2-18-501. Meals, lodging, and transportation of persons in state service. All elected state officials, appointed members of boards, commissions, or councils, department directors, and all other state employees must be reimbursed for meals and lodging while away from the person's designated headquarters and engaged in official state business in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) Except as provided under subsection (3), for travel within the state of Montana, lodging must be authorized at the actual cost of lodging and taxes on the allowable cost of lodging, except as provided in subsection (3), plus $8.25 for the morning meal, $9.25 for the midday meal, and $16.00 for the evening meal except as provided in subsection (9). All claims for lodging expense reimbursement allowed under this section must be documented by an appropriate receipt.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (3), for travel outside the state of Montana including foreign travel, the following provisions apply:

(a) Lodging must be reimbursed at actual cost, not to exceed the prescribed maximum standard federal rate per day for the location involved plus taxes on the allowable cost.

(b) Meal reimbursement may not exceed the prescribed maximum standard federal rate per meal.

(3) Except as provided in subsection (9), the department of administration shall designate the locations and circumstances under which the governor, other elected state officials, appointed members of boards, commissions, or councils, department directors, and all other state employees may be authorized the actual cost of the following:

(a) meals, not including alcoholic beverages, when the actual cost exceeds the maximum established in subsection (2)(b); and

(b) lodging when the actual cost exceeds the maximum established in subsection (2)(a).

(4) When other than commercial, nonreceiptable lodging facilities are used by a state official or employee while conducting official state business in a travel status, the amount of $12 is authorized for lodging expenses for each day in which travel involves an overnight stay in lieu of the amount authorized in subsection (1) or (2)(a). However, when overnight accommodations are provided at the expense of a government entity, reimbursement may not be claimed for lodging.

(5) The actual cost of reasonable transportation expenses and other necessary business expenses incurred by a state official or employee while in an official travel status is subject to reimbursement.

(6) The provisions of this section may not be construed as affecting the validity of 5-2-301.

(7) The department of administration shall establish policies necessary to effectively administer this section for state government.

(8) All commercial air travel must be by the least expensive class service available.

(9) When the actual cost of meals exceeds the maximum standard allowed pursuant to subsection (1), the department of administration may authorize the actual cost of meals for firefighters.

(10) For the purposes of implementing subsection (9), the following definitions apply:

(a) "Firefighter" means a firefighter who is employed by the department of natural resources and conservation and who is directly involved in the suppression of a wildfire in Montana.

(b) "Wildfire" means an unplanned, unwanted fire burning uncontrolled and consuming vegetative fuels.