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_____ 743 1. For the use of personal automobiles in the discharge of official duties outside the continental limits of the United States, the State Comptroller may authorize an allowance not exceeding the actual cost of operation of such automobiles; 2. The first 15,000 miles of use during each fiscal year of personal automobiles in the discharge of official duties within the continental limits of the United States shall be reimbursed at an amount equal to the most recent business standard mileage rate as established by the Internal Revenue Service for employees or self-employed individuals to use in computing their income tax deductible costs for operating passenger vehicles owned or leased by them for business purposes, or in the instance of a state employee, at the lesser of (a) the IRS rate or (b) the lowest combined capital and operational trip pool rate charged by the Department of General Services, Office of Fleet Management Services (OFMS), posted on the OFMS website at time of travel, for the use of a compact state-owned vehicle. If the head of the state agency concerned certifies that a state-owned vehicle was not available, or if, according to regulations issued by the State Comptroller, the use of a personal automobile in lieu of a state- owned automobile is considered to be an advantage to the state, the reimbursement shall be at the rate of the IRS rate. For such use in excess of 15,000 miles in each fiscal year, the reimbursement shall be at a rate of 13.0 cents per mile, unless a state- owned vehicle is not available; then the rate shall be the IRS rate; 3. The State Comptroller may authorize exemptions to restrictions upon use of common carrier accommodations; 4. The State Comptroller may authorize reimbursement by per diem in lieu of actual costs of meals and any other expense category deemed necessary for the efficient and effective operation of state government; 5. State employees traveling on official business of state government shall be reimbursed for their travel costs using the same bank account authorized by the employee in which their net pay is direct deposited; and 6. This section shall not apply to members and employees of public school boards. f. SMALL PURCHASE CHARGE CARD, ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE, DIRECT DEPOSIT, AND PAYLINE OPT OUT: The State Comptroller is hereby authorized to charge state agencies a fee of $5 per check or earnings notice when, in his judgment, agencies have failed to comply with the Commonwealth's electronic commerce initiatives to reduce unnecessary administrative costs for the printing and mailing of state checks and earning notices. The fee shall be collected by the Department of Accounts through accounting entries. g. PURCHASES OF APPLIANCES AND EQUIPMENT: State agencies and institutions shall purchase Energy Star rated appliances and equipment in all cases where such appliances and equipment are available. h. ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS: Any recipient of payments from the State Treasury who receives six or more payments per year issued by the State Treasurer shall receive such payments electronically. The State Treasurer shall decide the appropriate method of electronic payment and, through his warrant issuance authority, the State Comptroller shall enforce the provisions of this section. The State Comptroller is authorized to grant administrative relief to this requirement when circumstances justify non-electronic payment. i. LOCAL AND NON-STATE SAVINGS AND EFFICIENCIES: It is the intent of the General Assembly that State agencies shall encourage and assist local governments, school divisions, and other non-state governmental entities in their efforts to achieve cost savings and efficiencies in the provision of mandated functions and services including but not limited to finance, procurement, social services programs, and facilities management. j. TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES AND DEVICES: 1. The Chief Information Officer and the State Comptroller shall develop statewide requirements for the use of cellular telephones and other telecommunication devices by executive branch agencies, addressing the assignment, evaluation of need, safeguarding, monitoring, and usage of these telecommunication devices. The requirements shall include an acceptable use agreement template clearly defining an employee's responsibility when they receive and use a telecommunication device. Statewide requirements shall require some form of identification on a device in case it is lost or stolen and procedures to wipe the device clean of all sensitive information when it is no longer in use. 2. Executive branch agencies providing employees with telecommunication devices shall develop agency-specific policies, incorporating the guidance provided in § 4-5.04 k. 1. of this act and shall maintain a cost justification for the assignment or a public health, welfare and safety need. 3. The Chief Information Officer shall determine the optimal number of telecommunication vendors and plans necessary to meet the needs of executive branch agency personnel. The Chief Information Officer shall regularly procure these services and provide statewide contracts for use by all such agencies. These contracts shall require the vendors to provide detailed usage information in a useable electronic format to enable the executive branch agencies to properly monitor usage to make informed purchasing decisions and minimize costs. 4. The Chief Information Officer shall examine the feasibility of providing tools for executive branch agencies to analyze usage and cost data to assist in determining the most cost effective plan combinations for the entity as a whole and individual users.