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Constitution and Bylaws

 
 


 

NEBRASKA CHILD SUPPORT

ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION

BY-LAWS

Revised September 2004

 

GOAL

 

The members of the Nebraska Child Support Enforcement Association recognize that by working together, we can improve the enforcement of child support laws and the lives of Nebraska’s children. The Association will do all in its power to help its members and to work for better laws and procedures relating to child support. Our main concern is to see that children are supported by their parents and that the laws and agencies of Nebraska recognize and enforce that obligation.

ARTICLE I – NAME

 

The name of the Association shall be the Nebraska Child Support Enforcement Association. The purpose of the Association shall include, but not be limited to:

A.      Encouraging the improvement of the administration of family support programs through the diligent enforcement of state and federal laws.

B.      Provide ways and means whereby state and county officials, organizations and individuals in child support can exchange information, ideas and experience and obtain expert advice.

C.      Securing the cooperation of the federal, state, and county units of government to study family support problems and devise methods that will improve and standardize enforcement policies and procedures.

D.      Providing governmental officials at all levels and the general public with information regarding family support programs.

E.      Developing, promoting and conducting educational programs and conferences for the purpose of informing federal, state and county officials and workers of the latest techniques, procedures and practices in family support.

F.      Developing and promoting inter-jurisdictional agreements and arrangements for jointly providing more comprehensive approaches to family support and recovery programs.

G.     Recommending and working for improvements in state laws to make child support enforcement more efficient and responsive to the needs of unsupported children.

ARTICLE II – FUNDS

 

The Association shall be incorporated as a non-profit organization. Contributions may be solicited from individuals, foundations or groups to help defray operating expenses.

The Board of Directors shall determine the need for annual dues and shall establish amounts, as appropriate, in all membership categories. Registration fees shall be set by the Board of Directors for the Annual Training Conference(s) held by the Association.

 

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

 

Membership shall be limited as defined in Article III of the Constitution.

 

ARTICLE IV – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The Board of Directors shall be comprised of members as set forth in Article IV of the Constitution. Each executive committee position, committee and region shall have one (1) vote on the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE V – ELECTION

 

Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected or appointed as set forth in Article IV of the Constitution. Voting regulations are addressed in Article VI of the By-Laws.

 

ARTICLE VI – NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

 

Nominations for Board of Directors to be elected at the Annual Conference may be submitted to the Nomination Committee Chairperson(s) or their designee within the time frames determined by the committee. Deadline for nomination time frames may be any date not within four (4) weeks prior to the Annual Conference. Nomination forms will be provided to the general membership via the Association Newsletter or other means as determined by the Board of Directors. Nominations may also be made from the floor for election of officers during the business meeting at the Annual Training Conference. Nominees may be any member in good standing of the Association.

 

Nominations are to be made by someone other than the nominee and all nominations are to be accepted unless such nomination would result in a Board member exceeding the two (2) consecutive year rule set forth in Article IV of the Constitution. Nominees may be nominated to more than one executive committee position. If a nominee is elected to more than one position, the nominee may chose which seat they would prefer to keep and the other seat(s) will be awarded to the nominee with the next largest number of votes for the empty seat. If no other nominee exists, the vacancy shall be filled by presidential appointment with a majority vote of approval by the Board of Directors. No one member shall hold two executive committee votes without approval by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

 

In accordance with Article IV of the Constitution, the Nominating Committee chairperson(s) or their designees shall prepare ballots listing the nominees for each elected office. Each member in good standing of the Association shall be entitled to cast one ballot at the Annual Business Meeting. Members in good standing at the Annual Business Meeting shall receive ballots from the Nominating Committee chairperson(s) or their designees at that time.

 

Absentee ballots from members in good standing may be submitted for counting and must be submitted to the Nominating Committee chairperson(s) or their designee by the close of business on the first day of the Annual Conference.

 

Absentee ballots shall be requested in writing by each member wishing to vote in order to allow for the Nominating Committee to maintain the integrity of the voting process, in accordance with Article IV of the Constitution. Members requesting and receiving absentee ballots will not be allowed voting privileges during the Annual Business Meeting should they attend the Annual Training Conference. All requests for absentee ballots must be made by 5:00 pm C.S.T. of the business day that occurs one (1) week prior to the start date of the Annual Conference in an effort to aid in the monitoring process. This deadline shall be communicated to all members in good standing via the Association Newsletter or other means as determined by the Board of Directors.

