2016 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 74. State Government
§74-500.9. Overnight lodging - Rate - Per diem allowance - Limitations and exceptions - Out-of-state trips.

A. Reimbursement for overnight lodging, while in official travel status, may be made at not to exceed an amount authorized by the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for deductibility of expenses for travel while away from home without additional documentation or the actual cost, if lower, per night except as provided in subsections C, D, F and H of this section and Section 500.9A of this title. Receipts issued by the hotel, motel or other public lodging place shall accompany claims for reimbursement.

B. A per diem allowance for meals and incidental expenses may be authorized by a travel claim issued in accordance with Section 500.3 of this title, which shall include all charges for meals and incidental expenses. Not to exceed an amount authorized by the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for deductibility of expenses for travel while away from home without additional documentation may be authorized on the travel claim for the performance of travel within the State of Oklahoma. In computing the per diem allowance, a day shall be a period of twenty-four (24) hours. Reimbursement for each one-fourth (1/4) day consisting of six (6) hours or major fraction thereof, more than three (3) hours, may be made at the rate of the daily allowable rate. When a traveler has lodging provided at no cost to the state, a ten-dollar lodging per diem allowance may be claimed in addition to the meals and incidental expenses per diem allowance. Provided, however, that no per diem shall be allowed pursuant to this section for periods of less than overnight in travel status. Reimbursement for expenses other than meals and lodging may also be made in accordance with the provisions of this act.

C. State officers or employees attending meetings, workshops, conferences or other objectives of trips which are conducted at a designated hotel, motel or other public lodging place or where lodging has been arranged for by the blocking of rooms or by rate reductions for the participants by the sponsor as evidenced by the announcement or notice of the meeting, workshop, conference or other objective shall be reimbursed the actual lodging expense not to exceed the single occupancy room rate charged by the designated hotel, motel or other public lodging place, provided that the officials or employees are in official travel status approved by the agency head or designee. Provided further, those state officers or employees attending meetings, workshops, conferences or other objectives of trips, which are conducted at a designated hotel, motel or other public lodging place as provided by this subsection, who choose to acquire less expensive lodging at another hotel, motel or other public lodging place shall be reimbursed the actual lodging expense not to exceed the single occupancy room rate charged by the designated hotel, motel or other public lodging place. Provided further, those state officers or employees so choosing this option shall be reimbursed for local transportation costs incurred traveling between such optional lodging and the designated hotel, motel or other public lodging place not to exceed the difference between the cost of the designated lodging and the cost of the optional lodging. Receipts issued by the hotel, motel or other public lodging place shall accompany claims for reimbursement.

D. State officers and employees who have been required to attend hearings or meetings of any congressional committee or subcommittee or any federal agency, board or commission shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary travel and lodging expenses; however, the agency head must approve any claims in connection with such expenses.

E. Reimbursement for meals and lodging on out-of-state trips shall not begin more than twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting, workshop, conference or other objective of trip begins and shall not continue more than twenty-four (24) hours after said meeting, workshop, conference or other objective of trip ends. This twenty-four-hour limit shall also apply for in-state travel when the agency determines that travel is of a duration where overnight travel prior to or after the trip objective would be necessary.

F. Reimbursement for meals and lodging incurred in official travel in areas outside of the United States to implement the objectives of contracts, grants, agreements or gifts for which funds from these sources are furnished shall be reimbursed from said funds at actual cost not to exceed the amount authorized United States Government employees in its periodical publication entitled "Standard Regulations (Government Civilians, Foreign Areas), Department of State, Washington, DC". Provided, however, travel to points outside of the United States, whether performed under authority of contract, grant, agreement or otherwise, shall not begin more than forty-eight (48) hours before or end more than forty-eight (48) hours after the objective of the trip.

G. Claims submitted to the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for payment under the provisions of this section shall be certified to by the principal fiscal officer or contract and grant administrator of each agency. Such officer shall certify that such claim complies with and is authorized under this section.

H. The Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services may authorize reimbursement for overnight lodging while in official travel status within the State of Oklahoma at a rate of up to one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the amount authorized in subsection A of this section if it is determined that no lodging was available at the maximum rate set out in subsection A of this section. Prior to authorizing such payment, the state officer or employee shall certify the efforts made to obtain lodging at the rate set out in subsection A of this section and the reasons why such lodging was not available within a reasonable distance from the state officer's or employee's work location.

Added by Laws 1972, c. 123, § 9, operative July 1, 1972. Amended by Laws 1974, c. 90, § 4, operative July 1, 1974; Laws 1976, c. 173, § 3, operative July 1, 1976; Laws 1979, c. 239, § 3, eff. July 1, 1979; Laws 1980, c. 332, § 4, eff. July 1, 1980; Laws 1981, c. 340, § 25, eff. July 1, 1981; Laws 1982, c. 226, § 1, operative July 1, 1982; Laws 1984, c. 166, § 9, operative July 1, 1984; Laws 1985, c. 7, § 5, eff. July 1, 1985; Laws 1985, c. 178, § 71, operative July 1, 1985; Laws 1989, c. 355, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 1989; Laws 1990, c. 77, § 1, operative July 1, 1990; Laws 1990, c. 264, § 57, operative July 1, 1990; Laws 1992, c. 219, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1992; Laws 1995, c. 335, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 1995; Laws 1997, c. 354, § 2, eff. July 1, 1997; Laws 2001, c. 232, § 2, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2012, c. 304, § 855; Laws 2013, c. 244, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2013; Laws 2014, c. 109, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2014.