Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Per Diem Simplification topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee backs bill to simplify interim per‑diem claims for legislators
Summary
The Legislative Administration committee advanced Senate Bill 64, which creates four travel/compensation zones for interim committee work and aims to simplify per‑diem claims; staff said the change is illustrative of existing statute and carries no fiscal note.
Senator Pat Flowers, sponsor of Senate Bill 64, told the Legislative Administration committee the bill streamlines per‑diem claims for legislators serving on interim committees, reducing paperwork for members and staff. “What this does is simplify that process,” Flowers said, describing the change as a “red tape bill” intended to cut staff time without adding cost.
Flowers said the bill organizes travel and reimbursement into four zones: remote participation (salary only); round‑trip travel of 100 miles or less (one day salary, a midday meal and mileage); more than 100 but less than 400 miles (two days salary, two meals, two nights lodging and mileage); and 400 miles or more (three days salary, three meals, two nights lodging and mileage). She said the rules apply to interim committee work, not to session, and that the bill is effective on approval.
Angie Carter, an informational witness and staff expert, told the committee that the statute remains the governing document and that the graphic circulated to the committee is an illustrative tool. Carter said the finance office already collects legislators’ round‑trip mileage at the start of each session, which would allow staff to assign a zone for each legislator; she added the office plans to publish a non‑identifying lookup so legislators can determine entitlements without disclosing individual home addresses. On edge cases, Carter said weather delays outside a legislator’s control could justify additional lodging reimbursement.
Senator Matt Regier, speaking in support, said the proposal would save time for legislators and staff and reduce the back‑office burden. After questions and technical clarifications from members, the committee moved to executive action. A motion for a do‑pass recommendation on SB 64 was called and the committee used a voice vote; the chair announced that SB 64 “passes unanimous.” The transcript does not record individual vote tallies.
The committee did not record any fiscal note for SB 64 during the hearing. The measure now moves out of committee with a do‑pass recommendation.
