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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to state travel policies and procedures for the |
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reimbursement or payment of travel expenses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 660.024(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) The chief administrator of a state agency must give |
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advance written approval for any travel related to official state |
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business for which a reimbursement for travel expenses is claimed |
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or for which an advance for travel expenses to be incurred is |
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sought. The advance [A copy of the] written approval may [shall] be |
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communicated electronically [submitted with the travel voucher to
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the comptroller in accordance with Section 660.027]. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 660.027(b), (d), and (e), Government |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A voucher submitted under Subsection (a) is valid only |
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if: |
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(1) the state agency submitting the voucher approves |
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it in accordance with Chapter 2103 and, if required by law, |
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certifies the voucher; and |
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(2) the state employee who incurred the travel expense |
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or, if the employee is unavailable, another individual acceptable |
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to the comptroller approves the description, information, and |
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documentation required by Subsection (d) [voucher] in writing or |
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electronically, except that the employee's approval is not required |
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if another person is required by law to provide the approval. |
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(d) A voucher must be supported by: |
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(1) a description of [describe] the official state |
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business performed; and |
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(2) [be accompanied by] the information and |
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documentation that the comptroller considers necessary for the |
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comptroller to determine compliance with this chapter, the travel |
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provisions of the General Appropriations Act, and the rules adopted |
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by the comptroller under this chapter. |
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(e) The comptroller may require a state agency to provide to |
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the comptroller the description, information, and documentation |
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required under [by] Subsection (d): |
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(1) on the form adopted by the comptroller under |
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Subsection (c); |
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(2) electronically; |
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(3) by submitting receipts or other documents; or |
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(4) [(3)] by any [a] combination of Subdivisions (1), |
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[and] (2), and (3). |
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SECTION 3. Section 660.028, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsection (e) to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) If the comptroller audits a state agency's voucher after |
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the comptroller issues a warrant or initiates an electronic funds |
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transfer in response to the voucher, the comptroller may require |
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the agency to maintain in its files the description, information, |
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and documentation [receipts] relating to the travel expense paid or |
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reimbursed by the voucher until the comptroller audits the voucher. |
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(c) If a state agency pays or reimburses a travel expense |
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without first submitting a voucher to the comptroller, the |
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comptroller may audit the payment or reimbursement for compliance |
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with this chapter and the travel provisions of the General |
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Appropriations Act. The comptroller may report the results of the |
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audit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the |
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house of representatives, the state auditor, and the Legislative |
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Budget Board. The state agency shall cooperate with the |
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comptroller and make available the description, information, and |
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documentation [receipts] required by the comptroller at the time |
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and in the manner required by the comptroller. |
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(d) The comptroller may require a state agency to maintain |
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in its files the description, information, and documentation |
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[receipts] regarding a travel expense payment or reimbursement for |
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the period required by the comptroller. |
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(e) The comptroller may require or authorize the |
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description, information, and documentation relating to a travel |
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expense payment or reimbursement to be maintained in paper form or |
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electronically. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 660.043(b) and (d), Government Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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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 route. |
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A longer route may be considered the most cost-effective route only |
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if: |
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(1) the documentation [voucher] states that the longer |
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route is more cost effective; |
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(2) the documentation [voucher] provides a reasonable |
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justification 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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(d) If the number of miles between points is not shown in the |
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guide, the mileage incurred while traveling between those points is |
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not reimbursable unless: |
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(1) the documentation [voucher] itemizes the mileage |
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on a point-to-point basis; and |
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(2) the mileage is reasonable. |
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SECTION 5. Section 660.147(b), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) A state agency may not pay or reimburse a state employee |
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for a travel expense associated with a training seminar conducted |
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by the agency for its employees unless the chief administrator of |
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the agency or the administrator's designee certifies in the |
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supporting documentation [on the voucher or other expense
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reimbursement form] that the agency: |
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(1) does not possess interactive television or video |
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conference facilities at the designated headquarters of the |
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employees attending the seminar; |
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(2) cannot purchase or lease such facilities at a cost |
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less than the total travel expenses associated with the seminar; |
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and |
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(3) does not have access to another agency's |
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facilities at the same location. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |