Eliminates ability of legislators to earn certain perks associated with transportation, including, but not limited to, frequent-flier miles and reward points for hotel stays.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1893
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 13, 2017
___________
Introduced by M. of A. McLAUGHLIN -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the legislative law, in relation to eliminating the
ability of legislators to earn certain perks
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 5 of the legislative law, as added
2 by section 7 of part CC of chapter 56 of the laws of 2015, is amended to
3 read as follows:
4 2. [(a)] Each member of the legislature[, upon verification of attend-
5 ance, which shall be by electronic verification when practicable, in
6 compliance with the policies set forth by the speaker of the assembly
7 and the temporary president of the senate for their respective bodies,]
8 shall [be eligible to] receive payment of actual and necessary [travel
9 expenses] transportation expenses and a per diem equivalent to the most
10 recent federal per diem rates published by the general services adminis-
11 tration as set forth in 41 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 301,
12 App. A, [for the time in which the member was] while in travel status in
13 the performance of his or her duties [during the months in which the
14 legislature is scheduled to be in regular session. During the months
15 when the legislature is not scheduled to be in regular session, members
16 shall receive such actual and necessary travel expenses and per diems,
17 in compliance with verification policies and in accord with standards
18 and limits for reimbursable events set forth by]; and such other reason-
19 able expenses as may be necessary for the performance of the member's
20 responsibilities as determined by the speaker of the assembly and the
21 temporary president of the senate for their respective [bodies] houses;
22 provided, however, that any perks associated with such transportation,
23 including, but not limited to frequent-flier miles, or reward points for
24 hotel stays, shall be either donated to the state to lower travel costs
25 or donated to charity. The per diem allowances including partial per
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04295-01-7
A. 1893 2
1 diem allowances shall be made pursuant to regulations promulgated by the
2 temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly for
3 their respective houses, on audit and warrant of the comptroller on
4 vouchers approved by the temporary president of the senate or his or her
5 designee and speaker of the assembly or his or her designee for their
6 respective houses. The temporary president of the senate or his or her
7 designee and the speaker of the assembly or his or her designee shall
8 promulgate any rules necessary for the elimination and control of any
9 perks associated with transportation expenses.
10 [(b) Each house shall make available on its website all documentation
11 otherwise available to the public pursuant to section eighty-eight of
12 the public officers law related to the payment of travel expenses and
13 per diems.]
14 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
