Document Citation: 2 CCR 599.622

Header:
CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS
TITLE 2. ADMINISTRATION
DIVISION 1. ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL
CHAPTER 3. DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION
SUBCHAPTER 1. GENERAL CIVIL SERVICE RULES
ARTICLE 2. TRAVELING EXPENSES

Date:
08/31/2009

Document:

§ 599.622. Meal Expenses--Represented Employees

A represented employee is defined in Section 599.621.

(a) Overtime Meals. When a represented employee is required to work overtime, he/she may receive an overtime meal allowance for actual expenses, supported by a voucher, (unless superseded by a Memorandum of Understanding), not to exceed the maximums prescribed in the applicable provisions of a Memorandum of Understanding for lunches. To be eligible, the represented employee must be required to report to work at least two hours prior to or be required to remain at least two hours past his/her regularly scheduled work day.

When required to work for extended periods of time, the represented employee may be reimbursed for actual meal expenses not to exceed the maximums prescribed for lunches in the applicable provisions of a Memorandum of Understanding for each additional six-hour period. No more than three overtime meal allowances may be claimed during any 24-hour period. The meal time itself shall not be included in the computation of overtime for purposes of this allowance.

Agencies operating facilities for feeding officers, employees, and official guests may instead furnish an official guest meal to a represented employee. Agencies shall maintain a record of all guest meals furnished for this purpose. A represented employee may not claim reimbursement for an overtime meal or be furnished a meal free of charge if claiming per diem.

(b) Business-Related Meals. When it is necessary for represented employees to conduct official state business during a meal, they may be reimbursed for actual meal expenses substantiated by a voucher up to the maximums prescribed in the applicable provisions of a Memorandum of Understanding.

To claim reimbursement for a business-related meal, the circumstances surrounding the meal must be beyond the control of the represented employee and it must be impractical to complete the business during normal working hours. Represented employees may not claim reimbursement for a business-related meal if they are also claiming per diem.

Claims for meal expenses where business is incidental to the meal or the attendance of the represented employee is primarily for public or community relations are specifically prohibited.

This section is intended to allow an agency to reimburse represented employees for meal expenses in the limited number of instances when they are required to incur such expenses in connection with the conduct of official state business.

(c) Represented employees of the Department of Forestry engaged in emergency fire suppression activities may be reimbursed for meal expenses without regard to any limitations. Emergency fire suppression activities are defined as actions taken under emergency conditions to extinguish uncontrolled fires which threaten to destroy life, property, or resources.