(1) The director of financial
management shall prescribe reasonable allowances to cover
reasonable and necessary subsistence and lodging expenses for
elective and appointive officials and state employees while
engaged on official business away from their designated posts of
duty. The director of financial management may prescribe and
regulate the allowances provided in lieu of subsistence and
lodging expenses and may prescribe the conditions under which
reimbursement for subsistence and lodging may be allowed. The
schedule of allowances adopted by the office of financial
management may include special allowances for foreign travel and
other travel involving higher than usual costs for subsistence
and lodging. The allowances established by the director shall
not exceed the rates set by the federal government for federal
employees. However, during the 2003-05 fiscal biennium, the
allowances for any county that is part of a metropolitan
statistical area, the largest city of which is in another state,
shall equal the allowances prescribed for that larger city.
(2) Those persons appointed to serve without compensation on
any state board, commission, or committee, if entitled to payment
of travel expenses, shall be paid pursuant to special per diem
rates prescribed in accordance with subsection (1) of this
section by the office of financial management.
(3) The director of financial management may prescribe
reasonable allowances to cover reasonable expenses for meals,
coffee, and light refreshment served to elective and appointive
officials and state employees regardless of travel status at a
meeting where: (a) The purpose of the meeting is to conduct
official state business or to provide formal training to state
employees or state officials; (b) the meals, coffee, or light
refreshment are an integral part of the meeting or training
session; (c) the meeting or training session takes place away
from the employee's or official's regular workplace; and (d) the
agency head or authorized designee approves payments in advance
for the meals, coffee, or light refreshment. In order to prevent
abuse, the director may regulate such allowances and prescribe
additional conditions for claiming the allowances.
(4) Upon approval of the agency head or authorized designee,
an agency may serve coffee or light refreshments at a meeting
where: (a) The purpose of the meeting is to conduct state
business or to provide formal training that benefits the state;
and (b) the coffee or light refreshment is an integral part of
the meeting or training session. The director of financial
management shall adopt requirements necessary to prohibit abuse
of the authority authorized in this subsection.
(5) The schedule of allowances prescribed by the director
under the terms of this section and any subsequent increases in
any maximum allowance or special allowances for areas of higher
than usual costs shall be reported to the ways and means
committees of the house of representatives and the senate at each
regular session of the legislature.
[2003 1st sp.s. c 25 § 915; 1990 c 30 § 1; 1983 1st ex.s. c 29 § 1; 1979 c 151 § 83; 1977 ex.s. c 312 § 1; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 34 § 94; 1970 ex.s. c 34 § 1; 1965 ex.s. c 77 § 1; 1965 c 8 § 43.03.050. Prior: 1961 c 220 § 1; 1959 c 194 § 1; 1953 c 259 § 1; 1949 c 17 § 1; 1943 c 86 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 10981-1.]
NOTES:
Severability -- Effective date -- 2003 1st sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 19.28.351.
Effective date -- Construction -- 1977 ex.s. c 312: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately except that any new schedule of allowances under either RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 as now or hereafter amended shall not be effective until July 1, 1977 or later." [1977 ex.s. c 312 § 5.]
Effective date -- Severability -- 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 34: See notes following RCW 2.08.115.