Expenditures Related to State Officers and Employees
Meals, Food and Beverages

A state agency is prohibited from using appropriated funds to purchase meals, food or beverages for employees or volunteers unless it has specific authority for such purchases. Subject to certain conditions, the following agencies are authorized to purchase meals, food and beverages for employees or volunteers:

Agencies Providing Institution-Based Services

State agencies providing institution-based services may provide meals to employees working in institutional settings and may charge an amount established by the agencies to reimburse the direct and indirect costs of preparation. These agencies include, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Health and Human Services Commission, Department of State Health Services, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Texas School for the Deaf.

All Health and Human Services Agencies

Any facility under the jurisdiction of the Health and Human Services Commission or Department of State Health Services may provide free meals for food service personnel, volunteer workers, interns, chaplains in training and student nurses.

Texas Juvenile Justice Department

Any facility under the jurisdiction of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department may provide free meals for food service personnel, volunteer workers, interns, chaplains in training and student nurses.

Department of Public Safety

The Department of Public Safety may use appropriated funds to purchase food and beverages for: (1) training functions required of department peace officers subject to director approval; and (2) a person who is activated to provide services in response to an emergency situation, incident, or disaster and is unable to leave or required to remain at the person’s assignment area due to the emergency situation, incident, or disaster.

Texas Department of Criminal Justice

An employee of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) who is assigned to work inside a correctional facility or who is on travel status may receive up to two free meals per shift. A TDCJ employee who resides in an employee dormitory may receive three free meals per day. Funds appropriated by the GAA may be used to provide meals to other TDCJ employees, only if TDCJ charges at least $1 per meal.

Appropriated funds may not be used to grow, purchase, prepare or provide food products for TDCJ employees to use at their homes.

Texas A&M University System – Texas Division of Emergency Management

The Texas Division of Emergency Management may use appropriated funds to purchase food and beverages for division personnel activated to provide services in response to a disaster and are unable to leave or are required to stay at their assignment areas due to the disaster.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – Game Warden Training Center and Volunteers

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) may provide meals to cadets and instructors attending cadet training at the Texas Game Warden Training Center. TPWD may recover the actual costs for providing meals at the training center through payroll reductions.

In addition, the TPWD may provide meals for volunteers when volunteers are onsite and providing labor and/or services for parks, wildlife management areas and other agency programs.

Texas Historical Commission Volunteers

The Texas Historical Commission may reimburse volunteers for meals and beverages when volunteers are onsite and providing labor and/or services for historic site reenactments, archeological work and other agency programs.

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Documentation Requirements [+]