The purpose of this Bulletin is to identify required alternatives to participating in New York State's Corporate Travel Card Program.

In August 2003, the Citibank Travel Card program replaced the American Express Corporate Card program as the preferred method for paying travel expenses associated with state business.

While agencies should encourage employees to apply for the Citibank Travel Card, the program is voluntary. For those employees that do not wish to participate in the Travel Card program, agencies must provide alternate means of paying travel expenses so that initial responsibility for either transportation or lodging expenses associated with such travel is not assumed by the employee. Alternatives exist for paying necessary lodging and transportation expenses, including but not necessarily limited to:

1. Arrangements are made with specific lodging or transportation vendors to provide the needed services and the vendor bills the agency directly;
2. The traveler is provided with a standard voucher to present to the lodging or transportation vendor for direct billing of the service;
3. OGS travel agents and transportation contract service providers are used and the agency is billed directly by these entities.

This mechanism allows agencies to obtain certain transportation services and charge these directly to an agency-controlled Citibank account. CTAs can be established directly with Citibank.

Travel advances may also be available for lodging and transportation expenses that cannot be covered through the direct bill arrangements or CTA Accounts discussed above.

The Office of the State Comptroller stands ready to help ensure that every employee required to travel on behalf of the State is able to do so. Questions regarding this Bulletin can be directed to Ms. Barbara Akers, Bureau of State Expenditures at bakers@osc.state.ny.us or (518) 474-2245.