Regulation on Per Diems and Travel Expenses of the Legislative Branch

The purpose of this regulation is to define and establish standards that regulate the payment of travel allowances and travel expenses within and outside the country for the fulfillment of official missions.

This regulation shall apply to the Presidency, Board of Directors, Deputies, officials and employees of the municipality.

CHAPTER II Definitions For the purposes of this regulation, the following terms are understood to mean: a) Travel Allowances: The daily amount of money paid to the Presidency, Board of Directors, Deputies, officials and employees of this National Congress to cover subsistence expenses when they must travel in performance of work or official mission outside their residence or from the place where they permanently exercise their duties. Subsistence expenses are considered to include: lodging, laundry, meals and other expenses in the place where the mission is performed. b) Other Travel Expenses: The amount of money allocated to the Presidency, Board of Directors, Deputies, officials and employees of this National Congress to cover expenses related to the performance of work or official mission, such as: 1. Purchase of tickets in accordance with common and current fares at the date of travel. 2. Transportation expenses from the airport to the destination city and vice versa when using air travel and from the transportation terminal of their destination and vice versa when the trip is made by land; and taxi expenses in the cities where the mission is performed. 3. Expenses for fuel, lubricant, spare parts and minor accessories when the trip is made in a vehicle belonging to the National Congress, with documents supporting the expense. 4. Representation expenses: additional allocation granted only to the President, Board of Directors and Deputies for social expenses they are obliged to incur while carrying out official missions for the benefit of the National Congress. 5. Expenses for telegrams, cablegrams, fax and official telephone calls.

CHAPTER III Determination of Categories and Travel Periods

In order to allocate travel allowances and travel expenses within and outside the country, the following categories of personnel, geographic zones and mission periods are established and detailed as follows: A. PERSONNEL CATEGORIES a) President b) Board of Directors and Deputies c) Staff Personnel d) Administrative Personnel e) Service Personnel f) Security Personnel B. GEOGRAPHIC ZONES WITHIN THE COUNTRY: ZONE I Trujillo, Catacamas, Juticalpa, Danlí, El Paraíso, La Ceiba, Tocoa, Olanchito, Puerto Cortés, San Pedro Sula, Ocotepeque, Santa Rosa de Copán, Tela, El Progreso and Gracias. ZONE II Comayagua, Santa Bárbara, Yoro and Siguatepeque. ZONE III Villa Nueva, Choloma, Morazán, La paz, El Negrito and Tegucigalpa. ZONE IV Bay Islands and Gracias a Diós. ZONE V Rest of the country. OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY: ZONE I Central America, Panama and Belize.

ZONE II North America, South America and Insular America. ZONE III Rest of the world. C. MISSION PERIOD a) Short Term: When the mission lasts up to fifteen (15) days. b) Long Term: When the mission lasts between sixteen (16) days and sixty (60) days.

Travel allowances shall be computed based on Article No. 3 of this regulation and in accordance with what is indicated in the respective travel allowance tables that form part of the regulation.

For the purposes of this regulation, trips shall be made by the most economical means and routes, taking into account the circumstances, timeframes and urgency of the missions to be performed. CHAPTER IV Procedure

For the purpose of proof of travel allowances and other travel expenses within and outside the country where the mission to be performed and its duration shall be specified; the following authorizations shall be required: a) For Deputies, officials and employees within the country, authorization from the President of the National Congress or authorized officials is required. b) The President is authorized to perform the missions of the National Congress and authorize travel allowances and travel expenses to Deputies outside the country.

The daily allocation of travel allowances shall be counted for each night that the President, Board of Directors, Deputies, officials and employees remain outside their residence; performing activities of this National Congress.

Trips made to Zone I and Zone II that return the same day traveling in National Congress vehicles shall be recognized at eighty percent (80%) and if the trip is made by bus or private vehicle it shall be recognized at one hundred percent (100%); and for trips made to Zone III when the person is not expected to sleep at the travel location, fifty percent (50%) of the assigned rate shall be recognized. In case travel in personal vehicle is authorized, L. 5.00 (Five Lempiras exactly) per kilometer shall be recognized as depreciation allowance; fuel and lubricants shall not be recognized. For long-term trips, eighty-five percent (85%) of the amount budgeted for short-term trips shall be recognized.

When a member of the Presidential Office or Board of Directors, official or employee travels abroad in representation of the National Congress invited by governments, international organizations or other institutions, travel allowances and travel expenses shall not be recognized if these are assigned to them in full or are equal to or greater than what is established in this regulation. However, the National Congress shall recognize a daily stipend of TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT (25%) of the assigned rate with prior approval of the President.

The budget of the National Congress must include a special line item intended to cover the expenditures referred to in this regulation.

Travel allowances and travel expenses within the country shall be paid two (2) days in advance, by completing the corresponding Travel Allowance and Travel Expense Request form. In case the trip is outside the country, travel allowances and travel expenses shall be paid one day in advance.

The settlement of travel expenses must be completed within three (3) business days after the mission is completed by filling out the respective Travel Allowance and Travel Expense Settlement form. After the above deadline, the person who has not presented the settlement shall be required in writing by the Payroll Department, giving them a new period of three (3) business days to settle, after which the Payroll Department shall report to the Human Resources Department so that it makes the appropriate deduction through payroll within a maximum period of three months. Attached to the Travel Allowance and Travel Expense Settlement Form, the following must be presented:

• a)

  Copies of the boarding passes of the means of transport: airplane, bus, etc. In case of using personal vehicle, the kilometers traveled shall be verified.

• b)

  Receipt of payment of airport taxes.

• c)

  Invoices corresponding to local transportation in the place visited.

• d)

  Receipts corresponding to other unexpected expenses related to the mission. If at the time of settlement there is a balance in favor of the National Congress, the amount must be paid in cash or deposited in the Central Bank of Honduras, attaching the respective deposit receipt to the settlement. In case there is a balance in favor of the employee, it shall be paid by check. If a trip is not made for any reason, the traveler shall return within a maximum period of three (3) business days from the date of cancellation of the trip, the amount received as advance, except for non-refundable expenses related to the trip using the Travel Allowance and Travel Expense Settlement Form.

A report of the activities performed must be attached to the settlement of travel allowances and travel expenses with the exception of the President, Board of Directors or when it concerns confidential missions of officials and employees. CHAPTER V Prohibitions

Travel allowances and travel expenses shall not be advanced when there is a pending settlement of travel allowances.

Receipts with cross-outs, erasures, alterations and others shall not be accepted.

CHAPTER VI Effective Date

This regulation shall be effective as of the date of approval by the Board of Directors. CÚMPLACE Juan Orlando Hernández Rigoberto Chang Castillo ______________________ ______________________ President of Congress National Secretary