By-Laws

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of this organization shall be the “South Carolina Law Enforcement Victim Advocate Association”, hereafter referred to as the “Association”.

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE

Section 2.1 Association Purposes

1. To operate within the scope of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

2. To exist as an organization not for profit as described in Section 33-31-10, et. seq. of the South Carolina Code of Laws (1976).

3. To address a statewide need to assist Law Enforcement Victim Advocates in the development and delivery of direct assistance to victims of crime.

4. To advocate on behalf of all victims and witnesses of crime.

5. To establish effective communication among law enforcement, non-profit, and resource advocacy programs throughout South Carolina.

6. To enhance public awareness of victim/witness needs.

7. To accept membership dues.

Section 2.2 Association Goals

1. To provide training that promotes knowledge and understanding of crime victimization issues.

2. To facilitate training through law enforcement associations, i.e., Sheriff’s and Chief’s, etc., on the beneficial aspects of victim/witness advocacy programs in their organizations.

3. To support local, state and federal legislation, which enhances victim/witness, services.

4. To identify local, state and national resources to assist victims of crime and the Law Enforcement Victim Advocates who serve them.

5. To identify effective, innovative victim assistance programs which have been developed by, or in cooperation with law enforcement victim advocacy divisions, and disseminate programmatic information to the membership.

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP

Section 3.1 Membership Qualifications

1. General membership in this Association shall be open to any individual committed to addressing the needs of victims and witnesses and who pays the proper dues as outlined in Section 3.2.

2. No qualified applicant shall be refused membership in the Association on the basis of ethnic origin, sex, race, creed, religion, age or presence of a handicap.

3. Annual membership dues will be classified as contributions and the amount of such dues shall be determined by a vote of the membership.

Section 3.2 Membership Defined

1. Voting Members –– Law Enforcement Victim Advocates employed by law enforcement agencies.

2. Associate Members –– Staff of non-profit organizations and state and other governmental agencies. Associate members shall be non-voting members.

Section 3.3 Membership Dues

1. Voting Member –– Each individual member shall pay an annual membership of $25.00.

2. Associate Member –– Each individual associate member will pay an annual membership of $15.00.

3. Dues shall be collected annually in October.

Section 3.4 Membership Meetings

1. Meetings shall be held every other month, beginning in January, at a time and location determined by the voting membership of the Association.

2. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order.

3. 15% of the membership shall constitute a quorum.

Section 3.5 Member Liability

1. No member of the Association, in any capacity, now or hereafter, shall be personally liable to its creditors for any indebtedness or liability, and any and all creditors shall look only to its assets for payment.

Section 3.6 Membership Termination and Expulsion

1. Any member or associate member of the Association can be censured, suspended or expelled from membership for violation of one or more of the following principles.

A. Conviction of violation of any criminal law.

B. Any action involving moral turpitude by the member.

C. Any action by a member that violates the LEVA Code of Ethics (Codicil I).

D. Any public action by a member that could bring disrepute or disgrace to the Association or any member in good standing thereof.

2. Such disciplinary action shall occur after a majority vote (50% + 1) of the voting membership present after a presentation to the membership by the Executive Board based upon findings by a four (4) member Investigating Committee. Such committee will be appointed by the President, with advice of the Executive Board, at the time an allegation is formally received against any member or associate member in good standing.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 4.1 Executive Board

1. The Executive Board’s role shall be to provide leadership to the Association membership and guidance to committees.

2. The Executive Board of the Association shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Section 4.2 Eligibility –– Requirements

1. In order to be eligible to serve as an officer on the Executive Board, a person shall meet the following eligibility requirements:

A. Be a voting member of this Association.

B. Maintain the position of a Law Enforcement Victim Advocate while they are a member of the Executive Board, and must have worked as a Law Enforcement Victim Advocate for a minimum of one (1) year prior to their election.

C. Must have attended a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of the previous year’s meetings.

D. Must be nominated by a voting member.

2. Special Requirements

A. The Treasurer or his/her designated representative must be present at each meeting and an updated financial report must be presented during each meeting.

B. The Secretary or his/her designated representative must be present at each meeting and must provide each member and associate member with a copy of the prior meeting minutes at least one (1) week prior to the next meeting. A copy of the proposed agenda shall also be included.

Section 4.3 Elections and Terms of Office

1. Elections shall be held every two years at the May meeting. Nominees, or their designated representative, must be present. The nominator must also be present.

2. Should the President resign, the Vice President shall assume the responsibilities of the President for the remainder of the term.

3. Should any other Executive Board position become open during a two-year term, the voting members of the Association shall hold an election to fill the available position in accordance with Article IV, Section 4.2. The term of office shall be for the remainder of the term of the vacated position.

Section 4.4 Officer Removal

1. Any officer may be removed by a majority vote (50% + 1) of the voting membership present plus any absentee votes whenever, in the memberships’ judgment, the best interests of the Association would be served thereby.

Section 4.5 President

1. The President shall be the principal executive officer of the Association.

2. The President shall preside at all meetings of the membership.

3. The President, as designated Chief Executive Officer, is therefore empowered to sign all documents on behalf of the Association. The President may sign, with the Treasurer, on instruments of payment.

4. The President shall be the representative for the Association on outside committees, i.e., House-Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Victim’s Compensation, representing the views of the Association on those committees.

5. The President shall resign his/her office at such time as he/she no longer maintains the requirements for office as delineated in Article Iv, Section 4.2 of these by-laws.

