88R4261 LRM-D
 
  By: Gervin-Hawkins, Morrison, Martinez, H.B. No. 855
      Bailes
 
 
 
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, 2023.