June 23, 2009, Introduced by Senators GILBERT, SANBORN, PAPPAGEORGE and BIRKHOLZ and referred to the Committee on Local, Urban and State Affairs.
A bill to establish travel expenditure limitations for certain
local units of government and other local governmental entities; to
establish permissible conditions for out-of-state travel; and to
establish reporting requirements.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"travel expense responsibility act".
Sec. 3. As used in this act:
(a) "Local pension or retirement system" means a program that
controls money that funds pension or retirements benefits accrued
by employees of a local unit of government.
(b) "Local unit of government" means a city, village,
township, county, school district, road commission, or any other
local governmental unit or entity of this state.
Sec. 5. A local unit of government or a local pension or
retirement system shall not pay the expenses for a person to travel
outside this state from funds under its control unless 1 or more of
the following conditions apply to the travel:
(a) It is required by legal mandate or court order or for law
enforcement purposes.
(b) It is necessary to protect the health or safety of
Michigan citizens or visitors or to assist other states' similar
circumstances.
(c) It is necessary to produce budgetary savings or to
increase revenues, including protecting existing federal funds or
securing additional federal funds.
(d) It is necessary to comply with federal requirements.
(e) It is necessary to secure specialized training for staff
that is essential to performing the duties of the position and is
not available within this state.
(f) It is financed entirely by federal funds or by private
funds granted expressly for the purpose of the travel.
Sec. 7. Not later than January 1 of each year, each local unit
of government and local pension or retirement system shall prepare
a travel report listing all travel outside this state in the
immediately preceding fiscal year that was funded in whole or in
part with public funds and post the report on an internet website
that is available to the general public. The report shall include
all of the following information for each travel occurrence:
(a) The name of each person receiving reimbursement for travel
outside this state or whose travel costs were paid by the reporting
governmental agency.
(b) The destination.
(c) The dates.
(d) A brief statement of the reason for the travel.
(e) An itemization of the transportation and related costs,
including the amount for food, lodging, and vehicle rental and
listing the names of hotels, restaurants, vehicle rental agencies,
and vehicle models.
(f) The total expenses for all out-of-state travel funded
during the immediately preceding fiscal year.