(a) If an employee's agency has already authorized acceptance of payment for some of their travel expenses for that meeting from a non-Federal source, then the employee may accept on behalf of the agency, payment for any of their additional travel expenses from the same non-Federal source as long as—
- (1) The expenses paid or provided in kind are comparable in value to those offered to or purchased by other similarly situated meeting attendees; and
- (2) The agency did not decline to accept payment for those particular expenses in advance of the employee's travel.
(b) If an agency did not authorize acceptance of any payment from a non-Federal source prior to travel, then—
(1) An employee may accept, on behalf of their agency, payment from a non-Federal source as authorized in this section—
- (i) Only the types of travel expenses that are authorized by the travel authorization (i.e., meals, lodging, transportation, but not recreation or other personal expenses); and
- (ii) Only travel expenses that are within the maximum allowances stated on the travel authorization;
- (2) Employees must request their agency's authorization for acceptance from the non-Federal source within 7 working days after the trip ends; and
(3) If an agency does not authorize acceptance from the non-Federal source, the agency must either—
- (i) Reimburse the non-Federal source for the reasonable approximation of the market value of the benefit provided, not to exceed the maximum allowance stated on the travel authorization; or
- (ii) Require the employee to reimburse the non-Federal source that amount and allow the employee to claim that amount on their travel claim for the trip.
- (c) If an employee accepts payment from a non-Federal source for travel expenses in violation of paragraph (a) or (b) of this section, the employee may be subject to the penalties specified in § 304-3.16.