COLA ADVISORY COMMITTEES

OPM establishes Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA) Advisory Committees in each COLA survey area as described in sections 591.240 through 591.244 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations. Each committee is composed of agency and employee representatives from the survey area and one or more representatives from OPM.

The committees are most active during the year of the COLA survey for the area, but they continue to exist between surveys if there is a need for the committee. We appoint committee members for 3-year renewable terms.

Committee Activities

The COLA Advisory Committees’ activities may include–

• Advising and assisting OPM in planning living-cost surveys;
  
  
• Providing or arranging for observers for data collection during living-cost surveys;
  
  
• Advising and assisting OPM in the review of survey data;
  
  
• Advising OPM on its administration of the COLA program, including survey methodology;
  
  
• Assisting OPM in disseminating information to affected employees about the living-cost surveys and the COLA program; and
  
  
• Advising OPM on special situations or conditions, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, as they relate to OPM’s authority to conduct interim surveys or implement some other change in response to conditions caused by a natural disaster or similar emergency.

During the first surveys conducted under the new methodology adopted consistent with the Caraballo settlement, the COLA Advisory Committees coordinated and worked with the Survey Implementation Committee established pursuant to the Caraballo settlement.

Committee Membership

OPM establishes COLA Advisory Committees with approximately 12 members — 10 from the COLA survey area and 2 OPM representatives. OPM contacts agencies, unions, and other parties to request nominations for the committees approximately 3 months before conducting surveys in those areas.

Committee work takes about 7 to 9 staff days for each member over an estimated 6-month period. Each executive agency must cooperate and release nominated employees for committee work unless the employer can demonstrate that exceptional circumstances directly related to the accomplishment of the work unit’s mission require their presence on their regular jobs. Thus, committee members are considered to be on official assignment to an interagency function, rather than on leave, and are eligible to receive reimbursement for authorized travel expenses from their respective agencies. Any such travel is within the local area.