Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act

This bill raises pay for certain federal prison employees. If a Bureau of Prisons job is in an area that currently gets the “Rest of U.S.” locality pay, the job would instead use the nearest other locality pay area within 200 miles. If there are multiple nearby areas, it uses the one with the highest pay adjustment. If there isn’t any other pay area within 200 miles, nothing changes. This also covers wage-grade (“prevailing rate”) employees. The change starts with the first pay period that begins at least 180 days after the law is enacted .

Key points:

• Who is affected: Employees of the Bureau of Prisons, including wage-grade workers, in places now labeled “Rest of U.S.” for locality pay.
• What changes: Their pay locality will switch to the nearest other locality within 200 miles, using the highest pay if more than one applies; no change if none are within 200 miles.
• When: Starts the first pay period on or after 180 days after enactment.