TBA YLD Expense Reimbursement Policy
(Last updated 8/17/2006)

I. GENERAL POLICIES

A. Reimbursement Request Procedure. All requests for reimbursement must be submitted on a reimbursement request form within thirty (30) days after the expense is incurred. Expense Reimbursement Requests should be submitted to the Young Lawyers Division (Division) Treasurer.

B. Supporting Documentation Required. Supporting documentation for all expenses (other than automobile mileage and gratuities incurred separately from meals) must accompany each request. Such documentation may be in the form of receipts, invoices from suppliers, law firm expense statements, credit card statements or canceled checks.

C. General Limitation Approval. All expenses must be incurred for activities or in the performance of services or duties on behalf of the Division or the Tennessee Bar Association (Association). The Division President, Division Treasurer and Association Executive Director shall approve all reimbursements. Advance approval is strongly recommended for any expense not included in, or in excess of, the applicable budget.

II. TRAVEL EXPENSES

A. Airfare. Airfare will be reimbursed for distances of more than four (4) hours if traveled by car. Airfare will be reimbursed at lesser of the actual fare or standard coach fare at the 21 day advanced fare price. Reduced fares should be requested at all times. Penalties incurred for flight changes may be reimbursed if the fare was incurred in a reasonable attempt to reduce costs and matters beyond the traveler’s reasonable control necessitated the change in plans. Advance purchase of tickets to obtain reduced fares may be reimbursed in advance of travel. Persons who elect to travel by air within shorter distances will be reimbursed at the automotive mileage rate. Airfare costing more than $400 must be approved in advance. The Division will reimburse the cost of using a private airplane for division business provided that: (a) the use of the airplane is approved in advance by the Division President and Association Executive Director and (b) the cost of using the private airplane for official business does not exceed the cost of the equivalent coach-class commercial flight. If more than one person flies on the plane, only the actual costs of the flight can be reimbursed, consistent with (a) and (b) above, even if the Division would have paid for commercial flights for more than one person.

B. Mileage. Automotive travel will be reimbursed at the current IRS business mileage rate. No reimbursement will be granted for the cost of rental automobiles unless authorized in advance by the Division President and Association Executive Director.

C. Other Travel. Travel by bus, train, boat, helicopter or other unusual means will be reimbursed at the lesser of actual fare or applicable airfare or automotive rate.

D. Taxi, Shuttle Fares; Parking and Tolls. Taxi, shuttle or train service between the airport and the meeting site will be reimbursed. Other intra-city taxi fares will be reimbursed only if incurred directly on Division business. Reimbursement for parking will be limited to $10 per day.

E. Lodging. Lodging will be reimbursed at the single occupancy room rate unless additional occupants also are directly entitled to reimbursement. With regard to events for which the Division or Association has negotiated a special rate, reimbursement will be limited to that rate even if the traveler registers too late for the special rate or stays at a different facility and pays a higher rate. No reimbursement will be granted for lodging in one’s city of residence.

F. Meals. Reimbursement for meals and beverages will be the actual cost (including tips) up to $50 per day. The Division will not reimburse for meals when an official event is planned that offers food and beverage. Rservations for meals that are not cancelled within 24 hours of the event, except in emergency situations, will result in the cost of the meal being deducted from the board member's reimbursement.

G. Tips. Reimbursement for gratuities other than with meals will be limited to $10 per day.

H. Annual Meeting. In general, no expenses will be reimbursed for travel, lodging or meals associated with attendance at the Association Annual Meeting or the Division Annual Meeting.

III. OTHER EXPENSES

A. Telephone, Fax, and Photocopies. The actual out-of-pocket expense for telephone calls and facsimiles related to Division business will be reimbursed whether incurred in connection with travel or otherwise. Members are encouraged to provide facsimile services (other than actual out-of-pocket costs) to the Division free or at a reduced rate. Copies made by members utilizing a source other than the Association or contract suppliers must be approved in advance by the Division President and Association Executive Director. Photocopying will be reimbursed at the rate of up to $.10 per copy not to exceed 500 copies per calendar month. Members strongly are encouraged to prepare materials for copying sufficiently in advance to be copied or printed at Association headquarters.

B. Nonreimbursable Expenses. Entertainment expenses, in-room movies, phone and telecopy charges not for Division business, intra-city transportation not necessary for Division business, and any other personal or non-Division expenses are not reimbursable.

IV. YOUNG LAWYER DELEGATES TO THE ASSOCIATION HOUSE OF DELEGATES

A. Joint House of Delegates and Division Meetings. The delegates holding seats specifically designated for young lawyers in the Tennessee Bar Association House of Delegates should submit a standard Association Expense Reimbursement Request to the Association Accounting Department and be reimbursed for House of Delegate expenses from the Association budget. For expenses associated with Division meetings not covered by the House of Delegates, the delegates should submit reimbursement requests to the Division Treasurer. Delegates will be reimbursed by the Division in accordance with its reimbursement policies for expenses not covered by the House of Delegates.

B. Other Division Meetings. Reimbursement for attendance at all other Division meetings will be at the discretion of the president.

V. JOINT MEETINGS WITH ASSOCIATION BOARD OF GOVERNORS

A. General Policy. The Division President and President-Elect will be reimbursed for Association Board of Governors meetings from the Board of Governors budget. Officers should submit a standard Association Expense Reimbursement Request to the Association Accounting Department. Expenses related solely to the Division will be reimbursed from the Division’s meetings budget. Officers should submit a separate reimbursement form for those expenses to the Division Treasurer.

VI. AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION MEETINGS

A. General Policy. Division members who hold Association seats in the American Bar Association House of Delegates should submit a standard Association Expense Reimbursement Request to the Association Accounting Department and will be reimbursed from the Association budget. Expenses incurred for ABA Young Lawyer Division activities will be reimbursed from the Division’s “ABA Participation” budget. Delegates should submit a separate reimbursement form for these expenses to the Division Treasurer.

B. ABA Reimbursement. Delegates who are entitled to partial reimbursement of their costs from the ABA should submit reimbursement forms to the ABA and deduct any reimbursement received from the request submitted to the Division or Association.

C. ABA Annual Meeting (August). The TBA YLD President chooses a number of delegates to attend this meeting. No funding is available from the ABA. Delegates are fully funded by the TBA YLD’s “ABA Participation” budget. The basic "early bird" registration fee is covered, as is the Tennessee delegation dinner. The ABA and ABA YLD meet jointly. The YLD Assembly takes place on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.

D. ABA YLD Fall Conference (October). The TBA YLD President chooses a number of delegates to attend this meeting. This YLD-only meeting focuses on program development and affiliate outreach. The TBA YLD delegates to the Fall Conference are given a two day per diem of $100 per day from the ABA. Remaining expenses are funded by the TBA YLD’s “ABA Participation” budget, as is the Tennessee delegation dinner.

E. ABA Midyear Meeting (February). The TBA YLD President chooses a number of delegates to attend this meeting. Some funding is available from the ABA. Remaining expenses are funded by the TBA YLD’s “ABA Participation” budget, as is the Tennessee delegation dinner. The ABA and ABA YLD meet jointly. The YLD Assembly takes place on Saturday morning.

F. ABA YLD Spring Conference (April/May) The TBA YLD President chooses a number of delegates to attend this meeting. This YLD-only meeting focuses on program development and affiliate outreach. The TBA YLD delegates to the Spring Conference are given a two day per diem of $100 per day from the ABA. Remaining expenses are funded by the TBA YLD’s “ABA Participation” budget, as is the Tennessee delegation dinner.