ARTICLE

24.

Section 1 - Compensation and Travel

To the maximum extent practicable, time spent in travel status away from the employee's official duty station will be scheduled by the Department within the normal working hours. Where it is necessary that travel be performed during nonduty hours, the employee will be paid overtime or may opt for compensatory time when such travel constitutes hours of work under Title 5 of the U.S. Code or the Fair Labor Standards Act, if applicable.

Section 2 - Change from Per Diem Allowance to Actual and Necessary Subsistence Expenses

A. Advance Authorization - An employee scheduled to travel in an area for which a per diem allowance is prescribed may request advance authorization for travel on the basis of actual and necessary subsistence expenses. Any such request will normally be approved when the supporting justification showing that the unusual and exceptional circumstances for the request meets Departmentwide guidelines.

B. Post Approval - Reimbursement for actual and necessary subsistence expenses allowable under law and/or rules and regulations issued above, the Department will normally be authorized on a post-approval basis if the employee can justify that prudent expenses required by the ordered travel exceeds (as defined by Departmentwide guidelines) the prescribed per diem rate. This provision applies only to travel involving assignments of thirty (30) calendar days or less.

Section 3 - Continuation of Approved Travel Expenses

Employees who are unable to arrive at or return from their destination as scheduled will be reimbursed for authorized travel expenses provided the inability to arrive or return is due to arduous travel conditions beyond the employee's control resulting from natural calamity, unavailability of transportation, or severe weather.

Section 4 - Advancement of Expenses

Employees required to travel shall have the option of requesting a travel advance. Such request shall be filed by the employee as soon as possible and processed by the Department as expeditiously as possible. Normally, the Department will not require an employee to travel over night prior to receiving a travel advance. If an employee does not have adequate funds, the Department will make every effort to make alternative arrangements.

The Department shall process all claims for travel expenses as expeditiously as possible.

Section 5 - Use of POV Vehicles

Employees shall not be required to use privately owned vehicles (POVs) for Government business, nor shall they suffer any loss of pay, reprisal, or adverse action on account of refusal to use a POV for Government business. In the event the use of POVs is authorized, mileage for such use shall be compensated at the prevailing rate published in the Federal Register.

Section 6 - Document and Property Loss/Theft

An employee is accountable for Government documents or property in their possession and/or custody. Employees exercising reasonable care will not be held responsible for documents or property damaged, lost, or stolen from their possession and/or custody.

Section 7 - Protective Assistance

The Department recognizes that some travel job assignments present a threat to the personal safety of employees. When such circumstances are brought to the attention of the supervisor by employees or the Union, appropriate measures will be taken to assure the safety of the employee. The parties agree to jointly review existing employee protective procedures from time to time to assure that employees receive the maximum feasible protection from such dangers.

Section 8 - Return to Duty Station

An employee on a long-term assignment may be authorized occasional return trips to his permanent duty station at Government expense on nonworkdays. Approval for such return trips are at the administrative discretion of the authorizing official and may be authorized in accordance with published travel policy of the Department.