75-3207a. Subsistence allowances; rates established by rules and regulations; designation of high-cost cities and rates therefor; application; exceptions; limitations. (a) The secretary of administration shall establish the rates of subsistence allowance for in-state and out-of-state travel for official purposes, including travel to designated high-cost cities. These rates shall be paid to public officers and employees who are subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 75-3207, and amendments thereto, or shall be paid directly to lodging establishments.

(b) The secretary may authorize and prescribe limitations and procedures for payment of such subsistence allowances by separate categories for reimbursement for meal expenses under a daily allowance basis and for reimbursement for lodging expenses under an actual cost incurred basis, or may provide for the direct payment of lodging expenses to the lodging establishment. Advances for such costs also shall be at the discretion of the secretary. These authorizations, limitations, procedures and other provisions for subsistence allowances may be established by rules and regulations adopted in the manner prescribed by K.S.A. 75-3706, and amendments thereto.

(c) All such rates and high-cost city designations shall be fixed only after consideration by the secretary of actual costs incurred in such travel, the rates allowed by the federal internal revenue service, and such other matters as the secretary deems pertinent.

(d) The provisions of rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall apply to all official travel on and after the effective date of such rules and regulations.

(e) Nothing in this section shall apply to the officers and employees specified in K.S.A. 75-3216, and amendments thereto.

(f) The rates for lodging expense reimbursement and direct payments established by the secretary of administration for in-state and out-of-state travel for official purposes by officers and employees who are subject to this section, may be exceeded upon written approval by the agency head, or the agency head's designee who is responsible for approval of travel under K.S.A. 75-3208, and amendments thereto, subject to policies adopted by the officer, board or commission that appointed the agency head. In cases involving the official travel of an individual who is an agency head or an appointive member of a board, commission or similar body that appoints an agency head, no approval to exceed the rates for lodging expenses for that individual shall be required unless the appointing authority of that individual requires written approval by the appointing authority. In no case shall any lodging expense under this subsection exceed the lesser of either:

(1) The amount equal to the maximum applicable lodging expense authorized under this section increased by 50%; or

(2) the actual lodging expenses incurred during the official travel.

History: L. 1975, ch. 441, § 1; L. 1977, ch. 297, § 2; L. 1979, ch. 286, § 3; L. 1980, ch. 271, § 2; L. 1981, ch. 339, § 2; L. 1982, ch. 356, § 1; L. 1987, ch. 337, § 1; L. 1997, ch. 115, § 2; L. 2001, ch. 109, § 5; July 1.