Senate Bill sb1904c1
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Florida Senate - 2004 CS for SB 1904
By the Committee on Governmental Oversight and Productivity;
and Senator Lawson
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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, subsistence, and mileage
5 ranges 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), subsection (6), paragraph (d)
14 of subsection (7), and subsection (11) of section 112.061,
15 Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (15) is added to
16 that section, to read:
17 112.061 Per diem and travel expenses of public
18 officers, employees, and authorized persons.--
19 (1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--There are inequities,
20 conflicts, inconsistencies, and lapses in the numerous laws
21 regulating or attempting to regulate travel expenses of public
22 officers, employees, and authorized persons in the state. It
23 is the intent of the Legislature:
24 (a) To remedy same and to establish uniform travel
25 reimbursement ranges for state agencies, maximum travel
26 reimbursement rates for nonstate public agencies, and
27 limitations for all public agencies, with certain justifiable
28 exceptions, applicable to all public travelers officers,
29 employees, and authorized persons whose travel expenses are
30 paid by a public agency.
31 (3) AUTHORITY TO INCUR TRAVEL EXPENSES.--
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Florida Senate - 2004 CS for SB 1904
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1 (e) The agency head, or a designated representative,
2 may pay by advancement or reimbursement, or a combination
3 thereof, the costs of per diem of travelers and authorized
4 persons for foreign travel at the current rates as specified
5 in the federal publication "Standardized Regulations
6 (Government Civilians, Foreign Areas)" and incidental expenses
7 as provided in this section.
8 (g) The secretary of the Department of Health or a
9 designee may authorize travel expenses incidental to the
10 rendering of medical services for and on behalf of clients of
11 the Department of Health. The Department of Health may
12 establish rates lower than the range maximum provided in this
13 section for these travel expenses.
14 (6) RATES OF PER DIEM AND SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE.--For
15 purposes of reimbursement rates and methods of calculation,
16 per diem and subsistence allowances are divided into the
17 following groups and rates:
18 (a) All travelers shall be allowed for subsistence
19 when traveling to a convention or conference or when traveling
20 within or outside the state in order to conduct bona fide
21 state business, which convention, conference, or business
22 serves a direct and lawful public purpose with relation to the
23 public agency served by the person attending such meeting or
24 conducting such business, either of the following for each day
25 of such travel at the option of the traveler:
26 1. Between $50 and $96 Fifty dollars per diem for
27 state travelers or up to $96 for nonstate travelers; or
28 2. If actual expenses exceed the amount permitted in
29 subparagraph 1. $50, the amounts permitted in paragraph (b)
30 for subsistence meals, plus actual expenses for lodging at a
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Florida Senate - 2004 CS for SB 1904
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1 single-occupancy rate, to be substantiated by paid bills
2 therefor.
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4 When lodging or meals are provided at a state institution, the
5 traveler shall be reimbursed only for the actual expenses of
6 such lodging or meals, not to exceed the maximum provided for
7 in this subsection.
8 (b) All travelers shall be allowed the following
9 amounts for subsistence while on Class C travel on official
10 business as provided in paragraph (5)(b):
11 1. Breakfast. State travelers are allowed between $3
12 and $5 and nonstate travelers up to $5.
13 2. Lunch. State travelers are allowed between $6 and
14 $11 and nonstate travelers up to $11.
15 3. Dinner. State travelers are allowed between $12
16 and $23 and nonstate travelers up to $23.
17 (c) No one, whether traveling out of state or in
18 state, shall be reimbursed for any meal or lodging included in
19 a convention or conference registration fee paid by the state.
20 (d) For the 2003-2004 fiscal year only and
21 notwithstanding the other provisions of this subsection, for
22 Class C travel, a state traveler shall not be reimbursed on a
23 per diem basis nor shall a traveler receive subsistence
24 allowance. This paragraph expires July 1, 2004.
25 (7) TRANSPORTATION.--
26 (d)1. The use of privately owned vehicles for official
27 travel in lieu of publicly owned vehicles or common carriers
28 may be authorized by the agency head or his or her designee.
29 Whenever travel is by privately owned vehicle:
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Florida Senate - 2004 CS for SB 1904
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1 a. A state, the traveler shall be entitled to a
2 mileage allowance at a fixed rate of 29 to 38 25 cents per
3 mile;
4 b. A nonstate traveler shall be entitled to a mileage
5 allowance of up to 38 for state fiscal year 1994-1995 and 29
6 cents per mile; or
7 c. The traveler shall be entitled to thereafter or the
8 common carrier fare for such travel, as determined by the
9 agency head.
10 2. Reimbursement for expenditures related to the
11 operation, maintenance, and ownership of a vehicle shall not
12 be allowed when privately owned vehicles are used on public
13 business and reimbursement is made pursuant to this paragraph,
14 except as provided in subsection (8).
15 3.2. All mileage shall be shown from point of origin
16 to point of destination and, when possible, shall be computed
17 on the basis of the current map of the Department of
18 Transportation. Vicinity mileage necessary for the conduct of
19 official business is allowable but must be shown as a separate
20 item on the expense voucher.
