowance shall be treated as basic pay for purposes of any computation under this section unless, before the date of the separation on which entitlement to annuity is based, the separating individual has completed at least 15 years of service as a Government physician (whether performed before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this subsection).

(3)  If the condition under paragraph (2) is met, then, any amounts received by the individual in the form of a physicians comparability allowance shall (for the purposes referred to in paragraph (2)) be treated as basic pay, but only to the extent that such amounts are attributable to service performed on or after the date of the enactment of this subsection, and only to the extent of the percentage allowable, which shall be determined as follows:

If the total amount of service performed, on or after the date of the enactment of this subsection, as a Government physician is: Then, the percentage allowable is:
Less than 2 years 0
At least 2 but less than 4 years 25
At least 4 but less than 6 years 50
At least 6 but less than 8 years 75
At least 8 years 100

(4)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, 100 percent of all amounts received as a physicians comparability allowance shall, to the extent attributable to service performed on or after the date of the enactment of this subsection, be treated as basic pay (without regard to any of the preceding provisions of this subsection) for purposes of computing—

(A)  an annuity under section 8452; and

(B)  a survivor annuity under subchapter IV, if based on the service of an individual who dies before separating from service.

(l)  The annuity of an employee retiring under this chapter with service credited under section 8411(b)(6) shall be reduced by the amount necessary to ensure that the present value of the annuity payable to the employee under this subchapter is actuarially equivalent to the present value of the annuity that would be payable to the employee under this subchapter if it were computed—

(1)  on the basis of service that does not include service credited under section 8411(b)(6); and

(2)  assuming the employee separated from service on the actual date of the separation of the employee. The amount of the reduction shall be computed under regulations prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management for the administration of this subsection.

The amount of the reduction shall be computed under regulations prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management for the administration of this subsection.

(m) (1)  In computing an annuity under this subchapter, the total service of an employee who retires from the position of a registered nurse with the Veterans Health Administration on an immediate annuity, or dies while employed in that position leaving any survivor entitled to an annuity, includes the days of unused sick leave to the credit of that employee under a formal leave system, except that such days shall not be counted in determining average pay or annuity eligibility under this subchapter.

(2) (A)  Except as provided in paragraph (1), in computing an annuity under this subchapter, the total service of an employee who retires on an immediate annuity or who dies leaving a survivor or survivors entitled to annuity includes the applicable percentage of the days of unused sick leave to his credit under a formal leave system and for which days the employee has not received payment, except that these days will not be counted in determining average pay or annuity eligibility under this subchapter. For purposes of this subsection, in the case of any such employee who is excepted from subchapter I of chapter 63 under section 6301(2)(x) through (xiii), the days of unused sick leave to his credit include any unused sick leave standing to his credit when he was excepted from such subchapter.

(B)  For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “applicable percentage” means—

(i)  50 percent in the case of an annuity, entitlement to which is based on a death or other separation occurring during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this paragraph and ending on December 31, 2013; and

(ii)  100 percent in the case of an annuity, entitlement to which is based on a death or other separation occurring after December 31, 2013.

(n)  In the case of any annuity computation under this section that includes, in the aggregate, at least 2 months of credit under section 8411(d) for any period while receiving benefits under subchapter I of chapter 81, the percentage otherwise applicable under this section for that period so credited shall be increased by 1 percentage point.

§8416. Survivor reduction for a current spouse

(a) (1)  If an employee or Member is married at the time of retiring under this chapter, the reduction described in section 8419(a) shall be made unless the employee or Member and the spouse jointly waive, by written election, any right which the spouse may have to a survivor annuity under section 8442 based on the service of such employee or Member. A waiver under this paragraph shall be filed with the Office under procedures prescribed by the Office.

(2)  Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an employee or Member who is married at the time of retiring under this chapter may waive the annuity for a surviving spouse without the spouse’s consent if the employee or Member establishes to the satisfaction of the Office (in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Office)—

(A)  that the spouse’s whereabouts cannot be determined; or

(B)  that, due to exceptional circumstances, requiring the employee or Member to seek the spouse’s consent would otherwise be inappropriate.

(3)  Except as provided in subsection (d), a waiver made under this subsection shall be irrevocable.

(b) (1)  Upon remarriage, a retired employee or Member who was married at the time of retirement (including an employee or Member whose annuity was not reduced to provide a survivor annuity for the employee’s or Member’s spouse or former spouse as of the time of retirement) may irrevocably elect during such marriage, in a signed writing received by the Office within 2 years after such remarriage or, if later, within 2 years after the death or remarriage of any former spouse of such employee or Member who was entitled to a survivor annuity under section 8445 (or of the last such surviving former spouse, if there was more than one), a reduction in the employee’s or Member’s annuity under section 8419(a) for the purpose of providing an annuity for such employee’s or Member’s spouse in the event such spouse survives the employee or Member.

(2)  The election and reduction shall be effective the first day of the second month after the election is received by the Office, but not less than 9 months after the date of the remarriage.

(3)  An election to provide a survivor annuity to an individual under this subsection—

(A)  shall prospectively void any election made by the employee or Member under section 8420 with respect to such individual; or

(B)  shall, if an election was made by the employee or Member under section 8420 with respect to a different individual, prospectively void such election if appropriate written application is made by such employee or Member at the time of making the election under this subsection.

(4)  Any election under this subsection made by an employee or Member on behalf of an individual after the retirement of such employee or Member shall not be effective if—

(A)  the employee or Member was married to such individual at the time of retirement; and

(B)  the annuity rights of such individual based on the service of such employee or Member were then waived under subsection (a).

(c) (1)  An employee or Member who is unmarried at the time of retiring under this chapter and who later marries may irrevocably elect, in a signed writing received by the Office within 2 years after such employee or Member marries or, if later, within 2 years after the death or remarriage of any former spouse of such employee or Member who was entitled to a survivor annuity under section 8445 (or of the last such surviving former spouse, if there was more than one), a reduction in the current annuity of the retired employee or Member, in accordance with section 8419(a).

(2)  The election and reduction shall take effect the first day of the first month beginning 9 months after the date of marriage. Any such election to provide a survivor annuity for an individual—

(A)  shall prospectively void any election made by the employee or Member under section 8420 with respect to such individual; or

(B)  shall, if an election was made by the employee or Member under section 8420 with respect to a different individual, prospectively void such election if appropriate written application is made by such employee or Member at the time of making the election under this subsection.

(d) (1)  An employee or Member—

(A)  who is married on the date of retiring under this chapter, and

(B)  with respect to whose spouse a waiver under subsection (a) has been made,

may, during the 18-month period beginning on such date, elect to have a reduction made under section 8419 in order to provide a survivor annuity under section 8442 for such spouse.

(2) (A)  An election under this subsection shall not be effective unless the amount described in subparagraph (B) is deposited into the Fund before the expiration of the 18-month period referred to in paragraph (1).

(B)  The amount to be deposited under this subparagraph is equal to the sum of—

(i)  the difference (for the period between the date on which the annuity of the former employee or Member commences and the date on which reductions pursuant to the election under this subsection commence) between the amount paid to the former employee or Member from the Fund under this chapter and the amount which would have been paid if such election had been made at the time of retirement; and

(ii)  the costs associated with providing for the election under this subsection.

The amount to be deposited under clause (i) shall include interest, computed at the rate of 6 percent a year.

(3)  An annuity which is reduced pursuant to an election by a former employee or Member under this subsection shall be reduced by the same percentage as was in effect under section 8419 as of the date of the employee’s or Member’s retirement.

(4)  Rights and obligations under this chapter resulting from an election under this subsection shall be the same as the rights and obligations which would have resulted had the election been made at the time of retirement.

(5)  The Office shall inform each employee and Member who is eligible to make an election under this subsection of the right to make such election and the procedures and deadlines applicable in making any such election.

§8417. Survivor reduction for a former spouse

(a)  If an employee or Member has a former spouse who is entitled to a survivor annuity as provided in section 8445, the reduction described in section 8419(a) shall be made.

(b) (1)  An employee or Member who has a former spouse may elect, under procedures prescribed by the Office, a reduction in the annuity of the employee or Member under section 8419(a) in order to provide a survivor annuity for such former spouse under section 8445.

(2)  An election under this subsection shall be made at the time of retirement or, if the marriage is dissolved after the date of retirement, within 2 years after the date on which the marriage of the former spouse to the employee or Member is so dissolved.

(3)  An election under this subsection—

(A)  shall not be effective to the extent that it—

(i)  conflicts with—

(I)  any court order or decree referred to in section 8445(a) which was issued before the date of such election; or

(II)  any agreement referred to in such section 8445(a) which was entered into before such date; or

(ii)  would cause the total of survivor annuities payable under sections 8442 and 8445, respectively, based on the service of the employee or Member to exceed the amount which would be payable to a widow or widower of such employee or Member under such section 8442 (determined without regard to any reduction to provide for an annuity under such section 8445); and

(B)  shall not be effective, in the case of an employee or Member who is then married, unless it is made with the spouse’s written consent.

