Bill
S 727
Restores enhanced CBP officer retirement benefits for those hired before July 6, 2008 who entered duty after that date, including retroactive annuity adjustments.
Short title: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act
Status & key dates
- Introduced in Senate: February 25, 2025 (sponsored by Sen. Gary Peters; cosponsors include Josh Hawley, Angus King, Susan Collins, et al.). Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar (Calendar No. 253). Status shown as COMMITTED TO RULES.
- Implementation deadlines in the bill: Secretary of Homeland Security must act within 120 days after enactment; Comptroller General (GAO) must report within 18 months after enactment.
Purpose / intent
- To correct an unintended or inequitable denial of enhanced retirement and annuity benefits for certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers who were impacted by transition rules tied to the July 6, 2008 effective date in prior law. The bill restores enhanced benefit treatment to those hires who received tentative offers before that date but entered duty on or after it.
Who is covered
- “Eligible Individual” — any person who: (1) received a tentative offer of employment as a CBP Officer before July 6, 2008; and (2) entered on duty as a CBP Officer on or after July 6, 2008 as a result of that offer.
Key provisions and changes
- Benefit recognition: Treats Eligible Individuals as if they were serving as CBP Officers on July 6, 2008 for purposes of section 535(e) of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2008.
- Entitlements:
- Requires payment of the minimum annuity amount specified under section 535(e)(2)(C) of that Act.
- Provides an exemption from mandatory retirement otherwise required under 5 U.S.C. 8425(b)(1), allowing immediate retirement eligibility where applicable.
- Implementation responsibilities:
- Secretary of Homeland Security must, within 120 days of enactment, compile a list of Eligible Individuals, notify them of the correction, and provide necessary information to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
- OPM must make the annuity corrections, including retroactive adjustments for those who already retired.
- Waivers and guidance:
- DHS may retroactively waive the maximum entry age under 5 U.S.C. 3307(g) as needed to permit immediate retirement eligibility.
- OPM (in consultation with DHS) must issue guidance to implement corrections.
- Oversight:
- GAO review required of CBP hiring practices, internal controls, personnel-file policies, and executive training related to eligibility for these enhanced retirement benefits. GAO must submit a report to relevant congressional committees within 18 months.
Potential impact
- Restores enhanced retirement benefits and potentially retroactive annuity payments for a defined set of CBP Officers, addressing equity concerns arising from transition rules.
- Administrative and fiscal effects: OPM and DHS will incur implementation work (identification, notifications, annuity recalculations). Retroactive annuity adjustments and expanded retirement eligibility could increase federal retirement outlays; the bill does not include specific appropriations or cost estimates in the text provided.
- Improves oversight and may prompt CBP reforms in hiring and HR controls if GAO identifies deficiencies.
Notes / caveat
- The provided legislative document also contains unrelated text (a Massachusetts Senate bill numbered 727 on living organ donor protections). This summary focuses on the federal S.727 concerning CBP officer retirement corrections.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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