DSC 2012 Travel Updates Teamwork makes the Dream Work!

General Provisions Credit card slips and bank statements (i.e. – bank, credit card) can no longer be the sole piece of documentation that an expense was incurred. The following counties are now recognized as high cost areas in the state of Georgia: Chatham, Cobb, Dekalb, Fulton, Glynn, and Richmond.

General Provisions Sections regarding international travel and employees with disabilities are included in the policy. Prior authorization for all travel must be obtained prior to the travel event, no matter the trip mileage.

Airline Travel In the event there is a charge for checking luggage, the State will reimburse for a maximum of one (1) piece of checked luggage. If a refundable fare must be used, the difference in the cost of the flight should not exceed $150. Lower cost flights should be chosen within two hours before or after the preferred flight time when the alternative flight saves $ or more roundtrip.

Airline Travel Business class is reimbursable for international flights when the portion of the flight that is nonstop exceeds 10 hours in duration. Pre-trip approval for the additional expense is required. This does not include any time spent in between flights during a connection. Federal regulations require that U.S. carriers be used for foreign travel on trips funded by federally sponsored programs, unless a U.S. Carrier is not available.

Lodging Travelers on State business are allowed lodging expenses when their destination is located more than 50 miles from both their headquarters and residence. All lodging claims must be documented by receipts.

Lodging Employees traveling within the state on official business are exempt from paying county or municipal excise tax (hotel/motel or occupancy tax) on lodging. Travelers are required to submit a copy of the hotel/motel tax-exemption form when they register at a hotel/motel.

Car Rental Renting vehicles outside the State vendor program requires an approved waiver form (Contact the Office of Procurement). Personal use of rental vehicles is prohibited while on official State business.

Ground Transportation All employees must now use the DOAS Vehicle Rental Cost Comparison form on the DOAS website to determine the most cost-effective means of transportation. The results of this comparison must be included with your travel reimbursement. In the event that the most cost-effective means of transportation is not used and the employee is requesting reimbursement at the Tier 1 rate, the manager of the employee must submit written justification to the Office of Accounting and Budget to be included with the employees travel reimbursement.

Ground Transportation New Mileage Rates: Tier 1:$0.555 per mile Tier 2:$0.23 per mile

Meals For overnight trips, traveler will receive 75% of allowable per diem on day of departure and return. For non-overnight trips, travelers will receive 75% of the allowable per diem if travel is more than 50 miles from home, and are away for more than (12) hours. When meals are provided at no cost in conjunction with travel events on a travel departure or return day, the full meals per diem reimbursement rate is reduced by the full amount of the appropriate meals after the 75% proration.

Meals Example Trip from Dalton, Georgia to Macon, Georgia: $28.00 X 75% $21.00

Meals Example Trip from Dalton, Georgia to Macon, Georgia (with lunch provided): $28.00 X 75% $ $5.25 $15.75

Meals Per Diem allowances are calculated based on last location of the travel day. For non- overnight travel the calculation is based on the last business location. For overnight travel the calculation is based on the location of lodging for each night of travel, for example, employee departs from Dalton State “headquarters” and will spend the night in Athens, GA so the employee would incur per diem at the rate for Athens. When employee is returning to home base the per diem incurred is still Athens, GA if that is where they spent the night before returning to Dalton State. Departure Day:Where you spend the night. Return Day: Where you spent the night before returning to home base.

Expense Reimbursement In state/out of state expenses can not be combined with international expenses on the same reimbursement form. Employees must submit expense reports within 30 calendar days of completion of travel

Expense Reimbursement Travel expense reports may be selected for audit at any time and all required receipts must be retained by the traveler for three years after the travel date if not attached to the expense report

Dalton State Travel Website budget/travel.html

Contact Information Teresa James Pam Lane

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