The Office shall by regulation provide that subparagraph (B) may be waived for either of the reasons set forth in section 8416(a)(2).

§8418. Survivor elections; deposit; offsets[78]

(a) (1)  An individual who makes an election under subsection (b) or (c) of section 8416 or section 8417(b) which is required to be made within 2 years after the date of a prescribed event shall deposit into the Fund an amount determined by the Office (as nearly as may be administratively feasible) to reflect the amount by which the annuity of such individual would have been reduced if the election had been in effect since the date of retirement (or, if later, and in the case of an election under such section 8416(b), since the date the previous reduction in the annuity of such individual was terminated under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 8419(b)), plus interest.

(2)  Interest under paragraph (1) shall be computed at the rate of 6 percent a year.

(b)  The Office shall, by regulation, provide for payment of the deposit required under subsection (a) by a reduction in the annuity of the employee or Member. The reduction shall, to the extent practicable, be designed so that the present value of the future reduction is actuarially equivalent to the deposit required under subsection (a), except that the total reductions in the annuity of an employee or Member to pay deposits required by this section shall not exceed 25 percent of the annuity computed under section 8415 or section 8452, including adjustments under section 8462. The reduction required by this subsection, which shall be effective at the same time as the election under section 8416 (b) and (c) or section 8417(b), shall be permanent and unaffected by any future termination of the marriage or the entitlement of the former spouse. Such reduction shall be independent of and in addition to the reduction required under section 8416 (b) and (c) or section 8417(b).

(c)  Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply if—

(1)  the employee or Member makes an election under section 8416(b) or (c) after having made an election under section 8420; and

(2)  the election under such section 8420 becomes void under subsection (b)(3) or (c)(2) of such section 8416.

(d)  The Office shall prescribe regulations under which the survivor of an employee or Member may make a deposit under this section.

§8419. Survivor reductions; computation[79]

(a) (1)  Except as provided in paragraph (2), the annuity of an annuitant computed under section 8415, or under section 8452 (including subsection (a)(2) of such section, if applicable) or one-half of the annuity, if jointly designated for this purpose by the employee or Member and the spouse of the employee or Member under procedures prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management, shall be reduced by 10 percent if a survivor annuity, or a combination of survivor annuities, under section 8442 or 8445 (or both) are to be provided for.

(2) (A)  If no survivor annuity under section 8442 is to be provided for, but one or more survivor annuities under section 8445 involving a total of less than the entirety of the amount referred to in subsection (b)(2) of such section are to be provided for, the annuity of the annuitant involved (as computed under section 8415, or under section 8452 (including subsection (a)(2) of such section, if applicable)) or one-half of the annuity, if jointly designated for this purpose by the employee or Member and the spouse of the employee or Member under procedures prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management, shall be reduced by an appropriate percentage determined under subparagraph (B).

(B)  The Office shall prescribe regulations under which an appropriate reduction under this paragraph, not to exceed a total of 10 percent, shall be made.

(b) (1)  Any reduction in an annuity for the purpose of providing a survivor annuity for the current spouse of a retired employee or Member shall be terminated for each full month—

(A)  after the death of the spouse; or

(B)  after the dissolution of the spouse’s marriage to the employee or Member, except that an appropriate reduction shall be made thereafter if the spouse is entitled, as a former spouse, to a survivor annuity under section 8445.

(2)  Any reduction in an annuity for the purpose of providing a survivor annuity for a former spouse of a retired employee or Member shall be terminated for each full month after the former spouse remarries before reaching age 55 or dies. This reduction shall be replaced by appropriate reductions under subsection (a) if the retired employee or Member has one or more of the following:

(A)  another former spouse who is entitled to a survivor annuity under section 8445;

(B)  a current spouse to whom the employee or Member was married at the time of retirement and with respect to whom a survivor annuity was not waived under section 8416(a) (or, if waived, with respect to whom an election under section 8416(d) has been made); or

(C)  a current spouse whom the employee or Member married after retirement and with respect to whom an election has been made under subsection (b) or (c) of section 8416.

§8420. Insurable interest reductions

(a) (1)  At the time of retiring under section 8412, 8413, or 8414, an employee or Member who is found to be in good health by the Office may elect to have such employee’s or Member’s annuity (as computed under section 8415) reduced under paragraph (2) in order to provide an annuity under section 8444 for an individual having an insurable interest in the employee or Member. Such individual shall be designated by the employee or Member in writing.

(2)  The annuity of the employee or Member making the election is reduced by 10 percent, and by 5 percent for each full 5 years the individual named is younger than the retiring employee or Member, except that the total reduction may not exceed 40 percent.

(3)  An annuity which is reduced under this subsection shall, effective the first day of the month following the death of the individual named under this subsection, be recomputed and paid as if the annuity had not been so reduced.

(b) (1)  In the case of a married employee or Member, an election under this section on behalf of the spouse may be made only if any right of such spouse to a survivor annuity based on the service of such employee or Member is waived in accordance with section 8416(a).

(2)  Paragraph (1) does not apply in the case of an employee or Member if such employee or Member has a former spouse who would become entitled to an annuity under section 8445 as a survivor of such employee or Member.

§8420a. Alternative forms of annuities[80]

(a)  The Office shall prescribe regulations under which any employee or Member who has a life-threatening affliction or other critical medical condition may, at the time of retiring under this subchapter, elect annuity benefits under this section instead of any other benefits under this subchapter, and any benefits under subchapter IV of this chapter, based on the service of the employee or Member.

(b)  Subject to subsection (c), the Office shall by regulation provide for such alternative forms of annuities as the Office considers appropriate, except that among the alternatives offered shall be—

(1)  an alternative which provides for—

(A)  payment of the lump- sum credit (excluding interest) to the employee or Member; and

(B)  payment of an annuity to the employee or Member for life; and

(2)  in the case of an employee or Member who is married at the time of retirement, an alternative which provides for—

(A)  payment of the lump-sum credit (excluding interest) to the employee or Member; and

(B)  payment of an annuity to the employee or Member for life, with a survivor annuity payable for the life of a surviving spouse.

(c)  Each alternative provided for under subsection (b) shall, to the extent practicable, be designed such that the present value of the benefits provided under such alternative (including any lump-sum credit) is actuarially equivalent to the sum of—

(1)  the present value of the annuity which would otherwise be provided under this subchapter, as computed under section 8415; and

(2)  the present value of the annuity supplement which would otherwise be provided (if any) under section 8421.

(d)  An employee or Member who, at the time of retiring under this subchapter—

(1)  is married, shall be ineligible to make an election under this section unless a waiver is made under section 8416(a); or

(2)  has a former spouse, shall be ineligible to make an election under this section if the former spouse is entitled to benefits under section 8445 or 8467 (based on the service of the employee or Member) under the terms of a decree of divorce or annulment, or a court order or court-approved property settlement incident to any such decree, with respect to which the Office has been duly notified.

(e)  An employee or Member who is married at the time of retiring under this subchapter and who makes an election under this section may, during the 18-month period beginning on the date of retirement, make the election provided for under section 8416(d), subject to the deposit requirement thereunder.

§8421. Annuity supplement[81]

(a) (1)  Subject to paragraph (3), an individual shall, if and while entitled to an annuity under subsection (a), (b), (d), or (e) of section 8412, or under section 8414(c), also be entitled to an annuity supplement under this section.

(2)  Subject to paragraph (3), an individual shall, if and while entitled to an annuity under section 8412(f), or under subsection (a) or (b) of section 8414, also be entitled to an annuity supplement under this section if such individual is at least the applicable minimum retirement age under section 8412(h).

(3) (A)  An individual whose entitlement to an annuity under section 8412 or 8414 does not commence before age 62 is not entitled to an annuity supplement under this section.

(B)  An individual entitled to an annuity supplement under this section ceases to be so entitled after the last day of the month preceding the first month for which such individual would, on proper application, be entitled to old-age insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act, but not later than the last day of the month in which such individual attains age 62.

(b) (1)  The amount of the annuity supplement of an annuitant under this section for any month shall be equal to the product of—

(A)  an amount determined under paragraph (2), multiplied by

(B)  a fraction, as described in paragraph (3).

