Statewide Travel Regulations
The State Accounting Office and the Office of Planning and Budget are responsible for establishing Statewide Travel Regulations. This responsibility was assigned to these organizations through House Bill 293, which was passed into law during the 2005 legislative session (codified as O.C.G.A. 50-5B-5).
These Regulations are designed to:
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Promote economy and efficiency in State government, and
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Treat employees fairly and equitably.
The Statewide Travel Regulations are intended to provide organizations with guidelines relating to acceptable limits for expenses incurred for in-state and out-of-state travel. All agencies are required to follow the minimum guidelines outlined in the Statewide Travel Regulations; however, agencies are also authorized to establish policies that provide for more definitive limitations/guidelines relating to travel if the agency determines that such policies are necessary.
Agencies are not authorized to set more lenient policies than those authorized by the Statewide Travel Regulations. The Statewide Travel Regulations published by the State Accounting Office and the Office of Planning and Budget are effective August 1, 2007.
The most significant change is that it is now required to separately identify categories of travel expenditures in the accounting records through use of designated sub-accounts. Chapter 12
Highlights of other changes made include the following:
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The accessibility and negotiated rates of rental vehicles arising from the State’s new contract with Enterprise Rent-a-Car may affect the determination of “advantageous use” when determining the method of travel (for example, whether or not to use a rental vehicle instead of a personal vehicle for business travel). Use the DOAS Car Rental Cost Comparison Tool to assist in this determination. Chapter 5
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Current rates for mileage reimbursement are presented as a separate policy document to facilitate the update process as rates are changed by GSA. Page 5.1 and Mileage Reimbursement Rates Policy (Rates Increase as of April 1, 2008).
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General information about car rentals through Enterprise Rent-a-Car, associated fuel charges, and related accounting issues is included. Chapter 5A
A current copy of the Statewide Travel Regulations, Employee Travel Expense Statement, forms and policies are available below:
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Mileage Reimbursement Rates (Rates Increase as of April 1, 2008)