Bill > S1505

This bill, the Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act (or "Tim's Act"), aims to reform and enhance the pay and benefits of federal wildland firefighters. The key provisions of the bill include: 1. Establishing special base pay rates for wildland firefighters, with minimum rates set at step 3 of GS-6 and higher rates for grades 6-15 increased by percentages ranging from 1.5% to 27%. 2. Providing incident standby premium pay for wildland firefighters deployed to qualifying incidents, at a rate of 50% of their basic hourly pay for designated sleep and rest periods. 3. Limiting premium pay for emergency wildland fire suppression activities to ensure total compensation does not exceed the rate of basic pay for level II of the Executive Schedule. 4. Providing paid rest and recuperation leave for wildland firefighters following service on qualifying incidents. 5. Requiring the establishment of a database to track chronic diseases and recommendations to minimize environmental hazards, as well as mental health programs and leave for wildland firefighters. 6. Allowing service as a wildland firefighter since 1989 to be creditable under the Federal Employees Retirement System and expanding disability benefits. 7. Requiring pay parity between federal structural and wildland firefighters within one year. The bill aims to address longstanding pay and benefit disparities faced by federal wildland firefighters compared to their state, local, and structural firefighting counterparts.