state employees; travel;
equipment use
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Committee on Retirement & Government Operations |
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dp |
Committee on Appropriations |
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Caucus and COW |
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As Passed the House |
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HB 2166 changes the delegation of authority for out of state travel from the Governor or the director of the Arizona Department of Administration (DOA) if so delegated to the director of DOA, and allows out of state travel in excess of 100 miles beyond the border of Arizona.
When official duties of state officers, deputies or employee require them to travel (in state or out of state) from their post of duty, they are allowed reimbursement of their expenses. The reimbursement of travel expenses is authorized by travel orders, which are signed by the head of the department or agency, or by a person who has delegated authority. DOA is charged with prescribing the travel reimbursement claim forms and process in which travel reimbursement is administered.
Currently, traveling by air, railroad and railroad sleeping accommodations or personal motor vehicle is reimbursable transportation. When traveling by personal vehicle, the most direct regularly traveled route computed by highway map or odometer reading is calculated for reimbursement (.32 ˝ cents per mile). When personal vehicles or private planes are used for travel outside this state, the lesser of either the rate set by DOA or air coach fare to the same destination is calculated for reimbursement. If a private plane is used, the most direct air mileage route listed by the civil aeronautics board is calculated for the reimbursement of air travel (.42 cents per mile). Finally, travel by rented vehicle or chartered airplane is reimbursed at the cost of the travel.
Current law designates the Governor or DOA if delegated by the Governor as the entity to authorize the use of private vehicles or private planes for out of state travel. In the case of a university employee, the president of the respective university, if authority is granted by the governor, or unless otherwise provided by law is delegated to authorize expenses for out of state transportation.
The Department of Game and Fish and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) currently have the authority to authorize, under the agencies’ jurisdiction, out of state travel of personnel and state equipment as long as the out of state travel is within adjoining states and does not exceed one hundred miles from the Arizona border. Additionally, the Governor or the director of DOA, if authorized by the Governor or the president of a university, if delegated by the Governor may authorize the use of state transportation outside of this state. The authorized entity is required to determine in writing that no other means of transportation is available or no service of the type is provided by a common carrier or it would best serve the state.