H.B. No. 605
AN ACT
relating to mileage reimbursement for state employees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 660.043(a), (b), and (c), Government
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The number of miles traveled that are eligible for
reimbursement under this subchapter may not exceed the number of
miles of the most cost-effective reasonably safe route between the
origin of the state employee's travel and the final duty point of
the state employee. If a state employee conducts official state
business at duty points between the origin of the state employee's
travel and the final duty point, the most cost-effective reasonably
safe route between the origin and the final duty point shall include
the intermediate duty points.
(b) In determining the most cost-effective reasonably safe
route for purposes [For the purpose] of Subsection (a), a state
agency may consider:
(1) the route that provides the shortest distance
[route] between the origin of the state employee's travel and the
final duty point;
(2) the route that provides the quickest drive time
between the origin of the state employee's travel and the final duty
point; and
(3) the route that provides the safest road conditions
between the origin of the state employee's travel and the final duty
point [two points is presumed to be the most cost-effective route.
A longer route may be considered the most cost-effective route only
if:
[(1) the voucher states that the longer route is more
cost effective;
[(2) the voucher provides a reasonable justification
for that statement; and
[(3) the statement and justification are made by the
chief administrator of the state agency making the reimbursement or
by the chief administrator's designee].
(c) The number of miles traveled that are eligible for
reimbursement under this subchapter may be determined by an
employee's vehicle odometer reading or by a readily available
electronic mapping service [comptroller shall periodically issue
and update a mileage guide that includes a chart showing the number
of miles for the shortest route between points. The guide also may
include a chart showing the number of miles for longer routes
between points. Farm-to-market and ranch-to-market roads shall be
considered when determining the routings between points in this
state. The guide may be electronic or printed, or both].
SECTION 2. Section 660.202(c), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(c) A member of the legislature is entitled to be reimbursed
for the member's use of personally owned or leased motor vehicles
and the use of rented or public conveyances at the same rate as is
provided in the General Appropriations Act for state employees,
except that the member may only receive mileage reimbursement for
the most cost-effective route between the origin of the member's
travel and the final duty point.
SECTION 3. Section 660.043(d), Government Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 4. Section 660.043, Government Code, as amended by
this Act, applies only to the determination of reimbursable mileage
for state employee travel occurring on or after January 1, 2010.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 605 was passed by the House on March
26, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 605 was passed by the Senate on May
22, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor