§1826.4. Foreign travel; research institutions
A. By July 1, 2023, each postsecondary education institution that receives state
appropriations and has a research budget of ten million dollars or more shall establish an
international travel approval and monitoring program. The program shall require preapproval
and screening by the institution for any employment-related foreign travel to foreign
adversary countries and employment-related foreign activities engaged in by any faculty
member, researcher, or any other research department staff with foreign adversaries. This
requirement is in addition to any other travel approval process applicable to the institution.
B.(1) Preapproval by the institution shall be based on the applicant's review and
acknowledgment of guidance published by the institution which relates to countries under
sanctions or other restrictions imposed by the state or federal government, including any
federal license requirement; customs rules; export controls; restrictions on taking institution
property, including intellectual property, abroad; restrictions on presentations, teaching, and
interactions with foreign colleagues; and other subjects important to the research and
academic integrity of the institution.
(2) Preapproval shall be based on the binding commitment of the individual traveler
not to violate the institution's limitations on travel and activities abroad and to obey all
applicable federal laws. Any person subject to this Section traveling abroad representing their
respective institution, upon return, shall report any gifts of funds or promises to pay offered
by a foreign adversary or any entity representing the interests of a foreign adversary.
C. The postsecondary education institution shall maintain records of all employment-related foreign travel requests and approvals to foreign adversary countries; expenses
reimbursed by the institution or affiliate organization of the institution during travel,
including for transportation, food, and lodging; and payments and honoraria received during
the travel and activities, including for transportation, food, and lodging. The institution shall
keep records of the purpose of the travel and any records related to the foreign activity
review. These records shall be retained for at least three years or any longer period of time
required by any other applicable state or federal law.
D. The institution shall provide an annual report of travel to foreign adversary
countries listing individual travelers, foreign locations visited, and foreign institutions visited
to the board of supervisors of the applicable institution.
E. By July 1, 2025, the office of the legislative auditor shall perform an operational
audit regarding the implementation of this Section.
Acts 2022, No. 767, §1, eff. July 1, 2023; Acts 2023, No. 106, §1, eff. July 1, 2023.