Bill Passed to Void Ruling Mandating Overtime Pay for Public Employees

The Senate gave final congressional approval Thursday night to a compromise bill to nullify a Supreme Court ruling and allow state and local governments to continue offering time off in lieu of overtime pay.

The measure, which was passed by the House earlier in the day, was sent to the White House on a voice vote.

The legislation would void the Supreme Court ruling last February that required state and local governments to pay overtime to all employees who work more than 40 hours in a week.

Critics of the ruling said it would cost the governments millions of dollars. Congress responded with the legislation, but, in a concession to labor unions, required that the compensatory time be granted at time and a half, the same rate as overtime pay.

The House and Senate each approved its own version of the legislation but disagreed on how much compensatory time could be accumulated before overtime pay would be required.

The compromise approved Thursday limits compensatory time to 240 hours, except for police officers, firefighters, emergency workers and seasonal employees, who could accumulate 480 hours.

The Labor Department had planned to begin enforcing the high court decision this month but withheld action because of the pending legislation.

The bill, if signed by President Reagan, would take effect next April 15.

Labor Secretary William E. Brock III hailed Congress for its “quick and efficient action” in passing the bill.