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State Comptroller advises state agencies concerning the appropriate use of State travel credit cards by staff members

State Comptroller advises state agencies concerning the appropriate use of State travel credit cards by staff members
Source: Press release, Office of the State Comptroller

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli has issued a bulletin to all state agencies on the rules for state-issued credit cards.

The Comptroller advises that:

State employees may use a travel credit card to pay for travel expenses when they are on official state business and are in travel status. [A state employee is in travel status when they are more than 35 miles from both their official station (where they work) and their home.]

When traveling on official state business, only actual, necessary and reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

State employees cannot use their travel credit card for personal charges or use it to purchase meals or other items on days when they are not in travel status. Improper or unauthorized charges may result in mandated reimbursement to the state and revocation of user privileges.

State employees? agencies and the Office of the State Comptroller will audit the use of travel credit cards and take appropriate action. If a card has been used inappropriately, charges will be investigated and could result in termination of employment or in extreme cases criminal prosecution.

State employees must account for all travel card charges on their travel voucher and submit it promptly so the charges can be reconciled to the central bill. Failure to submit travel vouchers in a timely manner may result in revocation of travel credit cards.

DiNapoli said. ?State agencies must carefully monitor all travel expenses, eliminate unnecessary travel and remind employees that state-issued cards can only be used for appropriate and reasonable expenses. Everyone must play by these rules. If they don?t, my office is watching expenses closely and will take appropriate steps if questionable or excessive charges are identified.?

Full post as published by New York Public Personnel Law on December 01, 2008 (boomark / email).