Section 4.6 Vice President

1. In the absence of the President at any meeting, the Vice President shall preside.

2. The Vice President shall perform such duties assigned by the President.

3. The Vice President shall resign his/her position at such time as he/she no longer maintains the requirements for office as delineated in Article Iv, Section 4.2 of these by-laws.

4. The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President should that position become vacant as outlined in Article IV, Section 4.2.

Section 4.7 Secretary

1. The Secretary shall oversee minutes of Association meetings and record those minutes for distribution to the entire membership as outlined in Article IV, Section 4.2, Item 2.B.

2. The Secretary shall keep a current list of the general membership of the Association broken down by members and associate members.

3. The Secretary shall keep a list of the membership of all committees.

4. The Secretary shall perform such duties as assigned by the President.

5. The Secretary shall serve as a member of the Nominating Committee, and shall send out and receive Absentee Ballots.

6. The Secretary shall resign his/her position at such time as he/she no longer maintains the requirements for office as delineated in Article Iv, Section 4.2 of these by-laws.

Section 4.8 Treasurer

1. The Treasurer shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and present those to the membership as outlined in Article IV, Section 4.2, Item 2.A.

2. The Treasurer shall perform such duties as assigned by the President.

3. The Treasurer shall resign his/her position at such time as he/she no longer maintains the requirements for office as delineated in Article Iv, Section 4.2 of these by-laws.

ARTICLE V

COMMITTEES / SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS

Section 5.1 Nominating Committee

1. A nominating committee shall be made up of the Secretary of the Executive Board and at least, but not limited to, two members of the voting membership.

2. Nominating Committee duties are:

A. To receive nominations during the March meeting to be placed on the ballot during the May elections. The committee must review all nominations to insure nominees meet the eligibility requirements as delineated in Article IV, Section 4.2 of these by-laws. Those meeting the requirements will be placed into nomination during the May meeting.

B. Voting shall be by paper ballot of the voting membership of the Association at the May meeting. The nominating committee will tally the results at the May meeting.

C. To send out and receive Absentee Ballots from the voting membership of the Association. This shall be done at least one month prior to the May elections. The sealed ballot must be received by the Secretary prior to the meeting date of the May election. The Nominating Committee will open these sealed ballots during the May election and tally the results. (The Absentee Ballot is Codicil III to these by-laws.)

Section 5.2 Legislative Liaison

1. The responsibility of the Legislative Liaison is to keep the full membership of the Association apprised of any legislation pertinent to the goals and mission of the Association.

2. The President shall appoint a Legislative Liaison from the voting membership of the Association.

3. Term of service shall be for one year from the date of elections (May). If, for any reason, the Legislative Liaison is unable to fulfill his/her duties, a new Liaison will be appointed by the President to complete the one-year term.

4. The Legislative Liaison shall coordinate with the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network (SCVAN) and its Public Policy Coordinator on legislative issues and initiatives.

5. A report shall be made at each meeting of the Association while the Legislature is in session and on an as-needed basis at other times.

Section 5.3 Other Committees

1. Other committees, not having and exercising the authority of the Executive Board, may be designated by a resolution adopted by the majority of the voting membership at a meeting.

2. Membership shall be determined at the time of committee formation.

3. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, with the exception of the Nominating Committee.

ARTICLE VI

VOTING

Section 6.1 Guidelines

1. Members shall comprise the voting membership of the Association.

2. Associate members shall have no voting privileges.

3. 15% of the membership shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VII

CODICILS

Section 7.1 Codicil I

1. The LEVA Code of Ethics shall be Codicil I to these by-laws.

Section 7.2 Codicil II

1. The Association Mission Statement shall be Codicil II to these by-laws.

Section 7.3 Codicil III

1. The Absentee Ballot shall be Codicil III to these by-laws.

ARTICLE VIII

CHANGES TO BY-LAWS

Section 8.1 Procedures

1. These by-laws and/or any part thereof, may be altered, amended or repealed and new by-laws may be adopted by a majority vote (50% + 1) of the voting members present plus any absentee votes, provided that at least thirty-one days or one month, whichever is less, notice is given of intention to amend these by-laws.

2. Notice shall contain both the existing language, if any, and the new language, if any, of the proposed amendments, and copies shall be provided to the membership.

3. Failure to obtain ratification by a majority vote (50% + 1)) of the voting members present plus any absentee votes renders proposed amendment(s) null and void, and the by-laws shall revert to the previously approved language.

4. Unless otherwise stated, ratified changes become effective immediately.

CODICIL I

L.E.V.A. Code of Ethics (see Code of Ethics Page)

CODICIL II

MISSION STATEMENT

This Association has been founded to establish a network of representatives from law enforcement, non-profit and resource organizations across the state to provide education, information exchange and support.

CODICIL III

ABSENTEE BALLOT

Please designate candidate of your choice by marking the space next to the nominee's name.

President: _____ (Candidate / Nominee)

Vice President: _____ (Candidate / Nominee)

Treasurer: _____ (Candidate /Nominee)

Secretary: _____ (Candidate / Nominee)

___________________________ _____________________________
Signature of Voting Member Printed Name of Voting Member

___________________________ _____________________________
Date Agency of Voting member

This ballot must be returned to the Secretary in a sealed envelope, MARKED BALLOT ON THE FRONT, and received no later than DATE.

Secretary’’s Name

Mailing Address

(Ballots will be adjusted accordingly for purpose of vote.)