(a) The state Comptroller, with the approval of the Chief Examiner of Public Accounts, may adopt rules and regulations to provide for the prepayment of travel expenses for state officers and employees traveling on authorized official state business. No traveler shall have expenses for any one period of travel prepaid for him in excess of any amount established according to the rules and regulations provided above, provided, that the amount of expenses authorized to be prepaid for any one period of travel may vary based on the needs of the various state departments and agencies.
(b) The Department of Examiners of Public Accounts shall examine the expenditure of funds used in accordance with subsection (a) annually and report its findings to the Joint Legislative Committee on Public Accounts.