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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the reimbursement of state employees for groceries |
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consumed while traveling on official state business. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 660.113(c), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) Except as provided by Section 660.1135, a [A] state |
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agency may not reimburse a state employee for a meal expense |
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incurred within the employee's designated headquarters unless the |
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expense is: |
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(1) mandatory; and |
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(2) connected with training, a seminar, or a |
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conference. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 660, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 660.1135 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 660.1135. REIMBURSEMENT FOR GROCERIES PURCHASED |
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WITHIN EMPLOYEE'S DESIGNATED HEADQUARTERS. (a) In this section, |
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"groceries" means food items sold at a grocery store, supermarket, |
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or other similar retail establishment. |
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(b) A state agency may reimburse a state employee as |
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provided by Subsections (c) and (d) for groceries purchased within |
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the employee's designated headquarters if: |
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(1) the purchase is made the day before or the day the |
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employee travels to conduct official state business; and |
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(2) the groceries are consumed by the employee while |
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the employee is away from the employee's designated headquarters |
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traveling for official state business. |
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(c) A state agency may only reimburse a state employee under |
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this section for the prorated portion of groceries consumed each |
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day by the state employee while traveling for official state |
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business. |
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(d) A purchase made under this section is considered a meal |
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expense for purposes of determining the limit established by the |
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travel provisions of the General Appropriations Act for meal |
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expenses under Section 660.112. |
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(e) A state agency must develop a policy for authorizing |
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reimbursements under this section before the agency may reimburse a |
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state employee under this section. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |