Page 14 - Work Force October 2022

Proposed amendments to
CSEA’s Constitution and By-Laws
The Committee has, amongst its functions, the duty to review proposals and make recommendations to the Delegates regarding amendments to the CSEA Constitution and By-Laws. This report addresses proposals submitted for the 2022 Delegates Meeting. Committee recommendations are presented to
the Delegates, together with the reasons for the recommendations. As of this writing, the Committee met twice this year to review the proposals below. (New language is underlined; deleted language is [lined out and in brackets].)
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THE FOLLOWING ITEM IS BEING PRESENTED TO THE DELEGATES BY THE COMMITTEE AS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE STATEWIDE CONSTITUTION. PRESENTATION AT THIS MEETING CONSTITUTES A SECOND READING OF THIS AMENDMENT. IF PASSED AT THIS MEETING,
THIS AMENDMENT WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
Proposal 1
The following Constitution proposal was submitted by Mary E. Sullivan, Statewide President; Denise Berkley, Executive Vice President; Richard Bebo, Statewide Secretary; and Nicole Meeks, Statewide Treasurer:
ARTICLE XIII – Amendments
This Constitution may be amended as follows:
(a) A proposed amendment must be submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Association by June [May] 15 of the year of the delegate meeting at which it is to be presented, and
(b) A copy of [A majority of the delegates present and voting at the meeting must approve]
the proposed amendment [or a substantially similar amendment and order that it be] shall be published in the official newspaper of CSEA at least ten (10) days prior to the delegate [next] meeting at which it is to be presented [of the Association], and
(c) The proposed amendment, as published, or a substantially similar amendment is approved by a two-thirds vote of the delegates present and voting at the delegate [next] meeting at which it is presented [of the Association].
EXPLANATION: This proposal was submitted with the following justification:
“This proposal addresses the current requirement of two readings which in effect causes up to a four- year wait for an amendment to the CSEA Constitution to be official. By changing the Article to one reading on proper notice, but still requiring a 2/3 vote, it allows a more efficient process while protecting the integrity of the constitution.”
The Committee supports this proposal for the reasons set forth by the proposers.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF PLACING THIS
AMENDMENT BEFORE THE DELEGATES, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE, I MOVE THE ADOPTION OF THIS AMENDMENT. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS A “YES” VOTE.
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THE FOLLOWING ITEM IS BEING PRESENTED
TO THE DELEGATES BY THE COMMITTEE AS A COMBINED PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE STATEWIDE CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. PRESENTATION TO THE DELEGATES AT THIS MEETING CONSTITUTES A SECOND READING
OF THE CONSTITUTION PORTION OF THIS AMENDMENT, WHICH IF PASSED, WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. THE BY-LAWS PORTION WAS ALREADY PASSED AT THE 2020 MEETING AND IS INCLUDED FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY.
Proposal 2
The following Constitution and By-Laws proposal was submitted by Mary E. Sullivan, Statewide President:
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE XlII - Amendments
This Constitution may be amended as foIlows:
(a) A proposed amendment must be submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Association by June [May] 15 of the year of the delegate meeting at which it is to be presented, and
(b) A majority of the delegates present and
voting at the meeting must approve the proposed amendment or a substantially similar amendment and order that it be published in the official newspaper of CSEA at least ten (10) days prior to the next meeting of the Association, and
(c) The proposed amendment, as published, is approved by a two-thirds vote of the delegates at the next meeting of the Association.
BY-LAWS (Already passed in 2020)
ARTICLE Vll
These By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote at any meeting of the Delegates of the Association provided the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Association by June [May] 15 of the year of the delegates meeting at which it is presented and a copy of the proposed amendment is published in the official newspaper not less than ten (10) days before the meeting at which the proposed amendment is voted upon.
EXPLANATION: This proposal was submitted with the following justification:
“These amendments permit more time to submit proposals while allowing sufficient time for the Constitution and By-Laws Committee to do their work and meet publishing deadlines.”
The Committee supports this proposal for the reason stated by the proposer.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF PLACING THIS
AMENDMENT BEFORE THE DELEGATES, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE, I MOVE THE ADOPTION OF THIS AMENDMENT. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS A “YES” VOTE.
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THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE BEING PRESENTED TO THE DELEGATES BY THE COMMITTEE AS PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS. IF PASSED AT THIS MEETING, THESE AMENDMENTS WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
Proposal 3
The following By-Laws proposal was submitted by Mary E. Sullivan, Statewide President:
ARTICLE II – Meetings
Sections 1-8. Text remains the same. Section 9. NOTICE AND QUORUM.
(a)-(b) Text remains the same.
(c) QUORUM OF ASSOCIATION MEETINGS. The presence in person or by virtual technology of one-third of the members entitled to vote shall be necessary to constitute a quorum at all delegate meetings of the Association, the Board of Directors, the Directors’ Committee, the State Executive Committee, the Local Government Executive Committee or the Private Sector Executive Committee. The presence in person or by virtual technology of one-half of the committee members entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for that committee.
(d) QUORUM OF RETIREE DIVISION MEETINGS. The presence in person or by virtual technology of one-third of the members entitled to vote shall be necessary to constitute a quorum at all delegate meetings of the Division. The presence in person or by virtual technology of one-half of the committee members entitled to vote of the Retiree Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Remainder of Article remains the same.
EXPLANATION: This proposal was submitted with the following justification:
“This is a matter of housekeeping. In 2020, the Delegates approved the By-Laws proposal to amend this section to allow Association meetings to occur by virtual technology in addition to in-person. The intent was to apply this to Committee meetings and Retiree Division meetings as well, but the additional language did not make it into the original proposal. This proposal makes that clarification and conforms the By-Laws to the current practice during the ongoing pandemic.”
The Committee supports this proposal for the reasons stated by the proposer.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF PLACING THIS AMENDMENT BEFORE THE DELEGATES, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE, I MOVE THE ADOPTION OF THIS AMENDMENT. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS A “YES” VOTE.
Continued on page 15
14 The Work Force
October 2022