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Committee moves bill shifting travel authorization from fiscal officer to cabinet-level officials
Summary
The Senate committee approved a bill that changes which officials may authorize travel expenses, moving special authorization from the chief fiscal officer to cabinet-level officials who directly supervise the traveler.
Senators on the State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs committee advanced House Bill H1376, which revises who may give special authorization for expenses incurred for travel. Representative/sponsor testimony said the bill delegates that authorization from the chief fiscal officer to the cabinet-level secretary, director or chief executive officer who directly supervises the traveler.
The bill’s sponsor, Senator Ricky Hill (District 11), told the committee the change is “pretty simple” and shifts the approval step to agency heads who directly supervise employees. Hill said the text changes the authorization pathway and is not intended to change accountability beyond who signs approvals.
Committee members asked no substantive questions during the presentation, and no public witnesses signed up to speak for or against the bill. A voice motion to pass the bill was made (mover: Senator Clark; second: Senator Sullivan) and the committee recorded a voice “aye” and advanced the bill.
The measure as presented does not change reporting or audit language in the transcript; it only alters the named approver for travel expenses. The committee did not discuss implementation guidance or transitional language during the hearing.
The committee recorded the bill’s passage by voice vote with the motion and second entered on the record.
