B-128981, SEP. 20, 1956
Highlights
TRAVEL WAS PERFORMED BY THE EMPLOYEE FROM WASHINGTON. YOU SAY THAT THE INSURANCE CARRIED BY THE EMPLOYEE IS INOPERATIVE DURING PERIODS OF FLIGHT ON NONSCHEDULED MILITARY FLIGHTS AND. THE EMPLOYEE PURCHASED ADDITIONAL INSURANCE FOR WHICH REIMBURSEMENT IS NOW CLAIMED. THE COMMERCIAL RATE FOR FIRST CLASS ROUND TRIP AIR FARE WOULD HAVE BEEN $95.76 FOR THE IDENTICAL TRAVEL. REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES IN CONNECTION WITH AUTHORIZED TRAVEL IS LIMITED TO THOSE SPECIFIED IN THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS OR IF NOT ENUMERATED THEREIN TO "MISCELLANEOUS EXPENDITURES * * * WHEN NECESSARILY INCURRED BY THE TRAVELER IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION OF OFFICIAL BUSINESS.'. THERE IS NO SPECIFIC PROVISION IN THE REGULATIONS COVERING INSURANCE PREMIUMS.
B-128981, SEP. 20, 1956
TO CAPTAIN P. E. WAMPLER, FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY:
YOUR LETTER OF JULY 20, 1956, FILE NO. ORDTL 02.23, FORWARDED HERE BY 2D IND., OFFICE, CHIEF OF FINANCE, FINEK 248.7, REQUESTS OUR DECISION WHETHER YOU MAY PAY THE VOUCHER TRANSMITTED THEREWITH IN FAVOR OF MR. JOHN W. UTECHT, A CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE OF THE ARMY, FOR $2 AS REIMBURSEMENT FOR AN INSURANCE PREMIUM PAID BY MR. UTECHT AND ADMINISTRATIVELY SUSPENDED FROM A PRIOR VOUCHER.
TRAVEL ORDER DATED MAY 29, 1956, AUTHORIZED THE EMPLOYEE TO PERFORM TRAVEL FOR TEMPORARY DUTY AT PLACES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. PURSUANT TO THIS ORDER, TRAVEL WAS PERFORMED BY THE EMPLOYEE FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. TO EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA, AND RETURN ON A NONSCHEDULED MILITARY AIRCRAFT. YOU SAY THAT THE INSURANCE CARRIED BY THE EMPLOYEE IS INOPERATIVE DURING PERIODS OF FLIGHT ON NONSCHEDULED MILITARY FLIGHTS AND, THEREFORE, THE EMPLOYEE PURCHASED ADDITIONAL INSURANCE FOR WHICH REIMBURSEMENT IS NOW CLAIMED. THE COMMERCIAL RATE FOR FIRST CLASS ROUND TRIP AIR FARE WOULD HAVE BEEN $95.76 FOR THE IDENTICAL TRAVEL.
REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES IN CONNECTION WITH AUTHORIZED TRAVEL IS LIMITED TO THOSE SPECIFIED IN THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS OR IF NOT ENUMERATED THEREIN TO "MISCELLANEOUS EXPENDITURES * * * WHEN NECESSARILY INCURRED BY THE TRAVELER IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION OF OFFICIAL BUSINESS.' SEE PARAGRAPH 79, SCTR. THERE IS NO SPECIFIC PROVISION IN THE REGULATIONS COVERING INSURANCE PREMIUMS. MOREOVER, THE PURCHASE OF INSURANCE ON THE PERSON OF AN EMPLOYEE IS FOR HIS OWN PROTECTION AND ORDINARILY MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED A NECESSARY INCIDENTAL EXPENSE TO HIS OFFICIAL BUSINESS. CF. 28 COMP. GEN. 679.
ACCORDINGLY, PAYMENT OF THE VOUCHER, WHICH IS RETAINED HERE, IS NOT AUTHORIZED.