Drug Free Borders Act of 1998

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Authorization of Appropriations for United States

Customs Service for Drug Interdiction and Other Purposes

Title II: Overtime and Premium Pay of Officers of the United

States Customs Service; Miscellaneous Provisions

Subtitle A: Overtime Pay and Premium Pay of Officers of

the United States Customs Service

Subtitle B: Miscellaneous Provisions

Drug Free Borders Act of 1998 - Title I: Authorization of Appropriations for United States Customs Service for Drug Interdiction and Other Purposes - Amends the Customs Procedural Reform and Simplification Act of 1978 to authorize appropriations for FY 1999 and 2000 for the United States Customs Service for: (1) noncommercial and commercial operations; and (2) the air interdiction program. Requires the Commissioner of Customs to submit to specified congressional committees a projected budget for the succeeding fiscal year (out-year).

(Sec. 102) Earmarks amounts for: (1) the acquisition and deployment of narcotics detection equipment (including maintenance and support of such equipment, training of personnel, and new technologies) along the United States-Mexico border, the United States-Canada border, and Florida and the Gulf Coast seaports; and (2) additional inspectors, canine enforcement officers, special agents, and enhanced investigative resources during peak hours along such borders.

(Sec. 104) Requires the Commissioner of Customs, as part of the annual program activity performance plan set forth in the Customs Service budget, to establish performance goals, performance indicators, and comply with certain other requirements with respect to such border activities.

Title II: Overtime and Premium Pay of Officers of the United States Customs Service; Miscellaneous Provisions - Subtitle A: Overtime Pay and Premium Pay of Officers of the United States Customs Service - Amends Federal customs law to increase the maximum aggregate overtime pay that a customs officer may be paid in any fiscal year from $25,000 to $30,000. Permits the Commissioner to waive such limitation in individual cases in order to prevent excessive costs or to meet emergency requirements. Authorizes the Commissioner to pay any customs officer for one work assignment that would result in overtime pay exceeding $30,000, in addition to any overtime pay that may be received under a waiver, upon certification to specified congressional committees that the Customs Service has in operation a system daily providing accurate and reliable data overtime and premium pay for customs officers.

(Sec. 202) Prohibits payment of overtime and premium pay to any customs officer unless such officer has actually performed work during the time corresponding to such pay.

(Sec. 203) Revises requirements for the night work differential to change shift times: (1) from 3 p.m.-to-midnight to 6 p.m.-to- midnight; (2) from 11 p.m.-to-8 a.m. to midnight-to-6 a.m.; and (3) from half-past-7 p.m.-to-half-past-3 a.m. to midnight-to-8 a.m.

(Sec. 204) Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to use any savings from payment of overtime and premium pay for additional overtime enforcement activities.

Subtitle B: Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in order to ensure the integrity of the Customs Service, to transfer: (1) up to five percent of the customs officers employed at the beginning of each fiscal year to new duty stations on a permanent basis; and (2) any customs officers to temporary duty assignments for not more than 90 days. Declares that the requirements of this subtitle are not subject to collective bargaining. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 212) Expresses the sense of the Congress that collective bargaining agreements should not have any adverse impact on the ability of the Customs Service to interdict contraband, including controlled substances.

Requires the Commissioner to meet with the recognized bargaining representative of Customs Service employees to eliminate any contract provision causing such an adverse impact. Authorizes the Customs Service to implement its last offer immediately if after 90 days of negotiations the parties fail to reach an agreement, without resulting in an unfair labor practice or imposition of any status quo ante remedy against the Service. Allows either party to pursue the impasse to the Federal Service Impasses Panel for ultimate resolution.