Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 29 : Section 623


   

U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 623 - Notes
                                   SOURCE
    (Pub. L. 90-202, Sec. 4, Dec. 15, 1967, 81 Stat. 603; Pub. L.
    95-256, Sec. 2(a), Apr. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 189; Pub. L. 97-248,
    title I, Sec. 116(a), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 353; Pub. L. 98-369,
    div. B, title III, Sec. 2301(b), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1063; Pub.
    L. 98-459, title VIII, Sec. 802(b), Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1792;
    Pub. L. 99-272, title IX, Sec. 9201(b)(1), (3), Apr. 7, 1986, 100
    Stat. 171; Pub. L. 99-509, title IX, Sec. 9201, Oct. 21, 1986, 100
    Stat. 1973; Pub. L. 99-514, Sec. 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095;
    Pub. L. 99-592, Secs. 2(a), (b), 3(a), Oct. 31, 1986, 100 Stat.
    3342; Pub. L. 101-239, title VI, Sec. 6202(b)(3)(C)(i), Dec. 19,
    1989, 103 Stat. 2233; Pub. L. 101-433, title I, Sec. 103, Oct. 16,
    1990, 104 Stat. 978; Pub. L. 101-521, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 2287;
    Pub. L. 104-208, div. A, title I, Sec. 101(a) [title I, Sec.
    119[1(b)]], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009, 3009-23; Pub. L.
    105-244, title IX, Sec. 941(a), (b), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1834,
    1835.)
                            REFERENCES IN TEXT                        
      Subparagraphs (C) and (D) of section 411(b)(2) of title 26,
    referred to in subsec. (i)(7), were redesignated subpars. (B) and
    (C) of section 411(b)(2) of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code, by
    Pub. L. 101-239, title VII, Sec. 7871(a)(1), Dec. 19, 1989, 103
    Stat. 2435.
      Section 3(d)(2) of the Age Discrimination in Employment
    Amendments of 1996, referred to in subsec. (j)(1), probably means
    Pub. L. 104-208, div. A, title I, Sec. 101(a) [title I, Sec.
    119[2(d)(2)]], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009, 3009-23, 3009-25,
    which is set out as a note under this section.
      The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (l)(1)(B)(ii),
    (2)(D)(i), (ii), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620, as
    amended. Titles II and XVIII of the Act are classified generally to
    subchapters II (Sec. 401 et seq.) and XVIII (Sec. 1395 et seq.),
    respectively, of chapter 7 of Title 42, The Public Health and
    Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
    section 1305 of Title 42 and Tables.
                                AMENDMENTS                            
      1998 - Subsec. (i)(6). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 941(b), inserted "or
    it is a plan permitted by subsection (m) of this section." after
    "accruals".
      Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 941(a), added subsec. (m).
      1996 - Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 104-208, Sec. 101(a) [title I, Sec.
    119[1(b)(1)]], reenacted subsec. (j) of this section, as in effect
    immediately before Dec. 31, 1993.
      Subsec. (j)(1). Pub. L. 104-208, Sec. 101(a) [title I, Sec.
    119[1(b)(2)]], substituted ", the employer has complied with
    section 3(d)(2) of the Age Discrimination in Employment Amendments
    of 1996 if the individual was discharged after the date described
    in such section, and the individual has attained - 
        "(A) the age of hiring or retirement, respectively, in effect
      under applicable State or local law on March 3, 1983; or
        "(B)(i) if the individual was not hired, the age of hiring in
      effect on the date of such failure or refusal to hire under
      applicable State or local law enacted after September 30, 1996;
      or
        "(ii) if applicable State or local law was enacted after
      September 30, 1996, and the individual was discharged, the higher
      of - 
          "(I) the age of retirement in effect on the date of such
        discharge under such law; and
          "(II) age 55; and" for "and the individual has attained the
        age of hiring or retirement in effect under applicable State or
        local law on March 3, 1983, and".
