Senate Bill sb1904
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Florida Senate - 2004 SB 1904
By Senator Lawson
6-1327-04 See HB
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to per diem and travel
3 expenses; amending s. 112.061, F.S.;
4 establishing per diem and subsistence ranges
5 for travel expenses of public employees;
6 conforming provisions and deleting obsolete
7 provisions; providing for future adjustments of
8 such rates; providing an effective date.
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10 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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12 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1), paragraphs
13 (e) and (g) of subsection (3), paragraph (c) of subsection
14 (5), subsection (6), paragraph (d) of subsection (7), and
15 subsection (11) of section 112.061, Florida Statutes, are
16 amended, and subsection (15) is added to that section, to
17 read:
18 112.061 Per diem and travel expenses of public
19 officers, employees, and authorized persons.--
20 (1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--There are inequities,
21 conflicts, inconsistencies, and lapses in the numerous laws
22 regulating or attempting to regulate travel expenses of public
23 officers, employees, and authorized persons in the state. It
24 is the intent of the Legislature:
25 (a) To remedy same and to establish uniform travel
26 reimbursement ranges for state agencies, maximum travel
27 reimbursement rates for nonstate public agencies, and
28 limitations for all public agencies, with certain justifiable
29 exceptions, applicable to all public travelers officers,
30 employees, and authorized persons whose travel expenses are
31 paid by a public agency.
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Florida Senate - 2004 SB 1904
6-1327-04 See HB
1 (3) AUTHORITY TO INCUR TRAVEL EXPENSES.--
2 (e) The agency head, or a designated representative,
3 may pay by advancement or reimbursement, or a combination
4 thereof, the costs of per diem of travelers and authorized
5 persons for foreign travel at the current rates as specified
6 in the federal publication "Standardized Regulations
7 (Government Civilians, Foreign Areas)" and incidental expenses
8 as provided in this section.
9 (g) The secretary of the Department of Health or a
10 designee may authorize travel expenses incidental to the
11 rendering of medical services for and on behalf of clients of
12 the Department of Health. The Department of Health may
13 establish rates lower than the range maximum provided in this
14 section for these travel expenses.
15 (5) COMPUTATION OF TRAVEL TIME FOR REIMBURSEMENT.--For
16 purposes of reimbursement and methods of calculating
17 fractional days of travel, the following principles are
18 prescribed:
19 (c) For the 2003-2004 fiscal year only and
20 notwithstanding the other provisions of this subsection, for
21 Class C travel, a state traveler shall not be reimbursed on a
22 per diem basis nor shall a traveler receive subsistence
23 allowance. This paragraph expires July 1, 2004.
24 (6) RATES OF PER DIEM AND SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE.--For
25 purposes of reimbursement rates and methods of calculation,
26 per diem and subsistence allowances are divided into the
27 following groups and rates:
28 (a) All travelers shall be allowed for subsistence
29 when traveling to a convention or conference or when traveling
30 within or outside the state in order to conduct bona fide
31 state business, which convention, conference, or business
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Florida Senate - 2004 SB 1904
6-1327-04 See HB
1 serves a direct and lawful public purpose with relation to the
2 public agency served by the person attending such meeting or
3 conducting such business, either of the following for each day
4 of such travel at the option of the traveler:
5 1. Between $50 and $94 Fifty dollars per diem for
6 state travelers or up to $94 for nonstate travelers; or
7 2. If actual expenses exceed $50, the amounts
8 permitted in this paragraph and paragraph (b) for per diem and
9 meals, such actual expenses for meals plus actual expenses for
10 lodging at a single-occupancy rate, to be substantiated by
11 paid bills therefor.
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13 When lodging or meals are provided at a state institution, the
14 traveler shall be reimbursed only for the actual expenses of
15 such lodging or meals, not to exceed the maximum provided for
16 in this subsection.
17 (b) All travelers shall be allowed the following
18 amounts for subsistence while on Class C travel on official
19 business as provided in paragraph (5)(b):
20 1. Breakfast. State travelers are allowed between $3
21 and $5 and nonstate travelers up to $5.
22 2. Lunch. State travelers are allowed between $6 and
23 $11 and nonstate travelers up to $11.
24 3. Dinner. State travelers are allowed between $12
25 and $22 and nonstate travelers up to $22.
26 (c) No one, whether traveling out of state or in
27 state, shall be reimbursed for any meal or lodging included in
28 a convention or conference registration fee paid by the state.
29 (d) For the 2003-2004 fiscal year only and
30 notwithstanding the other provisions of this subsection, for
31 Class C travel, a state traveler shall not be reimbursed on a
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Florida Senate - 2004 SB 1904
6-1327-04 See HB
1 per diem basis nor shall a traveler receive subsistence
2 allowance. This paragraph expires July 1, 2004.
3 (7) TRANSPORTATION.--
4 (d)1. The use of privately owned vehicles for official
5 travel in lieu of publicly owned vehicles or common carriers
6 may be authorized by the agency head or his or her designee.
