Federal · Title 38 — Veterans’ Benefits

38 U.S.C. § 719: Reduction of benefits of employees convicted of certain crimes

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

This statute establishes a procedure for reducing employee benefits when the Secretary determines a felony conviction influenced job performance, including notice, response periods, and appeal rights to the Office of Personnel Management.

Read the full statutory text
the Secretary determines that the individual is convicted of a felony (and the conviction is final) that influenced the individual’s performance while employed in the position; and notice of the proposed order; and an opportunity to respond to the proposed order by not later than ten business days following receipt of such notice; and in the case of a proposed order to which an individual responds under subparagraph (B)(ii), not later than five business days after receiving the response of the individual; or in the case of a proposed order to which an individual does not respond, not later than 15 business days after the Secretary provides notice to the individual under subparagraph (B)(i). Any individual with respect to whom an annuity is reduced under this subsection may appeal the reduction to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management pursuant to such regulations as the Director may prescribe for purposes of this subsection. the Secretary determines that individual is convicted of a felony (and the conviction is final) that influenced the individual’s performance while employed in the position; and notice of the proposed order; opportunity to respond to the proposed order by not later than ten business days following receipt of such notice; and in the case of a proposed order to which an individual responds under subparagraph (B)(ii), not later than five business days after receiving the response of the individual; or in the case of a proposed order to which an individual does not respond, not later than 15 business days after the Secretary provides notice to the individual under subparagraph (B)(i). Upon the issuance of an order by the Secretary under paragraph (1), the individual shall have an opportunity to appeal the order to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management before the date that is seven business days after the date of such issuance. The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall make a final decision with respect to an appeal under paragraph (2) within 30 business days of receiving the appeal. Not later than 37 business days after the Secretary issues a final order under subsection (a) or (b) with respect to an individual, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall recalculate the annuity of the individual. Any individual with respect to whom an annuity is reduced under subsection (a) or (b) shall be entitled to be paid so much of such individual’s lump-sum credit as is attributable to the period of covered service. The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall prescribe regulations that may provide for the payment to the spouse or children of any individual referred to in subsection (a) or (b) of any amounts which (but for this subsection) would otherwise have been nonpayable by reason of such subsections. Regulations prescribed under paragraph (1) shall be consistent with the requirements of section 8332( o )(6) and 8411( l )(5) of title 5, as the case may be. The term “covered service” means, with respect to an individual subject to a removal for performance or misconduct under section 719 or 7461 of this title or any other provision of law, the period of service beginning on the date that the Secretary determines under such applicable provision that the individual engaged in activity that gave rise to such action and ending on the date that the individual is removed from or leaves a position of employment at the Department prior to the issuance of a final decision with respect to such action. The term “lump-sum credit” has the meaning given such term in section 8331(8) or section 8401(19) of title 5 , as the case may be. The term “service” has the meaning given such term in section 8331(12) or section 8401(26) of title 5 , as the case may be.

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