Bill > S279

This bill, known as the Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act (or Tim's Act), comprehensively reforms compensation, benefits, and workplace protections for federal wildland firefighters across multiple dimensions. The bill establishes special base pay rates with percentage increases ranging from 1.5% to 42% depending on the employee's grade level, creates a new incident response premium pay of 450% of basic hourly rate for firefighters deployed to qualifying wildfire incidents (with an annual cap of $9,000), and provides additional benefits like 7 days of mental health leave, a housing allowance for deployments over 50 miles from home, and a voluntary tuition assistance program of up to $4,000 per year. The legislation also introduces a Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program to support firefighters and their families in case of injury or death, expands retirement and disability benefits, mandates the creation of a public database tracking chronic diseases related to firefighting, and requires the development of a mental health support program. Additionally, the bill ensures annual pay adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index and requires a report comparing federal wildland firefighter compensation to non-federal firefighters, with the overarching goal of improving recruitment, retention, and support for these critical emergency responders.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/279/all-info