The Illinois General Assembly recently enacted Public Act 99-0604, known as the “Local Government Travel Expense Control Act”, which Act became effective on January 1, 2017. As required by the Act, it is the policy of the Palos Heights Public Library to regulate the reimbursement of all Board member and employee travel expenses as set forth below:

  1. Definitions.
    1. “Entertainment” includes, but is not limited to, shows, amusements, theaters, circuses, sporting events, or any other place of public or private entertainment or amusement, unless ancillary to the purpose of the program or event.
    2. “Travel” means any expenditure directly incident to official business travel by Library Trustees, administrators, or employees of the Palos Heights Public Library involving reimbursement to travelers or direct payment to private agencies providing transportation or related services.

  2. Reimbursable Rates. Palos Heights Public Library shall reimburse permitted travel expenses upon submission of a Travel Reimbursement Form and all relevant receipts. Expenses shall be approved on a case by case basis by the Library Director up to the current IRS per diem rates in place at the time of travel. Any expenses above these rates must be approved by the Board of Trustees per point 5a below.

  3. Reimbursement Request Form. Palos Heights Public Library shall only approve reimbursement of expenses if the Library Trustee, administrator, or employee submits said expenses on Palos Heights Public Library’s Reimbursement Request Form, attached as Exhibit A. All documents submitted to Palos Heights Public Library for reimbursement are public records subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, unless otherwise protected under that Act.

  4. Entertainment Expenses. Palos Heights Public Library shall not reimburse any Library Trustee, administrator, or employee for any entertainment expense unless such expense is ancillary to the purpose of the program or event.

  5. Palos Heights Public Library Approval of Certain Reimbursable Expenses. The following expenses for travel, meals, and lodging may only be approved by a roll call vote at an open meeting of the Palos Heights Public Library:
    1. Any reimbursable expenses of a Palos Heights Public Library Trustee, administrator, or employee that exceeds the maximum allowed under the regulations adopted under Section 2 of this Policy.
    2. Any reimbursable expense of a member of the Board of Trustees of Palos Heights Public Library.
    3. Any other reimbursable expenses because of emergency or other extraordinary circumstances.

  6. Compliance with Act. Palos Heights Public Library shall comply with all other requirements of the Local Government Travel Expense Act and any Palos Heights Public Library policy, procedure or resolution that conflicts with the provisions of the Local Government Travel Expense Act is hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict.


Adopted: April 2017