SECTION 81.23. Travel Using Chapter 19 Funds Authorized

(a) Chapter 19 funds may be used to pay travel expenses incurred by the voter registrar and full-time permanent voter registration staffers to attend voter registration and/or election administration seminars and demonstrations that directly advance voter registration efforts.

(b) All voter registrars who seek reimbursement from Chapter 19 funds should plan their travel to achieve maximum economy and efficient means of transportation.

(c) The following limitations apply to Chapter 19 travel:

(1) The lowest available rates and fares shall be utilized.

(2) Reimbursements will be made based on actual costs.

(3) Lodging, per diem, and mileage rates may not exceed those set by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

(4) Reimbursements for lodging, per diem (including partial per diem), and mileage rates may not be charged to Chapter 19 unless the employee conducts travel beyond 25 miles of his or her designated headquarters.

(5) Travel by personal car is reimbursable at the rate set by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts per mile with mileage computed using the originating county seat as the departure point and computing final mileage using the mapping tool on the Chapter 19 web-based application.

(6) If more than one person is traveling from the same headquarters to the same destination, the travelers are to ride together in a single automobile if practicable.

(7) The rental of luxury cars will be disallowed, except in special circumstances requiring the use of large cars, i.e., several employees are traveling together or large volumes of equipment or supplies are being transported.

(8) Chapter 19 funds will not cover expenses for first class accommodations, tips, gratuities, valet parking or alcoholic beverages.

(d) Chapter 19 travel reimbursements must be submitted for each traveler consistent with §81.15 of this title (relating to Funding Period) via the Chapter 19 web-based application.

(e) Travel reimbursement requests must include the itemized amounts for airfare, rental cars, mileage, meals, lodging, seminar registration fees, and miscellaneous expenses. All receipts must be maintained in accordance with §81.21 of this title (relating to Records Maintenance and Payment Reviews).

(f) Travel advances will be approved, on a case-by-case basis. Travel advance funding will not be made for meals, hotel taxes or miscellaneous expenses. Travel advance requests must be submitted through the web-based application in the form of a travel request and include a Chapter 19 Purchase Request for each traveler. No further Chapter 19 Purchase Request will be processed until the final accounting of any advanced travel is received.

Source Note: The provisions of this §81.23 adopted to be effective October 1, 1995, 20 TexReg 7277; amended to be effective January 3, 2007, 31 TexReg 10755; amended to be effective June 22, 2008, 33 TexReg 4663; amended to be effective December 30, 2010, 35 TexReg 11569; amended to be effective January 17, 2024, 49 TexReg 133