B-120787, SEPTEMBER 2, 1954, 34 COMP. GEN. 114

B-120787, SEPTEMBER 2, 1954, 34 COMP. GEN. 114

TRAVELING EXPENSES, SUBSISTENCE - INTERVIEW, QUALIFICATION DETERMINATION, ETC. - EMPLOYEES TAKING EXAMINATION FOR OTHER POSITIONS DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES MAY NOT REIMBURSE INDIVIDUAL FOR EXPENSES INCIDENT TO TRAVEL FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER FOR PURPOSE OF DETERMINING QUALIFICATIONS FOR A POSITION WITH THE GOVERNMENT IF THE POSITION IS SUBJECT TO THE CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND THE CLASSIFICATION ACT OF 1949 SO THAT AN INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE EMPLOYEE MAY NOT BE REIMBURSED FOR TRAVEL AND SUBSISTENCE EXPENSES INCURRED FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAKING A CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION TO DETERMINE HIS QUALIFICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT AS AN INTERNAL REVENUE AGENT.

ACTING COMPTROLLER GENERAL KELLER TO CURTISS F. BARKER, TREASURY DEPARTMENT, SEPTEMBER 2, 1954:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF JULY 7, 1954, FORWARDED HERE BY LETTER OF JULY 21 FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, TREASURY DEPARTMENT, TRANSMITTING A RECLAIM VOUCHER STATED IN FAVOR OF LLOYD W. HELIKSON IN THE AMOUNT OF $13.50, REPRESENTING ONE AND ONE-HALF DAYS' PER DIEM IN LIEU OF SUBSISTENCE FOR TRAVEL BETWEEN EUGENE, OREGON, AND PORTLAND, OREGON, DURING THE PERIOD OCTOBER 22 AND 23, 1953, AND REQUESTING A DECISION WHETHER OR NOT THE VOUCHER PROPERLY MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.

THE RECORD DISCLOSES THAT MR. HELIKSON WAS EMPLOYED AS COLLECTION OFFICER, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, EUGENE, OREGON, AT THE TIME HE PROCEEDED TO PORTLAND, OREGON, FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAKING A NON COMPETITIVE CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION TO DETERMINE HIS QUALIFICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT AS INTERNAL REVENUE AGENT ( EXAMINING OFFICER). YOU STATE THAT THE EXAMINATION WAS GIVEN FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE "IN ORDER THAT A LIST OF QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR REASSIGNMENT OR PROMOTION TO EXAMINING OFFICER POSITIONS WHERE THERE WAS A GREATER OR MORE IMMEDIATE NEED FOR THEIR SERVICES.' IT IS NOTED THAT THE TRAVEL TO AND FROM PORTLAND, WHICH WAS MADE VIA PACIFIC GREYHOUND BUS, WAS AUTHORIZED ON OFFICIAL TIME, AND THAT THE COST THEREFOR (PURCHASED ON GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION REQUEST NO. 115,671) WAS $5.25.

AS INDICATED IN YOUR LETTER, THE GENERAL RULE IS THAT THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAY NOT REIMBURSE AN INDIVIDUAL FOR EXPENSES INCURRED FOR TRAVELING FROM ONE POINT TO ANOTHER FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT HE POSSESSES THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR A POSITION WITH THE GOVERNMENT, IF THE POSITION IS SUBJECT TO THE CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND THE CLASSIFICATION ACT OF 1949, 63 STAT. 954. 31 COMP. GEN. 175. THE SAME RULE WOULD APPLY WHERE, AS HERE, TRAVEL EXPENSES ARE INCURRED BY A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAKING A CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION TO DETERMINE HIS QUALIFICATIONS FOR A POSITION SUBJECT TO THE CIVIL SERVICE LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND THE CLASSIFICATION ACT OF 1949.

ACCORDINGLY, THE VOUCHER, WHICH, TOGETHER WITH THE RELATED PAPERS, IS RETURNED HEREWITH, MAY NOT BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.

APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN TO EFFECT COLLECTION FROM THIS EMPLOYEE OF THE SUM ($5.25) EXPENDED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR BUS FARE PURCHASED ON TRANSPORTATION REQUEST NO. 115,671, PLUS THE APPLICABLE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION TAX.