(2)  The amount under this paragraph for an annuitant is an amount equal to the old-age insurance benefit which would be payable to such annuitant under title II of the Social Security Act (without regard to sections 203, 215(a)(7), and 215(d)(5) of such Act) upon attaining age 62 and filing application therefor, determined as if the annuitant had attained such age and filed application therefor, and were a fully insured individual (as defined in section 214(a) of such Act), on January 1 of the year in which such annuitant’s entitlement to any payment under this section commences, except that the reduction of such old-age insurance benefit under section 202(q) of such Act shall be the maximum applicable for an individual born in the same year as the annuitant. In computing the primary insurance amount under section 215 of such Act for purposes of this paragraph, the number of elapsed years (referred to in section 215(b)(2)(B)(iii) of such Act and used to compute the number of benefit computation years) shall not include years beginning with the year in which such annuitant’s entitlement to any payment under this section commences, and—

(A)  only basic pay for service performed (if any) shall be taken into account in computing the total wages and self-employment income of the annuitant for a benefit computation year;

(B)  for a benefit computation year which commences after the date of the separation with respect to which entitlement to the annuitant’s annuity under this subchapter is based and before the date as of which such annuitant is treated, under the preceding sentence, to have attained age 62, the total wages and self-employment income of such annuitant for such year shall be deemed to be zero; and

(C)  for a benefit computation year after age 21 which precedes the separation referred to in subparagraph (B), and during which the individual did not perform a full year of service, the total wages and self-employment income of such annuitant for such year shall be deemed to have been an amount equal to the product of—

(i)  the average total wages of all workers for that year, multiplied by

(ii)  a fraction—

(I)  the numerator of which is the total basic pay of the individual for service performed in the first year thereafter in which such individual performed a full year of service; and

(II)  the denominator of which is the average total wages of all workers for the year referred to in subclause (I).

(3)  The fraction under this paragraph for any annuitant is a fraction—

(A)  the numerator of which is the annuitant’s total years of service (rounding a fraction to the nearest whole number, with 1/2 being rounded to the next higher number), not to exceed the number under subparagraph (B); and

(B)  the denominator of which is 40.

(4)  For the purpose of this subsection—

(A)  the term “benefit computation year” has the meaning provided in section 215(b)(2)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act;

(B)  the term “average total wages of all workers”, for a year, means the average of the total wages, as defined and computed under section 215(b)(3)(A)(ii)(I) of the Social Security Act for such year; and

(C)  the term “service” does not include military service.

(c)  An amount under this section shall, for purposes of section 8467, be treated in the same way as an amount computed under section 8415.

§8421a. Reductions on account of earnings from work performed while entitled to an annuity supplement[82]

(a)  Except as provided in subsection (c), the amount of the annuity supplement to which an individual is entitled under section 8421 for any month (determined without regard to subsection (c) of such section) shall be reduced by the amount of any excess earnings of such individual which are required to be charged to such supplement for such month, as determined under subsection (b).

(b)  The amount of an individual’s excess earnings shall be charged to months as follows:

(1) (A)  There shall be charged to each month of a year under subsection (a) an amount equal to the individual’s excess earnings (as determined under paragraph (2) with respect to such year), divided by the number of the individual’s supplement entitlement months for such year (as determined under paragraph (3)).

(B)  Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the amount charged to a month under subsection (a) may not exceed the amount of the annuity supplement to which the individual is entitled under section 8421 for such month (determined without regard to subsection (c) of such section).

(2)  The excess earnings based on which reductions under subsection (a) shall be made with respect to an individual in a year—

(A)  shall be equal to 50 percent of so much of such individual’s earnings for the immediately preceding year as exceeds the applicable exempt amount for such preceding year; but

(B)  may not exceed the total amount of the annuity supplement payments to which such individual was entitled for such preceding year under section 8421 (determined without regard to subsection (c) of such section, and without regard to this section).

(3) (A)  Subject to subparagraph (B), the number of an individual’s supplement entitlement months for a year shall be 12.

(B)  The number determined under subparagraph (A) shall be reduced so as not to include any month after which such individual ceases to be entitled to an annuity supplement by reason of section 8421(a)(3)(B), relating to cessation of entitlement upon attaining age 62.

(4) (A)  For purposes of this section, and except as provided in subparagraph (B), the “earnings” and the “applicable exempt amount” of an individual shall be determined in a manner consistent with applicable provisions of section 203 of the Social Security Act.

(B)  For purposes of this section—

(i)  in determining the excess earnings of any individual, only earnings attributable to periods during which such individual was entitled to an annuity supplement under section 8421 shall be considered; and

(ii)  any earnings attributable to a period before attaining the applicable retirement age under section 8412(h) shall not be considered in determining the excess earnings of an individual who retires under section 8412(d) or (e), or section 8414(c).

(5)  Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) through (4), the reduction required by subsection (a) shall be effective with respect to the annuity supplement payable for each month in the 12-month period beginning on the first day of the seventh month after the end of the calendar year in which the excess earnings were earned.

(c)  This section shall not apply to an individual described in section 8412(e) during any period in which the individual, after separating from the service as described in that section, is employed full-time as an air traffic control instructor under contract with the Federal Aviation Administration, including an instructor working at an on-site facility (such as an airport).

(d)  The Office shall prescribe regulations under which this section shall be applied in the case of a reemployed annuitant.

§8422. Deductions from pay; contributions for other service[83]

(a) (1)  The employing agency shall deduct and withhold from basic pay of each employee and Member a percentage of basic pay determined in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2)  The percentage to be deducted and withheld from basic pay for any pay period shall be equal to—

(A)  the applicable percentage under paragraph (3), minus

(B)  the percentage then in effect under section 3101(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to rate of tax for old-age, survivors, and disability insurance).

(3) (A)  The applicable percentage under this paragraph for civilian service shall be as follows:

Employee 7 January 1, 1987, to December 31, 1998.
7.25 January 1, 1999, to December 31, 1999.
7.4 January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2000.
7 After December 31, 2000.
Congressional employee 7.5 January 1, 1987, to December 31, 1998.
7.75 January 1, 1999, to December 31, 1999.
7.9 January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2000.
7.5 After December 31, 2000.
Member 7.5 January 1, 1987, to December 31, 1998.
7.75 January 1, 1999, to December 31, 1999.
7.9 January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2000.
8 January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2002.
7.5 After December 31, 2002.
Law enforcement officer, firefighter, member of the Capitol Police, member of the Supreme Court Police, or air traffic controller. 7.5 January 1, 1987, to December 31, 1998.
7.75 January 1, 1999, to December 31, 1999.
7.9 January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2000.
7.5 After December 31, 2002.
Nuclear materials courier 7 January 1, 1987, to October 16, 1998.
7.5 October 17, 1998, to December 31, 1998.
7.75 January 1, 1999, to December 31, 1999.
7.9 January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2000.
7.5 After December 31, 2000.
Customs and border protection officer 7.5 After June 29, 2008.

(B)  The applicable percentage under this paragraph for civilian service by revised annuity employees shall be as follows:

Employee 9.3 After December 31, 2012
Congressional employee 9.3 After December 31, 2012
Member 9.3 After December 31, 2012
Law enforcement officer, firefighter, member of the Capitol Police, member of the Supreme Court Police, or air traffic controller 9.8 After December 31, 2012
Nuclear materials courier 9.8 After December 31, 2012
Customs and border protection officer 9.8 After December 31, 2012

(C)  The applicable percentage under this paragraph for civilian service by further revised annuity employees shall be as follows:

Employee 10.6 After December 31, 2013.
Congressional employee 10.6 After December 31, 2013.
Member 10.6 After December 31, 2013.
Law enforcement officer, firefighter, member of the Capitol Police, member of the Supreme Court Police, or air traffic controller 11.1 After December 31, 2013.
Nuclear materials courier 11.1 After December 31, 2013.
Customs and border protection officer 11.1 After December 31, 2013.

(b)  Each employee or Member is deemed to consent and agree to the deductions under subsection (a). Notwithstanding any law or regulation affecting the pay of an employee or Member, payment less such deductions is a full and complete discharge and acquittance of all claims and demands for regular services during the period covered by the payment, except the right to any benefits under this subchapter, or under subchapter IV or V of this chapter, based on the service of the employee or Member.

(c)  The amounts deducted and withheld under this section shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Fund under such procedures as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe. Deposits made by an employee, Member, or survivor also shall be credited to the Fund.

(d) (1)  Under such regulations as the Office may prescribe, amounts deducted under subsection (a) shall be entered on individual retirement records.

(2)  Deposit may not be required for days of unused sick leave credited under section 8415(k).

(e) (1) (A)  Except as provided in subparagraph (B), and subject to paragraph (6), each employee or Member who has performed military service before the date of the separation on which the entitlement to any annuity under this subchapter, or subchapter V of this chapter, is based may pay, in accordance with such regulations as the Office shall issue, to the agency by which the employee is employed, or, in the case of a Member or a Congressional employee, to the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, as appropriate, an amount equal to 3 percent of the amount of the basic pay paid under section 204 of title 37 to the employee or Member for each period of military service after December 1956. The amount of such payments shall be based on such evidence of basic pay for military service as the employee or Member may provide, or if the Office determines sufficient evidence has not been so provided to adequately determine basic pay for military service, such payment shall be based on estimates of such basic pay provided to the Office under paragraph (4).

(B)  In any case where military service interrupts creditable civilian service under this subchapter and reemployment pursuant to chapter 43 of title 38 occurs on or after August 1, 1990, the deposit payable under this paragraph may not exceed the amount that would have been deducted and withheld under subsection (a)(1) from basic pay during civilian service if the employee had not performed the period of military service.

