Welf. & Inst. Code, § 4412

The department may expend money in accordance with law for the actual and necessary travel expenses of officers and employees of the department who are authorized to absent themselves from the State of California on official business.

For the purposes of this section and of Sections 11030 and 11032 of the Government Code, the following constitutes, among other purposes, official business for said officers and employees for which such officers and employees shall be allowed actual and necessary traveling expenses when incurred either in or out of this state upon approval of the Governor and Director of Finance:

Attending meetings of any national association or organization having as its principal purpose the study of matters relating to administration of institutions, and care and treatment of developmentally disabled patients; conferring with officers or employees of the United States or other states, relative to problems of institutional care, treatment or management; and obtaining information therefrom, which information would be useful in the conduct of institutional, psychiatric, medical, and similar activities of the State Department of Developmental Services.