MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE

(a) A member of the legislature is entitled to be reimbursed for meal, lodging, and incidental expenses incurred while traveling on legislative business or on the business of a board, council, committee, or commission on which the member sits. The rate of reimbursement is determined by resolution of each house as either: (1) the maximum out-of-state meals and lodging rate under rules issued by the comptroller based on federal travel regulations for the location at which the expenses are incurred; or (2) the actual amount of the expenses incurred. (b) If expenses for meals, lodging, or incidentals are incurred in a location for which the federal travel regulations have not established a maximum per diem rate, the rate for purposes of Subsection (a)(1) is the lowest maximum per diem rate for the state or country in which the expenses are incurred. (c) A member of the legislature is entitled to be reimbursed for the member's use of personally owned or leased motor vehicles and the use of rented or public conveyances at the same rate as is provided in the General Appropriations Act for state employees, except that the member may only receive mileage reimbursement for the most cost-effective route between the origin of the member's travel and the final duty point. (d) Rates of reimbursement for a member of the legislature's use of personally owned or leased motor vehicles, rented or public conveyances, or personally owned or leased aircraft apply whether a trip includes travel to or from the city of Austin. (e) During a legislative session, a member of the legislature is entitled to be reimbursed for transportation expenses, including mileage, at the same rate that is provided by the General Appropriations Act for state employees.