38-624. Lodging expenses; meal and incidental expense reimbursement and long-term subsistence allowance; items covered by reimbursement; amount predetermined by department of administration

A. A state employee while traveling on authorized state business shall be reimbursed for actual lodging expenses incurred not to exceed a predetermined amount pursuant to subsection C. All claims for reimbursement shall be accompanied by lodging expense receipts.

B. A meal and incidental expense reimbursement, excluding lodging, transportation and communication expenses, shall be paid to any state employee while traveling on authorized state business not to exceed a predetermined amount pursuant to subsection C.

C. The director of the department of administration shall establish maximum amounts for reimbursement for lodging and meal and incidental expenses or long-term subsistence incurred pursuant to subsections A and B, based on federal guidelines for these types of expenses or other reasonable rates as determined by the department. The director may change the maximum amounts from time to time and may establish a separate maximum amount for geographical areas of the United States if the director finds that the reasonable cost varies significantly in one or more areas. Maximum amounts established by the director shall be subject to approval by the joint legislative budget committee.

D. The director of the department of administration shall establish in the state accounting manual uniform procedures by which amounts less than the maximum lodging and meal and incidental expense reimbursement amounts may be claimed by a person who is in travel status for less than a full twenty-four hour period or by a person who does not provide lodging receipts. The director of the department of administration shall also establish policies and procedures for the claiming of lodging and meal and incidental expense reimbursements and long-term subsistence allowances by persons temporarily required, for a period of not less than thirty days, to reside away from their primary place of residence. If housing or meals are provided, the reimbursements may be less than, and cannot exceed, the lodging and meal and incidental expense reimbursements provided for pursuant to subsection C.