By: Duncan S.B. No. 745
(In the Senate - Filed February 10, 2009; February 25, 2009,
read first time and referred to Committee on Government
Organization; March 18, 2009, reported favorably by the following
vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; March 18, 2009, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to state travel policies and procedures for the
reimbursement or payment of travel expenses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 660.024, Government
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The chief administrator of a state agency must give
advance written approval for any travel related to official state
business for which a reimbursement for travel expenses is claimed
or for which an advance for travel expenses to be incurred is
sought. The advance [A copy of the] written approval may [shall] be
communicated electronically [submitted with the travel voucher to
the comptroller in accordance with Section 660.027].
SECTION 2. Subsections (b), (d), and (e), Section 660.027,
Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
(b) A voucher submitted under Subsection (a) is valid only
if:
(1) the state agency submitting the voucher approves
it in accordance with Chapter 2103 and, if required by law,
certifies the voucher; and
(2) the state employee who incurred the travel expense
or, if the employee is unavailable, another individual acceptable
to the comptroller approves the description, information, and
documentation required by Subsection (d) [voucher] in writing or
electronically, except that the employee's approval is not required
if another person is required by law to provide the approval.
(d) A voucher must be supported by:
(1) a description of [describe] the official state
business performed; and
(2) [be accompanied by] the information and
documentation that the comptroller considers necessary for the
comptroller to determine compliance with this chapter, the travel
provisions of the General Appropriations Act, and the rules adopted
by the comptroller under this chapter.
(e) The comptroller may require a state agency to provide to
the comptroller the description, information, and documentation
required under [by] Subsection (d):
(1) on the form adopted by the comptroller under
Subsection (c);
(2) electronically;
(3) by submitting receipts or other documents; or
(4) [(3)] by any [a] combination of Subdivisions (1),
[and] (2), and (3).
SECTION 3. Section 660.028, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsection (e) to
read as follows:
(b) If the comptroller audits a state agency's voucher after
the comptroller issues a warrant or initiates an electronic funds
transfer in response to the voucher, the comptroller may require
the agency to maintain in its files the description, information,
and documentation [receipts] relating to the travel expense paid or
reimbursed by the voucher until the comptroller audits the voucher.
(c) If a state agency pays or reimburses a travel expense
without first submitting a voucher to the comptroller, the
comptroller may audit the payment or reimbursement for compliance
with this chapter and the travel provisions of the General
Appropriations Act. The comptroller may report the results of the
audit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the
house of representatives, the state auditor, and the Legislative
Budget Board. The state agency shall cooperate with the
comptroller and make available the description, information, and
documentation [receipts] required by the comptroller at the time
and in the manner required by the comptroller.
(d) The comptroller may require a state agency to maintain
in its files the description, information, and documentation
[receipts] regarding a travel expense payment or reimbursement for
the period required by the comptroller.
(e) The comptroller may require or authorize the
description, information, and documentation relating to a travel
expense payment or reimbursement to be maintained in paper form or
electronically.
SECTION 4. Subsections (b) and (d), Section 660.043,
Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
(b) For the purpose of Subsection (a), the shortest route
between 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 documentation [voucher] states that the longer
route is more cost effective;
(2) the documentation [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.
(d) If the number of miles between points is not shown in the
guide, the mileage incurred while traveling between those points is
not reimbursable unless:
(1) the documentation [voucher] itemizes the mileage
on a point-to-point basis; and
(2) the mileage is reasonable.
SECTION 5. Subsection (b), Section 660.147, Government
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(b) A state agency may not pay or reimburse a state employee
for a travel expense associated with a training seminar conducted
by the agency for its employees unless the chief administrator of
the agency or the administrator's designee certifies in the
supporting documentation [on the voucher or other expense
reimbursement form] that the agency:
(1) does not possess interactive television or video
conference facilities at the designated headquarters of the
employees attending the seminar;
(2) cannot purchase or lease such facilities at a cost
less than the total travel expenses associated with the seminar;
and
(3) does not have access to another agency's
facilities at the same location.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
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