District Of Columbia § 1-611.03 - Compensation policy; compensatory time off; overtime pay.
Full text of District Of Columbia D.C. Code § 1-611.03 — Compensation policy; compensatory time off; overtime pay., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 1-611.03. Compensation policy; compensatory time off; overtime pay.
1-611.03Compensation for all employees in the Career, Educational, Legal, Excepted, and the Management Supervisory Services shall be fixed in accordance with the following policy:
Compensation shall be competitive with that provided to other public sector employees having comparable duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and working conditions by occupational groups. For the purpose of this paragraph, compensation shall be deemed to be competitive if it falls reasonably within the range of compensation prevailing in the Washington, D.C., Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA); provided, that compensation levels may be examined for public and/or private employees outside the area and/or for federal government employees when necessary to establish a reasonably representative statistical basis for compensation comparisons, or when conditions in the local labor market require a larger sampling of prevailing compensation levels.
Pay for the various occupations and groups of employees shall be, to the maximum extent practicable, interrelated and equal for substantially equal work in accordance with this principle, dental officers shall be paid on the same schedule as medical officers having comparable qualifications and experiences.
Differences in pay shall be maintained in keeping with differences in level of work and quality of performance.
Repealed.
Repealed.
Repealed.
Any full-time permanent, indefinite, or term District government employee who serves in a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces and who has been or will be called to active duty as a result of Operation Enduring Freedom, or in preparation for or as a result of Operation Iraqi Freedom, shall receive, upon application and approval, an amount that equals the difference in compensation between the employee’s District government basic pay reduced by the employee’s basic military pay. This amount shall not be considered as basic pay for any purpose and shall be paid for any period following the formal inception of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001, any period following the beginning of the preparation for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2002 and 2003, or for any period following the formal inception of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, during which the employee is carried in a non-pay status from the time the employee is called into active duty, until the employee is released from active duty occasioned by any of these military conflicts.
The Mayor shall issue rules within 30 days of March 26, 2008, to implement the provisions of this paragraph.
The pay of an individual receiving an annuity under any District government civilian retirement system selected for employment in the District government on or after January 1, 1980, shall be reduced by the amount of annuity allocable to the period of employment as a reemployed annuitant. No salary subject to this reduction shall be reduced to less than any applicable minimum wage set forth in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, approved June 25, 1938 (52 Stat. 1060; 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.), or any other applicable federal minimum wage statute or regulation. No reduction shall be made to the pay of a reemployed individual for any retirement benefits received by the reemployed individual pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 8331, §§ through , , the Judges’ Retirement Fund, established by , or the Retired Police Officer Public Schools Security Personnel Deployment Amendment Act of 1994.
Repealed.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of law or regulation, effective April 15, 1986, any employee who is covered by the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.)(“FLSA”), and is eligible to earn compensatory time may receive compensatory time off at a rate not less than 1 and one-half hours for each hour of employment for which overtime compensation is required under the FLSA, in lieu of paid overtime compensation.
If the work of an employee for which compensatory time off may be provided includes work in a public safety activity, an emergency response activity, or a seasonal activity, the employee may accrue not more than 480 hours of compensatory time for hours worked after April 15, 1986. If the work of an employee does not include work in a public safety activity, an emergency response activity, or a seasonal activity, the employee may accrue not more than 240 hours of compensatory time for hours worked after April 15, 1986.
Any employee who, after April 15, 1986, has accrued the maximum number of hours of compensatory time off allowed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall, for additional hours of work, be paid overtime compensation.
Notwithstanding any other provision of District law or regulation, effective on the first day of the first pay period beginning one month after November 25, 1993, entitlement to and computation of overtime for all employees of the District government, except those covered by a collective bargaining agreement providing otherwise, shall be determined in accordance with, and shall not exceed, the overtime provisions of section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 207. No person shall be entitled to overtime under this section unless that person is either entitled to overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act or is entitled to overtime under the personnel rules of the District of Columbia as they existed at the time of enactment of this section.
Uniformed members of the Metropolitan Police Department at the rank of Inspector and above shall not receive overtime compensation for work performed in excess of a 40-hour administrative workweek, excluding rollcall.
Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, uniformed members of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department at the rank of Assistant Fire Chief and above shall not receive overtime compensation for work performed in excess of 40 hours in an administrative workweek and in excess of 48 hours in a workweek for those uniformed members of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department at the rank of Assistant Fire Chief and above in the Firefighting Division.
For fiscal years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, uniformed members of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department at the rank of Battalion Fire Chief and above shall not receive overtime compensation for work performed in excess of 40 hours in an administrative workweek and in excess of 48 hours in a workweek for those uniformed members of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department at the rank of Deputy Fire Chief and above in the Firefighting Division.
