Federal Firefighters Families First Act

This bill aims to make pay fairer for federal firefighters and to better count their work hours when figuring retirement benefits. It tells the government to include all regularly scheduled hours in a firefighter’s basic pay for retirement calculations, including overtime hours that are part of the regular tour of duty, so pensions reflect the hours they actually work . It also sets a cap on the regular workweek: the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must set rules within one year, and the average regular workweek cannot be more than 60 hours .

The changes are meant to improve pay equality with other federal and public-sector firefighters and help with hiring and keeping firefighters on the job . The new retirement rules apply to people who separate from service more than 60 days after the bill becomes law .

• Who is affected: Federal firefighters
• What changes: Retirement pay will count all regularly scheduled hours, including regular overtime; OPM must set a maximum regular workweek averaging no more than 60 hours
• When: OPM must issue rules within one year; new retirement rules apply to separations from service occurring after 60 days from enactment