HB472 - Relating to the reimbursement of state employees for groceries consumed while traveling on official state business.

  89R3737 LRM-D     By: Gervin-Hawkins H.B. No. 472       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the reimbursement of state employees for groceries   consumed while traveling on official state business.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 660.113(c), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (c)   Except as provided by Section 660.1135, a [ A ] state   agency may not reimburse a state employee for a meal expense   incurred within the employee's designated headquarters unless the   expense is:                (1)  mandatory; and                (2)  connected with training, a seminar, or a   conference.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter F, Chapter 660, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 660.1135 to read as follows:           Sec.   660.1135.     REIMBURSEMENT FOR GROCERIES PURCHASED   WITHIN EMPLOYEE'S DESIGNATED HEADQUARTERS. (a) In this section,   "groceries" means food items sold at a grocery store, supermarket,   or other similar retail establishment.           (b)     A state agency may reimburse a state employee as   provided by Subsections (c) and (d) for groceries purchased within   the employee's designated headquarters if:                 (1)     the grocery purchase date is the day before or the   day the employee travels to conduct official state business; and                   (2)     the employee consumes the groceries while the   employee is away from the employee's designated headquarters   traveling for official state business.           (c)     A state agency may only reimburse a state employee under   this section for the prorated portion of groceries the employee   consumes each day while traveling for official state business.           (d)     A purchase under this section is considered a meal   expense for purposes of determining the limit established by the   travel provisions of the General Appropriations Act for meal   expenses under Section 660.112.           (e)     A state agency must develop a policy for authorizing   reimbursements under this section before the agency may reimburse a   state employee under this section.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.