B-190810, JUL 18, 1978
Highlights
INCURRED BY HIS WIFE FOR THE PURPOSE OF A FAMILY VISIT EVEN THOUGH EMPLOYEE WAS AUTHORIZED TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR HIMSELF FOR PURPOSE OF A FAMILY VISIT TO PORTLAND. TRAVEL WAS FOR PERSONAL REASONS. THERE IS NO AUTHORITY UNDER APPLICABLE STATUTES AND REGULATIONS AUTHORIZING REIMBURSEMENT FOR PERSONAL TRAVEL FOR FAMILY OF EMPLOYEE. WHOSE DUTY STATION WAS PORTLAND. WAS ON TEMPORARY DUTY ASSIGNMENT IN SAN FRANCISCO. HAWK WAS AUTHORIZED TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR TWO INTERVENING WEEKEND ROUND TRIPS TO HIS HOME IN PORTLAND. HAWK WAS ISSUED TWO GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS (GTR) AT A COST OF $138 EACH FOR THIS PURPOSE. THE SECOND GTR WAS USED BY THE EMPLOYEE'S WIFE TO TRAVEL TO SAN FRANCISCO TO VISIT ON FEBRUARY 12.
B-190810, JUL 18, 1978
DIGEST: EMPLOYEE OF DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ON TEMPORARY DUTY ASSIGNMENT IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, MAY NOT BE REIMBURSED FOR COST OF ROUND-TRIP AIR TRANSPORTATION FROM PORTLAND, OREGON, INCURRED BY HIS WIFE FOR THE PURPOSE OF A FAMILY VISIT EVEN THOUGH EMPLOYEE WAS AUTHORIZED TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR HIMSELF FOR PURPOSE OF A FAMILY VISIT TO PORTLAND. TRAVEL WAS FOR PERSONAL REASONS, AND THERE IS NO AUTHORITY UNDER APPLICABLE STATUTES AND REGULATIONS AUTHORIZING REIMBURSEMENT FOR PERSONAL TRAVEL FOR FAMILY OF EMPLOYEE.
THOMAS HAWK - TRAVEL EXPENSES INCURRED BY WIFE OF EMPLOYEE FOR VISIT:
MR. CHARLES R. NEILL, ACTING DIRECTOR, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT STAFF, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, BY LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 25, 1977, REQUESTED AN ADVANCE DECISION AS TO THE PROPRIETY OF PAYING A TRAVEL VOUCHER IN FAVOR OF THOMAS HAWK, A SPECIAL ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, DETAILED TO THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA.
THE RECORD SHOWS THAT MR. HAWK, WHOSE DUTY STATION WAS PORTLAND, OREGON, WAS ON TEMPORARY DUTY ASSIGNMENT IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY IN SAN FRANCISCO, DURING THE PERIOD OF FEBRUARY 7, 1977, TO MARCH 20, 1977. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS DETAIL, MR. HAWK WAS AUTHORIZED TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR TWO INTERVENING WEEKEND ROUND TRIPS TO HIS HOME IN PORTLAND. MR. HAWK WAS ISSUED TWO GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS (GTR) AT A COST OF $138 EACH FOR THIS PURPOSE. HE MADE ONE SUCH RETURN TRIP ON MARCH 4, 1977. THE SECOND GTR WAS USED BY THE EMPLOYEE'S WIFE TO TRAVEL TO SAN FRANCISCO TO VISIT ON FEBRUARY 12, 1977. SHE RETURNED TO PORTLAND ON FEBRUARY 21, 1977, THE DATE MR. HAWK TRAVELED TO PORTLAND FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES. THE CLAIM IN QUESTION IS FOR THE COST OF MRS. HAWK'S ROUND-TRIP AIR TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN SAN FRANCISCO AND PORTLAND TO VISIT HER SPOUSE'S TEMPORARY DUTY STATION.
PARAGRAPH 1-1.3 OF THE FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS (FPMR 101-7 MAY 1973) PROVIDES THAT TRAVELING EXPENSES WHICH WILL BE REIMBURSED ARE CONFINED TO THOSE EXPENSES ESSENTIAL TO THE TRANSACTING OF OFFICIAL BUSINESS. WHILE THE EMPLOYEE MAY HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED WEEKEND ROUND TRIP TRAVEL TO RETURN TO HIS HEADQUARTERS IN PORTLAND, THIS AUTHORIZATION CANNOT BE TRANSFERRED TO THE EMPLOYEE'S WIFE TO TRAVEL TO THE EMPLOYEE'S TEMPORARY DUTY STATION TO VISIT HIM. SUCH EXPENSES ARE CONSIDERED PERSONAL. CF. B-162466, SEPTEMBER 27, 1967; B-176471, SEPTEMBER 5, 1972; AND B-174242, NOVEMBER 30, 1971.
THE VOUCHER IS RETURNED HEREWITH AND MAY NOT BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.