(2)  Any deposit made under paragraph (1) more than two years after the later of—

(A)  January 1, 1987; or

(B)  the date on which the employee or Member making the deposit first becomes an employee or Member following the period of military service for which such deposit is due,

shall include interest on such amount computed and compounded annually beginning on the date of the expiration of the two-year period. The interest rate that is applicable in computing interest in any year under this paragraph shall be equal to the interest rate that is applicable for such year under section 8334(e).

(3)  Any payment received by an agency, the Secretary of the Senate, or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives under this subsection shall be immediately remitted to the Office for deposit in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Fund.

(4)  The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary of Health and Human Services, as appropriate, shall furnish such information to the Office as the Office may determine to be necessary for the administration of this subsection.

(5)  For the purpose of survivor annuities, deposits authorized by this subsection may also be made by a survivor of an employee or Member.

(6)  The percentage of basic pay under section 204 of title 37 payable under paragraph (1), with respect to any period of military service performed during—

(A)  January 1, 1999, through December 31, 1999, shall be 3.25 percent; and

(B)  January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2000, shall be 3.4 percent.

(f) (1)  Each employee or Member who has performed service as a volunteer or volunteer leader under part A of title VIII of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as a full-time volunteer enrolled in a program of at least 1 year's duration under part A, B,1 or C of title I of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, or as a volunteer or volunteer leader under the Peace Corps Act before the date of the separation on which the entitlement to any annuity under this subchapter, or subchapter V of this chapter, is based may pay, in accordance with such regulations as the Office of Personnel Management shall issue, an amount equal to 3 percent of the readjustment allowance paid to the employee or Member under title VIII of the Economic Opportunity Service Act of 1964 or section 5(c) or 6(1) of the Peace Corps Act or the stipend paid to the employee or Member under part A, B,1 or C of title I of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, for each period of service as such a volunteer or volunteer leader. This paragraph shall be subject to paragraph (4).

(2)  Any deposit made under paragraph (1) more than 2 years after the later of—

(A)  October 1, 1993, or

(B)  the date on which the employee or Member making the deposit first becomes an employee or Member,

shall include interest on such amount computed and compounded annually beginning on the date of the expiration of the 2-year period. The interest rate that is applicable in computing interest in any year under this paragraph shall be equal to the interest rate that is applicable for such year under section 8334(e).

(3)  The Director of the Peace Corps and the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service shall furnish such information to the Office of Personnel Management as the Office may determine to be necessary for the administration of this subsection.

(4)  The percentage of the readjustment allowance or stipend (as the case may be) payable under paragraph (1), with respect to any period of volunteer service performed during—

(A)  January 1, 1999, through December 31, 1999, shall be 3.25 percent; and

(B)  January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2000, shall be 3.4 percent; and

(g)  A Member who has served in a position in the executive branch for which the rate of basic pay was reduced for the duration of the service of the Member to remove the impediment to the appointment of the Member imposed by article I, section 6, clause 2 of the Constitution, or the survivor of such a Member, may deposit to the credit of the Fund an amount equal to the difference between the amount deducted from the basic pay of the Member during that period of service and the amount that would have been deducted if the rate of basic pay which would otherwise have been in effect during that period had been in effect, plus interest computed under section 8334(e).

(h)  No deposit may be made with respect to service credited under section 8411(b)(6).

(i) (1)  Each employee or Member who has received a refund of retirement deductions under this or any other retirement system established for employees of the Government covering service for which such employee or Member may be allowed credit under this chapter may deposit the amount received, with interest. Credit may not be allowed for the service covered by the refund until the deposit is made.

(2)  Interest under this subsection shall be computed in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 8334(e) and regulations prescribed by the Office. The option under the third sentence of section 8334(e)(2) to make a deposit in one or more installments shall apply to deposits under this subsection.

(3)  For the purpose of survivor annuities, deposits authorized by this subsection may also be made by a survivor of an employee or Member.

§8423. Government contributions[84]

(a) (1)  Each employing agency having any employees or Members subject to section 8422(a) shall contribute to the Fund an amount equal to the sum of—

(A)  the product of—

(i)  the normal-cost percentage, as determined for employees (other than employees covered by subparagraph (B)), multiplied by

(ii)  the aggregate amount of basic pay payable by the agency, for the period involved, to employees (under clause (i)) who are within such agency; and

(B)  the product of—

(i)  the normal-cost percentage, as determined for Members, Congressional employees, law enforcement officers, members of the Supreme Court Police, firefighters, nuclear materials couriers, customs and border protection officers, air traffic controllers, military reserve technicians, and employees under sections 302 and 303 of the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement Act, multiplied by

(ii)  the aggregate amount of basic pay payable by the agency, for the period involved, to employees and Members (under clause (i)) who are within such agency.

(2) (A)  In determining any normal-cost percentage to be applied under this subsection, amounts provided for under section 8422 shall be taken into account.

(B) (i)  Subject to clauses (ii) and (iii), for purposes of any period in any year beginning after December 31, 2013, the normal-cost percentage under this subsection shall be determined and applied as if section 401(b) of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 had not been enacted.

(ii)  Any contributions under this subsection in excess of the amounts which (but for clause (i)) would otherwise have been payable shall be applied toward reducing the unfunded liability of the Civil Service Retirement System.

(iii)  After the unfunded liability of the Civil Service Retirement System has been eliminated, as determined by the Office, Government contributions under this subsection shall be determined and made disregarding this subparagraph.

(iv)  The preceding provisions of this subparagraph shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the contributions payable by the United States Postal Service and the Postal Regulatory Commission.

(3)  Contributions under this subsection shall be paid—

(A)  in the case of law enforcement officers, members of the Supreme Court Police, firefighters, nuclear materials couriers, customs and border protection officers, air traffic controllers, military reserve technicians, and other employees, from the appropriation or fund used to pay such law enforcement officers, members of the Supreme Court Police, firefighters, nuclear materials couriers, customs and border protection officers, air traffic controllers, military reserve technicians, or other employees, respectively;

(B)  in the case of elected officials, from an appropriation or fund available for payment of other salaries of the same office or establishment; and

(C)  in the case of employees of the legislative branch paid by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, from the applicable accounts of the House of Representatives.

(4)  A contribution to the Fund under this subsection shall be deposited under such procedures as the Comptroller General of the United States may prescribe.

(b) (1)  The Office shall compute—

(A)  the amount of the supplemental liability of the Fund with respect to individuals other than those to whom subparagraph (B) relates, and

(B)  the amount of the supplemental liability of the Fund with respect to current or former employees of the United States Postal Service (and the Postal Regulatory Commission) and their survivors;

as of the close of each fiscal year beginning after September 30, 1987.

(2)  The amount of any supplemental liability computed under paragraph (1)(A) or (1)(B) shall be amortized in 30 equal annual installments, with interest computed at the rate used in the most recent valuation of the System.

(3)  At the end of each fiscal year, the Office shall notify—

(A)  the Secretary of the Treasury of the amount of the installment computed under this subsection for such year with respect to individuals under paragraph (1)(A); and

(B)  the Postmaster General of the United States of the amount of the installment computed under this subsection for such year with respect to individuals under paragraph (1)(B).

(4) (A)  Before closing the accounts for a fiscal year, the Secretary of the Treasury shall credit to the Fund, as a Government contribution, out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, the amount under paragraph (3)(A) for such year.

(B)  Upon receiving notification under paragraph (3)(B), the United States Postal Service shall pay the amount specified in such notification to the Fund.

(5)  For the purpose of carrying out paragraph (1) with respect to any fiscal year, the Office may—

(A)  require the Board of Actuaries of the Civil Service Retirement System to make actuarial determinations and valuations, make recommendations, and maintain records in the same manner as provided in section 8347(f); and

(B)  use the latest actuarial determinations and valuations made by such Board of Actuaries.

(c)  Under regulations prescribed by the Office, the head of an agency may request reconsideration of any amount determined to be payable with respect to such agency under subsection (a) or (b). Any such request shall be referred to the Board of Actuaries of the Civil Service Retirement System. The Board of Actuaries shall review the computations of the Office and may make any adjustment with respect to any such amount which the Board determines appropriate. A determination by the Board of Actuaries under this subsection shall be final.

§8424. Lump-sum benefits; designation of beneficiary; order of precedence[85]

(a)  Subject to subsection (b), an employee or Member who—

(1) (A)  is separated from the service for at least 31 consecutive days; or

(B)  is transferred to a position in which the individual is not subject to this chapter and remains in such a position for at least 31 consecutive days;

(2)  files an application with the Office for payment of the lump-sum credit;

(3)  is not reemployed in a position in which the individual is subject to this chapter at the time of filing the application; and

(4)  will not become eligible to receive an annuity within 31 days after filing the application;

is entitled to be paid the lump-sum credit. Except as provided in section 8420a, payment of the lump-sum credit to an employee or Member voids all annuity rights under this subchapter, and subchapters IV and V of this chapter, based on the service on which the lump-sum credit is based, until the employee or Member is reemployed in the service subject to this chapter.

