The Florida Forensic Psychology Division

Transcription

1 Bylaws of the Florida Forensic Psychology Division of the Florida Psychological Association, Inc., a non-profit entity existing under the laws of the State of Florida A. PREAMBLE The following goals are established for the Florida Forensic Psychology Division: 1. Providing a forum for the exchange of information and ideas related to the field of forensic psychology as a science and practice. 2. Promoting the ethical delivery of forensic psychological services. 3. Furnishing CPE programs in forensic psychology. 4. Addressing and providing education and information about insurance and reimbursement issues in forensic psychology. 5. Assisting FPA in reviewing legislation and its possible impact upon forensic psychological services. I. Principal Office The principal office of the Florida Forensic Psychology Division shall be the same as the office of the Florida Psychological Association. The address of the principal office may be changed at the discretion of the Forensic Psychology Division s Board of Directors. II. Membership A. Regular Member Qualification. A member of the Forensic Psychology Division shall be a person who: 1) is a member of the Florida Psychological Association; and 2) pays the required dues as stipulated by the division s Board of Directors; and B. Student Affiliate Qualification There shall be a class of membership termed student affiliate. A student affiliate shall be a student member of the Florida Psychological Association who pays dues as determined by the Board of Directors. C. Resignation A member may resign from the Division upon providing written notice to the Division s Board of Directors. Failure to pay dues shall constitute voluntary resignation from membership in the Forensic Psychology Division.

2 D. Limitation Membership in the Forensic Psychology Division shall not be construed by any person as establishing scientific and professional competence of the member for forensic psychology. Membership will not be interpreted as the basis for competency to engage in a practice of forensic psychology, teaching or training, legal testimony, or consultative purposes. E. No Vested Interest A member or corporation shall have no vested right, interest, or privilege of in or to the assets, functions, affairs, or franchises of the Forensic Psychology Division, or any right, interest, or privilege which may be transferable or inheritable or which shall continue if his or her membership ceases, or while he/she is not in good standing. III. Dues A. Annual Dues. The Board of Directors shall establish a dues schedule for membership in the Forensic Psychology Division. The dues schedule shall establish membership fees for members and student affiliates. B. Special Assessments. The Division Board of Directors may determine, as considered necessary, the amount of special assessments to be charged the membership. C. Exemptions The Treasurer, President, and/or the Executive Director of the Florida Psychological Association shall have the authority to exempt any person from the payment of any portion of applicable dues or assessments, for a period of one year. The principal office shall maintain a record of any such exemptions. D. Payment Dues shall be paid by each member in the same time frame that they have elected to pay their Florida Psychological Association dues. A. Meetings of the membership IV. Meetings 1) Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the membership shall be held during each year at the summer Florida Psychological Association convention. 2) Special Meetings Special meetings of the membership may be called by the President or the Board of Directors or by written request of a majority of the members for any purpose. 3) Notice The Division President or his/her designee shall notify members of the division of the meeting at

3 least 14 days prior to the meeting. Notice shall be given in writing either via mail or electronic mail. Notice of any special meeting shall also state the purpose of the meeting. The notice shall be mailed or ed to the current member s address retained in the Florida Psychological Associations records. 4) Voting Rights Each regular member is entitled to one vote. The vote may be cast in person, by mail, or by electronic mail. 5) Quorum Ten percent of the members entitled to vote represented in person, by mail or by electronic mail shall constitute a quorum. A simple majority vote when there is a quorum shall decide any question brought before the meeting, except as otherwise required by law. If a quorum is not present, a majority of the members represented in person may adjourn the meeting. 6) Ballots Any decision that may be made by the membership at a meeting may be made by the membership voting through a postal mail ballot, or an ballot. All ballots must be issued by the president or his/her designee. A simple majority vote of those responding to any ballot and entitled to vote shall decide any question submitted to a vote by mail ballot, except when otherwise required by law. 7) Parliamentary Procedure The Board of Directors of the Forensic Psychology Division shall operate according to a recognized form of parliamentary procedure as determined by the Board of Directors, which is currently Keesey s Modern Parliamentary Procedure. B. Board of Directors 1) Regular Meetings A regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held at the same place as the annual meeting of the membership. Additional communication and meetings will be scheduled as required by the Board. Meetings may be conducted by teleconference. 2) Special Meetings Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President or a majority of the Board of Directors for any purpose. A notice stating the purpose of the special meeting shall be mailed or delivered to each Director at least 14 days prior to such meeting. 3) Quorum A majority of the Directors entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum. The vote of a majority of the Directors present and entitled to vote shall decide any matter before the Board, except as may be otherwise required by law or these Bylaws. The President shall vote only in case of a tie.

