Management Council Policies
The Management Council is created under W.S. 28-8-102 and consists of
13 legislators who are primarily the leadership of both parties in
both houses. The Council adopts polices for the operation of the Legislative
Service Office and for travel and other administrative policies for the
legislature.
TRAVEL REGULATIONS
Foreword
These Management Council Policies and Travel Regulations are a
recompilation of existing policies and regulations with some
modifications intended to reflect existing practices and
procedures. These were approved by the Management Council at its
December 8, 1995, meeting.
TRAVEL REGULATIONS
WYOMING STATE LEGISLATURE
A. In-state travel - Legislators
1. Salary, per diem and travel expenses are authorized for members
of the Wyoming Legislature for traveling to and from and attendance
at sessions of the Legislature subject to the following terms and
conditions:
a. Salary and per diem at the rate specified by law shall be
paid for each day commencing with the date the session
convenes and continuing through the date the session adjourns;
b. Except for legislators who reside in the Cheyenne area, all
legislators shall receive:
(i) One (1) day per diem for travel to and one (1) day
per diem for travel from the session;
(ii) Mileage for one (1) round trip to and from Cheyenne
and their home, point to point by the nearest practicable
route.
2. Salary, per diem and travel expenses are authorized for members
of the Wyoming Legislature for in-state travel during the interim
between sessions of the Legislature subject to the following terms
and conditions:
a. Salary, per diem and travel expenses are authorized for
travelling to and from and attending meetings of:
(i) Any joint interim committee, select committee or
subcommittee of the legislature or other committee of the
legislature of which the legislator is a member;
(ii) Any committee, task force or other group which is
created by law to which the legislator has been
officially appointed as a member by the presiding officer
of his house or by other legislative action in accordance
with law;
(iii) Any group or organization, including educational
seminars and state agency meetings or hearings, if the
chairman of a committee or subcommittee specifically
authorizes such attendance as being directly related to
approved committee work or if approved by the Management
Council.
b. Mileage shall be computed from point to point by the
nearest practicable route. Per diem shall be paid for each
day a legislator engages in authorized interim activities and
for each day reasonably necessary to travel to and from such
activities.
c. Salary, per diem and travel expenses shall be charged to
the appropriate committee or activity budget as approved by
Management Council. No legislator shall be reimbursed for
salary, per diem or travel expenses in excess of the amounts
approved by the Council in the budget for that committee or
activity.
d. Salary, per diem and travel expenses shall be paid at the
rates specified by law except:
(i) Committee chairmen may specify that salary shall not
be authorized for activities related to approved
committee work such as tours when the committee does not
convene on the day of the activity;
(ii) Legislators may elect to sign a disclaimer and
accept the mileage rate for which the federal government
does not require reporting as income in lieu of the rate
specified in Wyoming statute;
(iii) Any legislator may elect to waive any portion of
any salary, per diem or travel expenses to which he is
otherwise entitled;
(iv) Legislators shall receive salary only for the days
on which the committee actually met or approved activity
actually occurred; salary shall not be paid on days on
which only authorized travel occurred;
(v) Legislators shall receive salary and per diem under
the Hometown/Short meeting policy contained in
Attachment A unless they elect to opt out of that policy
by so advising the Legislative Service Office;
(vi) The Management Council may establish policies with
respect to receipt of salary, per diem and mileage for
special in-state events involving the legislature, e.g.
where Wyoming hosts meetings of legislative organizations
such as the 5 State Conference, the Western Legislative
Conference, or for budget "school" or "seminar" for
legislators, etc;
(vii) Legislators shall be reimbursed for the cost of
commercial or private transportation, such as charter or
private aircraft or rental vehicles, to the extent the
cost does not unreasonably exceed the regular mileage
allowance plus reasonable per diem;
(viii) Mileage shall not be paid to the extent a state
aircraft or vehicle is used for transportation. State
aircraft may be used for transportation when the cost
does not unreasonably exceed the regular mileage
allowance plus reasonable per diem.
B. Out-of-state travel - Legislators
1. Salary is not authorized for out-of-state travel except for
attendance at a joint interim, select or subcommittee of the
Legislature that is holding a meeting out-of-state.
2. Reimbursement for out-of-state travel per diem and expenses are
subject to the following terms and conditions:
a. Reimbursement is authorized for approved travel as follows:
(i) Legislators who are appointed by the presiding
officer of their respective houses to committees of or as
representatives to national or regional organizations in
which the Legislature participates are approved to attend
two (2) meetings of the committee or organization to
which they were appointed during the interim between each
session without additional approval from the Management
Council. "National or regional organizations in which the
Legislature participates" includes the National
Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the Council of
State Governments (CSG) {this includes the Western
Legislative Conference}, the 5 State Conference, the
Education Commission of the States and the Energy
Council.