      1990 - Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 101-433, Sec. 103(1), added par.
    (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: "to
    observe the terms of a bona fide seniority system or any bona fide
    employee benefit plan such as a retirement, pension, or insurance
    plan, which is not a subterfuge to evade the purposes of this
    chapter, except that no such employee benefit plan shall excuse the
    failure to hire any individual, and no such seniority system or
    employee benefit plan shall require or permit the involuntary
    retirement of any individual specified by section 631(a) of this
    title because of the age of such individual; or".
      Subsecs. (i), (j). Pub. L. 101-433, Sec. 103(2), redesignated
    subsec. (i), relating to employment as firefighter or law
    enforcement officer, as (j).
      Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 101-433, Sec. 103(3), added subsec. (k).
      Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 101-521 added cl. (iii) in par. (2)(A), and
    in par. (2)(D) inserted "and solely in order to make the deduction
    authorized under this paragraph" after "For purposes of this
    paragraph" and added cl. (iii).
      Pub. L. 101-433, Sec. 103(3), added subsec. (l).
      1989 - Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 101-239 struck out subsec. (g) which
    read as follows:
      "(1) For purposes of this section, any employer must provide that
    any employee aged 65 or older, and any employee's spouse aged 65 or
    older, shall be entitled to coverage under any group health plan
    offered to such employees under the same conditions as any
    employee, and the spouse of such employee, under age 65.
      "(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term 'group health plan'
    has the meaning given to such term in section 162(i)(2) of title
    26."
      1986 - Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 99-272, Sec. 9201(b)(1), and Pub.
    L. 99-592, Sec. 2(a), made identical amendments, substituting "or
    older" for "through 69" in two places.
      Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 99-514 substituted "Internal Revenue Code
    of 1986" for "Internal Revenue Code of 1954", which for purposes of
    codification was translated as "title 26" thus requiring no change
    in text.
      Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 99-272, Sec. 9201(b)(3), and Pub. L. 99-592,
    Sec. 2(b), made identical amendments, redesignating subsec. (g),
    relating to practices of foreign corporations controlled by
    American employers, as (h).
      Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 99-592, Sec. 3, temporarily added subsec.
    (i) which read as follows: "It shall not be unlawful for an
    employer which is a State, a political subdivision of a State, an
    agency or instrumentality of a State or a political subdivision of
    a State, or an interstate agency to fail or refuse to hire or to
    discharge any individual because of such individual's age if such
    action is taken - 
        "(1) with respect to the employment of an individual as a
      firefighter or as a law enforcement officer and the individual
      has attained the age of hiring or retirement in effect under
      applicable State or local law on March 3, 1983, and
        "(2) pursuant to a bona fide hiring or retirement plan that is
      not a subterfuge to evade the purposes of this chapter."
    See Effective and Termination Dates of 1986 Amendments note below.
      Pub. L. 99-509 added subsec. (i) relating to employee pension
    benefit plans.
      1984 - Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 98-459, Sec. 802(b)(1), inserted
    ", or where such practices involve an employee in a workplace in a
    foreign country, and compliance with such subsections would cause
    such employer, or a corporation controlled by such employer, to
    violate the laws of the country in which such workplace is
    located".
      Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 98-459, Sec. 802(b)(2), added subsec. (g)
    relating to practices of foreign corporations controlled by
    American employers.
      Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 98-369 inserted ", and any employee's
    spouse aged 65 through 69," after "aged 65 through 69" and ", and
    the spouse of such employee," after "as any employee", in subsec.
    (g) relating to entitlement to coverage under group health plan.
      1982 - Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 97-248 added subsec. (g) relating to
    entitlement to coverage under group health plans.
      1978 - Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 95-256 provided that no seniority
    system or employee benefit plan require or permit the involuntary
    retirement of any individual specified by section 631(a) of this
    title because of the age of the individual.
