(a) Fees for reasonable costs incurred by the department in conducting settlement conferences under this subchapter shall be apportioned equally among parties to the conference.     
      (b) Fees may include:      
        (1) the costs of securing a venue suitable to facilitate the resolution of the dispute;       
        (2) administrative costs for supplies such as paper and copying charges. Costs of copies shall be in the same amount as charged by the department for copies of public information, as specified in §1.402 of this title (relating to Charges for Providing Copies of Public Information);       
        (3) costs associated with the department facilitator's having to travel to the venue, including but not limited to, mileage, fuel, car rental, airline tickets, and a maximum per diem limited to the rates listed on the General Services Administration's (GSA) Domestic Maximum Per Diem Rates table for meals and lodging. Mileage shall be charged in the same amount as allowed for state employees traveling on state business; and       
        (4)  any other reasonable charge incurred by the department in resolving the dispute between the parties.       
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §1.608 adopted to be effective September 22, 1997, 22 TexReg 9242; amended to be effective February 7, 2023, 48 TexReg 505