Jeremiah Strack Office of the General Counsel Jill

Transcript:Jeremiah Strack Office of the General Counsel Jill:
Jeremiah Strack Office of the General Counsel Jill Denning Office of Governmentwide Policy Navigating Non-Federal Source Travel: Understanding 31 U.S.C. 1353 and the Federal Travel Regulation Overview of Today’s Discussion Overview of non-federal source travel and 31 U.S.C. 1353 What were the major changes to the Federal Travel Regulation regarding NFS travel in November 2019? What are the intent of the changes? What didn’t change? Q&A 2 Non-Federal Source Travel A non-Federal source Offers to provide in kind or reimburse for travel-related expenses For an employee to attend a meeting or similar function That takes place away from the employee’s official station. Excludes activities to carry out statutory or regulatory functions, promotional vendor training, or marketing 31 U.S.C. 1353: Acceptance of Travel from Non-Federal Sources Under 31 U.S.C. 1353, as implemented in FTR chapter 304 (41 CFR chapter 304), agencies may accept payment of travel expenses from a non-Federal source for employees to attend meetings or similar functions. 31 U.S.C. 1353(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator of General Services, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Government Ethics, shall prescribe by regulation the conditions under which an agency in the executive branch (including an independent agency) may accept payment, or authorize an employee of such agency to accept payment on the agency’s behalf, from non-Federal sources for travel, subsistence, and related expenses with respect to attendance of the employee (or the spouse of such employee) at any meeting or similar function relating to the official duties of the employee. Any cash payment so accepted shall be credited to the appropriation applicable to such expenses. In the case of a payment in kind so accepted, a pro rata reduction shall be made in any entitlement of the employee to payment from the Government for such expenses. 4 Authorizing NFS Travel NFS authorization must be before travel Limited exceptions for surprises “Comparable value” rule Does not apply to anything agency already declined If agency declines after the fact, NFS is reimbursed NFS Travel Payments Still official travel Payments above subsistence maximums Allowed domestically, not allowed in foreign areas Must also be offered to similarly situated attendees Other-than-coach class travel Only if paid in full in advance Must also be offered to similarly situated attendees Never accept cash or a personally-payable check. What Changed in 2019? First major change: Speakers at conferences are now classified as “mission” travel instead