Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy has altered the out-of-state travel ban his Republican predecessor, M. Jodi Rell, imposed on state employees in 2008, saying it's now OK for them to leave Connecticut on state-funded trips for limited purposes, including pursuing economic development opportunities or gaining "significant funding" for the state.
"Gov. Malloy has reviewed the travel ban that has been in effect since May 2008 and has modified the ban," says the new, one-page, out-of-state travel policy distributed to state agencies Tuesday.
The policy says such travel "by employees, appointed officials and board members will only be allowed if approved by agency heads" -- and if it meets any one of three criteria:
--Its purpose is "to pursue economic development opportunities or secure significant outside funding for the state."
--It "will enable state employee or official to protect, promote or gather information related to critical state policies" in cases where information can't be obtained by "web-based or Internet attendance."
--"Non-state funds are used to cover the entire cost of the travel."