1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; prohibiting nonessential travel by state employees; 
1.3 	requiring an audit and report;amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 
1.4 	43A.38, subdivision 2, by adding a subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 43A.38, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 2.Acceptance of gifts; favors. Employees in the executive branch in the 
1.8 	course of or in relation to their official duties shall not directly or indirectly receive or agree 
1.9 	to receive any payment of expense, compensation, gift, reward, gratuity, favor, service or 
1.10 	promise of future employment or other future benefit from any source, except the state 
1.11 	for any activity related to the duties of the employee unless otherwise provided by law. 
1.12 	However, the acceptance of any of the following shall not be a violation of this subdivision:
1.13 	(a) Gifts of nominal value or gifts or textbooks which may be accepted pursuant to 
1.14 	section 15.43.
1.15 	(b) Plaques or similar mementos recognizing individual services in a field of 
1.16 	specialty or to a charitable cause.
1.17 	(c) Payment of reimbursement expenses for essential travel or meals, not to exceed 
1.18 	actual expenses incurred, which are not reimbursed by the state and which have been 
1.19 	approved in advance by the appointing authority as part of the work assignment.
1.20 	(d) Honoraria or expenses paid for papers, talks, demonstrations, or appearances 
1.21 	made by employees on their own time for which they are not compensated by the state.
1.22 	(e) Tips received by employees engaged in food service and room cleaning at 
1.23 	restaurant and lodging facilities in Itasca State Park.

2.1 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 43A.38, is amended by adding a subdivision 
2.2 	to read:
2.3 		Subd. 2a.Ban on nonessential travel. Employees in the executive branch are not 
2.4 	permitted to travel out of the state unless the travel is essential to the employee's work 
2.5 	assignment. For the purposes of this section, travel is essential if it is necessary to protect 
2.6 	the safety or other essential interests of the citizens of the state.

2.7 	Sec. 3. REPORT ON STATE EMPLOYEE TRAVEL EXPENSES.
 2.8 	The commissioner of management and budget shall audit state employee travel 
2.9 	expenses incurred between July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2016. The audit shall identify 
2.10 	the amount spent on nonessential travel as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 
2.11 	43A.38, subdivision 2a. The commissioner of management and budget shall report to 
2.12 	the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees in the house of 
2.13 	representatives and senate with jurisdiction over state employees by February 17, 2017. 
2.14 	The commissioner must use the department's existing budget to fund the audit.