Sec. 660.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Appropriated funds" means funds appropriated under the General Appropriations Act.

(2) "Board" means a board, commission, committee, council, governing body, or similar entity in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of state government that is composed of two or more members.

(3) "Cancellation charge" means a fee, charge, or payment that a provider of travel services assesses or retains because of the cancellation of a travel reservation or other travel plan.

(4) "Chief administrator of a state agency" means:

(A) an elected state official, including a member of a board whose membership is elected by vote of the people but excluding a member of the legislature;

(B) an appointed state official, including an individual whose appointment as a state official has not yet been confirmed by the senate;

(C) the director of a legislative interim committee or board;

(D) the chief administrator of a state hospital or special school;

(E) the chief administrator of an institution of higher education;

(F) a first assistant, chief deputy, chief clerk, or similar individual employed by a state agency who is specifically authorized by law to act for the individual's superior; and

(G) the individual who has the daily responsibility for managing the operations of a state agency that is governed by a part-time board.

(5) "Commercial lodging establishment" means:

(A) a motel, hotel, inn, apartment, house, or similar establishment that provides lodging to the public for pay; or

(B) a person or establishment that provides lodging for pay that the comptroller determines to have a sufficient number of the characteristics of a commercial lodging establishment for purposes of this chapter.

(6) "Commercial transportation company" means a person that offers to the public to transport people or goods for pay.

(7) "Designated headquarters" means:

(A) the area within:

(i) the boundaries of the incorporated municipality in which the state employee's place of employment is located; or

(ii) a five-mile radius of the state employee's place of employment, if the state employee's place of employment is located within an unincorporated area; and

(B) any area completely surrounded by the incorporated municipality in which the state employee's place of employment is located.

(8) "Disability" means a physical or mental impairment of an individual that substantially limits one or more major life activities of the individual.

(9) "Duty point" means the destination, other than a place of employment, to which a state employee travels to conduct official state business. If the destination is outside the employee's designated headquarters, the duty point is:

(A) the incorporated municipality in which the destination is located; or

(B) the area within a five-mile radius of the destination if the destination is located in an unincorporated area.

(10) "Incidental expense" means an expense incurred while traveling on official state business. The term includes a mandatory insurance or service charge and an applicable tax. The term does not include:

(A) a meal, lodging, or transportation expense, including a tax on a meal;

(B) a personal expense;

(C) an expense that a person would incur regardless of whether the person is traveling on official state business; or

(D) a tip or gratuity.

(11) "Institutional funds" has the meaning assigned by Section 51.009, Education Code.

(12) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.

(13) "Key official" means a chief administrator of a state agency or a person holding a position that has been designated as exempt from the position classification plan in accordance with the General Appropriations Act or by the governor under Chapter 654.

(14) "Lease" means a contract with a term of at least one month that gives the lessee possession and use of property or equipment while the lessor retains ownership of the property or equipment.

(15) "Place of employment" means the office or other location at which a state employee most frequently conducts official state business.

(16) "Prospective state employee" means an individual that a state agency considers for employment with the agency. The term includes a state employee of a state agency who is considered for employment by another state agency.

(17) "Receipt" means the tangible or electronically stored version of an invoice, ticket, bill, document, or other item that the comptroller accepts as proof that a travel expense has been incurred by a state employee.

(18) "Rented or public conveyance" means a motor vehicle, train, aircraft, boat, or bicycle that a state employee rents or pays a fare to use for a period of less than one month.

(19) "State agency" means:

(A) a unit of state government that uses appropriated funds to pay or reimburse a travel expense of a state employee;

(B) the Teacher Retirement System of Texas; or

(C) the Employees Retirement System of Texas.

(20) "State employee" means a person employed by a state agency. The term includes a key official unless this chapter specifically provides otherwise.

(21) "Travel expense" means a meal, lodging, transportation, or incidental expense.

(22) "Unit of state government" includes an institution of higher education.

Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1300, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.