Skip to main content

B-173110, JUL 13, 1971

B-173110 Jul 13, 1971
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

A 56 ARE MET BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRANSFER DATE AND THE SIGNING OF THE REQUIRED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. THE EMPLOYEE IS ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR A HOUSE HUNTING TRIP EVEN THOUGH THE FORMAL ISSUANCE OF THE TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION TOOK PLACE AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE TRIP. RAAKA: REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER DATED MAY 17. DANNER WAS AUTHORIZED A HOUSE HUNTING TRIP IN CONNECTION WITH HIS TRANSFER FOR WHICH HE HAS BEEN ALREADY PARTIALLY REIMBURSED. THE QUESTIONED EXPENSES CONCERN THOSE INCIDENT TO THAT PORTION OF THE TRIP WHICH WAS PERFORMED PRIOR TO THE DATE OF ISSUE OF HIS TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION. DANNER HE WAS AUTHORIZED TO BEGIN HIS TRAVEL. PROCEDURES REQUIRED THAT THE TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION BE ISSUED BY THE REGIONAL OFFICE AND THIS WAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED UNTIL FEBRUARY 24.

View Decision

B-173110, JUL 13, 1971

CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE - CHANGE OF STATION - HOUSE HUNTING TRIP AUTHORIZING FOR PAYMENT, CONSISTENT WITH B-170329, OCTOBER 19, 1970, A VOUCHER IN FAVOR OF ALFRED E. DANNER IN THE AMOUNT OF $78.10 REPRESENTING EXPENSES WHICH HE INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH A HOUSE HUNTING TRIP INCIDENT TO A CHANGE OF DUTY STATION FROM HAPPY CAMP, CALIFORNIA, TO PLACEVILLE, CALIFORNIA. WHERE THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTIONS 2.4C(1) AND 1.3C OF OMB CIR. NO. A 56 ARE MET BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRANSFER DATE AND THE SIGNING OF THE REQUIRED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT; THE EMPLOYEE IS ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR A HOUSE HUNTING TRIP EVEN THOUGH THE FORMAL ISSUANCE OF THE TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION TOOK PLACE AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE TRIP.

TO MR. D. W. RAAKA:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER DATED MAY 17, 1971, REFERENCE 6540, WITH ENCLOSURES, REQUESTING A DECISION FROM OUR OFFICE AS TO THE PROPRIETY OF CERTIFYING FOR PAYMENT A VOUCHER IN FAVOR OF MR. ALFRED E. DANNER IN THE AMOUNT OF $78.10 REPRESENTING EXPENSES WHICH HE INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH A HOUSE HUNTING TRIP INCIDENT TO HIS CHANGE OF PERMANENT DUTY STATION FROM HAPPY CAMP, CALIFORNIA, TO PLACERVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

ACCORDING TO THE RECORD BEFORE US, MR. DANNER WAS AUTHORIZED A HOUSE HUNTING TRIP IN CONNECTION WITH HIS TRANSFER FOR WHICH HE HAS BEEN ALREADY PARTIALLY REIMBURSED. THE QUESTIONED EXPENSES CONCERN THOSE INCIDENT TO THAT PORTION OF THE TRIP WHICH WAS PERFORMED PRIOR TO THE DATE OF ISSUE OF HIS TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION.

THE RECORD SHOWS THAT ON FEBRUARY 16, 1971, MR. DANNER SIGNED FOREST SERVICE FORM 6500-140 - INDIVIDUAL'S REQUEST FOR TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION - WHICH INCLUDED AS A PART THEREOF THE 12 MONTHS SERVICE AGREEMENT. FEBRUARY 19, 1971, THE DISTRICT RANGER TOLD MR. DANNER HE WAS AUTHORIZED TO BEGIN HIS TRAVEL. PROCEDURES REQUIRED THAT THE TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION BE ISSUED BY THE REGIONAL OFFICE AND THIS WAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED UNTIL FEBRUARY 24, 1971. THE ADVICE GIVEN MR. DANNER BY THE DISTRICT RANGER WAS THEREFORE ERRONEOUS. YOU QUESTION WHETHER THE CLAIM MAY BE POST APPROVED AND CERTIFIED DUE TO ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR.

IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES, WE HAVE HELD THAT WHERE THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTIONS 2.4C(1) AND 1.3C OF OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A-56, REVISED JUNE 26, 1969, ARE MET, NAMELY, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRANSFER DATE AND THE SIGNING OF THE REQUIRED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, THE EMPLOYEE IS ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR A HOUSE HUNTING TRIP EVEN THOUGH THE FORMAL ISSUANCE OF THE TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION TOOK PLACE AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE HOUSE HUNTING TRIP. SEE B-170329, OCTOBER 19, 1970, COPY HEREWITH. IN THIS CASE THE TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION WAS ISSUED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE EMPLOYEE RETURNED FROM HIS HOUSE HUNTING TRIP. ACCORDINGLY, THE VOUCHER WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT IF OTHERWISE CORRECT.

GAO Contacts

Office of Public Affairs