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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to state employees mileage reimbursement. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 660.043(a), (b), and (c), Government |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The number of miles traveled that are eligible for |
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reimbursement under this subchapter may not exceed the number of |
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miles of the most cost-effective reasonably safe route between the |
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origin of the state employee's travel and the final duty point of |
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the state employee. If a state employee conducts official state |
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business at duty points between the origin of the state employee's |
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travel and the final duty point, the most cost-effective reasonably |
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safe route between the origin and the final duty point shall include |
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the intermediate duty points. |
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(b) For the purpose of Subsection (a), the shortest route |
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between two points is presumed to be the most cost-effective |
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reasonably safe route. A longer route may be considered the most |
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cost-effective reasonably safe route only if: |
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(1) the voucher states that the longer route is more |
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cost effective or appreciably safer; |
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(2) the voucher provides a reasonable justification |
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for that statement; and |
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(3) the statement and justification are made by the |
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chief administrator of the state agency making the reimbursement or |
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by the chief administrator's designee. |
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(c) The comptroller shall periodically issue and update a |
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mileage guide that includes a chart showing the number of miles for |
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the shortest route between points. The guide also may include a |
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chart showing the number of miles for longer routes between points. |
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Farm-to-market and ranch-to-market roads and safety considerations |
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such as the potential for wildlife vehicle collisions on rural |
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roads shall be considered when determining the routings between |
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points in this state. The guide may be electronic or printed, or |
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both. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2009, the comptroller |
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of public accounts of the State of Texas shall update the mileage |
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guide as necessary to comply with Section 660.043, Government Code, |
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as amended by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. Section 660.043, Government Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies only to the determination of reimbursable mileage |
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for travel occurring on or after January 1, 2010. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |