1.    Except as provided in section 44-08-04.1, each elective or appointive officer, employee, representative, or agent of this state, or of any of its subdivisions, agencies, bureaus, boards, or commissions, may make claim for meals and lodging while engaged in the discharge of a public duty away from the claimant’s normal working and living residence for all or any part of any quarter of a day. Claims may also be made for meals that are included as part of a registration fee for a conference, seminar, or other meeting and for meals attended at the request of and on behalf of    the state or any of its subdivisions, agencies, bureaus, boards, or commissions; however, if a meal is included in a registration fee, the applicable quarter allowance cannot be claimed for that meal. Claims for meals specifically included in a registration fee for a conference, seminar, or other meeting must be allowed even if the city at which the conference, seminar, or meeting is held or the meal is provided is the claimant’s normal working and living residence. If a higher education athletic team or other organized institution organization group meal is attended at the request of and on behalf of the institution, actual expenses for the entire group, including coaches, trainers, and other employees, may be paid or submitted for payment on a team or group travel expense report; subsection 2 does not apply; and officers and employees are not required to document individual expenses or submit individual travel reimbursement vouchers. Reimbursement is allowed only for overnight travel or other travel, away from the normal place of employment, for four hours or more. Verification of expenses by receipt is required only for lodging expenses.

2.    For travel within the state, the following rates for each quarter of any twenty-four-hour period must be used:

a.    First quarter is from six a.m. to twelve noon and the sum must be nine dollars.

First quarter reimbursement may not be made if travel began after seven a.m.

b.    Second quarter is from twelve noon to six p.m. and the sum must be fourteen dollars.

c.    Third quarter is from six p.m. to twelve midnight and the sum must be twenty-two dollars.

d.    Fourth quarter is from twelve midnight to six a.m. and the sum must be the actual lodging expenses not to exceed an amount established by policy by the director of the office of management and budget plus any additional applicable state or local taxes. The director shall establish a policy to set the lodging reimbursement at an amount equal to ninety percent of the rate established by the United States general services administration for lodging reimbursement in this state. A political subdivision may reimburse an elective or appointive officer, employee, representative, or agent for actual lodging expenses.

3.    The allowance for out-of-state meals, within the continental United States, is equal to the per diem meals rate in the city for which a claim is made on that day as established by rule for federal employees by the United States general services administration and must be allocated twenty percent to the first quarter, thirty percent to the second quarter, and fifty percent to the third quarter.

4.    The allowance for meals in noncontinental United States and overseas nonforeign areas, including Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam, is equal to the per diem meals rate in the city for which a claim is made on that day as established by rule for federal employees established by the United States per diem committee.

5.    The allowance for meals outside the United States is equal to the per diem meals rate in the city for which a claim is made on that day as established by rule for federal employees established by the United States department of state.

6.    The allowance for lodging outside the state must be the actual lodging expense.

7.    A department, institution, or agency of this state may set a rate for travel expenses outside the state less than those set forth in this section. Verification of any other type of expense not prescribed by this section must be as prescribed by the office of the budget except no receipt may be required for taxi or cab fares of ten dollars or less. The office of management and budget shall disapprove any claim it determines to be in error or unlawful or not within the limits of legislative appropriations.