Federal Wildland Firefighter Classification Act

Federal Wildland Firefighter Classification Act - Requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to develop a separate and distinct wildland firefighter occupational series that more accurately reflects the variety of duties performed by such firefighters. Defines a "wildland firefighter" as a federal land management agency employee whose duties are primarily to perform work directly related to the prevention, control, suppression, and management of wildfires.

[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5677 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5677

    To implement reforms to the Federal land management agency fire 
programs in order to address the complexities of 21st century wildfires 
             in a more cost-effective and efficient manner.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 19, 2014

 Mr. LaMalfa introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
              Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To implement reforms to the Federal land management agency fire 
programs in order to address the complexities of 21st century wildfires 
             in a more cost-effective and efficient manner.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Wildland Firefighter 
Classification Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purposes of this Act--
            (1) the term ``wildland firefighter'' means an employee of 
        a Federal land management agency, the duties of whose position 
        are primarily to perform work directly related to the 
        prevention, control, suppression, and management of wildfires, 
        including an employee who is transferred to a supervisory or 
        administrative position from a position of wildland firefighter 
        (as defined by the preceding provisions of this paragraph);
            (2) the term ``Federal land management agency'' means--
                    (A) within the Department of the Interior: the 
                Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Indian 
                Affairs, the National Park Service, and the Fish and 
                Wildlife Service; and
                    (B) within the Department of Agriculture: the 
                Forest Service; and
            (3) the term ``employee'' has the meaning given such term 
        by section 2105 of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 3. CLASSIFICATION OF WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS.

    (a) Requirements.--
            (1) In general.--Within 30 days after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Office of Personnel Management in 
        the administration of chapter 51 of title 5, United States 
        Code, and in cooperation with the Federal land management 
        agencies, shall commence development of a separate and distinct 
        Wildland Firefighter occupational series that will more 
        accurately reflect the variety of duties performed by wildland 
        firefighters.
            (2) Designation.--The Office of Personnel Management shall 
        ensure that the official title assigned to any occupational 
        series established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include 
        ``wildland firefighter'', with appropriate subtitles such as 
        hand crew, hotshot, smokejumper, battalion chief, helitack, 
        fuels, and engine module.
            (3) Positions described.--Paragraph (1) applies with 
        respect to any class or other category of positions that 
        consists primarily or exclusively of forestry technician 
        positions, range technician positions, or any other positions 
        the duties and responsibilities of which include--
                    (A) significant wildfire preparedness, suppression, 
                and hazardous fuels reduction activities; or
                    (B) activities necessary to meet any other 
                emergency incident to which such employee may be 
                assigned.
            (4) Requirements.--Section 5545(d)(1) of title 5, United 
        States Code, is amended by striking all after ``except'' and 
        inserting an em dash and the following:
                    ``(A) an employee in an occupational series 
                covering positions for which the primary duties are 
                wildland firefighting, as determined by the Office; and
                    ``(B) in such other circumstances as the Office may 
                by regulation prescribe; and''.
    (c) Employees Currently in the 401 Fire Management Specialist 
Series.--Any individual who, as of the date of the enactment of this 
Act, holds a position of wildland firefighter shall have the option of 
either remaining in the 401 series (as in effect on such date under 
chapter 51 of title 5, United States Code) or being included in the new 
wildland firefighter series, as established pursuant to subsection (a).
    (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be considered 
to require any change in the pay, benefits, or other terms or 
conditions of employment that apply with respect to any category of 
employees or positions described herein. Furthermore, nothing in this 
Act shall preclude a Federal wildland firefighter who attains age 57 
(the maximum age for Federal firefighters to continue serving) from 
cross-training into another occupational series not subject to 
mandatory retirement limitations to maintain employment with any 
Federal land management agency.
                                 <all>