Uniformed members of the Metropolitan Police Department at the rank of Inspector and above and uniformed members of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department at the rank of Assistant Fire Chief and above shall not be suspended for disciplinary actions for less than a full pay period.
For fiscal years 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, and except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, no officer or member of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department who is authorized to receive overtime compensation under this subsection may earn overtime in excess of $20,000 in a fiscal year.
For Fiscal Year 2015, and except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, no officer or member of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department who is authorized to receive overtime compensation under this subsection may earn overtime in excess of $30,000 in a fiscal year.
This paragraph shall not apply to a member of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department who is classified as a Heavy Mobile Equipment Mechanic or a Fire Arson Investigator Armed (Canine Handler).
Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, the exemption to the overtime limitation for the Fire Arson Investigator Armed (Canine Handler) set forth in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph shall apply retroactively to fiscal year 2011.
Annotations
Applicability of : Section 10001 of provided that, except as otherwise provided, the act shall apply as of October 1, 2015.
Section 1002 of D.C. Law provided for bonus and special pay limitations for fiscal year 2016.
Section 1002 of provided for bonus and special pay limitations for fiscal year 2015.
Applicability of : Section 11001 of provided that, except as otherwise provided, the act shall apply as of October 1, 2013.
Section 1002 of provided for bonus and special pay limitations for fiscal year 2014.
“(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no restrictions on the use of funds to support the categories of special awards pay (comptroller subcategory 0137) or bonus pay (comptroller subcategory 0138) shall apply in fiscal year 2013 to employees of the District of Columbia Public Schools who are based at a local school or who provide direct services to individual students.”
“(b) For fiscal year 2013, no special awards pay or bonus pay shall be paid to a subordinate agency head or an assistant or deputy agency head unless required by a contract executed before the effective date of this subtitle.
“(8) Any other award or bonus required by an existing contract or collective bargaining agreement that was entered into before the effective date of this subtitle.
“(7) Suggestion or invention awards; or
“(6) Gainsharing incentives in the Department of Public Works;
“(5) Safe-driving awards;
“(4) Agency awards or bonuses funded by private grants or donations;
“(3) Additional income allowances for difficult-to-fill positions;
“(2) Hiring bonuses for difficult-to-fill positions;
“(1) Retirement awards;
“Bonus and special pay limitations. (a) For fiscal year 2013, no funds shall be used to support the categories of special awards pay or bonus pay; provided, that funds may be used for:
Section 1002 of provided:
“(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no restrictions on the use of funds to support the categories of special awards pay (comptroller subcategory 0137) or bonus pay (comptroller subcategory 0138) shall apply in fiscal year 2012 to employees of the District of Columbia Public Schools who are based at a local school or who provide direct services to individual students.”
“(b) For fiscal year 2012, no special awards pay or bonus pay shall be paid to a subordinate agency head or an assistant or deputy agency head unless required by an existing contract that was entered into prior to October 1, 2010.
“(7) Any other award/bonus required by an existing contract or collective bargaining agreement that was entered into prior to October 1, 2010.
“(6) Suggestion/invention awards; or
“(5) Safe driving awards;
“(4) Agency awards or bonuses funded by private grants or donations;
“(3) Additional income allowances for difficult-to-fill positions;
“(2) Hiring bonuses for difficult-to-fill positions;
“(1) Retirement awards;
“(a) For fiscal year 2012, no funds shall be used to support the categories of special awards pay or bonus pay; provided, that funds may be used to pay:
“Sec. 1002. Bonus and special pay limitations.
Section 1002 of provided:
“Sec. 1143. Exemption. Section 1142 shall not apply to employees of the University of the District of Columbia.”.
Section 112(b) of added section 1143 of to read as follows:
“(b) No special awards pay or bonus pay shall be paid to a subordinate agency head or an assistant or deputy agency head unless required by an existing contract that was entered into prior to the effective date of this subtitle.”
“(7) Any other award/bonus required by an existing contract or collective bargaining agreement that was entered into prior to the effective date of this subtitle September 24, 2010.”
“(6) Suggestion/invention awards; or
“(5) Safe driving awards;
“(4) Agency awards or bonuses funded by private grants or donations;
“(3) Additional income allowances for difficult-to-fill positions;
“(2) Hiring bonuses for difficult-to-fill positions;
“(1) Retirement awards;
“(a) For fiscal year 2011, no funds shall be used to support the categories of special awards pay or bonus pay; provided, that funds may be used to pay:
“Sec. 1142. Bonus and special pay limitations.
