ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 607	By:	Bingman, Shortey, Marlatt and Brecheen of the Senate

			and

		Steele of the House

[ travel expenses for legislators - per diem and mileage - suspend certain provisions - requiring application and expiration - 		emergency ]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     74 O.S. 2001, Section 291.1, is amended to read as follows:
Section 291.1  Members of the Legislature shall be allowed a per diem in lieu of expenses in an amount authorized by the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for deductibility of expenses for travel while away from home without additional documentation for each night spent away from home in the performance of their official duties within the state during regular and extraordinary legislative sessions, not to exceed the number of legislative days per week.  Provided, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, for members of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for members of the House of Representatives, may suspend the provisions of this section or reduce the amount allowed pursuant to the provisions of this section if the President Pro Tempore of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives determines that such suspension or reduction is necessary due to budgetary constraints.  Any such suspension or reduction shall be applied uniformly to members of the Senate or House of Representatives and shall expire upon a date specified by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate or Speaker of the House of Representatives which shall be no later than the end of the fiscal year during which such suspension or reduction takes effect.
SECTION 2.     AMENDATORY     74 O.S. 2001, Section 291.1a, is amended to read as follows:
Section 291.1a  Members of the Legislature who are authorized by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, to attend official meetings and sessions concerning legislation during a legislative recess shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for mileage and per diem in the same manner as provided for in Sections 291 and Section 291.1 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title.  Provided, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, for members of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for members of the House of Representatives, may suspend the provisions of this section or reduce the amount allowed pursuant to the provisions of this section if the President Pro Tempore of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives determines that such suspension or reduction is necessary due to budgetary constraints.  Any such suspension or reduction shall be applied uniformly to members of the Senate or House of Representatives and shall expire upon a date specified by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate or Speaker of the House of Representatives which shall be no later than the end of the fiscal year during which such suspension or reduction takes effect.
SECTION 3.     AMENDATORY     74 O.S. 2001, Section 291.1b, is amended to read as follows:
Section 291.1b  Members of the Legislature shall receive mileage reimbursement pursuant to Section 500.4 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title for the number of miles necessarily and conveniently traveled by the most usual and feasible route to be present upon convening of the regular or extraordinary sessions of the Legislature by such member in each and every trip in going to and returning from the place of meeting of the Legislature.  Each member shall be entitled to mileage reimbursement for one (1) round trip per week in traveling to and from the meeting of the Legislature.  A member not claiming per diem reimbursement may elect to receive mileage for not to exceed as many trips as there are legislative days for a week during each week the Legislature is actually in regular or extraordinary session, provided that no single, round-trip mileage reimbursement may exceed the per diem allowance.  Members of the Legislature shall receive mileage reimbursement, for the use of privately owned vehicles pursuant to Section 500.4 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title for the number of miles necessarily and conveniently traveled by the most usual and feasible route to be present in attending meetings of committees of which they are members or to which they are invited by Committee Chairmen committee chairs when the Legislature is not in session, subject to the approval of the presiding officer of each house for the members of the respective houses.  Provided, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, for members of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for members of the House of Representatives, may suspend the provisions of this section or reduce the amount allowed pursuant to the provisions of this section if the President Pro Tempore of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives determines that such suspension or reduction is necessary due to budgetary constraints.  Any such suspension or reduction shall be applied uniformly to members of the Senate or House of Representatives and shall expire upon a date specified by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate or Speaker of the House of Representatives which shall be no later than the end of the fiscal year during which such suspension or reduction takes effect.
SECTION 4.     AMENDATORY     74 O.S. 2001, Section 456, is amended to read as follows:
Section 456.  A.  Committees and subcommittees of each house of the Legislature are hereby authorized to meet when the Legislature is not in session, subject to the approval of the presiding officer of the respective house.
B.  When the Legislature is not in session, members of the Legislature shall be reimbursed their expenses in attending meetings of committees and subcommittees of which they are members or to which they are invited by committee chairs and shall be reimbursed as provided in subsection C of this section for expenses for such meetings and such other legislative business as may be authorized by the rules or by resolution of the member's respective house.
C.  In addition to reimbursement for mileage as authorized by law, per diem in lieu of expenses in the amount of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) is hereby authorized for not to exceed twenty (20) days when the Legislature is not in session.  The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives may authorize per diem for meetings exceeding twenty (20) days for members of their respective houses as they deem necessary.
D.  A per diem in lieu of expenses in the amount deductible without additional documentation pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, is hereby authorized for meetings outside the state by members, officers and employees of the Legislature.  A per diem in lieu of expenses in the amount deductible without additional documentation pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for the destination within the geographical area of travel is hereby authorized for official travel to high-rate geographical areas, as designated in Section 500.9 of this title, by members, officers and employees of the Legislature.  Provided, however, that members and employees of the Legislature may, in lieu of the above provisions, be reimbursed for out-of-state travel pursuant to the State Travel Reimbursement Act.
E.  In addition to reimbursement allowed under subsection D of this section, reimbursement for out-of-state transportation costs shall be made at an amount not exceeding the cost of coach airplane fare.  Provided that reimbursement for travel by commercial airplane on a first-class basis may be made if coach-class space is not available within a reasonable time and is justified by attachments to claim for reimbursement.  Claims for reimbursement for first-class transportation by commercial airline shall be accompanied by the passenger's duplicate of airline ticket, or other airline receipt which includes information as to class of accommodation for which reimbursement is claimed.
F.  Members, officers and employees of the Legislature shall be reimbursed for any membership dues or fees paid to any association or organization connected with the performance of their duties with the state, upon the approval of the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
G.  The President Pro Tempore of the Senate, for members of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for members of the House of Representatives, may suspend the provisions of this section, other than the provisions of subsection A of this section, or reduce the amounts allowed pursuant to the provisions of this section if the President Pro Tempore of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives determines that such suspension or reduction is necessary due to budgetary constraints.  Any such suspension or reduction shall be applied uniformly to members of the Senate or House of Representatives and shall expire upon a date specified by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate or Speaker of the House of Representatives which shall be no later than the end of the fiscal year during which such suspension or reduction takes effect.
SECTION 5.  It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
Passed the Senate the 15th day of March, 2011.

	
Presiding Officer 	of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2011.

	
Presiding Officer of the House
	of Representatives