House tightens travel policy, discourages use of state vehicles

Arizona state representatives are now barred in most instances from using the state vehicle fleet, and must physically sign paperwork to be reimbursed for miles traveled on legislative business, according to a new policy announced today by House Speaker J.D. Mesnard.

With the exception of mileage reimbursement, lawmakers must also get prior approval for any travel if they want to be reimbursed at all.

The new travel policy applies to all elected representatives, as well as House staff. Developed by the House Committee on Administration, the policy overhauls the old one left in place by David Gowan, the former House speaker who was caught using the state vehicle fleet for his own personal and political purposes. Mesnard, R-Chandler, said in January he would repeal and replace those rules.

The use of the state vehicle fleet skyrocketed under Gowan, who is still under investigation by Attorney General Mark Brnovich over whether he  had illegally used the fleet vehicles to travel Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, where he was campaigning in 2015.

Gowan also repaid the state $12,000 he wrongfully received as reimbursement for trips he took in state vehicles, but reported as taking in his own vehicle, as well as per diem pay for days he claimed to work, but didn’t.

In response to reports by the Arizona Capitol Times, Gowan unilaterally altered the House travel policy to encourage all lawmakers to use state vehicles.

The new rules, which House Speaker Pro Tem T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge and other members of the Administration Committee developed starting in January, instead discourages the use of the state vehicle fleet except in instances when two lawmakers are traveling together, or when a lawmaker travels with a House staffer. Even then, lawmakers must get advance approval, and the use of a state vehicle must make economic sense.

Lawmakers may only be reimbursed for miles traveled in Arizona, and there are distinctions made between a representative’s daily commute to and from the Capitol and other travel for legislative business. The new policy also includes special rules for travel in election years, when after June 1, the only travel that may be reimbursed is between a representative’s home and the state Capitol, unless special permission is given by the speaker.

All reimbursement forms must be physically signed – a “wet signature,” so to speak – meaning an electronic signature won’t suffice.

Other policies cover everything from airfare – travelers should book in advance to save costs when possible, and first class or equivalent upgrades are prohibited from reimbursement – to hotel lodgings. No reimbursement, for example, is allowed for minibars and pay-per-view expenses.

The new policy also makes crystal clear that travel reimbursement must be for official House business only, “and in no event shall include activities that are social or personal in nature.”

Lawmakers are also encouraged to schedule and record their legislative business, so that a record is available that would be subject to public records requests.