                           TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS                       
      Functions vested by this section in Secretary of Labor or Civil
    Service Commission transferred to Equal Employment Opportunity
    Commission by Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1978, Sec. 2, 43 F.R. 19807, 92
    Stat. 3781, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government
    Organization and Employees, effective Jan. 1, 1979, as provided by
    section 1-101 of Ex. Ord. No. 12106, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1053.
                STUDY AND GUIDELINES FOR PERFORMANCE TESTS            
      Section 101(a) [title I, Sec. 119[2]] of Pub. L. 104-208 provided
    that:
      "(a) Study. - Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment
    of this Act [Sept. 30, 1996], the Secretary of Health and Human
    Services, acting through the Director of the National Institute for
    Occupational Safety and Health (referred to in this section
    [probably means section 101(a) [title I, Sec. 119[2]] of Pub. L.
    104-208] as the 'Secretary'), shall conduct, directly or by
    contract, a study, and shall submit to the appropriate committees
    of Congress a report based on the results of the study that shall
    include - 
        "(1) a list and description of all tests available for the
      assessment of abilities important for the completion of public
      safety tasks performed by law enforcement officers and
      firefighters;
        "(2) a list of the public safety tasks for which adequate tests
      described in paragraph (1) do not exist;
        "(3) a description of the technical characteristics that the
      tests shall meet to be in compliance with applicable Federal
      civil rights law and policies;
        "(4) a description of the alternative methods that are
      available for determining minimally acceptable performance
      standards on the tests;
        "(5) a description of the administrative standards that should
      be met in the administration, scoring, and score interpretation
      of the tests; and
        "(6) an examination of the extent to which the tests are
      cost-effective, are safe, and comply with the Federal civil
      rights law and policies.
      "(b) Consultation Requirement; Opportunity for Public Comment. - 
        "(1) Consultation. - The Secretary shall, during the conduct of
      the study required by subsection (a), consult with - 
          "(A) the Deputy Administrator of the United States Fire
        Administration;
          "(B) the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
          "(C) organizations that represent law enforcement officers,
        firefighters, and employers of the officers and firefighters;
        and
          "(D) organizations that represent older individuals.
        "(2) Public comment. - Prior to issuing the advisory guidelines
      required in subsection (c), the Secretary shall provide an
      opportunity for public comment on the proposed advisory
      guidelines.
      "(c) Advisory Guidelines. - Not later than 4 years after the date
    of enactment of this Act [Sept. 30, 1996], the Secretary shall
    develop and issue, based on the results of the study required by
    subsection (a), advisory guidelines for the administration and use
    of physical and mental fitness tests to measure the ability and
    competency of law enforcement officers and firefighters to perform
    the requirements of the jobs of the officers and firefighters.
      "(d) Job Performance Tests. - 
        "(1) Identification of tests. - After issuance of the advisory
      guidelines described in subsection (c), the Secretary shall issue
      regulations identifying valid, nondiscriminatory job performance
      tests that shall be used by employers seeking the exemption
      described in section 4(j) of the Age Discrimination in Employment
      Act of 1967 [29 U.S.C. 623(j)] with respect to firefighters or
      law enforcement officers who have attained an age of retirement
      described in such section 4(j).
        "(2) Use of tests. - Effective on the date of issuance of the
      regulations described in paragraph (1), any employer seeking such
      exemption with respect to a firefighter or law enforcement
      officer who has attained such age shall provide to each
      firefighter or law enforcement officer who has attained such age
      an annual opportunity to demonstrate physical and mental fitness
      by passing a test described in paragraph (1), in order to
      continue employment.
      "(e) Development of Standards for Wellness Programs. - Not later
    than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act [Sept. 30,
    1996], the Secretary shall propose advisory standards for wellness
    programs for law enforcement officers and firefighters.
      "(f) Authorization of Appropriations. - There is authorized to be
    appropriated $5,000,000 to carry out this section."
                   SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS               
      This section is referred to in section 626 of this title.

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