ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
state employees; travel;
equipment use
Purpose
Makes
a variety of changes relating to state employee travel and travel expenses,
including authorization power and reimbursement restrictions.
Background
Current
statute provides travel expense reimbursement to state employees for travel in
and out of the state. Travel by air,
railroad or motor vehicle is permitted for travel reimbursement. Compensation is also paid for railroad
sleeping accommodations, actual lodging expenses, meal expenses and incidental
expenses. Reimbursement is authorized by travel orders signed by the head of
the department or agency, or by a person to whom such authority has been
properly delegated. In the case of a university employee, the president of the
university approves the out-of-state transportation expense if given authority
by the Governor. Reimbursement is also provided for equipment, such as a
computer, when traveling. Presently, the Department of Game and Fish and the
Department of Public Safety are the only entities that may authorize the use of
equipment when traveling without delegation of authority from the Governor.
This legislation allows all agency heads to authorize out-of-state travel and
equipment use.
There
is a possible fiscal impact associated with this legislation due to potential
elevated costs for increased out-of-state travel.
Provisions
1. Statutorily allows agency heads or a person properly delegated by an agency head or the president of a university to authorize out-of-state travel and the use of state equipment outside of the state.
2. Removes the exemption from approval requirements for travel orders for trips less than 100 miles outside of Arizona in adjoining states.
3. Prohibits authorization of transportation expenses related to a private conveyance unless authority is delegated in writing by the Director of the Department of Administration (DOA). Removes requirements that the Governor must delegate authority to DOA in order for DOA to approve out-of-state travel in private conveyances for state employees.
4. Requires receipts to be provided for reimbursement of transportation by train.
5. Clarifies that local public transportation receipts are not required for reimbursement.
6. Allows all agency heads or a person properly delegated by an agency head or the president of a university to authorize the use of state equipment for out-of-state travel. Requires the agency head or the president of a university to establish in writing that the equipment is necessary.
7. Removes the restriction that state employees cannot be authorized for travel in excess of 100 miles beyond the Arizona border.
8. Makes technical and conforming changes.
9. Provides for a general effective date.
House Action
RGO 1/23/01 DP 10-0-0-0
APPROP 2/13/01 DP 12-0-0-4
3rd Read
22601 57-0-3-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 22, 2001