Could Louisiana State Plumbing Board members be reimbursed for official air travel?

Plain-English summary

The Louisiana State Plumbing Board asked whether its members' mandatory reimbursement for official travel included airfare. In Opinion 03-0460, the AG answered yes for air travel connected with authorized board business.

The AG directed the board to the Division of Administration's state travel rules for the reimbursement method and rate. It described the 2003–2004 travel guide's treatment of commercial flights and private aircraft and recommended contacting the Office of State Travel for further guidance.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 2004. Subsequent statutory amendments, court decisions, or later AG opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context, not current legal advice. Verify current law before relying on any specific rule, deadline, or remedy mentioned here.

What the opinion meant at issuance

Plumbing Board members

At the time of the opinion, members required to travel on authorized board business were entitled to air-travel reimbursement under the state employee travel rates.

Board administrators

The opinion pointed to the Division of Administration and Office of State Travel for the applicable reimbursement methods and rates. Its quoted figures came from the 2003–2004 guide.

Common questions

Did reimbursable travel include flights?

Yes. The AG read the board-member travel reimbursement rule to include air travel for official, authorized board business.

Which rates governed?

The opinion applied rates set by the Division of Administration for state employees. Its 2003–2004 guide discussion distinguished commercial air travel from privately owned aircraft.

Did every flight qualify?

No. The AG expressly limited reimbursement to travel connected with official, authorized board business.

Background and statutory framework

The opinion relied on La. R.S. 37:1364 and the state travel guide then published by the Office of State Travel. It described commercial airfare reimbursement at state contract rates, or coach/economy rates when contract rates were unavailable. It also described the guide's private-aircraft reimbursement method. Those are historical guide terms, not a statement of current rates.

Citations and references

• La. R.S. 37:1364: board-member travel reimbursement provision identified in the opinion.

Source

• Landing page: https://www.ag.state.la.us/Opinions
• Original PDF: https://www.ag.state.la.us/Opinion/Download/03-0460

Original opinion text

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
P.O. BOX 94005
BATON ROUGE
70804-9005
CH^RLES C. FOTb
AI-rORNEY GENERAL
FEB 0 4 2004
Opinion Number 03-0460

90-A Political Subdivisions - Officers, Agents
Mr. Edward K. Newman, Attorney
and Employees
Louisiana State Plumbing Board
La. R.S. 37:1364
c/o Robein, Urann & Lurye
Members of Louisiana State Plumbing Board P.O. Box 6768 must be reimbursed for air travel expenses
Metairie, LA 70009-6768
when they are required to travel for official
business of the Board.
Dear Mr. Newman:

The Louisiana State Plumbing Board must reimburse its members for travel expenses when they are required to travel for official business of the Board. The member must be reimbursed at the rate set by the Division of Administration for state employees.1 You question if this includes air travel.

In short, we believe that the members must be reimbursed for air travel. Certainly, all travel expenses must be in connection with official, authorized business of the Board.
The Division of Administration, through the Office of State Travel, provides the method and rate of reimbursement for state employees. The 2003-2004 travel guide, published by the Louisiana Office of State Travel, specifically provides for transportation reimbursement, specifically air travel. Reimbursement for the use of a chartered or unchartered, privately-owned aircraft is made at the rate of 32 cents per mile or at the lesser of the state contract rate or coach economy airfare. Commercial air travel is reimbursed at the state contract air rates or at the coach/economy class rates when contract rates are not available. We recommend the Board contact the Office of State Travel for more information and guidance for all travel reimbursements.

With kindest regards,

Yours very truly,

CHARLES C. FOTI, JR.
Attorney General

TINA VICARI GRANT
Assistant Attorney General

CCF, jr./TVG/dam

1 La. R.S. 37:1364