(b) (1) (A)  Payment of the lump-sum credit under subsection (a) may be made only if the spouse, if any, and any former spouse of the employee or Member are notified of the employee or Member’s application.

(B)  The Office shall prescribe regulations under which the lump-sum credit shall not be paid without the consent of a spouse or former spouse of the employee or Member where the Office has received such additional information or documentation as the Office may require that—

(i)  a court order bars payment of the lump-sum credit in order to preserve the court’s ability to award an annuity under section 8445 or 8467; or

(ii)  payment of the lump-sum credit would extinguish the entitlement of the spouse or former spouse, under a court order on file with the Office, to a survivor annuity under section 8445 or to any portion of an annuity under section 8467.

(2) (A)  Notification of a spouse or former spouse under this subsection shall be made in accordance with such requirements as the Office shall by regulation prescribe.

(B)  Under the regulations, the Office may provide that paragraph (1)(A) may be waived with respect to a spouse or former spouse if the employee or Member establishes to the satisfaction of the Office that the whereabouts of such spouse or former spouse cannot be determined.

(3)  The Office shall prescribe regulations under which this subsection shall be applied in any case in which the Office receives two or more orders or decrees referred to in paragraph (1)(B)(i).

(c)  Under regulations prescribed by the Office, an employee or Member, or a former employee or Member, may designate one or more beneficiaries under this section.

(d)  Lump-sum benefits authorized by subsections (e) through (g) shall be paid to the individual or individuals surviving the employee or Member and alive at the date title to the payment arises in the following order of precedence, and the payment bars recovery by any other individual:

First, to the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the employee or Member in a signed and witnessed writing received in the Office before the death of such employee or Member. For this purpose, a designation, change, or cancellation of beneficiary in a will or other document not so executed and filed has no force or effect.

Second, if there is no designated beneficiary, to the widow or widower of the employee or Member.

Third, if none of the above, to the child or children of the employee or Member and descendants of deceased children by representation.

Fourth, if none of the above, to the parents of the employee or Member or the survivor of them.

Fifth, if none of the above, to the duly appointed executor or administrator of the estate of the employee or Member.

Sixth, if none of the above, to such other next of kin of the employee or Member as the Office determines to be entitled under the laws of the domicile of the employee or Member at the date of death of the employee or Member.

For the purpose of this subsection, “child” includes a natural child and an adopted child, but does not include a stepchild.

(e)  If an employee or Member, or former employee or Member, dies—

(1)  without a survivor, or

(2)  with a survivor or survivors and the right of all survivors under subchapter IV terminates before a claim for survivor annuity under such subchapter is filed,

the lump-sum credit shall be paid.

(f)  If all annuity rights under this chapter (other than under subchapter III of this chapter) based on the service of a deceased employee or Member terminate before the total annuity paid equals the lump-sum credit, the difference shall be paid.

(g)  If an annuitant dies, annuity accrued and unpaid shall be paid.

(h)  Annuity accrued and unpaid on the termination, except by death, of the annuity of an annuitant or survivor shall be paid to that individual. Annuity accrued and unpaid on the death of a survivor shall be paid in the following order of precedence, and the payment bars recovery by any other person:

First, to the duly appointed executor or administrator of the estate of the survivor.

Second, if there is no executor or administrator, payment may be made, after 30 days from the date of death of the survivor, to such next of kin of the survivor as the Office determines to be entitled under the laws of the domicile of the survivor at the date of death.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

CHAPTER 85—UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION

SUBCHAPTER I—Employees Generally

§8501. Definitions[86]

For the purpose of this subchapter—

(1)  “Federal service” means service performed after 1952 in the employ of the United States or an instrumentality of the United States which is wholly or partially owned by the United States, but does not include service (except service to which subchapter II of this chapter applies) performed—

(A)  by an elective official in the executive or legislative branch;

(B)  as a member of the armed forces or the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

(C)  by members of the Foreign Service for whom payments are provided under section 609(b)(1) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980;

(D)  outside the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands by an individual who is not a citizen of the United States;

(E)  by an individual excluded by regulations of the Office of Personnel Management from the operation of subchapter III of chapter 83 of this title because he is paid on a contract or fee basis;

(F)  by an individual receiving nominal pay and allowances of $12 or less a year;

(G)  in a hospital, home, or other institution of the United States by a patient or inmate thereof;

(H)  by a student-employee as defined by section 5351 of this title;

(I)  by an individual serving on a temporary basis in case of fire, storm, earthquake, flood, or other similar emergency;

(J)  by an individual employed under a Federal relief program to relieve him from unemployment;

(K)  as a member of a State, county, or community committee under the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service or of any other board, council, committee, or other similar body, unless the board, council, committee, or other body is composed exclusively of individuals otherwise in the full-time employ of the United States; or

(L)  by an officer or a member of the crew on or in connection with an American vessel—

(i)  owned by or bareboat chartered to the United States; and

(ii)  whose business is conducted by a general agent of the Secretary of Commerce;

if contributions on account of the service are required to be made to an unemployment fund under a State unemployment compensation law under section 3305(g) of title 26;

(2)  “Federal wages” means all pay and allowances, in cash and in kind, for Federal service;

(3)  “Federal employee” means an individual who has performed Federal service;

(4)  “compensation” means cash benefits payable to an individual with respect to his unemployment including any portion thereof payable with respect to dependents;

(5)  “benefit year” means the benefit year as defined by the applicable State unemployment compensation law, and if not so defined the term means the period prescribed in the agreement under this subchapter with a State or, in the absence of such an agreement, the period prescribed by the Secretary of Labor;

(6)  “State” means the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands;

(7)  “United States”, when used in a geographical sense, means the States; and

(8)  “base period” means the base period as defined by the applicable State unemployment compensation law for the benefit year.

§8502. Compensation under State agreement

(a)  The Secretary of Labor, on behalf of the United States, may enter into an agreement with a State, or with an agency administering the unemployment compensation law of a State, under which the State agency shall—

(1)  pay, as agent of the United States, compensation under this subchapter to Federal employees; and

(2)  otherwise cooperate with the Secretary and with other State agencies in paying compensation under this subchapter.

(b)  The agreement shall provide that compensation will be paid by the State to a Federal employee in the same amount, on the same terms, and subject to the same conditions as the compensation which would be payable to him under the unemployment compensation law of the State if his Federal service and Federal wages assigned under section 8504 of this title to the State and been included as employment and wages under that State law.

(c)  [ Repealed.[87]]

(d)  A determination by a State agency with respect to entitlement to compensation under an agreement is subject to review in the same manner and to the same extent as determinations under the State unemployment compensation law, and only in that manner and to that extent.

(e)  Each agreement shall provide the terms and conditions on which it may be amended or terminated.

§8503. Compensation absent State agreement

(a)  In the case of a Federal employee whose Federal service and Federal wages are assigned under section 8504 of this title to a State which does not have an agreement with the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary, under regulations prescribed by him, shall, on the filing by the Federal employee of a claim for compensation under this subsection, pay compensation to him in the same amount, on the same terms, and subject to the same conditions as would be paid to him under the unemployment compensation law of the State if his Federal service and Federal wages had been included as employment and wages under that State law. However, if the Federal employee, without regard to his Federal service and Federal wages, has employment or wages sufficient to qualify for compensation during the benefit year under that State law, then payments of compensation under this subsection may be made only on the basis of his Federal service and Federal wages.

(b)  A Federal employee whose claim for compensation under subsection (a) of this section is denied is entitled to a fair hearing under regulations prescribed by the Secretary. A final determination by the Secretary with respect to entitlement to compensation under this section is subject to review by the courts in the same manner and to the same extent as is provided by section 405(g) of title 42.

§8504. Assignment of Federal service and wages

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Labor, the Federal service and Federal wages of a Federal employee shall be assigned to the State in which he had his last official station in Federal service before the filing of his first claim for compensation for the benefit year. However—

(1)  if, at the time of filing his first claim, he resides in another State in which he performed, after the termination of his Federal service, service covered under the unemployment compensation law of the other State, his Federal service and Federal wages shall be assigned to the other State; and

(2)  if his last official station in Federal service, before filing his first claim, was outside the United States, his Federal service and Federal wages shall be assigned to the State where he resides at the time he files his first claim.

§8505. Payments to States[88]

(a)  Each State is entitled to be paid by the United States with respect to each individual whose base period wages included Federal wages an amount which shall bear the same ratio to the total amount of compensation paid to such individual as the amount of his Federal wages in his base period bears to the total amount of his base period wages.

(b)  Each State shall be paid, either in advance or by way of reimbursement, as may be determined by the Secretary of Labor, the sum that the Secretary estimates the State is entitled to receive under this subchapter for each calendar month. The sum shall be reduced or increased by the amount which the Secretary finds that his estimate for an earlier calendar month was greater or less than the sum which should have been paid to the State. An estimate may be made on the basis of a statistical, sampling, or other method agreed on by the Secretary and the State agency.

