B-180806, AUG 21, 1974
Highlights
FIELD EXAMINERS OF THE NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION WHO ATTEND REGIONAL EXAMINER CONFERENCES CONDUCTED AT THEIR HEADQUARTERS MAY NOT BE REIMBURSED FOR MEALS TAKEN AT THE CONFERENCES EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE INFLUENCED BY THEIR SUPERIORS TO STAY ON AND TAKE PART IN EVENING MEALS AT LATE CONFERENCE SESSIONS SINCE IN ABSENCE OF SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORITY ALLOWING REIMBURSEMENT. NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION - MEALS AT HEADQUARTERS: THIS ACTION IS AT THE REQUEST OF MR. NICKERSON STATES THAT FIELD EXAMINERS MAKE UP 62 PERCENT OF THE NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION'S EMPLOYEES AND THAT THEY ARE HEADQUARTERED IN NUMEROUS CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. EACH YEAR REGIONAL EXAMINER CONFERENCES OF SEVERAL DAYS DURATION ARE CONDUCTED WITH EXAMINERS ATTENDING FROM VARIOUS STATES AND CITIES WITHIN THE REGION.
B-180806, AUG 21, 1974
FIELD EXAMINERS OF THE NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION WHO ATTEND REGIONAL EXAMINER CONFERENCES CONDUCTED AT THEIR HEADQUARTERS MAY NOT BE REIMBURSED FOR MEALS TAKEN AT THE CONFERENCES EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE INFLUENCED BY THEIR SUPERIORS TO STAY ON AND TAKE PART IN EVENING MEALS AT LATE CONFERENCE SESSIONS SINCE IN ABSENCE OF SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORITY ALLOWING REIMBURSEMENT, THE GOVERNMENT MAY NOT PAY FOR MEALS OF CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES AT THEIR HEADQUARTERS.
NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION - MEALS AT HEADQUARTERS:
THIS ACTION IS AT THE REQUEST OF MR. HERMAN NICKERSON, JR., ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION, FOR A DECISION AS TO THE LEGALITY OF REIMBURSING FIELD EXAMINERS OF THE NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION FOR MEALS TAKEN AT THEIR HEADQUARTERS DURING FIELD EXAMINER CONFERENCES.
MR. NICKERSON STATES THAT FIELD EXAMINERS MAKE UP 62 PERCENT OF THE NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION'S EMPLOYEES AND THAT THEY ARE HEADQUARTERED IN NUMEROUS CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. EACH YEAR REGIONAL EXAMINER CONFERENCES OF SEVERAL DAYS DURATION ARE CONDUCTED WITH EXAMINERS ATTENDING FROM VARIOUS STATES AND CITIES WITHIN THE REGION. THE CONFERENCES ARE USUALLY HELD IN LARGE CITIES WHERE FIVE OR SIX EXAMINERS LIVE. DURING THESE CONFERENCES, EVENING SESSIONS, GROUP DINNER ARRANGEMENTS, AND INFORMAL REQUESTS BY THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR INFLUENCE LOCAL EXAMINERS TO STAY OVER AND PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES RATHER THAN TO RETURN TO THEIR RESIDENCES AT THE END OF THE DAY. IN THESE SITUATIONS LOCAL EXAMINERS PAY FOR THEIR EVENING MEALS OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS, WHEREAS THE VISITING EXAMINERS ARE REIMBURSED BY VIRTUE OF THEIR BEING ON PER DIEM SINCE THEY ARE IN TRAVEL STATUS.
MR. NICKERSON ASKS WHETHER THE ABOVE CONDITIONS JUSTIFY REIMBURSEMENT TO THE LOCAL EXAMINERS FOR THEIR EVENING MEAL EXPENSES, AND IF NOT, WHETHER THERE ARE ANY CONDITIONS WHICH WOULD JUSTIFY SUCH REIMBURSEMENT.
WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY HELD THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORITY, THE GOVERNMENT MAY NOT PAY SUBSISTENCE EXPENSES OR PER DIEM TO CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES AT THEIR HEADQUARTERS, REGARDLESS OF ANY UNUSUAL WORKING CONDITIONS INVOLVED. 42 COMP. GEN. 149 (1962); B-169235, APRIL 6, 1970; B-169163, SEPTEMBER 11, 1970; B-159633, MAY 20, 1974. WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY LAW WHICH WOULD ALLOW MEALS TO BE FURNISHED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE TO THE LOCAL EXAMINERS UNDER THE FACTS AS REPORTED IN THE SUBMISSION. MOREOVER, BASED ON THE FACTS SUBMITTED, WE ARE AWARE OF NO CONDITIONS WHICH WOULD JUSTIFY SUCH REIMBURSEMENT.
ACCORDINGLY, THERE IS NO BASIS FOR GOVERNMENT REIMBURSEMENT FOR MEALS OF REGIONAL EXAMINERS WHO TAKE PART IN THE REGIONAL EXAMINERS CONFERENCES AT THEIR HEADQUARTERS.