(ii) All other out-of-state travel must be specifically
approved by the presiding officer of the house of which
the legislator requesting out-of-state travel expenses is
a member.
(iii) Notwithstanding paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this
subsection, the Management Council approval is required
to attend any meeting held outside the Continental United
States, i.e. the lower 48 states and the District of
Columbia.
b. Per diem and travel expenses for out-of-state travel shall
be reimbursed for the actual amount of the costs incurred
subject to the following:
(i) Registration fees may be paid directly by the
Legislative Service Office or the legislator may elect to
pay registration fees directly and be reimbursed. Payment
of registration fees shall be limited to the lowest
amount offered for advance registration at the meeting.
(ii) Reimbursable costs are limited to transportation
costs, lodging and meals which are not provided as part
of the registration fee for the meeting. Reimbursement
for meals shall be limited to the lesser of actual costs
or $60 per day. No reimbursement shall be made for the
cost of alcoholic beverages.
(iii) Legislators shall be reimbursed for the cost of
commercial or private transportation such as charter or
private aircraft or rental vehicles to the extent the
cost does not unreasonably exceed the regular mileage
allowance plus reasonable per diem.
(iv) Legislators shall be reimbursed the lesser of the
actual cost of public transportation, e.g. commercial
airfare, or the cost of transportation had reservations
been made at least 14 calendar days before the date of
departure.
(v) Mileage shall not be paid to the extent a state
aircraft or vehicle is used for transportation.
(vi) Legislators may elect to sign a disclaimer and
accept the mileage rate for which the federal government
does not require reporting as income in lieu of the rate
specified in Wyoming statute;
(vii) Any legislator may elect to waive any portion of
any per diem or travel expenses to which he is otherwise
entitled. Mileage shall be computed from point to point
by the nearest practicable route;
(viii) The Management Council may limit travel or
expenditures for travel to stay within the approved
budget.
C. Travel policy - Legislative staff
.1. Travel by members of the staff must be authorized and approved
by the director, who shall be responsible for maintaining such
travel expenses within the approved budgetary limits.
2. Staff members shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary
expenses for in-state or out-of-state travel. Staff members will be
reimbursed at the rate of twenty-two ($.22) per mile for each mile
actually and necessarily traveled in their own vehicle in
performance of authorized and approved activities. Mileage shall be
computed from point to point by the nearest practicable route.
Reimbursable costs are limited to transportation costs, lodging and
meals which are not provided as part of any registration fee for a
meeting. No reimbursement shall be made for the cost of alcoholic
beverages.
D. Vouchers
1. Claims for the payment of expenses must be made by voucher,
signed by the claimant and by the officer or officers authorized to
approve same. Claims for reimbursement of expenses shall be based
on actual expenses, within the limitations specified in these
rules, for staff and out-of-state travel for legislators, and on
the per diem allowance for in-state travel for legislators.
2. When the claim is for actual expenses, the voucher shall contain
or have affixed thereto a full itemized statement covering each
item of expense for which reimbursement is claimed. False claims
are punishable as provided in W.S. 9-7-404. When the claim for
reimbursement of expenses is based upon the per diem allowance, an
itemized statement is not necessary. Receipts to support claims
are required except for meals of less than $15.00.
3. Legislators submitting claims for salary or per diem allowances
must specify on their voucher the day when performance of the
activity entitling them to such payments commenced and when it
terminated.
4. Vouchers shall be submitted not later than sixty (60) days
following completion of the trip for which expense reimbursement is
claimed.
POLICIES GOVERNING THE LEGISLATIVE SERVICE OFFICE
AND
INTERIM COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES
SECTION I. POLICIES GOVERNING LEGISLATIVE SERVICE OFFICE
1. All work or study projects assigned to the Legislative Service
Office by the legislature or requested of the office by any
legislator or joint interim committee are subject to review
and prioritization by the Management Council. All projects
authorized or directed by the legislature shall take priority
in consideration over projects requested by committees or
individual legislators.
2. The director of the Legislative Service Office is directly
responsible to the Management Council for the proper conduct
of the Office. He shall allocate the time and services of the
personnel so as to accomplish the directives of the Management
Council according to established priorities and in the most
efficient and effective manner.
3. All records of the Legislative Service Office shall be open
and public except for records constituting confidential work
product and matters required to be treated as confidential by
statute.
4. All financial books, records and accounts administered by the
Legislative Service Office shall be audited at least once each
biennium by an independent auditor selected by the Management
Council. The cost of such audit will be paid from the
appropriation for the legislature.
