By: Hughes S.B. No. 1020

(Gervin-Hawkins)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the reimbursement of state employees for groceries consumed while traveling on official state business.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 660.113(c), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) Except as provided by Section 660.1135, a [A] state agency may not reimburse a state employee for a meal expense incurred within the employee's designated headquarters unless the expense is:

(1) mandatory; and

(2) connected with training, a seminar, or a conference.

SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 660, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 660.1135 to read as follows:

Sec. 660.1135. REIMBURSEMENT FOR GROCERIES PURCHASED WITHIN EMPLOYEE'S DESIGNATED HEADQUARTERS. (a) In this section, "groceries" means food items sold at a grocery store, supermarket, or other similar retail establishment.

(b) A state agency may reimburse a state employee as provided by Subsections (c) and (d) for groceries purchased within the employee's designated headquarters if:

(1) the purchase is made the day before or the day the employee travels to conduct official state business; and

(2) the groceries are consumed by the employee while the employee is away from the employee's designated headquarters traveling for official state business.

(c) A state agency may only reimburse a state employee under this section for the prorated portion of groceries consumed each day by the state employee while traveling for official state business.

(d) A purchase made under this section is considered a meal expense for purposes of determining the limit established by the travel provisions of the General Appropriations Act for meal expenses under Section 660.112.

(e) A state agency must develop a policy for authorizing reimbursements under this section before the agency may reimburse a state employee under this section.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.