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               ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5303

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State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Heavey, Quigley, Winsley, Deccio, Hochstatter and Oke)

Read first time 02/22/95.

Restricting public and municipal officers and public employees' use of first class airplane accommodations and other benefits if traveling on public business.

    AN ACT Relating to official travel by public officers and employees; adding a new section to chapter 42.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 42.52 RCW; adding a  new section to chapter 42.23 RCW; creating a new section; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that the practice of some public officers and employees of using first class airplane accommodations if traveling on public business is a wasteful use of public resources.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 42.04 RCW to read as follows:

    Any state or local government officer, whether elected or appointed, and any state or local government employee who is required to travel in the discharge of the duties of his or her position or employment at public expense shall minimize travel expenses when travel by commercial air carrier is required, by traveling at the least-expensive fare routinely available through a licensed travel agency for the most direct and timely routing on the carrier selected unless otherwise required as a reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities or unless any additional cost is paid personally by the traveler.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 42.52 RCW to read as follows:

    A violation of section 2 of this act by a state officer or employee constitutes a violation of this chapter.  The penalty for violation of section 2 of this act shall be a fine, payable to the general fund of the state, equal to three times the amount that was overpaid for travel.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 42.23 RCW to read as follows:

    Any officer or local government employee violating section 2 of this act shall be liable to the municipality of which he or she is an officer for a penalty equal to three times the amount that was overpaid for travel.

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