§12-3-11. Travel expenses; rules to be promulgated concerning travel expenses; dues to voluntary organizations; recruitment expenses for Higher Education Policy Commission and West Virginia higher education governing boards; moving expenses of employees of Higher Education Policy Commission and West Virginia higher education governing boards.

(a) The Governor shall promulgate rules concerning out-of-state travel by state officials and employees, except those in the legislative and judicial branches of the state government and except for the Attorney General, Auditor, Secretary of State, treasurer, Board of Investments, commissioner of agriculture and their employees, the Higher Education Policy Commission and the higher education governing boards and institutions under their jurisdiction. The Legislature, Supreme Court of Appeals, Attorney General, Auditor, Secretary of State, treasurer, Board of Investments, commissioner of agriculture, Higher Education Policy Commission and the higher education governing boards shall promulgate rules concerning out-of-state travel for their respective branches and departments of state government. Copies of the rules shall be filed with the Auditor and the Secretary of State. It is unlawful for the Auditor to issue a warrant in payment of any claim for out-of-state travel expenses incurred by a state officer or employee unless the claim meets all the requirements of the rules filed.

(b) Payment for dues or membership in annual or other voluntary organizations shall be made from the proper item or appropriation after an itemized schedule of the organizations, together with the amount of the dues or membership, has been submitted to the budget director and approved by the Governor.

(c) The secretary of the Department of Administration, the Higher Education Policy Commission or a higher education governing board may authorize the payment of traveling expenses incurred by any person invited to visit a state agency, the campus of any state institution of higher education or any other facility under control of a higher education governing board or the Higher Education Policy Commission to be interviewed concerning his or her possible employment by a state agency, a higher education governing board, the Higher Education Policy Commission or agent thereof.

(d) The secretary of the Department of Administration, the Higher Education Policy Commission or a higher education governing board may authorize payment of: (1) All or part of the reasonable expense incurred by a person newly employed by a state agency, a higher education governing board or the Higher Education Policy Commission in moving his or her household furniture, effects and immediate family to his or her place of employment; and (2) all or part of the reasonable expense incurred by an employee of a state agency, a higher education governing board or the Higher Education Policy Commission in moving his or her household furniture, effects and immediate family as a result of a reassignment of the employee which is considered desirable, advantageous to and in the best interest of the state: Provided, That no part of the moving expenses of any one employee shall be paid more frequently than once in twelve months.