(c)  The Secretary, from time to time, shall certify to the Secretary of the Treasury the sum payable to each State under this section. The Secretary of the Treasury, before audit or settlement by the Government Accountability Office, shall pay the State in accordance with the certification from the funds for carrying out the purposes of this subchapter.

(d)  Money paid a State under this subchapter may be used solely for the purposes for which it is paid. Money so paid which is not used for these purposes shall be returned, at the time specified by the agreement, to the Treasury of the United States and credited to current applicable appropriations, funds, or accounts from which payments to States under this subchapter may be made.

(e)  An agreement may—

(1)  require each State officer or employee who certifies payments or disburses funds under the agreement, or who otherwise participates in its performance, to give a surety bond to the United States in the amount the Secretary considers necessary; and

(2)  provide for payment of the cost of the bond from funds for carrying out the purposes of this subchapter.

(f)  In the absence of gross negligence or intent to defraud the United States, an individual designated by the Secretary, or designated under an agreement, as a certifying official is not liable for the payment of compensation certified by him under this subchapter.

(g)  In the absence of gross negligence or intent to defraud the United States, a disbursing official is not liable for a payment by him under this subchapter if it was based on a voucher signed by a certifying official designated as provided by subsection (f) of this section.

(h)  For the purpose of payments made to a State under subchapter III of chapter 7 of title 42, administration by a State agency under an agreement is deemed a part of the administration of the State unemployment compensation law.

§8506. Dissemination of information

(a)  Each agency of the United States and each wholly or partially owned instrumentality of the United States shall make available to State agencies which have agreements under this subchapter, or to the Secretary of Labor, as the case may be, such information concerning the Federal service and Federal wages of a Federal employee as the Secretary considers practicable and necessary for the determination of the entitlement of the Federal employee to compensation under this subchapter. The information shall include the findings of the employing agency concerning—

(1)  whether or not the Federal employee has performed Federal service;

(2)  the periods of Federal service;

(3)  the amount of Federal wages; and

(4)  the reasons for termination of Federal service.

The employing agency shall make the findings in the form and manner prescribed by regulations of the Secretary. The regulations shall include provision for correction by the employing agency of errors and omissions. This subsection does not apply with respect to Federal service and Federal wages covered by subchapter II of this chapter.

(b)  The agency administering the unemployment compensation law of a State shall furnish the Secretary such information as he considers necessary or appropriate in carrying out this subchapter. The information is deemed the report required by the Secretary for the purpose of section 503(a)(6) of title 42.

§8507. False statements and misrepresentations

(a)  If a State agency, the Secretary of Labor, or a court of competent jurisdiction finds that an individual—

(1)  knowingly has made, or caused to be made by another, a false statement or representation of a material fact, or knowingly has failed, or caused another to fail, to disclose a material fact; and

(2)  as a result of that action has received an amount as compensation under this subchapter to which he was not entitled;

the individual shall repay the amount to the State agency or the Secretary. Instead of requiring repayment under this subsection, the State agency or the Secretary may recover the amount by deductions from compensation payable to the individual under this subchapter during the 2-year period after the date of the finding. A finding by a State agency or the Secretary may be made only after an opportunity for a fair hearing, subject to such further review as may be appropriate under sections 8502(d) and 8503(c) of this title.

(b)  An amount repaid under subsection (a) of this section shall be—

(1)  deposited in the fund from which payment was made, if the repayment was to a State agency; or

(2)  returned to the Treasury of the United States and credited to the current applicable appropriation, fund, or account from which payment was made, if the repayment was to the Secretary.

§8508. Regulations

The Secretary of Labor may prescribe rules and regulations necessary to carry out this subchapter and subchapter II of this chapter. The Secretary, insofar as practicable, shall consult with representatives of the State unemployment compensation agencies before prescribing rules or regulations which may affect the performance by the State agencies of functions under agreements under this subchapter.

§8509. Federal Employees Compensation Account[89]

(a)  The Federal Employees Compensation Account (as established by section 909 of the Social Security Act, and hereafter in this section referred to as the “Account”) in the Unemployment Trust Fund (as established by section 904 of such Act) shall consist of—

(1)  funds appropriated to or transferred thereto, and

(2)  amounts deposited therein pursuant to subsection (c).

(b)  Moneys in the Account shall be available only for the purpose of making payments to States pursuant to agreements entered into under this chapter and making payments of compensation under this chapter in States which do not have in effect such an agreement.

(c) (1)  Each employing agency shall deposit into the Account amounts equal to the expenditures incurred under this chapter on account of Federal service performed by employees and former employees of that agency.

(2)  Deposits required by paragraph (1) shall be made during each calendar quarter and the amount of the deposit to be made by any employing agency during any quarter shall be based on a determination by the Secretary of Labor as to the amounts of payments, made prior to such quarter from the Account based on Federal service performed by employees of such agency after December 31, 1980, with respect to which deposit has not previously been made. The amount to be deposited by any employing agency during any calendar quarter shall be adjusted to take account of any overpayment or underpayment of deposit during any previous quarter for which adjustment has not already been made.

(3)  If any Federal agency does not deposit in the Federal Employees Compensation Account any amount before the date 30 days after the date on which the Secretary of Labor has notified such agency that it is required to so deposit such amount, the Secretary of Labor shall notify the Secretary of the Treasury of the failure to make such deposit and the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer such amount to the Federal Employees Compensation Account from amounts otherwise appropriated to such Federal agency.

(d)  The Secretary of Labor shall certify to the Secretary of the Treasury the amount of the deposit which each employing agency is required to make to the Account during any calendar quarter, and the Secretary of the Treasury shall notify the Secretary of Labor as to the date and amount of any deposit made to such Account by any such agency.

(e)  Prior to the beginning of each fiscal year (commencing with the fiscal year which begins October 1, 1981) the Secretary of Labor shall estimate—

(1)  the amount of expenditures which will be made from the Account during such year, and

(2)  the amount of funds which will be available during such year for the making of such expenditures,

and if, on the basis of such estimate, he determines that the amount described in paragraph (2) is in excess of the amount necessary—

(3)  to meet the expenditures described in paragraph (1), and

(4)  to provide a reasonable contingency fund so as to assure that there will, during all times in such year, be sufficient sums available in the Account to meet the expenditures described in paragraph (1),

he shall certify the amount of such excess to the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer, from the Account to the general fund of the Treasury, an amount equal to such excess.

(f)  The Secretary of Labor is authorized to establish such rules and regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this section.

(g)  Any funds appropriated after the establishment of the Account, for the making of payments for which expenditures are authorized to be made from moneys in the Account, shall be made to the Account; and there are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Account, from time to time, such sums as may be necessary to assure that there will, at all times, be sufficient sums available in the Account to meet the expenditures authorized to be made from moneys therein.

(h)  For purposes of this section, the term “Federal service” includes Federal service as defined in section 8521(a).

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

SUBCHAPTER II—Ex-Servicemen

§8521. Definitions; application[90]

(a)  For the purpose of this subchapter—

(1)  “Federal service” means active service (not including active duty in a reserve status unless for a continuous period of 180 days or more) in the armed forces or the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration if with respect to that service—

(A)  the individual was discharged or released under honorable conditions (and, if an officer, did not resign for the good of the service); and

(B) (i)  the individual was discharged or released after completing his first full term of active service which the individual initially agreed to serve, or

(ii)  the individual was discharged or released before completing such term of active service—

(I)  for the convenience of the Government under an early release program,

(II)  because of medical disqualification, pregnancy, parenthood, or any service-incurred injury or disability,

(III)  because of hardship (including pursuant to a sole survivorship discharge, as that term is defined in section 1174(i) of title 10), or

(IV)  because of personality disorders or inaptitude but only if the service was continuous for 365 days or more;

(2)  “Federal wages” means all pay and allowances, in cash and in kind, for Federal service, computed on the basis of the pay and allowances for the pay grade of the individual at the time of his latest discharge or release from Federal service as specified in the schedule applicable at the time he files his first claim for compensation for the benefit year. The Secretary of Labor shall issue, from time to time, after consultation with the Secretary of Defense, schedules specifying the pay and allowances for each pay grade of servicemen covered by this subchapter, which reflect representative amounts for appropriate elements of the pay and allowances whether in cash or in kind; and

(3)  “State” means the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

(b)  The provisions of subchapter I of this chapter, subject to the modifications made by this subchapter, apply to individuals who have had Federal service as defined by subsection (a) of this section.

§8522. Assignment of Federal service and wages[91]

Notwithstanding section 8504 of this title, Federal service and Federal wages not previously assigned shall be assigned to the State in which the claimant first files claim for unemployment compensation after his latest discharge or release from Federal service. This assignment is deemed as assignment under section 8504 of this title for the purpose of this subchapter.

§8523. Dissemination of information

(a)  When designated by the Secretary of Labor, an agency of the United States shall make available to the appropriate State agency or to the Secretary, as the case may be, such information, including findings in the form and manner prescribed by regulations of the Secretary, as the Secretary considers practicable and necessary for the determination of the entitlement of an individual to compensation under this subchapter.

