By Laws

BY-LAWS OF THE FLORIDA JUVENILE JUSTICE ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE ONE: NAME AND PRINCIPAL OFFICE

Section 1: The name of this Association shall be the FLORIDA JUVENILE JUSTICE ASSOCIATION (FJJA)

Section 2: The principal office location of this Association is hereby designated as:

1201 Hays Street Suite 107
Tallahassee, Florida 32301

ARTICLE TWO: AIMS AND PURPOSES

Section 1: The general aims and purposes of the Association shall be:

To promote the availability and accessibility of comprehensive, high quality services to delinquent young people and their families.
To assist communities in addressing the issue of delinquency through advocacy, prevention, intervention and treatment programs and service delivery systems that are responsive to the social, cultural and economic needs of their citizens.
To develop and maintain the highest ethical and professional standards among its members.
To promote training, assistance and consultation to Association members and related parties.
To provide public awareness and education regarding juvenile justice issues.
To contribute to development of public policy regarding juvenile justice issues.
To define, establish and maintain minimum standards of service for Association members.
To support evaluation and research regarding juvenile justice issues.
To represent the interests of its membership in any proceeding, whether judicial or quasi-judicial.
To represent the interests of its membership before the legislature and executive branch agencies in connection with legislation, rules, and policies relating to the delivery of delinquency services to juveniles and their families and to the juvenile justice system.

ARTICLE THREE: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Classes of Membership

Agency Membership. Any agency or organization in good standing with the Association, which provides direct services to delinquent youth or their families and has paid appropriate dues. The agency or organization shall designate one person to represent the agency's vote. Voting shall be the responsibility of the designated member or their designee. Representatives serve as members of the Board of Directors and may serve as Officers or as members of the Executive committee.

Associate Agency Membership. Any agency or organization which does not provide direct services to delinquent youth or their families, however interested in services to delinquent youth and/or their families. The agency or organization shall designate one person to represent the agency. Representatives from such agencies or organizations do not have voting privileges at membership meetings.

Section 2: Admission to membership

Criteria for Membership. Agencies, organization, and individuals who submit applications for membership and pay the appropriate dues. Agency Member applications must be approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. No agency shall be allowed more than one agency membership, regardless of the existence within the agency of more than one program addressing juvenile delinquency, or affiliated with the agency as in closely held corporations, or the like. In areas of dispute concerning dual agency memberships, majority vote of the Board of Directors shall prevail.

Dues Structure. The dues for membership are established by the Board of Directors and may be changed from time to time.

Payment of Dues. Annual dues for agency and associate members are due on July 1 of each year, unless special exception is made by the Board of Directors. Dues paid by new applicant agency or associate members will be prorated for the number of months remaining in the current year. See Policy Manual for further requirements.

Termination.

Agency membership and Associate Agency membership in the Association shall be terminated for dues in arrears for three (3) months unless extended by the Board of Directors when the payment of dues would constitute a hardship. Upon the recommendation of the finance committee, the Board reserves the right to waive payment of dues for an agency after careful review by the Executive Director.
The Board of Directors may choose to terminate any membership for conduct deemed harmful to the aims and purposes of the Association.

Good standing. A member in good standing is one whose dues are current or have been waived by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE FOUR: MEETINGS OF FULL MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Meetings. Regular meetings of the full membership shall be held at least semi-annually unless the Board of Directors votes to increase the frequency of such meetings. Members shall be notified in writing at least thirty (30) days in advance of all meetings.

Section 2: Quorum: The number of agency members in good standing present at any full membership meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 3: Participation: Members may participate by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

ARTICLE FIVE: MEETINGS OF AGENCY MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Meetings. Special meetings of the agency membership shall be called by the President or on written application of five (5) agency members to the Secretary. Notices shall be mailed to all agency members not less than thirty (30) prior to the meeting, stating the purpose of the meeting. No other business than the stated purpose may be transacted at special meetings.

Section 2: Quorum: The number of agency members in good standing present at any special meeting of agency membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 4: Agency membership review of Board action. Any action of the Executive Committee shall be subject to review by the agency membership on request of any agency member at a regular meeting or at a special meeting called for that purpose. Any action of the Executive Committee may be altered or rescinded by a majority vote of the agency membership present at the regular meeting or special meeting.

ARTICLE SIX: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1: Purpose. The Board of Directors shall have general charge and control of the affairs, funds and property of the Association. The Board of Directors shall be the policy-making body of the Association.

Section 2: Powers. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for the conduct of the business of the Association. The Board is empowered to employ such professional personnel as required to administer the affairs of the Association and to prescribe the duties and terms of their employment. The Board of Directors shall exercise all other powers inherent in the Association except those expressly reserved to the agency membership.

Section 3: Quorum. A quorum for Board of Directors meetings will be considered to be fifty percent (50%) plus one of the Board members present.

Section 4: Composition of the Board

Any agency member, who is in good standing, is a member of the Board of Directors.
Compensation. No member of the Board of Directors may receive monies by way of salary from the Association for the performance of Board duties of the Association.

ARTICLE SEVEN: OFFICERS

Section 1: Election of Executive Officers. The Executive Officers of the Association shall be elected at an annual meeting with 60 days notice by a majority of the agency membership eligible to vote and shall serve for a period of two years. Officers so elected shall be President, President Elect, Immediate Past President, Secretary and Treasurer. All officers must be Agency representatives in good standing with the Association.

Section 2: Power to Elect Officers. The agency membership shall elect by appropriate ballot the officers of the Association. There is no provision for proxy vote.

Section 3: Qualification. Persons so elected to executive office must be the designated representative of the agency member.

Section 4: Term of Office. All executive offices shall serve for two years. With the exception of the President and the President Elect, officers may serve for more than one consecutive term. The President and President Elect may be elected to non-consecutive terms.

