Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 15.2-1406.1 as follows:

§15.2-1406.1. Travel expenses; local officials.

A. For purposes of this section:

"Local official" means a member of a local governing body [ , the chief administrative officer of a locality and his deputies, and department heads of a locality ] .

"Public funds" includes moneys from general tax revenues from any source, the general fund, transient occupancy or restricted transient occupancy taxes, the board or council members' budgets, the general board or council budget, the local government budget, and any funds in the budget of, or under the control of, any department of any local government, agency, authority, entity, or business, whether for profit or not-for-profit, that receives tax dollars.

B. Any travel expense of a local official to be paid from public funds that is anticipated to exceed [ $2,500 $5,000 ] shall be subject to approval in advance by a vote of the local governing body in an open meeting. If the final travel expense exceeds the previously approved amount, such expense shall be reported to the governing body and noted in the meeting agenda or meeting minutes within 60 days of the determination. If the local governing body determines that a local official has misappropriated a travel expense, such local official shall repay such expense to the locality within 10 days and shall furnish a copy of any receipts for such expense at the next public meeting.

C. Nothing herein shall prohibit a locality from adopting more stringent standards for the travel expenses of local officials.