San Francisco Unified School District and County Office of Education
Board Policy 3350
Employee Travel Expenses
This Board Policy applies to the San Francisco Unified School District and the County Office of Education.
Purpose
The Board of Education recognizes that District employees may incur expenses in the course of performing their assigned duties and responsibilities and hereby authorizes the Superintendent to approve payment for actual and necessary travel expenses incurred by any employee performing authorized services for the District, whether within or outside District boundaries. (Education Code 44032) To ensure the prudent use of public funds, the Superintendent or designee shall establish rules to keep such expenses to a minimum while affording employees a reasonable level of safety and convenience.
(cf. 9250 – Remuneration, Reimbursement and Other Benefits)
The Superintendent or designee shall establish procedures for the approval of travel requests and the submission and verification of expense claims. He/she also shall establish reimbursement rates in accordance with law and Board policy.
Approval Process
The employee’s supervisor may approve travel requests in accordance with the adopted budget and upon determining that the travel is necessary to attend a conference or other staff development opportunity that will enhance employee performance, and/or is otherwise necessary to the performance of the employee’s duties. Travel expenses not previously budgeted may be approved on a case-by-case basis by the Superintendent or designee if he/she determines that the travel is essential and that resources may be obtained or redirected for this purpose.
(cf. 3100 – Budget)
(cf. 3110 – Transfer of Funds)
(cf. 4131 – Staff Development)
(cf. 4231 – Staff Development)
(cf. 4331 – Staff Development)
- An employee shall obtain approval from their supervisor prior to traveling outside District boundaries.
- All out-of-state travel for which reimbursement will be claimed shall be approved in advance by the Superintendent or his/her designee.
Reimbursable Travel Expenses
Reimbursable travel expenses may include, but are not limited to, costs of transportation, parking fees, bridge or road tolls, lodging when District business reasonably requires an overnight stay, registration fees for seminars and conferences, telephone and other communication expenses incurred on District business, and other necessary incidental expenses.
The District shall not reimburse personal travel expenses including, but not limited to, expenses incurred commuting from the employee’s home to a District site, tips or gratuities exceeding 15%, alcohol, entertainment, laundry, expenses of any family member who is accompanying the employee on District-related business, personal use of an automobile, and personal losses or traffic violation fees incurred while on District business.
Except as otherwise provided, reimbursement of travel expenses shall be based on actual expenses as documented by receipts. Reimbursement shall not exceed the per diem rates established by the U.S. General Services Administration.
Meal costs shall be reimbursed based on documented actual expenses within the maximum amounts established by the Superintendent or designee and based on the time of day that travel for District business begins and ends.
Any expense that exceeds the maximum rate of reimbursement established by the District shall be reimbursed only with the approval of the Superintendent or designee.
Reimbursement for Use of Employee’s Private Vehicle
Authorized employees shall be reimbursed for the use of their own private vehicles in the performance of assigned duties, on either a mileage or monthly basis as determined by the Superintendent or designee. (Education Code 44033)
The mileage allowance provided by the District for employees’ use of their private vehicles shall be equal to the rate established by the Internal Revenue Service.
Vehicles should be shared whenever possible to minimize travel costs. No employee shall be entitled to reimbursement for automobile travel when he/she is transported free of charge or by another employee who is entitled to the expense reimbursement.
Submission of Reimbursement Claims
All expense reimbursement claims shall be submitted on a District form, within 10 working days following return from travel when possible. The form shall be accompanied by receipts and any explanation necessary to document that the expenses meet District criteria for reimbursement.
The Superintendent or designee shall approve expense claims only upon verifying that all necessary documentation is provided and that all expenses are appropriate and related to District business. If an expense claim is disallowed due to lack of documentation or inappropriate expenses, the employee may be personally responsible for any improper costs incurred.
District Credit Cards
When approved by the Superintendent or designee, an employee may be issued a District credit card for use while on authorized District business. Receipts documenting the expenses incurred on a District credit card shall be submitted promptly following return from travel. Under no circumstances shall personal expenses be charged on a District credit card, even if the employee intends to subsequently reimburse the District for the personal charges.
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
42634 Itemization of expenses
44016 Travel expense to employment interview
44032 Travel expenses
44033 Automobile allowance
44802 Student teacher’s travel expense
Management Resources:
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE PUBLICATIONS
Per Diem Rates (For Travel Within the Continental United States), Publication 1542
WEB SITES
Internal Revenue Service: http://www.irs.gov
U.S. General Services Administration, Per Diem Rates: http://www.gsa.gov/perdiem
Please note that compare references, or “cf”, refer to CSBA model policies and do not necessarily indicate that the San Francisco Unified School District has adopted the referenced policy.