Skip to main content

B-159089, MAY 31, 1966

B-159089 May 31, 1966
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

YOU HAVE REQUESTED OUR DECISION WHETHER YOU MAY PROPERLY CERTIFY THAT VOUCHER FOR PAYMENT BECAUSE MR. LEWIS WAS AUTHORIZED TO TRAVEL FROM OKLAHOMA CITY TO ALBUQUERQUE AND RETURN SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF BEING INTERVIEWED IN CONNECTION WITH HIS POSSIBLE TRANSFER TO A POSITION IN THE FEDERAL AVIATION AGENCY OFFICE AT THAT PLACE. WE HAVE BEEN INFORMALLY ADVISED THAT THE TRANSFER WOULD NOT HAVE INVOLVED A CHANGE IN THE GENERAL TYPE OF WORK REQUIRED OF MR. LEWIS OR A CHANGE IN HIS GRADE AND THAT AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER HIM TO THE ALBUQUERQUE POSITION WAS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF YOUR AGENCY. WE WERE ALSO ADVISED THAT THE TRAVEL TO ALBUQUERQUE WAS AUTHORIZED BECAUSE THE POSITION AT THAT PLACE INVOLVED DUTIES WHICH MR.

View Decision

B-159089, MAY 31, 1966

TO AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER, SOUTHWEST REGION, FEDERAL AVIATION AGENCY:

WE REFER TO YOUR LETTER OF APRIL 15, 1966, YOUR REFERENCE SW-24, ENCLOSING THE VOUCHER OF MR. SAMUEL A. LEWIS, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION AGENCY, FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THE EXPENSES HE INCURRED IN TRAVELING FROM OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, TO ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, BETWEEN MARCH 5 AND 8, 1966.

YOU HAVE REQUESTED OUR DECISION WHETHER YOU MAY PROPERLY CERTIFY THAT VOUCHER FOR PAYMENT BECAUSE MR. LEWIS WAS AUTHORIZED TO TRAVEL FROM OKLAHOMA CITY TO ALBUQUERQUE AND RETURN SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF BEING INTERVIEWED IN CONNECTION WITH HIS POSSIBLE TRANSFER TO A POSITION IN THE FEDERAL AVIATION AGENCY OFFICE AT THAT PLACE. WE HAVE BEEN INFORMALLY ADVISED THAT THE TRANSFER WOULD NOT HAVE INVOLVED A CHANGE IN THE GENERAL TYPE OF WORK REQUIRED OF MR. LEWIS OR A CHANGE IN HIS GRADE AND THAT AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER HIM TO THE ALBUQUERQUE POSITION WAS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF YOUR AGENCY. WE WERE ALSO ADVISED THAT THE TRAVEL TO ALBUQUERQUE WAS AUTHORIZED BECAUSE THE POSITION AT THAT PLACE INVOLVED DUTIES WHICH MR. LEWIS DID NOT PERFORM IN THE OKLAHOMA CITY POSITION, I.E., THE SUPERVISION OF OTHER EMPLOYEES AND CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC.

THE RULE AGAINST THE USE OF AGENCY FUNDS TO PAY THE TRAVEL EXPENSES INCURRED BY PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES IN CONNECTION WITH PREEMPLOYMENT INTERVIEWS, AS EXPRESSED IN 41 COMP. GEN. 482, AND THE DECISIONS CITED THEREIN, RELATES TO INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL POSSESSES THE NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS SPECIFIED BY THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION FOR APPOINTMENTS OVER WHICH THE COMMISSION HAS JURISDICTION TO DETERMINE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEE. THOSE DECISIONS DO NOT PREVENT AGENCIES FROM AUTHORIZING EMPLOYEES TO TRAVEL AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE WHEN AN AGENCY ESTABLISHES ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS WHICH IT CONSIDERS NECESSARY IN CONNECTION WITH THE SELECTION OF AN EMPLOYEE FOR TRANSFER OR PROMOTION. SEE 40 COMP. GEN. 21; 34 ID. 435, B-129496, NOVEMBER 1, 1956.

THEREFORE, THE VOUCHER WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT IF OTHERWISE CORRECT.

GAO Contacts

Office of Public Affairs