The voting members of the council shall receive forty dollars ($40) per day per diem for each day spent in actual attendance at the meetings or on the business of the council and shall be reimbursed for necessary traveling and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties, as approved by the secretary. Nonvoting members shall be reimbursed for necessary traveling and other expenses, as approved by the secretary, at the same rate as voting members if the agency they represent does not reimburse them for those expenses. Alternates shall be reimbursed for traveling and other expenses, as approved by the secretary, and shall receive per diem at the same rate as voting members for meetings which they attend. Any member may refuse to accept per diem or expenses, or any portion thereof, to which he or she is entitled.