17-A-003 Updated FY 2017 Subsistence Rates (September 29, 2016) (Supersedes 17-A-002)

For State of Kansas travel, federal subsistence rates are being followed.  The M&IE and Lodging rates are updated semi-annually each October 1 and April 1 to follow CONUS rates in effect on those dates.  The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has announced a change in the CONUS standard rate for lodging effective October 1, 2016.  The GSA standard lodging rate has been increased to $91.  The standard M&IE rate of $51 remains unchanged.

As authorized by K.S.A. 75-3207a, the Secretary of Administration has fixed subsistence rates for travel occurring on and after October 1, 2016.  Subsistence rates are based on travel location and travel dates with seasonal rates listed for many locations.  If a specific travel location isn’t listed (or within the location definition), the standard rate, or “other” location rate is used.  The following standard rates apply to many locations across the contiguous United States (CONUS).

For CONUS locations, the following standard subsistence rates apply for travel occurring on and after October 1, 2016:

The Employee Travel Expense Reimbursement Handbook is updated to include this information regarding subsistence for travel occurring on and after October 1, 2016.

SMART contains the official subsistence rates for CONUS and OCONUS travel locations and will be updated semi-annually each October 1 and April 1 for any interim rate changes which have occurred.  International subsistence rates are not loaded into SMART.  For international travel locations, employees will obtain M&IE rates directly from the U.S. Department of State (DOS) website listed below.  For international travel, payment for actual lodging expense is allowed.

Lodging Expense Limitations:

K.S.A. 75-3207a(f) provides that the daily lodging expense limitations established may be exceeded, upon approval by the agency head or designee, by the lesser of either: (1) an additional 50% of the applicable lodging expense limitation, or (2) the actual lodging expense incurred.

These lodging limits continue to be applied to the lodging rate before taxes.  Thus, the amount reimbursed or paid for lodging expenses may exceed the established lodging limitation by as much as the amount of associated taxes.

Conference Lodging qualified under K.A.R. 1-16-18a(c):
Agencies may authorize payment or reimbursement for actual lodging expenses when an employee is required or authorized to attend a conference, and the lodging rate exceeds the applicable lodging expense limitation (including the additional 50%).  The agency head must be provided with conference materials and rates.  These should be maintained with travel documentation.

Reduced Meal Allowance:
If the cost of meals is included within the cost of registration fees or other fees and charges paid by the agency or provided at no cost to the employee, the daily M&IE rate for the travel location should be reduced based on the percentages listed below.  For partial days, the quarter amount is calculated first and then the reduction percentage is applied.  The M&IE reduction percentages are as follows:

Same Day Meal Allowance:
Reimbursement for a same day meal, in accordance with K.A.R. 1-16-18(c)(2), is calculated as a percentage of the daily M&IE rate for the travel location, based on the approved meal, as follows:

Queries in SMART to Obtain M&IE Rates and Lodging Rates:

A query “KS_EX_CONUS_RATES” is available in SMART to obtain all CONUS and OCONUS locations with the M&IE daily rates, meal reductions and lodging rates.  SMART will be updated semi-annually with the October and April 1 CONUS and OCONUS subsistence rates.  Historical locations and rates from each semi-annual update will be maintained in SMART.

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