4 V. Board of Directors A. Responsibility 1) Scope of Authority The Board of Directors is the policy making and regulatory body of the Forensic Psychology Division. Except as may be limited in the Florida Psychological Association s Bylaws or Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Forensic Psychology Division, the Board of Directors shall have all rights and powers granted or permitted by law. 2) Liability Directors shall not be liable to the members of the Forensic Psychology Division for any mistake of judgment and shall only be liable for their own individual willful misconduct or bad faith. 3) Limitations Directors shall not speak on behalf of the Florida Psychological Association, nor may officers enter into contracts on behalf of the Florida Psychological Association. B. Membership The Board of Directors of the Division shall consist of the Division s President, President Elect, Past President, and an elected representative of the student affiliates. The representatives of the student affiliates shall be non-voting members of the Board. VI. Officers A. Name The Officers shall be a President, President-Elect, and Immediate Past President. Officers must be regular members of the Florida Psychological Association and of the Forensic Psychology Division. B. Election and Term The term of office for the President, President-Elect, and Immediate Past President shall each be one year. The officers shall be elected by mail ballot after nominations have been gathered. The president, past-president, and president-elect are the nominating committee. The past-president will supervise the election. New officers shall be named in December of the election year. An officer shall hold office until his or her successor has been elected and duly qualified, or until otherwise removed by the Forensic Psychology Division Board of Directors. C. President The President shall be the principal executive officer of the Division. The President shall preside at all meetings of the members and of the Directors except as otherwise provided for in these Bylaws. The President shall represent the Forensic Division at the Florida Psychological Association Board of Directors meetings and at the Legislative Affairs and Public Policy Board meetings.

5 D. President-Elect In the absence of the President, the President-Elect shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all of the powers and responsibilities of the President. The President-Elect shall succeed the President upon the end of the President s term. The President-Elect shall perform any duties designated by the Board of Directors. The president-elect shall countersign, where required, all documents and instruments on behalf of the Forensic Psychology Division, record the minutes of the meetings of the membership, Board of directors, and give notices required by the Bylaws or by Florida Statutes. The minutes shall be maintained by the principal office of the Division for a period of at least ten years. The president-elect shall otherwise ensure that an adequate archive and records system is maintained for Division affairs. E. Immediate Past President In the absence of the President and President-Elect, the Immediate Past President shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all of the powers and responsibilities of the President. The Immediate Past President shall serve as the elections officer of the Forensic Psychology Division and shall perform additional duties as designated by the Board of Directors. Immediate Past President for the Forensic Division of the Florida Psychological Association shall be responsible for submitting budget requests to the Florida Psychological Association on behalf of the Division and for ensuring that expenditures do not exceed income. The Immediate Past President of the Division shall be the principal financial officer of the Division and shall conduct his or her office with sound fiscal methods. The Immediate Past President shall submit a yearly budget to the Board of Directors for approval and report to the Board of Directors on the financial status of the Division. G. Removal Any officer may be removed by two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors at a meeting called for that purpose. H. Vacancy Any vacancy in the office of Immediate Past-President, President, or President Elect shall be filled for the remaining portion of the term by a member elected by the Board of Directors. VIII. Amendments to the Bylaws A. Proposals Amendments to the Bylaws shall be proposed either by the Division Board of Directors or by at least 5% of the membership. Any amendment proposed by petition shall be submitted to the membership for vote. However, if the Division Board of Directors is opposed to all or part of the proposed amendment, the Board of Directors may so state in any mail or ballot or otherwise. B. Procedures. Proposed amendments shall be mailed or ed to the Members of the Division at least 30 days prior to any meeting, or mail or ballot determining the proposed amendment. The proposed amendment may, at the option of the Forensic Psychology Division Board of Directors, either be determined at a meeting of the membership or by a majority of those voting in a mail or

6 ballot. IX. Indemnification All Officers and Directors, past or present, shall be indemnified by the Division to the fullest extent permitted by law against all expenses and liabilities including attorney s fees reasonably incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, or proceeding of settlement thereof in which they may become involved as a party or otherwise by reason of holding such an office. However, this shall not apply to any claim, action, or suit by the Division against an Officer or Director. The Division may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of all Officers and Directors against any liability asserted against them or incurred by them in their capacity as officers and Directors or arising out of their status as such. X. Conflict and Severability If any provision of these bylaws is deemed to conflict with the bylaws of the Florida Psychological Association, the bylaws of the Florida Psychological Association shall be controlling. The non-conflicting provisions of the Forensic Division bylaws shall remain in effect. These Bylaws of the Forensic Psychology Division, a non-profit Division existing under the laws of the State of Florida were adopted by the membership on, Approved: President