The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“EMPLOYEE LEGISLATION” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1530 on July 27, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
EMPLOYEE LEGISLATION
______
HON. GEORGE P. RADANOVICH
of california
in the house of representatives
Thursday, July 27, 1995
Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation that will resolve an issue of great concern to employees of our Nation's community colleges.
Under current Labor Department interpretation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, classified employees of community colleges--
instructional aides, bus drivers, groundskeepers, and other school support personnel--are prevented from pursuing an expanded role as instructors.
Many classified employees earn academic certification in order to teach certain courses at the community college where they are employed. Unfortunately, current law makes it cost-prohibitive for community colleges to allow these employees to each in addition to their regular duties.
The legislation I am introducing today will allow classified employees of community colleges to teach, in addition to their regular duties, without violating the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The Department of Labor's requirement that classified employees must be paid a blended overtime rate that reflects both their compensation for their full-time work in a classified capacity and the higher rate as instructors makes the use of these workers impractical.
If these employees were paid a time-and-a-half overtime rate computed solely on their classified wage, the costs would diminish substantially and community colleges would be able to utilize these workers, who already have a commitment to education and want to pursue an expanded role as instructors.
My bill has been endorsed by the California School Employees Association and the American Association of Classified School Employees.
I urge my colleagues to join me and the cosponsors of this bill in supporting this much needed change in the law.
____________________