7 Whenever travel is by privately owned vehicle:
8 a. A state, the traveler shall be entitled to a
9 mileage allowance at a fixed rate of 29 to 37 25 cents per
10 mile;
11 b. A nonstate traveler shall be entitled to a mileage
12 allowance of up to 37 for state fiscal year 1994-1995 and 29
13 cents per mile; or
14 c. The traveler shall be entitled to thereafter or the
15 common carrier fare for such travel, as determined by the
16 agency head.
17 2. Reimbursement for expenditures related to the
18 operation, maintenance, and ownership of a vehicle shall not
19 be allowed when privately owned vehicles are used on public
20 business and reimbursement is made pursuant to this paragraph,
21 except as provided in subsection (8).
22 3.2. All mileage shall be shown from point of origin
23 to point of destination and, when possible, shall be computed
24 on the basis of the current map of the Department of
25 Transportation. Vicinity mileage necessary for the conduct of
26 official business is allowable but must be shown as a separate
27 item on the expense voucher.
28 (11) TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION AND VOUCHER FORMS.--
29 (a) Authorization forms.--The Department of Financial
30 Services shall furnish a uniform travel authorization request
31 form which shall be used by all state officers, and employees,
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Florida Senate - 2004 SB 1904
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1 and authorized persons when requesting approval for the
2 performance of travel to a convention or conference. The form
3 shall include, but not be limited to, provision for the name
4 of each traveler, purpose of travel, period of travel,
5 estimated cost to the state, and a statement of benefits
6 accruing to the state by virtue of such travel. A copy of the
7 program or agenda of the convention or conference, itemizing
8 registration fees and any meals or lodging included in the
9 registration fee, shall be attached to, and filed with, the
10 copy of the travel authorization request form on file with the
11 agency. The form shall be signed by the traveler and by the
12 traveler's supervisor stating that the travel is to be
13 incurred in connection with official business of the state.
14 The head of the agency or his or her designated representative
15 shall not authorize or approve such request in the absence of
16 the appropriate signatures. A copy of the travel authorization
17 form shall be attached to, and become a part of, the support
18 of the agency's copy of the travel voucher.
19 (b) Voucher forms.--
20 1. The Department of Financial Services shall furnish
21 a uniform travel voucher form which shall be used by all state
22 officers, and employees, and authorized persons when
23 submitting travel expense statements for approval and payment.
24 No travel expense statement shall be approved for payment by
25 the Chief Financial Officer unless made on the form prescribed
26 and furnished by the department. The travel voucher form shall
27 provide for, among other things, the purpose of the official
28 travel and a certification or affirmation, to be signed by the
29 traveler, indicating the truth and correctness of the claim in
30 every material matter, that the travel expenses were actually
31 incurred by the traveler as necessary in the performance of
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Florida Senate - 2004 SB 1904
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1 official duties, that per diem claimed has been appropriately
2 reduced for any meals or lodging included in the convention or
3 conference registration fees claimed by the traveler, and that
4 the voucher conforms in every respect with the requirements of
5 this section. The original copy of the executed uniform travel
6 authorization request form shall be attached to the uniform
7 travel voucher on file with the respective agency.
8 2. Statements for travel expenses incidental to the
9 rendering of medical services for and on behalf of clients of
10 the Department of Health shall be on forms approved by the
11 Department of Financial Services.
12 (15) TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT RANGES AND ADJUSTMENTS.--
13 (a) For the 2003-2004 fiscal year, state travelers may
14 receive no more than the minimum amounts for per diem as
15 provided in subparagraph (6)(a)1., subsistence as provided in
16 paragraph (6)(b), and mileage as provided in subparagraph
17 (7)(d)1.
18 (b) On or before June 30, 2004, and annually
19 thereafter, the specific amount to be paid during the
20 following fiscal year to state travelers for per diem as
21 provided in subparagraph (6)(a)1., subsistence as provided in
22 paragraph (6)(b), and mileage as provided in subparagraph
23 (7)(d)1. shall be established as follows:
24 1. The Attorney General shall establish amounts that
25 apply uniformly to all travel by the Department of Legal
26 Affairs.
27 2. The Chief Financial Officer shall establish amounts
28 that apply uniformly to all travel by the Department of
29 Financial Services.
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Florida Senate - 2004 SB 1904
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1 3. The Commissioner of Agriculture shall establish
2 amounts that apply uniformly to all travel by the Department
3 of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
4 4. The Governor shall establish amounts that apply
5 uniformly to all travel by executive branch agencies, except
6 as otherwise provided in this paragraph.
7 5. The presiding officers of the Legislature shall
8 establish amounts that apply uniformly to all travel by
9 legislative branch agencies.
10 6. The Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court
11 shall establish amounts that apply uniformly to all travel by
12 judicial branch agencies.
13 (c) On June 1, 2006, and annually thereafter, the
14 Department of Financial Services shall adjust by rule the
15 amounts for per diem provided in subparagraph (6)(a)1., the
16 amounts for subsistence provided in paragraph (6)(b), and the
17 amounts for mileage provided in subparagraph (7)(d)1. to
18 reflect the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for
19 All Urban Consumers, U.S. City Average since June 1, 2003. The
20 annually adjusted amounts shall be rounded downward to the
21 nearest whole dollar for per diem and to the nearest whole
22 cent for subsistence and shall be effective for the following
23 fiscal year.
24 Section 2. This act shall take effect June 1, 2004.
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