(a) When the General Assembly is in recess for a period of two (2) weeks or more, a member of the General Assembly is:

(1) Authorized to attend national or regional conferences under the same conditions as apply to the attendance at the conferences after sine die adjournment of the General Assembly; and

(2) Entitled to receive reimbursement from the same sources and under the same conditions for conferences occurring after sine die adjournment for:

(A) Reasonable and necessary expenses for:

(i) Travel;

(ii) Meals; and

(iii) Lodging; and

(B) Other authorized expenses.

(b)

(1) A member of the General Assembly may travel to a national or regional conference by commercial airplane, private vehicle, or other approved method of transportation.

(2)

(A) Reimbursement for out-of-state travel is the lesser rate of reasonable airfare or the established rate of private car mileage based on map mileage when driven.

(B) Travel authorized by a chair of a legislative committee shall also be subject to approval by the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

(C) When the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the President Pro Tempore of the Senate provides the written authorization to travel, the Speaker of the House of Representatives or his or her designee or the President Pro Tempore of the Senate or his or her designee shall determine the amount of reimbursement in dollars and cents.

(3)

(A) A member of the General Assembly who prefers to be reimbursed for travel to a national or regional conference by a mode of transportation other than private vehicle or commercial airplane shall submit a request for reimbursement to the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the President Pro Tempore of the Senate in a manner established respectively by the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

(B) A member of the General Assembly who submits a request for reimbursement under subdivision (b)(3)(A) of this section shall be reimbursed at a rate documented in writing and approved by the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.