... Travel Definitions
AVERAGE COACH FARE - The arithmetic mean of the unrestricted “Y” class fares offered by all commercial airlines to a particular destination as quoted by Corporate Travel, Inc.
BUSINESS DAY - Any weekday except for a weekday on which a national or state holiday occurs.
CANCELLATION CHARGE - A fee, charge, or payment that a provider of travel services assesses or retains because of the cancellation or change of a travel reservation or other travel plan. For example, a non-refundable purchase of an airline ticket becomes a cancellation charge when the ticket becomes unusable because of changed travel plans.
COMMERCIAL LODGING ESTABLISHMENT - A hotel, motel, inn, apartment, house or similar establishment that provides lodging to the public for pay.
CONTERMINOUS UNITED STATES - Consists of the District of Columbia and all states of the United States except Alaska and Hawaii.
DESIGNATED HEADQUARTERS - The area within the boundaries of the incorporated municipality in which a state employee’s place of employment is located.
DISABILITY - A physical or mental impairment of an individual that substantially limits one or more major life activities of the individual.
DUTY POINT - The destination, other than a place of employment, to which a state employee travels to conduct official state business.
FISCAL YEAR - The appropriation year in USAS
GRATUITY - Something given voluntarily or beyond obligation, usually in response to or in anticipation of service.
INCIDENTAL EXPENSE - An expense incurred while traveling on official state business.
INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS - All funds collected at an institution of higher education that are not educational and general funds.
ITEMIZED RECEIPTS - Proof of payment detailing the item/service purchased, the cost of each item, the cost of each expense associated with the cost, total amount paid, method of payment.
LODGING EXPENSE - A charged imposed by a commercial lodging establishment as consideration for providing lodging. The term does not include money paid as donation, gratuity or tip to the establishment.
LOWEST AVAILABLE AIRFARE - The lowest airfare available as quoted.
MAY NOT - A prohibition. The term does not mean “might not” or its equivalent.
MEAL EXPENSE - Includes tax that is based on the cost of a meal. The term does not include tip, a gratuity or mandatory service charge paid or imposed in conjunction with a meal.
ORIGINAL RECEIPTS - The receipt given by the establishment at the time of purchase or payment.
PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT - The office or other location at which a state employee most frequently conducts official state business.
PROSPECTIVE STATE EMPLOYEE - An individual that a state agency considers for employment with the agency.
RENTED OR PUBLIC CONVEYANCE - A motor vehicle, train, bus that a state employee rents or pays a fare to use for a period of less than one month.
STATE AGENCY - A unit of state government that uses appropriated funds to pay or reimburse a travel expense of a state employee.
STATE EMPLOYEE- An individual employed by a state agency, including a key official unless the guide specifically provides otherwise.
TRAVEL EXPENSE - A meal, lodging, transportation or incidental expense.
USAS - The uniform statewide accounting system.
WORK DAY - A day on which a particular state employee is regularly scheduled to conduct official state business.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
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Last updated August 29, 2008