Section 1142 of provided:
Section 1141 of provided that subtitle O of title I of the act may be cited as the ‘Bonus and Special Pay Limitation Act of 2010‘.
“To the extent authorized by the CMPA or other applicable law or rule, each personnel authority may issue rules to implement this subtitle.”
“Sec. 1027. Rules.
“Sections 1023 and 1024 shall not apply to employees of the Metropolitan Police Department, the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, and the University of the District of Columbia.
“Sec. 1026. Application to the Metropolitan Police Department and the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department.
“(c) This section shall apply subject to the certification of the availability of funding by the Chief Financial Officer.
“(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no restriction on the use of funds to support the categories of special awards pay (comptroller subcategory 0137) or bonus pay (comptroller subcategory 0138) shall apply in fiscal year 2010 or fiscal year 2011 to employees of the District of Columbia Public Schools who are based at a local school or who provide direct services to individual students if the Council approves a collective bargaining agreement between The Washington Teachers’ Union, Local #6 of the American Federation of Teachers, and the District of Columbia Public Schools for the period October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2012.
“(a) Sections 1023 and 1024 shall not apply to employees of the District of Columbia Public Schools who are based at a local school or provide direct services to individual students if the Council approves a collective bargaining agreement between The Washington Teachers’ Union, Local #6 of the American Federation of Teachers, and the District of Columbia Public Schools for the period October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2012.
“Sec. 1025. Application to certain employees of the District of Columbia Public Schools.
“Notwithstanding any other provision of law, collective bargaining agreement, memorandum of understanding, side letter, or settlement, whether specifically outlined or incorporated by reference, all fiscal year 2010 salary schedules shall be maintained during fiscal year 2011, and no increase in salary or benefits, including increases in negotiated salary, wage, and benefits provisions and negotiated salary schedules, shall be provided in fiscal year 2011 from the fiscal year 2010 salary and benefits levels.
“Sec. 1024. Maintenance of fiscal year 2010 salary schedules and benefits in fiscal year 2011.
“(b) Time in a pay or non-pay status during the period from October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011, shall not be considered creditable service for the purpose of computing an employee’s length of service or waiting period for a within-grade salary increase under Title XI of the CMPA or other applicable law or rule.
“(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rule, or collective bargaining agreement, an employee of an agency shall not receive a within-grade salary increase or a cost-of-living adjustment during the period from October 1, 2010, through September 30, 2011.
“Sec. 1023. Freeze of within-grade salary increases and cost-of-living adjustments.
“(6) ’Within-grade salary increase’ means the advancement of an employee’s basic rate of pay to the next higher step or other increment within the same grade, class, or pay level based on quality or length of service, or both, without regard to whether the term ‘within-grade salary increase’ or another term is used to describe the advancement within the applicable compensation law or rule.
“(5) ‘Personnel authority’ means an individual with the authority to administer all or part of a personnel management program as provided in sections 301(14) and 406 of the CMPA.
“(4) ‘Negotiated salary, wage, and benefits provision’ means the salary and benefits provided in a collective bargaining agreement.
“(3) ‘Negotiated salary schedule’ means a salary schedule specified in a collective bargaining agreement.
“(2) ‘CMPA’ means the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (; D.C. Official Code et seq.).
“(1) ‘Agency’ means an agency, office, or instrumentality of the District government, including independent agencies and subordinate agencies, as such terms are defined in section 301(13) and (17) of the CMPA.
“For the purposes of this subtitle, the term:
“Sec. 1022. Definitions.
Sections 1022 to 1027 of , as amended by section 112(a) of , provided:
Section 3051 of provided that Subtitle F of Title III of the act may be cited as the “Fire and Emergency Medical Services Overtime Limitation Amendment Act of 2013”.
Section 1001 of provided that Subtitle A of Title I of the act may be cited as the “Bonus and Special Pay Limitation Act of 2013”.
Short title: Section 3011 of provided that subtitle B of title III of the act may be cited as “FEMS Overtime Limitation Amendment Act of 2011”.
Short title: Section 1141 of provided that subtitle O of title I of the act may be cited as the “Bonus and Special Pay Limitation Act of 2010”.
Short title: Section 1021 of provided that subtitle C of title I of the act may be cited as the “Within-Grade Salary Increases, Cost-of-Living Adjustments, and Salary and Benefits Schedules Act of 2010”.
Short title: Section 1001 of provided that subtitle A of title I of the act may be cited as “Bonus and Special Pay Limitation Act of 2011”.
Source: official District Of Columbia text · Last verified 2026-08-27
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Section 1-611.03 ("Compensation policy; compensatory time off; overtime pay.") is part of the D.C. Code, the codified statutory law of District Of Columbia. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
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