(b)  Subject to correction of errors and omissions as prescribed by regulations of the Secretary, the following are final and conclusive for the purpose of sections 8502(d) and 8503(c) of this title:

(1)  Findings by an agency of the United States made in accordance with subsection (a) of this section with respect to—

(A)  whether or not an individual has met any condition specified by section 8521(a)(1) of this title;

(B)  the periods of Federal service; and

(C)  the pay grade of the individual at the time of his latest discharge or release from Federal service.

(2)  The schedules of pay and allowances prescribed by the Secretary under section 8521(a)(2) of this title.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

§8525. Effect on other statutes[92]

(a)  Subsection (b)(2) does not apply to an individual who—

(1)  is otherwise entitled to compensation under this subchapter;

(2)  is described in section 3311(b) of title 38;

(3)  is not receiving retired pay under title 10; and

(4)  was discharged or released from service in the Armed Forces or the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (including through a reduction in force) under honorable conditions, but did not voluntarily separate from such service.

(b)  An individual is not entitled to compensation under this subchapter for any period with respect to which the individual receives—

(1)  a subsistence allowance under chapter 31 of title 38 or under part VIII of Veterans Regulation Numbered 1(a); or

(2)  except in the case of an individual described in subsection (a), an educational assistance allowance under chapter 33 of title 38; or

(3)  an educational assistance allowance under chapter 35 of title 38.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

§8903. Health benefits plans[93]

The Office of Personnel Management may contract for or approve the following health benefits plans:

(1)  Service benefit plan.—One Government-wide plan, which may be underwritten by participating affiliates licensed in any number of States, offering two levels of benefits, under which payment is made by a carrier under contracts with physicians, hospitals, or other providers of health services for benefits of the types described by section 8904(1) of this title given to employees, annuitants, members of their families, former spouses, or persons having continued coverage under section 8905a of this title, or, under certain conditions, payment is made by a carrier to the employee, annuitant, family member, former spouse, or person having continued coverage under section 8905a of this title.

(2)  Indemnity benefit plan.—One Government-wide plan, offering two levels of benefits, under which a carrier agrees to pay certain sums of money, not in excess of the actual expenses incurred, for benefits of the types described by section 8904(2) of this title.

(3)  Employee organization plans.—Employee organization plans which offer benefits of the types referred to by section 8904(3) of this title, which are sponsored or underwritten, and are administered, in whole or substantial part, by employee organizations described in section 8901(8)(A) of this title, which are available only to individuals, and members of their families, who at the time of enrollment are members of the organization.

(4)  Comprehensive medical plans.—

(A)  Group-practice prepayment plans.—Group-practice prepayment plans which offer health benefits of the types referred to by section 8904(4) of this title, in whole or in substantial part on a prepaid basis, with professional services thereunder provided by physicians practicing as a group in a common center or centers. The group shall include at least 3 physicians who receive all or a substantial part of their professional income from the prepaid funds and who represent 1 or more medical specialties appropriate and necessary for the population proposed to be served by the plan.

(B)  Individual-practice prepayment plans.—Individual-practice prepayment plans which offer health services in whole or substantial part on a prepaid basis, with professional services thereunder provided by individual physicians who agree, under certain conditions approved by the Office, to accept the payments provided by the plans as full payment for covered services given by them including, in addition to in-hospital services, general care given in their offices and the patients’ homes, out-of-hospital diagnostic procedures, and preventive care, and which plans are offered by organizations which have successfully operated similar plans before approval by the Office of the plan in which employees may enroll.

(C)  Mixed model prepayment plans.—Mixed model prepayment plans which are a combination of the type of plans described in subparagraph (A) and the type of plans described in subparagraph (B).

§8903a. Additional health benefits plans

(a)  In addition to any plan under section 8903 of this title, the Office of Personnel Management may contract for or approve one or more health benefits plans under this section.

(b)  A plan under this section may not be contracted for or approved unless it—

(1)  is sponsored or underwritten, and administered, in whole or substantial part, by an employee organization described in section 8901(8)(B) of this title;

(2)  offers benefits of the types named by paragraph (1) or (2) of section 8904 of this title or both;

(3)  provides for benefits only by paying for, or providing reimbursement for, the cost of such benefits (as provided for under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 8903 of this title) or a combination thereof; and

(4)  is available only to individuals who, at the time of enrollment, are full members of the organization and to members of their families.

(c)  A contract for a plan approved under this section shall require the carrier—

(1)  to enter into an agreement approved by the Office with an underwriting subcontractor licensed to issue group health insurance in all the States and the District of Columbia; or

(2)  to demonstrate ability to meet reasonable minimum financial standards prescribed by the Office.

(d)  For the purpose of this section, an individual shall be considered a full member of an organization if such individual is eligible to exercise all rights and privileges incident to full membership in such organization (determined without regard to the right to hold elected office).

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

§8906. Contributions[94]

(a) (1)  Not later than October 1 of each year, the Office of Personnel Management shall determine the weighted average of the subscription charges that will be in effect during the following contract year with respect to—

(A)  enrollments under this chapter for self alone; and

(B)  enrollments under this chapter for self plus one; and

(C)  enrollments under this chapter for self and family.

(2)  In determining each weighted average under paragraph (1), the weight to be given to a particular subscription charge shall, with respect to each plan (and option) to which it is to apply, be commensurate with the number of enrollees enrolled in such plan (and option) as of March 31 of the year in which the determination is being made.

(3)  For purposes of paragraph (2), the term “enrollee” means any individual who, during the contract year for which the weighted average is to be used under this section, will be eligible for a Government contribution for health benefits.

(b) (1)  Except as provided in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), the biweekly Government contribution for health benefits for an employee or annuitant enrolled in a health benefits plan under this chapter is adjusted to an amount equal to 72 percent of the weighted average under subsection (a)(1) (A) or (B), as applicable. For an employee, the adjustment begins on the first day of the employee’s first pay period of each year. For an annuitant, the adjustment begins on the first day of the first period of each year for which an annuity payment is made.

(2)  The biweekly Government contribution for an employee or annuitant enrolled in a plan under this chapter shall not exceed 75 percent of the subscription charge.

(3)  In the case of an employee who is occupying a position on a part-time career employment basis (as defined in section 3401(2) of this title), the biweekly Government contribution shall be equal to the percentage which bears the same ratio to the percentage determined under this subsection (without regard to this paragraph) as the average number of hours of such employee’s regularly scheduled workweek bears to the average number of hours in the regularly scheduled workweek of an employee serving in a comparable position on a full- time career basis (as determined under regulations prescribed by the Office).

(4)  In the case of persons who are enrolled in a health benefits plan as part of the demonstration project under section 1108 of title 10, the Government contribution shall be subject to the limitation set forth in subsection (i) of that section.

(c)  There shall be withheld from the pay of each enrolled employee and (except as provided in subsection (i) of this section) the annuity of each enrolled annuitant and there shall be contributed by the Government, amounts, in the same ratio as the contributions of the employee or annuitant and the Government under subsection (b) of this section, which are necessary for the administrative costs and the reserves provided for by section 8909(b) of this title.

(d)  The amount necessary to pay the total charge for enrollment, after the Government contribution is deducted, shall be withheld from the pay of each enrolled employee and (except as provided in subsection (i) of this section) from the annuity of each enrolled annuitant. The withholding for an annuitant shall be the same as that for an employee enrolled in the same health benefits plan and level of benefits.

(e) (1) (A)  An employee enrolled in a health benefits plan under this chapter who is placed in a leave without pay status may have his coverage and the coverage of members of his family continued under the plan for not to exceed 1 year under regulations prescribed by the Office.

(B)  During each pay period in which an enrollment continues under subparagraph (A)—

(i)  employee and Government contributions required by this section shall be paid on a current basis; and

(ii)  if necessary, the head of the employing agency shall approve advance payment, recoverable in the same manner as under section 5524a(c), of a portion of basic pay sufficient to pay current employee contributions.

(C)  Each agency shall establish procedures for accepting direct payments of employee contributions for the purposes of this paragraph.

(2)  An employee who enters on approved leave without pay to serve as a full- time officer or employee of an organization composed primarily of employees as defined by section 8901 of this title, within 60 days after entering on that leave without pay, may file with his employing agency an election to continue his health benefits enrollment and arrange to pay currently into the Employees Health Benefits Fund, through his employing agency, both employee and agency contributions from the beginning of leave without pay. The employing agency shall forward the enrollment charges so paid to the Fund. If the employee does not so elect, his enrollment will continue during nonpay status and end as provided by paragraph (1) of this subsection and implementing regulations.

(3) (A)  An employing agency may pay both the employee and Government contributions, and any additional administrative expenses otherwise chargeable to the employee, with respect to health care coverage for an employee described in subparagraph (B) and the family of such employee.

