(a) Except as otherwise provided, the Board of Supervisors (Board) delegates the authority for approving specific travel requests within San Diego County (in-County business) and outside the geographical boundaries of San Diego County (out-of-County business) to the Chief Administrative Officer and individual elected officials.
(b) For purposes of this section, the Chief Administrative Officer includes the following authorized representatives: Assistant Chief Administrative Officer (ACAO), Deputy Chief Administrative Officer/Chief Financial Officer (DCAO/CFO), Deputy Chief Administrative Officers, the Director, Health and Human Services (Agency Director) and Department Heads. Department Heads may delegate in County and out-of-County business signatory authority to Executive Management (EM or UM) level staff within their Department or Agency.
(c) The Chief Administrative Officer, or authorized designee, may approve in-County and out-of-County travel requests and expense claims. However, personal travel requests and expense claims of authorized representatives (ACAO, DCAO/CPO, DCAO, or Agency Director (HHSA)) require approval of the Chief Administrative Officer.
(d) In extraordinary circumstances, travel outside of the United States that requires prior Board approval as defined in this section, may be taken prior to receiving approval of the Board of Supervisors. Such out-of-County business must be presented for Board ratification at the next appropriate meeting.
These administrative procedures apply only to discretionary County business travel. They do not apply to "operational" travel that occurs in the course of carrying out the functions of a department in a business as usual situation. Examples include travel by Sheriff's deputies, County attorneys, public defenders, and deputy district attorneys or their investigators in connection with a pending case, or prisoner or witness transportation. "Operational travel" is subject to GSA per diem rates.
(e) Out-of-County business must be authorized as described above in order to qualify for reimbursement of related actual and necessary expenses. Prior to being taken, any request for out-of-County business activity must be submitted to the Chief Administrative Officer, or authorized designee, for approval on a form prescribed by the Auditor & Controller. Upon return, a claim containing actual and necessary expenditures will be submitted to the Chief Administrative Officer, or authorized designee, for approval prior to processing by the Auditor & Controller, provided, however, that elected County officials may approve claims relating to their own approved out-of- County business.
(f) The Chief Administrative Officer, or authorized designee, may approve the following:
- Out-of-County business requests.
- Resultant claims.
(g) County business that is required by Federal or State law or court order shall be subject to the provisions of this Article unless otherwise specified.
(h) County officers and employees in the performance of official duties may conduct out-of-County business without specific authorization outside of the County of San Diego and into the Counties of Orange, Riverside, or Imperial. Specific approval must be obtained from the Board for travel to destinations outside of the United States. Business travel to Mexico and Canada is exempt from this restriction and should be budgeted.
(i) When on official County business, employees will not conduct County business at the expense of persons doing or seeking to do business with the County, without prior approval of the Chief Administrative Officer, or authorized designee.
(j) All payments made by the County pursuant to this Article shall be subject to applicable IRS rules and guidelines.
(Amended by Ord. No. 7602 (N.S.), effective 4-13-89; amended by Ord. No. 7716 (N.S.), operative 3-1-90; amended by Ord. No. 7765 (N.S.), operative 7-12-90; amended by Ord. No. 7771 (N.S.), operative 8-2-90; amended by Ord. No. 8410 (N.S.), effective 7-7-94; amended by Ord. No. 8495 (N.S.), effective 2-9-95; amended by Ord. No. 8571 (N.S.), effective 8-24-95; amended by Ord. No. 9250 (N.S.), effective 10-19-00; amended by Ord. No. 9314 (N.S.), effective 4-12-01, operative 4-30-01; amended by Ord. No. 9551 (N.S.), effective 6-5-03; amended by Ord. No. 9552 (N.S.), effective 6-5-03; amended by Ord. No. 9629 (N.S.), effective 4-15-04; amended by Ord. No. 9878 (N.S.), effective 10-18-07; amended by Ord. No. 10311 (N.S.), effective 1-2-14; amended
by Ord. No. 10315 (N.S.), effective 2-6-14; amended by Ord. No. 10355 (N.S.), effective 10-23-14; amended by Ord. No. 10362 (N.S.), effective 1-1-15; amended by Ord. No. 10402 (N.S.), effective 1-14-16; amended by Ord. No. 10635 (N.S.), effective 12-19-19)