BYLAWS
ARTICLE I – ORGANIZATION
PARAGRAPH 1 – Committee Name
The Committee shall be known as the APTA Legal Affairs
Committee, hereinafter "the Committee."
PARGRAPH 2 – Mission Statement
The purpose of the Committee shall be to [educate its
members with respect to legal issues pertaining to public transportation,
share best practices, provide input to other APTA committees, and engage in
other activities relevant to legal concerns of the transit industry.
PARAGRAPH 3 – Objectives
At its annual Business Meeting, the Committee may adopt
an Action Plan setting forth its objectives for the coming year.
ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the Committee shall be open to attorneys
who represent APTA members and to employees of APTA members who have an interest
in legal affairs.
Persons desiring membership shall submit a notice in
writing, with the person’s name, title, organization address, telephone and
fax numbers and email address to the APTA Staff Advisor for the Committee.
ARTICLE III – OFFICERS
PARAGRAPH 1 – Officers
The Committee shall have the following officers: Chair,
Vice-Chair. Eligibility for the office of Vice-Chair shall rotate every two
years between public agency Committee members and private law firm Committee
members.
PARAGRAPH 2 – Duties of Officers
The duties of the Officers of the Committee shall be
as follows:
Chair. The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Committee and
shall be responsible for calling all meetings of the Committee. He/she
shall be an ex-officio member of all regular and special committees. He/she
shall appoint all Subcommittee, Ad-hoc Subcommittee and Task Force members.
He/she shall act as liaison between the Committee and the APTA Vice Chair
for Management and Finance and other APTA Committees, as appropriate.
He/she shall be responsible for taking action as necessary to ensure the
Committee achieves its objectives and shall perform all such other duties
as usually pertaining to such office.
- Vice Chair. The Vice Chair shall preside at meetings in the absence
of the Chair. He/she shall assist the Chair in the development and conduct
of Committee activities.
PARAGRAPH 3 – Terms of Office
Each Officer shall serve a term of 2 years. The Vice-Chair,
immediately after serving his/her two-year term, shall serve as Chair for
a two-year term. In the event of a vacancy occurring mid-term, as referenced
in Paragraph 4, a new election for both Chair and Vice-Chair shall take place
at the end of the term.
PARAGRAPH 4 – Vacancies
If the Office of Chair becomes vacant prior to the end
of the term, the Vice Chair shall ascend to that office for the remainder
of the term. In such case, the ascending Chair shall appoint a new Vice-Chair
for the remainder of the term.
If the Office of Vice Chair becomes vacant prior to the
end of the term, the Chair shall appoint a new Vice Chair for the remainder
of the term.
ARTICLE IV – ELECTION OF OFFICERS
PARAGRAPH 1 – Election of Officers
Election of Officers shall occur at the winter Business
Meeting of the Committee every two years. Officers shall be elected by a majority
of Committee members present and voting. Newly elected Officers shall assume
office at the conclusion of the Business Meeting at which they are elected.
PARAGRAPH 2 – Nominations.
A nominating committee, consisting of the past chair,
current chair, and vice chair, shall meet prior to the annual business meeting
at which officers are elected, and nominate a candidate for the office or
offices for which there will be a vacancy.
Members interested in serving as officers may make their
interest known by submitting a letter of interest to the Staff Advisor for
the Committee at least 30 days prior to the annual meeting at which officers
are elected.
Nominations may also be made from the floor at the meeting,
provided that the person nominated has indicated to the person making the
nomination that he/she is willing to serve.
ARTICLE V – MEETINGS AND VOTING
Paragraph 1 – Meetings
The Committee shall meet each winter during the APTA
Legal Affairs Seminar. The Committee may also meet as deemed necessary by
the Chair to conduct the business of the committee. Notice of meetings shall
be prepared by the Chair and sent to the Committee members by the APTA Staff
Advisor to the Committee no less than 14 days prior to the meeting. All meetings
shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order, as amended.
PARAGRAPH 2 – Voting
Only members of the Committee shall be eligible to vote
on issues or matters before the Committee. Except as otherwise specified herein,
all votes shall be by simple majority of voting members present and voting.
ARTICLE VI – SUBCOMMITTEES
PARAGRAPH 1 – Subcommittees
The Committee shall have such Subcommittees,
ad-hoc Subcommittees and Task Forces, as the Committee shall from time to
time create.
ARTICLE VII – RECORDS AND COMMUNICATIONS
PARAGRAPH 1 – Maintenance of Committee Records
The APTA Staff Advisor, along with other APTA staff as
appropriate, shall maintain the Committee membership roster and all Committee
records, including meeting minutes.
Minutes of the Annual Business Meeting shall be mailed to
all members within 30 days of the meeting.
PARAGRAPH 2 – Communications
All Committee notices, announcements and other communications
shall be processed and distributed by the APTA Staff advisor, in accordance
with APTA policy.
ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS
PARAGRAPH 1 – Submission and Consideration of Amendments
Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by any Committee
member and shall be submitted in writing to the Chair for consideration and
voting at the next Annual Business Meeting of the Committee that occurs at
least 60 days after the submission of the proposed amendment. The Chair shall
request that the APTA Staff Advisor distribute copies of any proposed amendments
at least 60 days prior to the Annual Business Meeting
PARAGRAPH 2 – Adoption of Amendments
Amendments to these Bylaws shall be adopted by a 2/3
vote of Committee members present and voting.
ARTICLE IX – CONFLICTS WITH APTA BYLAWS OR FEDERAL OR D.C.
LAW
In the case of a conflict between these Bylaws and the
APTA Bylaws or Federal or District of Columbia law, the APTA Bylaws or the
Federal or District of Columbia law shall prevail.
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