(B)  An employee referred to in subparagraph (A) is an employee who—

(i)  is enrolled in a health benefits plan under this chapter;

(ii)  is a member of a reserve component of the armed forces;

(iii)  is called or ordered to active duty in support of a contingency operation (as defined in section 101(a)(13) of title 10);

(iv)  is placed on leave without pay or separated from service to perform active duty; and

(v)  serves on active duty for a period of more than 30 consecutive days.

(C)  Notwithstanding the one-year limitation on coverage described in paragraph (1)(A), payment may be made under this paragraph for a period not to exceed 24 months.

(f)  The Government contribution, and any additional payments under subsection (e)(3)(A), for health benefits for an employee shall be paid—

(1)  in the case of employees generally, from the appropriation or fund which is used to pay the employee;

(2)  in the case of an elected official, from an appropriation or fund available for payment of other salaries of the same office or establishment;

(3)  in the case of an employee of the legislative branch who is paid by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, from the applicable accounts of the House of Representatives; and

(4)  in the case of an employee in a leave without pay status, from the appropriation or fund which would be used to pay the employee if he were in a pay status.

(g) (1)  Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), the Government contributions authorized by this section for health benefits for an annuitant shall be paid from annual appropriations which are authorized to be made for that purpose and which may be made available until expended.

(2) (A)  The Government contributions authorized by this section for health benefits for an individual who first becomes an annuitant by reason of retirement from employment with the United States Postal Service on or after July 1, 1971, or for a survivor of such an individual or of an individual who died on or after July 1, 1971, while employed by the United States Postal Service, shall through September 30, 2016, be paid by the United States Postal Service, and thereafter shall be paid first from the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund up to the amount contained in the Fund, with any remaining amount paid by the United States Postal Service

(B)  In determining any amount for which the Postal Service is liable under this paragraph, the amount of the liability shall be prorated to reflect only that portion of total service which is attributable to civilian service performed (by the former postal employee or by the deceased individual referred to in subparagraph (A), as the case may be) after June 30, 1971, as estimated by the Office of Personnel Management.

(3)  The Government contribution for persons enrolled in a health benefits plan as part of the demonstration project under section 1108 of title 10 shall be paid as provided in subsection (i) of that section.

(h)  The Office shall provide for conversion of biweekly rates of contribution specified by this section to rates for employees and annuitants paid on other than a biweekly basis, and for this purpose may provide for the adjustment of the converted rate to the nearest cent.

(i)  An annuitant whose annuity is insufficient to cover the withholdings required for enrollment in a particular health benefits plan may enroll (or remain enrolled) in such plan, notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if the annuitant elects, under conditions prescribed by regulations of the Office, to pay currently into the Employees Health Benefits Fund, through the retirement system that administers the annuitant’s health benefits enrollment, an amount equal to the withholdings that would otherwise be required under this section.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

[Internal References.—SSAct §§202(k) and (x), 205(r), 210(a), (p) and (r), 215(h), 217(f), 221(j) and (k), 226(g), 708(a), 908(e), 909, 1102(b), 1106(c), 1114(b), (f), and (g), 1122(i), 1125(b), 1139(f), 1153(d), 1160(a), 1840(d), 1848(n)(8), 1871(b), 1878(f) and (h), and 1886(d) and P.L. 111–148, §10331(c) (this Volume) cite title 5, United States Code. SSAct §§907(c) and 1106 heading have footnotes referring to title 5, United States Code.]


[19]  As amended through P.L. 114–185, June 30, 2016.

[20]  P.L. 98-620, §402(2); 98 Stat. 3357.

[21]  P.L. No. 111-83, 123 Stat. 2142, 2184 (October 28, 2009).

[22]  As amended through P.L. 113–295, December 19, 2014.

[23]  5 U.S.C. §552(e) was redesignated as §552(f) by P.L. 99–570, §1802(b) (October 27, 1986).

[24]  P.L. 113–295, Div. B (December 9, 2014), does not contain a §3. Presumably, the reference was meant to be to 26 U.S.C. §529A(d)(4), relating to electronic distribution statements submitted by the states to the Commissioner of Social Security.

[25]  P.L. 108-271, §8(b), provided that “Any reference to the General Accounting Office in any law, rule, regulation, certificate, directive, instruction, or other official paper in force on the date of enactment of this Act shall be considered to refer and apply to the Government Accountability Office.”.

[26]  See Vol. II, 31 U.S.C. §3354(d)(1)(D), which substitutes “between the source agency and the recipient agency or non-Federal agency or an agreement governing multiple agencies” for “between the source agency and the recipient agency or non-Federal agency” for purposes of agreements under the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019.

[27]  This Committee was redesignated as the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee in 2004.

[28]  This Committee was redesignated as the House Committee on Oversight and Reform in 2019.

[29]  As amended through P.L. 111–203, July 21, 2010.

[30]  As amended through P.L. 111–240, September 27, 2010.

[31]  So in original. Two paragraphs (6) have been enacted.

[32]  As amended through P.L. 111–350, January 4, 2011.

[33]  As amended through P.L. 113–235, December 16, 2014.

[34]  As amended through P.L. 103–337, October 5, 1994.

[35]  As amended through P.L. 102–378, October 2, 1992.

[36]  As amended through P.L. 111–350, January 4, 2011.

[37]  As amended through P.L. 104–201, September 23, 1996.

[38]  As amended through P.L. 94–183, December 31, 1975.

[39]  As amended through P.L. 105–277, October 21, 1998.

[40]  As amended through P.L. 101–509, November 5, 1990.

[41]  As amended through P.L. 108–458, December 17, 2004.

[42]  As amended through P.L. 115–91, December 12, 2017.

[43]  As amended through P.L. 114–289, December 26, 2016.

[44]  As amended through P.L. 90–83, September 11, 1967.

[45]  As amended through P.L. 103–89, September 30, 1993.

[46]  As amended through P.L. 89–554, October 13, 1978.

[47]  As amended through P.L. 108–136, November 24, 2003.

[48]  As amended through P.L. 110–181, January 28, 2008.

[49]  As amended through P.L. 94–22, May 19, 1975.

[50]  As amended through P.L. 106–571, December 28, 2000.

[51]  As amended through P.L. 105–261, October 17, 1998.

[52]  As amended through P.L. 112–105, April 4, 2012.

[53]  As amended through P.L. 94–183, December 31, 1975.

[54]  As amended through P.L. 111–84, October 28, 2009.

[55]  As amended through P.L. 110–161, December 26, 2007.

[56]  P.L. 112-141, §100121(a)(2), added this new section 8336a, to take effect on the effective date of the implementing regulations issued by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management.

[57]  As amended through P.L. 106–553, December 21, 2000.

[58]  As amended through P.L. 103–337, October 5, 1994.

[59]  As amended through P.L. 106–553, December 21, 2000.

[60]  As amended through P.L. 106–361, October 27, 2000.

[61]  As amended through P.L. 103–358, October 14, 1994.

[62]  P.L. 99-251, §305(a); 100 Stat. 26.

[63]  As amended through P.L. 107–107, December 28, 2001.

[64]  So in original. Probably should be “Commissioner’s.”

[65]  As amended through P.L. 113–67, December 26, 2013.

[66]  As in original, possibly should be a semicolon.

[67]  As amended through P.L. 109–435, December 20, 2006.

[68]  As amended through P.L. 112–105, April 4, 2012.

[69]  As in original. P.L. 106-168, 202(a)(1), added this subsection (i).

[70]  As in original. A second subsection (i) was enacted by P.L. 106-554.

[71]  As in original. No subsection (j) has been enacted.

[72]  As amended through P.L. 110–161, December 26, 2007.

[73]  P.L. 112-141, §100121(b)(1), added this new section 8412a, to take effect on the effective date of the implementing regulations issued by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management.

[74]  As amended through P.L. 99–556, October 27, 1986.

[75]  As amended through P.L. 107–296, November 25, 2002.

[76]  As amended through P.L. 114–190, July 15, 2016.

[77]  So in original. Probably should be followed by a period.

[78]  As amended through P.L. 103–66, August 10, 1993.

[79]  As amended through P.L. 100–238, January 8, 1988.

[80]  As amended through P.L. 103–66, August 10, 1993.

[81]  As amended through P.L. 107–296, November 25, 2002.

[82]  As amended through P.L. 114–251, December 8, 2016.

[83]  As amended through P.L. 113–67, December 26, 2013.

[84]  As amended through P.L. 113–67, December 26, 2013.

[85]  As amended through P.L. 111–84, October 28, 2009.

[86]  As amended through P.L. 96–465, October 17, 1980.

[87]  P.L. 90-83, §1(86)(B); 81 Stat. 218.

[88]  As amended through P.L. 108–271, July 7, 2004.

[89]  As amended through P.L. 102–318, July 3, 1992.

[90]  As amended through P.L. 114–92, November 25, 2015.

[91]  As amended through P.L. 94–566, October 20, 1976.

[92]  As amended through P.L. 114–92, November 25, 2015.

[93]  As amended through P.L. 105–266, October 19, 1988.

[94]  As amended through P.L. 113–67, December 26, 2013.