H.B. 45

1

PER DIEM AND TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR
2 STATE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
3 2009 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Douglas C. Aagard
6 Senate Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 Committee Note:
10 The Government Operations Interim Committee recommended this bill.
11 General Description:
12 This bill modifies the Administrative Services Code by amending provisions related to
13 the establishment of per diem and travel expenses for a member of a board,
14 commission, council, or committee in the executive branch of state government.
15 Highlighted Provisions:
16 This bill:
17 . defines terms;
18 . modifies procedures for the establishment of per diem rates by the Division of
19 Finance for a member of a state board, commission, council, or committee in the
20 executive branch of state government;
21 . amends the exemption for higher education employees to apply only if higher
22 education is paying the per diem or travel expenses;
23 . allows other governmental entities to adopt the established rates by reference;
24 . provides that a member who is a government employee that is being paid as an
25 officer or employee while performing the member's service may not receive
26 additional per diem or travel expenses;
27 . allows a member of the board or commission to decline to receive per diem;

28 . modifies procedures for the establishment of travel expenses by the Division of
29 Finance for a member of a board, commission, council, or committee in the
30 executive branch of state government;
31 . allows a member of the board or commission to decline to receive travel expenses;
32 and
33 . makes technical changes.
34 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
35 None
36 Other Special Clauses:
37 None
38 Utah Code Sections Affected:
39 AMENDS:
40 63A-3-106, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 1993, Chapter 212
41 63A-3-107, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 1993, Chapter 212
42
43 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
44 Section 1. Section 63A-3-106 is amended to read:
45 63A-3-106. Per diem rates for state officers and employees.
46 [Subject] (1) As used in this section and Section 63A-3-107 :
47 (a) "Board" means a board, commission, council, committee, task force, or similar
48 body established to perform a governmental function.
49 (b) "Executive branch" means all departments, divisions, agencies, boards, and offices
50 within the executive branch of state government.
51 (c) "Governmental entity" has the same meaning as provided under Section 63G-2-103 .
52 (d) "Higher education" means a state institution of higher education, as defined under
53 Section 53B-1-102 .
54 (e) "Officer" means a member of a board or a person who is elected or appointed to an
55 office or position within a governmental entity.
56 (2) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, and
57 subject to approval by the executive director, the director of the Division of Finance shall
58 [establish] make rules establishing per diem rates [for all state officers and employees of the

59 executive branch, except officers and employees of higher education, to meet subsistence
60 expenses for attendance at official meetings.] to defray subsistence costs for attendance at an
61 official meeting of a board of which the officer or employee is a member.
62 (3) Unless otherwise provided by statute, a per diem rate established under Subsection
63 (2):
64 (a) is applicable to an officer or employee of the executive branch, except as provided
65 under Subsection (3)(b);
66 (b) is applicable to an officer or employee of higher education, unless higher education
67 pays the costs of the per diem; and
68 (c) may be applicable to an officer or employee of a government entity that is not
69 included under Subsection (3)(a), if the government entity adopts the per diem rates by
70 reference to:
71 (i) this section; or
72 (ii) the rule establishing the per diem rates.
73 (4) (a) Unless otherwise provided by statute, a member of a board may receive per
74 diem under this section and travel expenses under Section 63A-3-107 when the per diem and
75 travel expenses are incurred by the member for attendance at an official meeting of a board.
76 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (4)(a), a member may not receive per
77 diem or travel expenses under this Subsection (4) if the member is being paid as an officer or
78 employee of a governmental entity while performing the member's service on the board.
79 (5) A member of a board may decline to receive per diem for the member's service.
80 Section 2. Section 63A-3-107 is amended to read:
81 63A-3-107. Travel expenses of executive branch officers and employees.
82 (1) [Subject] In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
83 Rulemaking Act, and subject to approval by the executive director, the director of the Division
84 of Finance shall [adopt] make rules governing in-state and out-of-state [travel and] travel
85 expenses [of all state officers and employees of the executive branch, except officers and
86 employees of higher education].
87 [(2) The travel expense rules shall be based upon:]
88 [(a) per diem rates of payment for subsistence expenses, subject to modification, when
89 justified, to meet special circumstances encountered in official attendance at conferences,

90 conventions, and other official meetings;]
91 (2) Unless otherwise provided by statute, a travel expense rule established under
92 Subsection (1):
93 (a) is applicable to an officer or employee of the executive branch, except as provided
94 under Subsection (2)(b);
95 (b) is applicable to an officer or employee of higher education, unless higher education
96 pays the costs of the travel expenses; and
97 (c) may be applicable to a government entity that is not included under Subsection
98 (2)(a), if the government entity adopts the travel expense provisions by reference to:
99 (i) this section; or
100 (ii) the rule establishing the travel expense provisions.
101 (3) The Division of Finance shall make the travel expense rules on the basis of:
102 [(b)] (a) a mileage allowance; and
103 [(c)] (b) reimbursement for other travel expenses incurred.
104 (4) The travel expense rules may allow modification, when justified, to meet special
105 circumstances encountered in official attendance at a conference, convention, meeting, or other
106 official business.
107 [(3)] (5) (a) [Officers and employees] An officer or employee of the executive branch[,
108 except officers or employees of higher education] may not incur obligations for travel outside
109 Utah without the advance approval of the director of the Division of Finance.
110 (b) The director of the Division of Finance may delegate the authority to approve travel
111 outside the state to [the directors of the state departments and agencies] an executive director or
112 a designee of the executive director of a state department or agency.
113 (c) [This] The approval under Subsection (5)(a) or (b), shall include a certification as to
114 the availability of funds.
115 (6) A member of a board may decline to receive travel expenses for the member's
116 service.

Legislative Review Note
as of 10-17-08 8:51 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel