Moore, 072418 ALAGO, AGO 2018-44

• Case Date: July 24, 2018
• Court: Alabama

Honorable Sarah Henderson Moore AGO 2018-44 No. 2018-044 Alabama Attorney General Opinion State of Alabama Office of the Attorney General July 24, 2018          Honorable Sarah Henderson Moore          Administrator, Alabama Credit Union Administration          100 North Union Street, Suite 650          Montgomery, Alabama 36104          Credit Union Administration -Boards of Directors - Reimbursement - Expenses          A state chartered credit union may not reimburse or pay the travel expenses of a guest accompanying a credit union board or committee member on a business-related trip.          Dear Ms. Moore:          This opinion of the Attorney General is issued in response to your request.          QUESTION          May a state chartered credit union reimburse or pay for the travel expenses of a guest accompanying a board or committee member on training and development conferences, seminars, and other credit union business trips as "necessary expenses incidental to the performance of the official business of the credit union?"          FACTS AND ANALYSIS          Your request states that, as set out in section 5-17-1, et seq., of the Code of Alabama, the Alabama Credit Union Administration has the responsibility of examining and supervising the conduct of state chartered credit unions, including the reimbursement of credit union board and committee members. Ala. Code § 5-17-1 to 5-17-59 (1996 & Supp. 2017). To carry out this mission, you question whether a guest may be reimbursed for expenses incurred while accompanying a board or committee member on a business-related trip.          Section 5-17-11(c) provides that, although credit union board and committee members may not be compensated for performing their official duties, they may be reimbursed for expenses related to the business of the credit union. It states as follows:

(c) No member of the board or any committee shall, as such, be compensated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for their services to the credit union, providing reasonable life, accident,

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