HB 0483 2004
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to per diem and travel expenses; amending
3	s. 112.061, F.S.; establishing per diem and subsistence
4	ranges for travel expenses of public employees; conforming
5	provisions and deleting obsolete provisions; providing for
6	future adjustments of such rates; providing an effective
7	date.
8
9	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11	Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1), paragraphs (e)
12	and (g) of subsection (3), paragraph (c) of subsection (5),
13	subsection (6), paragraph (d) of subsection (7), and subsection
14	(11) of section 112.061, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
15	subsection (15) is added to said section, to read:
16	112.061 Per diem and travel expenses of public officers,
17	employees, and authorized persons.--
18	(1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--There are inequities, conflicts,
19	inconsistencies, and lapses in the numerous laws regulating or
20	attempting to regulate travel expenses of public officers,
21	employees, and authorized persons in the state. It is the intent
22	of the Legislature:
23	(a) To remedy same and to establish uniform travel
24	reimbursement ranges for state agencies, maximum travel
25	reimbursement rates for nonstate public agencies, and
26	limitations for all public agencies, with certain justifiable
27	exceptions, applicable to all public travelers officers,
28	employees, and authorized personswhose travel expenses are paid
29	by a public agency.
30	(3) AUTHORITY TO INCUR TRAVEL EXPENSES.--
31	(e) The agency head, or a designated representative, may
32	pay by advancement or reimbursement, or a combination thereof,
33	the costs of per diem of travelers and authorized personsfor
34	foreign travel at the current rates as specified in the federal
35	publication "Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians,
36	Foreign Areas)" and incidental expenses as provided in this
37	section.
38	(g) The secretary of the Department of Health or a
39	designee may authorize travel expenses incidental to the
40	rendering of medical services for and on behalf of clients of
41	the Department of Health. The Department of Health may establish
42	rates lower than the range maximumprovided in this section for
43	these travel expenses.
44	(5) COMPUTATION OF TRAVEL TIME FOR REIMBURSEMENT.--For
45	purposes of reimbursement and methods of calculating fractional
46	days of travel, the following principles are prescribed:
47	(c) For the 2003-2004 fiscal year only and notwithstanding
48	the other provisions of this subsection, for Class C travel, a
49	state traveler shall not be reimbursed on a per diem basis nor
50	shall a traveler receive subsistence allowance. This paragraph
51	expires July 1, 2004.
52	(6) RATES OF PER DIEM AND SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE.--For
53	purposes of reimbursement rates and methods of calculation, per
54	diem and subsistence allowances are divided into the following
55	groups and rates:
56	(a) All travelers shall be allowed for subsistence when
57	traveling to a convention or conference or when traveling within
58	or outside the state in order to conduct bona fide state
59	business, which convention, conference, or business serves a
60	direct and lawful public purpose with relation to the public
61	agency served by the person attending such meeting or conducting
62	such business, either of the following for each day of such
63	travel at the option of the traveler:
64	1. Between $50 and $94 Fifty dollars per diem for state
65	travelers or up to $94 for nonstate travelers; or
66	2. If actual expenses exceed $50, the amounts permitted in
67	this paragraph and paragraph (b) for per diem and meals, such
68	actual expenses for mealsplus actual expenses for lodging at a
69	single-occupancy rate,to be substantiated by paid bills
70	therefor.
71
72	When lodging or meals are provided at a state institution, the
73	traveler shall be reimbursed only for the actual expenses of
74	such lodging or meals, not to exceed the maximum provided for in
75	this subsection.
76	(b) All travelers shall be allowed the following amounts
77	for subsistence while on Class C travel on official business as
78	provided in paragraph (5)(b):
79	1. Breakfast. State travelers are allowed between $3 and
80	$5 and nonstate travelers up to $5.
81	2. Lunch. State travelers are allowed between $6 and $11
82	and nonstate travelers up to $11.
83	3. Dinner. State travelers are allowed between $12 and
84	$22 and nonstate travelers up to $22.
85	(c) No one, whether traveling out of state or in state,
86	shall be reimbursed for any meal or lodging included in a
87	convention or conference registration fee paid by the state.
88	(d) For the 2003-2004 fiscal year only and notwithstanding
89	the other provisions of this subsection, for Class C travel, a
90	state traveler shall not be reimbursed on a per diem basis nor
91	shall a traveler receive subsistence allowance. This paragraph
92	expires July 1, 2004.
93	(7) TRANSPORTATION.--
94	(d)1. The use of privately owned vehicles for official
95	travel in lieu of publicly owned vehicles or common carriers may
96	be authorized by the agency head or his or her designee.
97	Whenever travel is by privately owned vehicle:
98	a. A state, thetraveler shall be entitled to a mileage
99	allowance at a fixed rate of 29 to 37 25 cents per mile;
100	b. A nonstate traveler shall be entitled to a mileage
101	allowance of up to 37 for state fiscal year 1994-1995 and 29
102	cents per mile; or
103	c. The traveler shall be entitled to thereafter orthe
104	common carrier fare for such travel, as determined by the agency
105	head.