5. The Legislative Service Office shall review executive agency
administrative rules as provided by W.S. 28-9-104 and submit
rule review reports to the Management Council in the manner
and format provided by the Administrative Rule Review
Handbook and other policies approved by the Management
Council. The Management Council shall review, or refer to the
appropriate legislative committee for review, all rule review
reports submitted by the Legislative Service Office.
SECTION II. POLICIES GOVERNING INTERIM COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES
1. Proposals for joint interim committee studies are subject to
review and approval by the Management Council. The Management
Council may assign additional work to any interim committee
and may retain direction and supervision over any projects as
it may deem advisable.
2. The Management Council shall determine the amount of money
available for funding interim committee activities, and shall
allocate funds to the interim committees according to the
projects assigned and the priorities established.
3. Notice of the assignment of interim studies or other work
projects shall be given to the chairman of the joint interim
committee.
4. At the first meeting of the joint interim committee, the
committee shall:
a. Elect a chairman, vice-chairman or cochairman and
secretary.
b. Establish a plan for handling project assignments. If
work is divided between subcommittees, designate
subcommittee assignments and areas of responsibility.
c. Prepare a budget of anticipated expenses.
d. Adopt committee rules.
5. Funds allocated to a joint interim committee shall be used
entirely for committee expenses such as travel, salary and per
diem for members, expenses for public hearings or other
expenses as the committee may request and the Management
Council may authorize.
6. The Legislative Service Office will keep separate accounts of
expenditures and records of committee activities for each
joint interim committee. All vouchers for committee
expenditures shall be approved and signed by the designated
by the committee chairman and countersigned by the director of
the Legislative Service Office, before payment may be made.
The Legislative Service Office shall publish annually an
account of expenses for each legislator, including telephone
expenses.
7. As soon as possible after the organizational meeting, the
secretary of the joint interim committee shall provide the
Legislative Service Office with a list of committee officers;
the budget of the anticipated expenses; and other information
as may be required for the proper conduct of the Legislative
Service Office. The secretary shall keep complete minutes and
records of all committee meetings and activities.
8. A joint interim committee may not apply for, receive or accept
any grant, donation or gift of money for funding approved
studies and work projects other than appropriations to the LSO
or other appropriations specifically for that purpose. Any
person, firm, corporation, foundation, association or other
legal entity offering financial assistance for any work
project or activity of the Legislative Service Office or the
joint interim or select committees shall submit the offer to
the Management Council. If the Management Council determines
that the offer is without conditions that might reflect
unfavorably upon the integrity of the Legislative Service
Office, the joint interim or select committee or the product
of the work project, the Management Council may accept the
financial assistance and allocate funds received thereby to
the appropriate committee.
The Management Council may apply for, receive and administer
funds from any source it may deem appropriate.
9. Meetings of the Management Council or any other legislative
committee may be conducted by telephone conference calls or by
compressed video and an oral vote may be taken by telephone or
compressed video on any question when necessary.
10. Meetings of the Management Council or the joint interim
committees will be open and public; provided the chairman of
the meeting may call an executive session and exclude
therefrom all persons except those whose presence is requested
by the chairman. All minutes of meetings and records of the
Management Council or the joint interim committees shall be
open and public.
11. The Management Council or a joint interim committee may issue
subpoenas or subpoenas duces tecum for the attendance of
witnesses or the production of books, records and papers
material and relevant to any investigation being lawfully
conducted. Subpoenas shall be issued and signed by the
chairman of the investigating body at the request of a
majority of the members thereof. Subpoenas shall clearly
state the nature of the investigation, the time and place
where the witness is to appear or the books, records and
papers to be produced for examination, and shall state that if
the witness fails to appear or produce the books, records or
papers as directed, he may be punished for contempt of the
Wyoming Legislature. Subpoenas may only be issued by action
of the full Management Council or joint interim committee and
not by any subcommittee thereof.
12. Written notice of meetings of the Management Council shall be
given at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the meeting;
provided this requirement may be waived by unanimous consent
of the Management Council. Attendance at any meeting
constitutes a waiver of written notice.
13. Joint interim committees shall give at least fifteen (15) days
prior notice of all meetings except subcommittee meetings.
Attendance at any meeting constitutes a waiver of written
notice.
14. All committee staff, including interns working with interim
committees or select committees, shall be employed as members
of the Legislative Service Office staff unless the staff
members are specifically authorized and approved by the
Management Council.
15. If legislative interns are employed to assist with interim
committee activities, they shall be employed by the director
of the Legislative Service Office and assigned as an assistant
to the permanent staff member serving the committee. All
intern compensation and expenses shall be charged to the
committee for which services are rendered.
16. Any legislator who becomes a candidate for statewide elective
public office shall immediately resign from his or her
chairmanship of any legislative interim committee or
subcommittee.
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