State Funds Only — Changes to Methods for Determining Maximum Meal and Lodging Rates, Sept. 2009

All Campuses:

Effective Sept. 1, 2009, the General Appropriations Act, Senate Bill 1, Article IX, Section 5.06(c), 81st Legislature, Regular Session, requires agencies to use the General Services Administration (GSA)'s federal travel rates to determine the maximum meals and lodging reimbursement rates for both in-state and out-of-state travel. Agencies will continue to use the $85 maximum for lodging and $36 maximum for meals for in-state locations not specifically listed in the federal rates. The method for determining maximum out-of-state travel rates has not changed.

Additionally, a state employee may now

• claim less than the maximum meal rate for a duty point and use the amount of the reduction to increase the maximum lodging rate for the duty point.
• request a higher lodging rate for both in-state and out-of-state travel under certain conditions.

For the State Comptroller's announcement of this change, please see https://fmx.cpa.state.tx.us/fmx/travel/textravel/changes/meallodge2009.php.