ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session
	House: APPROP DPA 8-4-1-0

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HB 2729: regional councils; expenses; reimbursement

Sponsor: Representative Dalessandro, LD 2

Caucus & COW

Overview

Requires the reimbursement of members of metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and councils of governments (COGs) at federal rates.

History

MPOs and COGs are federally authorized intergovernmental units used for planning, transportation and development purposes. An MPO is required for an urbanized area with a population greater than 50,000 while a COG is largely divided by county (23 U.S. Code § 134). The boundaries of MPOs and COGs are set by the Governor, as first done for their precursors, planning regions, in 1969 by executive order.

Currently, reimbursement is available to employees of the state for travel when on necessary public business (A.R.S. § 38-621). The Arizona Department of Administration sets travel reimbursement rates and lodging, meal and incidental expense reimbursement rates for state employees (A.R.S. §§ 38-623; 38-634).

The United States General Services Administration (GSA) provides reimbursement rates for the federal government. The federal mileage reimbursement rate for a privately-owned vehicle in 2022 is $0.585 per mile (GSA website). The GSA has set six primary destinations within Arizona for the purpose of determining lodging, meal and incidental expenses at the federal per diem reimbursement rate (GSA website).

Provisions

1. Provides for each member of an MPO or COG to be reimbursed for:

a) Travel at the federal mileage reimbursement rate determined by the GSA; and

b) Lodging, meal and incidental expenses at the federal per diem reimbursement rate determined by the GSA. (Sec. 1)

2. Requires claims for reimbursement to be accompanied by expense receipts. (Sec. 1)

Amendments

Committee on Appropriations

1. Specifies that any person who is covered by reimbursement under a federal transportation contract, rather than any member, of an MPO or COG are eligible for reimbursement at the federal rate.

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                        HB 2729

Initials AF        Page 0 Caucus & COW

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