21 (11) TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION AND VOUCHER FORMS.--
22 (a) Authorization forms.--The Department of Financial
23 Services shall furnish a uniform travel authorization request
24 form which shall be used by all state officers, and employees,
25 and authorized persons when requesting approval for the
26 performance of travel to a convention or conference. The form
27 shall include, but not be limited to, provision for the name
28 of each traveler, purpose of travel, period of travel,
29 estimated cost to the state, and a statement of benefits
30 accruing to the state by virtue of such travel. A copy of the
31 program or agenda of the convention or conference, itemizing
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1 registration fees and any meals or lodging included in the
2 registration fee, shall be attached to, and filed with, the
3 copy of the travel authorization request form on file with the
4 agency. The form shall be signed by the traveler and by the
5 traveler's supervisor stating that the travel is to be
6 incurred in connection with official business of the state.
7 The head of the agency or his or her designated representative
8 shall not authorize or approve such request in the absence of
9 the appropriate signatures. A copy of the travel authorization
10 form shall be attached to, and become a part of, the support
11 of the agency's copy of the travel voucher.
12 (b) Voucher forms.--
13 1. The Department of Financial Services shall furnish
14 a uniform travel voucher form which shall be used by all state
15 officers, and employees, and authorized persons when
16 submitting travel expense statements for approval and payment.
17 No travel expense statement shall be approved for payment by
18 the Chief Financial Officer unless made on the form prescribed
19 and furnished by the department. The travel voucher form shall
20 provide for, among other things, the purpose of the official
21 travel and a certification or affirmation, to be signed by the
22 traveler, indicating the truth and correctness of the claim in
23 every material matter, that the travel expenses were actually
24 incurred by the traveler as necessary in the performance of
25 official duties, that per diem claimed has been appropriately
26 reduced for any meals or lodging included in the convention or
27 conference registration fees claimed by the traveler, and that
28 the voucher conforms in every respect with the requirements of
29 this section. The original copy of the executed uniform travel
30 authorization request form shall be attached to the uniform
31 travel voucher on file with the respective agency.
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Florida Senate - 2004 CS for SB 1904
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1 2. Statements for travel expenses incidental to the
2 rendering of medical services for and on behalf of clients of
3 the Department of Health shall be on forms approved by the
4 Department of Financial Services.
5 (15) STATE TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT RANGES AND
6 ADJUSTMENTS.--
7 (a) For the 2003-2004 fiscal year, state travelers may
8 receive no more than the minimum amounts for per diem as
9 provided in subparagraph (6)(a)1., subsistence as provided in
10 paragraph (6)(b), and mileage as provided in subparagraph
11 (7)(d)1.
12 (b) On or before June 30, 2004, and annually
13 thereafter, the specific amount to be paid during the
14 following fiscal year to state travelers 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. shall be established as follows:
18 1. The Attorney General shall establish amounts that
19 apply uniformly to all travel by the Department of Legal
20 Affairs.
21 2. The Chief Financial Officer shall establish amounts
22 that apply uniformly to all travel by the Department of
23 Financial Services.
24 3. The Commissioner of Agriculture shall establish
25 amounts that apply uniformly to all travel by the Department
26 of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
27 4. The Governor shall establish amounts that apply
28 uniformly to all travel by executive branch agencies, except
29 as otherwise provided in this paragraph.
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Florida Senate - 2004 CS for SB 1904
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1 5. The presiding officers of the Legislature shall
2 establish amounts that apply uniformly to all travel by
3 legislative branch agencies.
4 6. The Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court
5 shall establish amounts that apply uniformly to all travel by
6 judicial branch agencies.
7 (c) On June 1, 2005, and annually thereafter, the
8 Department of Financial Services shall adjust by rule the
9 amounts for per diem provided in subparagraph (6)(a)1., the
10 amounts for subsistence provided in paragraph (6)(b), and the
11 amounts for mileage provided in subparagraph (7)(d)1. to
12 reflect the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for
13 All Urban Consumers, U.S. City Average since June 1, 2003. The
14 annually adjusted amounts shall be rounded downward to the
15 nearest whole dollar for per diem and subsistence and to the
16 nearest whole cent for mileage and shall be effective for the
17 following fiscal year.
18 Section 2. This act shall take effect June 1, 2004.
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20 STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
21 Senate Bill 1904
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23 Removes bill's provision permitting reimbursement for the
actual cost of meals. Updates maximum amounts for per diem,
24 mileage, and meals to reflect changes in the Consumer Price
Index from the last time the amounts were legislatively
25 increased until 2003. Provides that annual adjustments by the
Department of Financial Services begin in 2005, rather than
26 2006. Provides that adjustments for per diem and subsistence
are to be rounded downward to the nearest dollar and for
27 mileage are to be rounded downward to the nearest cent.
Reinstates paragraphs regarding Class C travel.
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