HB68 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Randall Shedd

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to state employee travel expenses; to amend Sections 36-7-20 and 36-7-21, Code of Alabama, to provide that a person traveling inside the State of Alabama in the service of the state or any of its departments, institutions, boards, bureaus, commissions, councils, committees, or other like agencies to be provided the uniform per diem or to be reimbursed for their actual out-of-pocket expenses when traveling within the state on official business.

Summary

HB68 lets Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs employees traveling within Alabama on official business be reimbursed for actual expenses instead of a standard per diem, with some language updates.

What This Bill Does

The bill adds an option for DEA&IC officials and employees to be reimbursed for their actual out-of-pocket travel expenses when the trip supports department goals, rather than using the uniform per diem for in-state travel. It preserves the existing travel rules for all other state employees and includes meal allowances, duration thresholds, and occasional reductions, as well as specific exceptions. It also makes nonsubstantive wording updates to align the code with current style and clarifies pre-authorization requirements for certain reimbursed travel.

Who It Affects

• Officials and employees of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs traveling within Alabama on official business would be eligible for actual-expense reimbursement instead of per diem when the travel furthers department goals.
• Other state employees stay under existing per diem and reimbursement rules; the bill does not extend the actual-expense option to agencies beyond DEA&IC.

Key Provisions

• Amends 36-7-20 to allow DEA&IC officials and employees to be reimbursed for actual out-of-pocket expenses for in-state travel on official business, instead of the uniform per diem.
• Maintains existing per diem framework and related rules (minimum per diem, meal allowances, duration thresholds, reductions after two consecutive months, and exceptions) for travel not covered by the new DEA&IC option.
• Preserves and clarifies the alternative reimbursement path under 36-7-21 for certain travel (e.g., conventions and meetings) with pre-approval and documentation, and applies to in-state and out-of-state travel.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Dept of Economic and Community Affairs; reimburse employees for actual expenses for in-state travel