If you travel for work, or book travel on someone else’s behalf, don’t miss these important updates from UC Travel.

Systemwide travel survey

More than a year has passed since the pandemic shut down most of our regular activities. The Central Travel Office is launching the second systemwide survey to explore the UC community’s travel concerns. Your honest and valuable feedback will help the university plan for a return to travel, including relationships with airlines, hotels and agencies at all UC locations. Take the survey here.

Over 1,500 people participated in the first survey last fall. More than 80% identified themselves as regular travelers pre-COVID, and close to 70% anticipated that their travel needs would at least remain the same once travel restrictions have been lifted.

State travel restrictions

On Sept. 27, 2016, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Assembly Bill No. 1887 (AB1887). The travel restriction prohibits state-funded travel to states that have passed a law after June 26, 2015, that:

• Has the effect of repealing existing state or local protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; or
• Authorizes or requires such discrimination.

The following states are currently subject to California’s ban on state-funded and state-sponsored travel:

How are “state funds” defined?

State funds have been identified by the systemwide Budget Office as encompassing all State General Funds and State Special Fund appropriations to a campus, e.g. D9900. If you are unsure, check with your designated budget coordinator.

What does it mean for travel to be “state-funded”?

The statute does not define the term “state-funded.” UC Legal has interpreted the restriction on the use of state funds to apply to direct expenditures for travel-related costs (e.g. hotel and transportation), but not the salaries or time spent by employees who travel to one of the identified states.

If an outside entity is funding (reimbursing UC) the travel to one of the prohibited states, is it permissible to reimburse the traveler using these funds?

Yes. Assuming the outside entity (third party) is not a California state entity, then:

• The third party itself wouldn’t have any burden of complying with AB 1887; and
• It wouldn’t matter whether the third party pays for the travel directly or gives UC the money for UC’s use in reimbursing the employee for travel expenses.

The travel restriction went into effect on Jan. 1, 2017. For questions, please refer to the California Attorney General website or contact BRC Travel & Entertainment.

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