S-4735.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6420
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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1996 Regular Session
By Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Heavey, Roach, Oke, Finkbeiner and Hochstatter)
Read first time 02/02/96.
AN ACT Relating to travel by public officers and employees; amending RCW 42.24.090 and 42.24.120; and adding a new section to chapter 42.04 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 42.04 RCW to read as follows:
First class and business class commercial air carrier accommodations may not be used by any state government officer, whether elected or appointed, and any state government employee who travels by commercial airlines in the discharge of the duties of his or her position or employment at public expense unless otherwise required as a reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities or where an emergency would warrant such travel.
Sec. 2. RCW 42.24.090 and 1995 c 301 s 73 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) No claim for
reimbursement of any expenditures by officers or employees of any municipal
corporation or political subdivision of the state for transportation, lodging,
meals or any other purpose shall be allowed by any officer, employee or board
charged with auditing accounts unless the same shall be presented in a detailed
account((: PROVIDED, That,)).
(2) The legislative body of the municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state shall prescribe by ordinance or formally adopted resolution that whenever travel by commercial air carrier is required, the reimbursement rate for airline tickets shall be coach or equivalent class. The ordinance or resolution may include specific circumstances when reimbursement for business or equivalent class may be authorized.
(3) Unless otherwise authorized by law, the legislative body of any municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state may prescribe by ordinance or resolution the amounts to be paid officers or employees thereof as reimbursement for the use of their personal automobiles or other transportation equipment in connection with officially assigned duties and other travel for approved public purposes, or as reimbursement to such officers or employees in lieu of actual expenses incurred for lodging, meals or other purposes. The rates for such reimbursements may be computed on a mileage, hourly, per diem, monthly, or other basis as the respective legislative bodies shall determine to be proper in each instance: PROVIDED, That in lieu of such reimbursements, payments for the use of personal automobiles for official travel may be established if the legislative body determines that these payments would be less costly to the municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state than providing automobiles for official travel.
(4) All claims authorized under this section shall be duly certified by the officer or employee submitting such claims on forms and in the manner prescribed by the state auditor.
Sec. 3. RCW 42.24.120 and 1969 c 74 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
Whenever it becomes necessary for an elected or appointed official or employee of the municipal corporation or political subdivision to travel and incur expenses, the legislative body of such municipal corporation or political subdivision may provide, in the manner that local legislation is officially enacted, reasonable allowances to such officers and employees in advance of expenditure. The local legislation shall require that when travel by commercial air carrier is required the purchase of airline tickets shall be coach or equivalent class. The legislation may specify specific circumstances when travel by business or equivalent class may be authorized. Such advance shall be made under appropriate rules and regulations to be prescribed by the state auditor.
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