H.B. No. 605
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to mileage reimbursement for state employees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 660.043(a), (b), and (c), Government
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The number of miles traveled that are eligible for
  reimbursement under this subchapter may not exceed the number of
  miles of the most cost-effective reasonably safe route between the
  origin of the state employee's travel and the final duty point of
  the state employee. If a state employee conducts official state
  business at duty points between the origin of the state employee's
  travel and the final duty point, the most cost-effective reasonably
  safe route between the origin and the final duty point shall include
  the intermediate duty points.
         (b)  In determining the most cost-effective reasonably safe
  route for purposes [For the purpose] of Subsection (a), a state
  agency may consider:
               (1)  the route that provides the shortest distance
  [route] between the origin of the state employee's travel and the
  final duty point;
               (2)  the route that provides the quickest drive time
  between the origin of the state employee's travel and the final duty
  point; and
               (3)  the route that provides the safest road conditions
  between the origin of the state employee's travel and the final duty
  point [two points is presumed to be the most cost-effective route.
  A longer route may be considered the most cost-effective route only
  if:
               [(1)     the voucher states that the longer route is more
  cost effective;
               [(2)     the voucher provides a reasonable justification
  for that statement; and
               [(3)     the statement and justification are made by the
  chief administrator of the state agency making the reimbursement or
  by the chief administrator's designee].
         (c)  The number of miles traveled that are eligible for
  reimbursement under this subchapter may be determined by an
  employee's vehicle odometer reading or by a readily available
  electronic mapping service [comptroller shall periodically issue
  and update a mileage guide that includes a chart showing the number
  of miles for the shortest route between points. The guide also may
  include a chart showing the number of miles for longer routes
  between points. Farm-to-market and ranch-to-market roads shall be
  considered when determining the routings between points in this
  state. The guide may be electronic or printed, or both].
         SECTION 2.  Section 660.202(c), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (c)  A member of the legislature is entitled to be reimbursed
  for the member's use of personally owned or leased motor vehicles
  and the use of rented or public conveyances at the same rate as is
  provided in the General Appropriations Act for state employees,
  except that the member may only receive mileage reimbursement for
  the most cost-effective route between the origin of the member's
  travel and the final duty point.
         SECTION 3.  Section 660.043(d), Government Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 4.  Section 660.043, Government Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies only to the determination of reimbursable mileage
  for state employee travel occurring on or after January 1, 2010.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 605 was passed by the House on March
  26, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 605 was passed by the Senate on May
  22, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor