Reimbursement of Expenses for Attendants for Arthritic Child of Board Member

The Executive Director of the National Arthritis Advisory Board asked whether the Board may reimburse one of its members for the expenses of an attendant for her arthritic child while she is attending official meetings and activities of the Board. The condition of the child requires that someone be in attendance at all times, and one parent cannot meet this requirement. The law establishing the Board provides that one member of the general public who is the parent of an arthritic child shall be appointed to the Board. Since the expense of an attendant for the child may be considered essential to the Board carrying out its advisory functions pursuant to regulation, the member may be reimbursed the cost of such expenses by the Board.