§ 12.18 - Uniform pay guidelines.

(a) Members. Subject to the provisions of this section, the pay of any member of an advisory committee shall be fixed at the daily equivalent rate of the FEMA general salary schedule unless the member is appointed as a consultant, to be compensated as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. In determining an appropriate rate of pay for the members of an advisory committee, consideration shall be given to the significance, scope and technical complexity of the matters with which the advisory committee is concerned, and the qualifications required of the members of the advisory committee. The pay of the members of an advisory committee shall not be fixed at a rate higher than the daily equivalent of the maximum rate for GS–15 unless the Director has determined that, under the factors set forth in this paragraph, a higher rate of pay is justified and necessary. Such a determination will be reviewed annually by the Administrator.

(b) Advisory committee staff. The pay of each member of the staff of an advisory committee shall be fixed at a rate of the general salary schedule in which the staff member's position would be appropriately compensated for in the FEMA evaluation system applicable to the position. Pay of the member of the staff of an advisory committee shall not be fixed at a rate higher than the daily equivalent of the maximum rate for a GS–15 unless the Director or his designee has determined that, under its evaluation system, the staff member's position would appropriately be placed in the General Salary Schedule at a grade higher than GS–15. Such a determination will be reviewed by the Administrator annually.

(c) Consultants. The rate of pay of a consultant to an advisory committee shall not exceed the maximum rate of pay which FEMA may pay experts and consultants under 5 U.S.C. 3109. Consideration shall be given to the qualifications required of the consultant and the significance, scope, and technical complexity of the work in fixing the rate of pay for the consultants.

(d) Voluntary services. The provisions of this section shall not prevent FEMA from accepting the voluntary services of a member of an advisory committee, or a member of the staff of an advisory committee, provided that FEMA has the authority to accept such services without compensation.

(e) Reimbursable travel expenses. The members of an advisory committee and the staff thereof, while engaged in the performance of their duties away from their home or regular places of business, may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem and in lieu of subsistences, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5703 for persons employed intermittently in the government service.