Tag Archives: Travel Authorization

Update – Travel to Banned States Repealed

Update 9/27/2023: For clarification, departments no longer need to submit the Travel to Banned States Form for any domestic travel for trips that occurred on or after September 14, 2023.

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Governor Newsom signed SB 447 on September 13, 2023 repealing AB 1887, the state travel ban.

Effective immediately, state funds may be used for travel to all states. If the travel occurred prior to September 13, 2023, departments will need to ensure that non-state funds are used for reimbursement. However, if the travel occurred September 14th or later, state funds may be used. Please share this message with any staff or faculty you feel may benefit from this information. 

If you have any questions, please contact FinanceConnect at financeconnect@sjsu.edu or Payment Services, An Le at an.le@sjsu.edu or 408-924-1572.

AB 1887 – SB447 Amendment

CA State Legislature Page for SB447

SB-447

SB447 – PDF

CSU Travel Procedures & DAAFE Update

Payment Services has made improvements to the Travel Lodging approval process.

CSU has a nightly lodging limit of $275 per night (excluding taxes and fees).  SJSU has updated its policy to allow Associate Vice Presidents and College Deans to pre-approve any lodging rate over the allowed limit. Documented pre-approval of any rates exceeding the $275 per night limit should be documented through our newly established Maximum Lodging Limits Justification DocuSign form. The form can be found in the Forms Page of our website.

FinanceConnect has updated the Delegation of Authority for the Approval of Financial Expenditures Guidelines (DAAFE) to include Travel Lodging approval requirements.

For additional information, please refer to the SJSU Travel Guide. If you have questions, please contact FinanceConnect at financeconnect@sjsu.edu or 4-1558.

Update- New State Added to the Restricted Travel List

On July 18, 2023, Attorney General Robert Bona announced that Missouri, Nebraska, and Wyoming will be added to the list of banned travel states. These states have been added to Assembly Bill 1887, the law restricting the funding or sponsoring of state business travel to states with discriminatory laws.

The current list of restricted states are as follows:

  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Idaho
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri (as of August 28, 2023)
  • Montana
  • Nebraska (as of October 1, 2023)
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • West Virginia
  • Wyoming (as of July 14, 2023)

Background

As of January 1, 2017, the CSU Travel Policy and Procedures has been revised to comply with Assembly Bill 1887, which added Section 11139.8 to the Government Code relating to discrimination and was approved by the governor in September, 2016. As a result of this law, it has been determined that SJSU is restricted from requiring employees to travel to certain states, and is prohibited from approving funding or sponsoring travel to those states with laws enacted to void or repeal discrimination protections, or, to authorize or require discrimination.

Exceptions to the prohibitions that may be granted, and of note to SJSU, include the following (see SJSU Travel Guide for the complete list):

  • To meet contractual obligations incurred before January 1, 2017.
  • To participate in meetings or training required by a grant or required to maintain grant funding.
  • For the protection of public health, welfare, or safety, as determined by the CSU or other state agencies.
  • The list of affected states is maintained on the California State Attorney General website, State of California Department of Justice. Travelers and approvers are advised to check the website when planning or approving out-of-state travel. Auxiliary funds may be used for travel to restricted states.

If you have any questions, please contact FinanceConnect at financeconnect@sjsu.edu or 408-924-1558.

References

SJSU Travel Guide
CSU Travel Procedures
Assembly Bill 1887
Office of the Attorney General