Section 5: Duties of Officers. The officers duly elected at the annual membership meeting of the Association shall perform the duties generally carried out by the said office. The Board of Directors may specifically delegate certain functions to the Association staff. The duties of the officers shall include:

President. The President shall:
1. Preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the Association.
2. Make all committee appointments except to the Nominating Committee.
3. Be an ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating committee.
4. Perform all other duties usually pertaining to the office of the President.
5. Present an annual report to the membership.
President Elect. The President Elect shall:
1. Preside at all meetings in the absence of the President.
2. Be a member of the Executive Committee and such other committees as designated by the President.
3. Perform all other such duties usually pertaining to the office of the President Elect.
Immediate Past President. The President Elect shall:
1. Serve as advisor to the President regarding the continuation of current issues, which have been a priority to the Board.
2. Serves as a resource to the President for special projects.
3. Serve as Chair of the Nominating Committee.
4. Be a member of the Executive Committee and such other committees as designated by the President.
5. Perform all other such duties usually pertaining to the office of the Immediate Past President.
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall:
1. Be custodian of all funds of the Association.
2. Be a member of the Executive Committee and such other committees as designated by the President.
3. Keep the official Association paid membership list.
4. Keep a record of the financial accounts of the Association and report thereon at each regular meeting of the Board of Directors and at the Annual Meeting.
5. Deposit all monies of the Association in a banking institution designated by the Executive Committee subject to withdrawal for authorized purposes. The Board of Directors shall from time to time determine the financial policies and procedures under which it wishes to conduct the Association's business.
6. Perform all such other duties usually pertaining to the office of the Treasurer.
Secretary. The Secretary shall:
1. Record the minutes of all meetings.
2. Notify officers, committee members and delegates of their election or appointment to furnish committees with whatever documents are required for the performance of their duties and to have on hand at each meeting a list of all existing committees and their members.
3. Sign all certified copies of acts of the Association.
4. Maintain record books in which the by-laws, special rules of order, standing rules, and minutes are entered, with any amendments to these documents properly recorded, and have the current books on hand at every meeting.
5. Ensure notices of all meetings as required by these by-laws are made to the membership.
6. Make attendance records at meetings.
7. Be a member of the Executive Committee and other such committees as designated by the President.
8. Perform such other duties as may be designated by the Executive Committee and/or the President.

Section 6: Nominating Committee. There shall be established a Nominating Committee of five (5) members, all who shall be in good standing. The immediate Past-President shall serve as chair of the Committee; four additional members shall be selected by a majority vote of the Executive Committee, with such members being selected from the agency membership. The Nominating Committee shall be appointed in the election year not less than sixty (60) days prior to the Annual Meeting at which the election of officers shall take place. It shall be the duty of this Committee to nominate candidates for the executive offices and the agency members. All offices shall be voted upon at the annual meeting. The Nominating Committee shall submit by mail a slate of officers to the members of the Association not less than one month before the Annual Meeting. At the annual meeting, additional nominations from the floor for all offices will be accepted.

Section 7: Voting. The officers shall be elected by a simple majority of the agency members in good standing and entitled to vote at the annual meeting. In the event that there are three or more nominees, the two persons receiving the highest number of votes shall be in a run-off election with the person receiving the highest number of votes duly elected, unless one candidate receives a clear majority of votes on the first ballot.

ARTICLE EIGHT: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1: Composition. The Executive Committee shall consist of those officers duly elected by the membership as set forth in ARTICLE SEVEN of these by-laws, and up to 8 members at large. Executive Committee members are expected to attend all Board of Directors meetings and Executive Committee meetings.

Section 2: Meetings:

The Executive Committee shall meet as necessary. Business may be conducted by telephone.
The minutes of the Executive Committee meetings shall be forwarded to the Board of Directors within thirty (30) days of each meeting.
A quorum shall consist of fifty percent (50%) plus one of the Executive Committee.
Members may participate by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Vacancies to the Executive Committee shall be filled by a simple majority vote of the Board and shall be designated to complete the current term.

Section 3: Powers of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is empowered to act on Association business on behalf of the Board of Directors. All actions taken by the Executive Committee must be submitted to the Board at its next meeting.

ARTICLE NINE: COMMITTEES

Section 1: Standing Committees. The President may make appointments with the concurring vote of the Executive Committee for all standing committees. There shall be three (3) committees: Finance, Legislative and Nominating.

Section 2: Other Committees. The President shall be empowered to form ad hoc committees to meet the lawful and expedient needs of the Association as appropriate.

ARTICLE TEN: AUDIT

Section 1: Fiscal Year. The fiscal year shall be from July 1 to June 30, or such other fiscal year as established by the Board of Directors.

Section 2: Audit. After the closing of the fiscal year, there shall be financial review by a CPA of the Association’s records within 90 days and such review shall be made available to all members of the Association. Books of account and membership records shall be available for inspection by any member of the Association at all reasonable times and with due notice.

ARTICLE ELEVEN: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Section 1: Rules of Order. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the Association and shall be deemed parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by these by-laws.

Section 2: Parliamentarian. The President may appoint a Parliamentarian as deemed necessary and appropriate.

ARTICLE TWELVE: AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS

Section 1: Amendments. The By-Laws of the Association shall be made, altered or rescinded by the Board of Directors of this Association. This requires a majority of the members present at any duly constituted Board of Directors meeting at which a quorum is present. Proposed changes must be provided in writing to each Director not less than thirty (30) days prior to the meetings. This time period may be waived if agreed to by a majority of the voting members.

Approved by Board of Directors 9/14/06.

FJJA - Florida Juvenile Justice Association

"Your Advocates For Juvenile Justice"