STATE OF CONNECTICUT
NANCY WYMAN COMPTROLLER	OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER 55 ELM STREET HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106-1775	MARK OJAKIAN DEPUTY COMPTROLLER

MEMORANDUM NO. 97-36

June 16, 1997

TO THE HEADS OF ALL STATE AGENCIES

I. AUTHORITY

The recently ratified agreement between the State of Connecticut and the subject Professional and Paraprofessional Health Care Bargaining units, effective July 1, 1997 through June 30, 2001, includes the following provisions for reimbursement.

II. ARTICLE 31 - TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT (No Change)

1. Meals

   An employee who is required to travel on employer business will be reimbursed for meals at the following rates:

* Applicable to out-of-state travel or when authorized in accordance with the Standard State Travel Regulations issued by the Commissioner of Administrative Services.

An employee transporting patient/client during the lunch period will be reimbursed up to $6.00 for the cost of his/her lunch.

2. Mileage

   An employee who is required to use his/her personal vehicle in the performance of duty will be reimbursed at the GSA mileage rate, currently 31 cents per mile.

III. ARTICLE 35 - TUITION REIMBURSEMENT

The following will be appropriated for the purpose of Tuition Reimbursement.

Part-time employees, under twenty (20) hours, who have at least 4 years of continuous service will be entitled to participate in the tuition reimbursement program, except that the amount of reimbursement will be fifty (50) percent of the amount specified in this article. The fund for part-time employees is $5,000.

Funds which are unexpended in one fiscal year will carry over into the next fiscal year however, the tuition reimbursement fund will expire on June 30, 2001. Applications for tuition reimbursement which are submitted and approved within the final six (6) months of this Agreement may be paid, within the remaining available funds, up to three (3) months following the expiration of this Agreement.

Upon presentation of evidence of payment and successful completion of the courses, employees will receive tuition reimbursement to a maximum of $115.00 per credit for under-graduate courses and $145.00 per credit for graduate courses up to a maximum of nine (9) credits per semester.

For other courses or programs, there will be fifty percent (50%) tuition reimbursement to a maximum of $57.50 per credit for undergraduate courses and $72.50per credit for graduate courses.

To expedite the processing of the maximum reimbursement for health care courses (or courses as part of a degree program), please provide a grade report to prove your major OR a letter from the educational institution stating this is a required course to obtain a health related degree.

Tuition reimbursement means any fees payable to the educational institution, except textbooks.

Combined Education & Training Fund - Section 4

Effective July 1, 1997 the combined Education and Training Fund will have $382,000 per contract year. NEW: Funds not expended during the contract which expired June 30, 1997 will be rolled over into the new contract.

Conferences and Workshop Funds - Section 6(a)

The following amounts will be appropriated for attendance at professional seminars, workshops or conferences by bargaining unit employees with more than six (6) months of service.

Each employee will be entitled to a maximum of five hundred dollars ($500) reimbursement per contract year toward the cost of fees, travel, food and lodging related to attendance at such events. The entitlement may be combined once in any two-year period. Funds not reserved by March 1 of each year may be transferred to P-1 or NP-6 tuition reimbursement program upon request of the Union.

Part-time employees under twenty (20) hours who have at least one (1) year of continuous service will be entitled to participate in the Conference and Workshop Fund. The amount of annual entitlement will be one hundred and seventy-five dollars ($175) and employees will attend such programs on their own time. A fund of $5,000 will be established for these employees.

IV. ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES FOR PAYMENTS

1. 9916 FUND

1. Travel
   
   Travel reimbursements being made with 9916 Union Funds should be submitted with the following documentation to the "Special Services Division" of the Office of the State Comptroller for approval.
   
   a. Complete the Employee Voucher Form, CO-17XP.
   b. Attach a copy of the approved Travel Authorization, CO-112.
   c. Attach receipts, if applicable.

2. Tuition Reimbursements

Submit all pre-approved tuition reimbursement requests to the Comptroller's Business Office as follows:

1. Complete the Employee Voucher Form, CO-17XP.
2. Attach a copy of the Application for Tuition Reimbursement, PERT-1, a copy of grades for courses taken and a copy of the paid tuition bill.

Tuition reimbursement requests without proper back-up documentation will be returned.

Please Note: Reimbursements cannot be made for tuition or travel until the release of funding by the Office of Policy and Management.

2. Agency Funds - Travel Reimbursement

Travel reimbursements being made with agency funds should be submitted with the pertinent documents along with a completed Employee Voucher, CO-17XP, to the Comptroller's Accounts Payable Division.

3. Future Payments

It is expected that the processing of tuition and travel reimbursements will be revised for the new calendar year and all employee reimbursements will be paid through the payroll system. Information will be distributed at the end of this calendar year with the new procedures.

V. QUESTIONS

Questions regarding this memorandum may be directed to the following divisions in the Office of the State Comptroller:

 

Accounts Payable: (860) 702-3395

 

Travel Only - Special Services: (860) 702-3344

 

Tuition Only - Business Office: (860) 702-3327

 

Memorandum Interpretation - Policy Evaluation and Review: (860) 702-3436

NANCY WYMAN
STATE COMPTROLLER

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