UPPS 03.01.03 - Allowable Purchases of Awards and Flowers

POLICY STATEMENT

Texas State University is committed to establishing guidelines for the allowable purchases of awards and flowers, ensuring they are used appropriately and in accordance with institutional standards and budgetary constraints.

1. SCOPE

   1. This policy sets forth guidelines for the purchase of awards and flowers for allowable activities by Texas State University.

2. DEFINITIONS

   1. Awards – items given to employees or students in recognition for an achievement.

   2. Institutional Funds – all funds received or generated by the university other than those held at the State Treasury and funds held in trust as agency funds.

   3. Agency Funds – funds held in trust by Texas State for other entities and are not considered assets of the university.

3. PROCEDURES FOR THE PURCHASE OF AWARDS AND FLOWERS

   1. The Texas State University System (TSUS) has determined that the expenditure of institutional funds, which are not otherwise restricted, for the purchase of awards and flowers assists the university in carrying out its educational functions, promotes education in the state of Texas, and provides an important public purpose.

   2. Accordingly, TSUS authorizes Texas State to use such funds for the purchase of awards and flowers in accordance with the guidelines set forth in this policy.

   3. The TSUS Rules and Regulations, Chapter III; Section 6.8, authorizes the president to implement this policy through appropriate directives and delegation.

   4. Expenditures must have a clear business purpose and meet one or more of the following criteria:

      1. the recognition or promotion of academic achievement, athletic achievement, scholarship, or service to Texas State or the state at officially recognized events;

      2. the promotion or communication of intellectual ideas or exchange of administrative and operational information on programs or allowable activities of the institution among students, faculty, staff, administrators, and representatives of the public;

      3. the support of student events and activities that are sponsored by Texas State;

      4. the promotion of the exchange of ideas with business and community leaders regarding the role of Texas State in support of economic development, cultural enrichment, and partnerships within the community;

      5. the support of a continuing education program sponsored by Texas State; or

      6. the representation of the university to significant external constituents by one of the primary offices charged with such duties. The Office of the President, offices of President’s Cabinet-level officers, the Division of Research, offices of academic deans, and the Dean of Students Office are the primary offices charged with these duties.

   5. Specific exemptions from the requirement of Section 03.04 include the following:

      1. purchases of awards and flowers from agency funds; and

      2. reimbursement to a non-employee in the course of providing services to the university.

   6. The current General Appropriations Act, Internal Revenue Service Code rules and regulations, and the following govern employee achievement awards:

      1. Only items of tangible personal property (e.g., a pen, crystal bowl, clock) are allowable employee achievement awards.

      2. Cash or cash equivalents, gift cards or certificates, tickets to the theatre or sporting events, vacations, and real property are not allowable employee achievement awards.

      3. Unless excludable from an employee’s wages, the achievement award must be reported as taxable income to the employee. The maximum amount allowed for exclusion from an employee’s wages for an employee achievement award is $400 per tax year per employee. Items of tangible personal property awarded as achievement awards may be excludable when awarded as:

         1. a de minimis benefit;

         2. a length of service award following the employee’s first five years of employment, but no more often than in five-year intervals; or

         3. safety achievement awards when “given to an employee other than a manager, administrator, clerical employee, or other professional employee,” per IRS Publication 535 (2018), Business Expense.

      4. Length of service and safety achievement awards must be awarded as a part of a meaningful, but not necessarily elaborate presentation.

      5. Texas State’s scholarship coordinator in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships must receive notification of achievement awards for students.

   7. The university prohibits spending institutional funds on flowers for personal use during routine day-to-day operations.

   8. The university prohibits purchasing flowers for employees’ spouses, children, and other family members. Expenditures incurred for personal reasons are not allowed.

   9. Exceptions to this policy may only be made with approval from the president or the requestor’s respective division vice president. Approval must be indicated on the payment document. The approval role cannot be delegated by the President’s Cabinet officer.

4. FUNDING SOURCES FOR PURCHASE OF FLOWERS

   1. The following conditions apply, depending on the funding source indicated:

      1. Other university funds may be used to purchase flowers, unless they are restricted funds prohibiting this type of purchase or are listed below.

      2. The university prohibits using state-appropriated funds, including education and general revenue, as well as statutory undergraduate and graduate tuition to purchase flowers for any of the reasons covered under this policy.

      3. The university prohibits using locally generated income from course and instructional fees, Physical Plant administrative overhead charges, or scholarship, loan, university endowment, and Facilities construction fund accounts to purchase flowers for any of the reasons covered under this policy.

5. FUNDING SOURCES FOR EMPLOYEE ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

   1. Annually, the President’s Cabinet allocates a nominal amount of funds for appreciation celebrations or achievement awards at functions such as faculty receptions, commencement, retirement receptions, award banquets, school receptions, division receptions, and receptions for important guests.

      1. These funds are maintained by the Finance and Support Services division (see FSS/PPS No. 03.08, Discretionary Budgets and Expenditures, for additional information).

   2. State law permits the use of state appropriations, including education and general revenue, as well as statutory undergraduate and graduate tuition for awards for professional achievement and other outstanding service (e.g., safety) for current employees, volunteers, and retirees. For allowable awards paid from state appropriations, the cost per current employee, volunteer, or retiree shall not exceed the amount specified in the most current General Appropriations Act. Examples of acceptable awards include lapel pins, plaques, and engraved certificates.

   3. The university allows the use of institutional funds to purchase achievement awards in excess of the cost per current employee, volunteer, or retiree allowed in the most current General Appropriations Act.

   4. Refer to Section 03.06 for IRS regulations regarding achievement awards.

6. PROCEDURES FOR PAYMENT OF AWARDS AND FLOWERS

   1. The account manager is responsible for reviewing and approving the transaction, per UPPS No. 03.01.09, Fiscal Responsibilities of Account Managers at Texas State.

   2. Payment may be made via a purchase requisition or a procurement card (P-Card). An itemized receipt or vendor invoice is required to support the P-Card purchase of awards or flowers.

      1. Use of personal funds should be a rare occurrence necessitated by unforeseen or emergency situations. P-Card suspension status does not warrant an approved condition for using personal funds. Texas sales tax of purchases made with personal funds are applicable. Sales tax may be reimbursed with the approval of the Director of Accounts Payable and Travel, or designee. A Texas Sales Tax Exemption Certificate should be presented to the vendor prior to the purchase. Employees who fail to present a Texas Sales Tax Exemption Certificate will not be reimbursed for the tax amount. If the vendor does not accept the Texas Sales Tax Exemption Certificate, a statement that the Texas Sales Tax Exemption Certificate was not accepted should be attached to the request for reimbursement. For more detailed information concerning tax-exempt and taxable purchases, visit the Accounts Payable Texas Sales Taxes on Purchases.

7. REVIEWERS OF THIS UPPS

   1. Reviewers of this UPPS include the following:

      Position	Date
      Associate Vice President for Financial Services	March 1 E5Y
      Director, Accounts Payable and Travel	March 1 E5Y
      Director, Procurement and Strategic Sourcing	March 1 E5Y
      Director, Payroll and Tax Compliance	March 1 E5Y

8. CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

   This UPPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official capacities and represents Texas State policy and procedure from the date of this document until superseded.

   Associate Vice President for Financial Services; senior reviewer of this UPPS

   Executive Vice President for Operations and Chief Financial Officer

   President