Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB745 Compare Versions

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1	1	S.B. No. 745
2	2
3	3
4	4	AN ACT
5	5	relating to state travel policies and procedures for the
6	6	reimbursement or payment of travel expenses.
7	7	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
8	8	SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 660.024, Government
9	9	Code, is amended to read as follows:
10	10	(a) The chief administrator of a state agency must give
11	11	advance written approval for any travel related to official state
12	12	business for which a reimbursement for travel expenses is claimed
13	13	or for which an advance for travel expenses to be incurred is
14	14	sought. The advance [A copy of the] written approval may [shall] be
15	15	communicated electronically [submitted with the travel voucher to
16	16	the comptroller in accordance with Section 660.027].
17	17	SECTION 2. Subsections (b), (d), and (e), Section 660.027,
18	18	Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
19	19	(b) A voucher submitted under Subsection (a) is valid only
20	20	if:
21	21	(1) the state agency submitting the voucher approves
22	22	it in accordance with Chapter 2103 and, if required by law,
23	23	certifies the voucher; and
24	24	(2) the state employee who incurred the travel expense
25	25	or, if the employee is unavailable, another individual acceptable
26	26	to the comptroller approves the description, information, and
27	27	documentation required by Subsection (d) [voucher] in writing or
28	28	electronically, except that the employee's approval is not required
29	29	if another person is required by law to provide the approval.
30	30	(d) A voucher must be supported by:
31	31	(1) a description of [describe] the official state
32	32	business performed; and
33	33	(2) [be accompanied by] the information and
34	34	documentation that the comptroller considers necessary for the
35	35	comptroller to determine compliance with this chapter, the travel
36	36	provisions of the General Appropriations Act, and the rules adopted
37	37	by the comptroller under this chapter.
38	38	(e) The comptroller may require a state agency to provide to
39	39	the comptroller the description, information, and documentation
40	40	required under [by] Subsection (d):
41	41	(1) on the form adopted by the comptroller under
42	42	Subsection (c);
43	43	(2) electronically;
44	44	(3) by submitting receipts or other documents; or
45	45	(4) [(3)] by any [a] combination of Subdivisions (1),
46	46	[and] (2), and (3).
47	47	SECTION 3. Section 660.028, Government Code, is amended by
48	48	amending Subsections (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsection (e) to
49	49	read as follows:
50	50	(b) If the comptroller audits a state agency's voucher after
51	51	the comptroller issues a warrant or initiates an electronic funds
52	52	transfer in response to the voucher, the comptroller may require
53	53	the agency to maintain in its files the description, information,
54	54	and documentation [receipts] relating to the travel expense paid or
55	55	reimbursed by the voucher until the comptroller audits the voucher.
56	56	(c) If a state agency pays or reimburses a travel expense
57	57	without first submitting a voucher to the comptroller, the
58	58	comptroller may audit the payment or reimbursement for compliance
59	59	with this chapter and the travel provisions of the General
60	60	Appropriations Act. The comptroller may report the results of the
61	61	audit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the
62	62	house of representatives, the state auditor, and the Legislative
63	63	Budget Board. The state agency shall cooperate with the
64	64	comptroller and make available the description, information, and
65	65	documentation [receipts] required by the comptroller at the time
66	66	and in the manner required by the comptroller.
67	67	(d) The comptroller may require a state agency to maintain
68	68	in its files the description, information, and documentation
69	69	[receipts] regarding a travel expense payment or reimbursement for
70	70	the period required by the comptroller.
71	71	(e) The comptroller may require or authorize the
72	72	description, information, and documentation relating to a travel
73	73	expense payment or reimbursement to be maintained in paper form or
74	74	electronically.
75	75	SECTION 4. Subsections (b) and (d), Section 660.043,
76	76	Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
77	77	(b) For the purpose of Subsection (a), the shortest route
78	78	between two points is presumed to be the most cost-effective route.
79	79	A longer route may be considered the most cost-effective route only
80	80	if:
81	81	(1) the documentation [voucher] states that the longer
82	82	route is more cost effective;
83	83	(2) the documentation [voucher] provides a reasonable
84	84	justification for that statement; and
85	85	(3) the statement and justification are made by the
86	86	chief administrator of the state agency making the reimbursement or
87	87	by the chief administrator's designee.
88	88	(d) If the number of miles between points is not shown in the
89	89	guide, the mileage incurred while traveling between those points is
90	90	not reimbursable unless:
91	91	(1) the documentation [voucher] itemizes the mileage
92	92	on a point-to-point basis; and
93	93	(2) the mileage is reasonable.
94	94	SECTION 5. Subsection (b), Section 660.147, Government
95	95	Code, is amended to read as follows:
96	96	(b) A state agency may not pay or reimburse a state employee
97	97	for a travel expense associated with a training seminar conducted
98	98	by the agency for its employees unless the chief administrator of
99	99	the agency or the administrator's designee certifies in the
100	100	supporting documentation [on the voucher or other expense
101	101	reimbursement form] that the agency:
102	102	(1) does not possess interactive television or video
103	103	conference facilities at the designated headquarters of the
104	104	employees attending the seminar;
105	105	(2) cannot purchase or lease such facilities at a cost
106	106	less than the total travel expenses associated with the seminar;
107	107	and
108	108	(3) does not have access to another agency's
109	109	facilities at the same location.
110	110	SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
111	111	______________________________ ______________________________
112	112	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
113	113	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 745 passed the Senate on
114	114	March 24, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
115	115	______________________________
116	116	Secretary of the Senate
117	117	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 745 passed the House on
118	118	May 19, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, one
119	119	present not voting.
120	120	______________________________
121	121	Chief Clerk of the House
122	122	Approved:
123	123	______________________________
124	124	Date
125	125	______________________________
126	126	Governor