A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish higher minimum rates of pay for certain law enforcement employees of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and for other purposes.

This bill (S 849) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to set higher minimum pay rates for Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) law enforcement officers in specific locations where recruitment or retention is difficult. It allows pay increases up to 30% above standard rates (capped at Executive Schedule Level IV pay) when factors like higher non-Federal wages, remote locations, or hazardous working conditions hinder hiring. The Secretary must annually update regulations and notify affected employees if pay rates are reduced. This directly affects BIA public safety officers in challenging work areas, aiming to address staffing challenges through targeted compensation adjustments.