106	2.Reimbursement for expenditures related to the
107	operation, maintenance, and ownership of a vehicle shall not be
108	allowed when privately owned vehicles are used on public
109	business and reimbursement is made pursuant to this paragraph,
110	except as provided in subsection (8).
111	3.2.All mileage shall be shown from point of origin to
112	point of destination and, when possible, shall be computed on
113	the basis of the current map of the Department of
114	Transportation. Vicinity mileage necessary for the conduct of
115	official business is allowable but must be shown as a separate
116	item on the expense voucher.
117	(11) TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION AND VOUCHER FORMS.--
118	(a) Authorization forms.--The Department of Financial
119	Services shall furnish a uniform travel authorization request
120	form which shall be used by all state officers, and employees,
121	and authorized persons when requesting approval for the
122	performance of travel to a convention or conference. The form
123	shall include, but not be limited to, provision for the name of
124	each traveler, purpose of travel, period of travel, estimated
125	cost to the state, and a statement of benefits accruing to the
126	state by virtue of such travel. A copy of the program or agenda
127	of the convention or conference, itemizing registration fees and
128	any meals or lodging included in the registration fee, shall be
129	attached to, and filed with, the copy of the travel
130	authorization request form on file with the agency. The form
131	shall be signed by the traveler and by the traveler's supervisor
132	stating that the travel is to be incurred in connection with
133	official business of the state. The head of the agency or his or
134	her designated representative shall not authorize or approve
135	such request in the absence of the appropriate signatures. A
136	copy of the travel authorization form shall be attached to, and
137	become a part of, the support of the agency's copy of the travel
138	voucher.
139	(b) Voucher forms.--
140	1. The Department of Financial Services shall furnish a
141	uniform travel voucher form which shall be used by all state
142	officers, and employees,and authorized persons when submitting
143	travel expense statements for approval and payment. No travel
144	expense statement shall be approved for payment by the Chief
145	Financial Officer unless made on the form prescribed and
146	furnished by the department. The travel voucher form shall
147	provide for, among other things, the purpose of the official
148	travel and a certification or affirmation, to be signed by the
149	traveler, indicating the truth and correctness of the claim in
150	every material matter, that the travel expenses were actually
151	incurred by the traveler as necessary in the performance of
152	official duties, that per diem claimed has been appropriately
153	reduced for any meals or lodging included in the convention or
154	conference registration fees claimed by the traveler, and that
155	the voucher conforms in every respect with the requirements of
156	this section. The original copy of the executed uniform travel
157	authorization request form shall be attached to the uniform
158	travel voucher on file with the respective agency.
159	2. Statements for travel expenses incidental to the
160	rendering of medical services for and on behalf of clients of
161	the Department of Health shall be on forms approved by the
162	Department of Financial Services.
163	(15) TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT RANGES AND ADJUSTMENTS.--
164	(a) For the 2003-2004 fiscal year, state travelers may
165	receive no more than the minimum amounts for per diem as
166	provided in subparagraph (6)(a)1., subsistence as provided in
167	paragraph (6)(b), and mileage as provided in subparagraph
168	(7)(d)1.
169	(b) On or before June 30, 2004, and annually thereafter,
170	the specific amount to be paid during the following fiscal year
171	to state travelers for per diem as provided in subparagraph
172	(6)(a)1., subsistence as provided in paragraph (6)(b), and
173	mileage as provided in subparagraph (7)(d)1. shall be
174	established as follows:
175	1. The Attorney General shall establish amounts that apply
176	uniformly to all travel by the Department of Legal Affairs.
177	2. The Chief Financial Officer shall establish amounts
178	that apply uniformly to all travel by the Department of
179	Financial Services.
180	3. The Commissioner of Agriculture shall establish amounts
181	that apply uniformly to all travel by the Department of
182	Agriculture and Consumer Services.
183	4. The Governor shall establish amounts that apply
184	uniformly to all travel by executive branch agencies, except as
185	otherwise provided in this paragraph.
186	5. The presiding officers of the Legislature shall
187	establish amounts that apply uniformly to all travel by
188	legislative branch agencies.
189	6. The Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court shall
190	establish amounts that apply uniformly to all travel by judicial
191	branch agencies.
192	(c) On June 1, 2006, and annually thereafter, the
193	Department of Financial Services shall adjust by rule the
194	amounts for per diem provided in subparagraph (6)(a)1., the
195	amounts for subsistence provided in paragraph (6)(b), and the
196	amounts for mileage provided in subparagraph (7)(d)1. to reflect
197	the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
198	Consumers, U.S. City Average since June 1, 2003. The annually
199	adjusted amounts shall be rounded downward to the nearest whole
200	dollar for per diem and to the nearest whole cent for
201	subsistence and shall be effective for the following fiscal
202	year.
203	Section 2. This act shall take effect June 1, 2004.