 

Members in good standing are members who are individually listed on the Association Membership List kept by the Treasurer as of the first of July in the year of the Annual Conference where the election will take place. Nominations made from the floor for election of officers during the business meeting at the Annual Training Conference will not be reflected on the absentee ballots.

  

ARTICLE VII – ANNUAL CONFERENCE

 

The Training Conference of this Association shall be held in accordance with Article V of the Constitution. The date and place are to be determined by the Board of Directors. Reports from the President, Treasurer, and Secretary shall be given at the business meeting at the Annual Conference. Reports by Committee Chairmen and Region Representatives may also be given at the business meeting.

 

Resolutions may be presented to the Association and voted on by regular voting members.

Election of executive officers for the following year will be held at the Annual Business Meeting.

Other activities may be arranged at the instruction of the membership of the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE VIII – OFFICERS

 

The Executive Board shall include the following officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Liaison Officer, Librarian/Historian, and Past President. The duties of the Executive Board shall include the development of the annual budget, authorization of expenditures, negotiation of the site and contract for the Annual Training Conference, and supervision of the following: Non-Profit status, bulk mailing permit, annual audit of NCSEA books and investments.

 

SECTION I: PRESIDENT

The President shall be the presiding officer. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and at the Annual Conference. It shall also be the duties of the President to appoint all committees not otherwise provided for in the by-laws, to make appointments to all committees both special and standing, to serve as ex-officio member to all committees, to coordinate the preparation and organization of the Annual Conference, to appoint any members to the Board of Directors with a simple majority vote of the Board to replace a position left vacant with an un-expired term, and to speak on behalf of the Association when so instructed by the Board of Directors. The President may also, at his/her discretion, appoint a Corresponding Secretary.

 

In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of the President, the Vice-President shall assume his/her duties.

 

SECTION II: VICE PRESIDENT

The Vice President shall perform the official duties of the President in the event of the President’s absence or inability to perform his/her duties and shall be the president-elect. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of the President, the Vice-President shall assume his/her duties. It shall be the duty of the Vice President to be the Program Chairman for the Annual Training Conference and to perform such other duties as may be delegated to him/her by the President and/or Board of Directors. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, it shall be filled for the remainder of the term by Presidential appointment with the approval of the simple majority vote of the Board of Directors. Only members who have served on the Board of Directors for at least an entire term (one full year) in the past can be appointed to the position of Vice President.

 

SECTION III: SECRETARY

The Secretary shall keep true and accurate minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the Business Meeting held at the Annual Training Conference. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to prepare and distribute meeting agendas and minutes of these meetings as directed by the President, to respond to any correspondence regarding the Association, to assist the Treasurer in maintaining the Membership List for the Association, and to keep a true and accurate copy of the Association Constitution and by-laws. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of Secretary, it shall be filled by Presidential appointment with the approval of a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION IV: TREASURER

The Treasurer shall receive, disburse, and account for all monies received by the Association and make an annual report as to the finances of the Association at the Annual Conference and any other such reports as may be designated by the Board of Directors. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to present a report of the receipts and disbursements of the Annual Conference to the Secretary within thirty (30) days of the conference for inclusion in the Secretary’s minutes, to deposit all monies and securities in the name of the Association in such depositories designated by the Board of Directors, to provide the mailing labels for the Association’s Newsletter, and to keep an updated listing of the Association’s membership. The Treasurer will be given and is responsible for the Association’s laptop during their term. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of the Treasurer, it shall be filled by Presidential appointment with the approval of a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION V: LIAISON OFFICER

The Liaison Officer shall establish and maintain contacts with regional and national organizations and associations, which are committed, in whole or in part, to the enforcement of child support laws. These organizations and associations shall include, but not be limited to, the National Child Support Enforcement Association, the National Institute for Child Support Enforcement, the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the American Bar Association, and the Young Lawyers Division Child Support Enforcement Office in Kansas City, Missouri. The Liaison Officer shall serve as an advisor to the Board of Legislation and National Child Support Enforcement projects, which may affect the State of Nebraska. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Liaison Officer, the position shall be filled by Presidential appointment with the approval of a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION VI: LIBRARIAN/HISTORIAN

The Librarian/Historian shall maintain the Association scrapbooks, written records, and the Association’s Videotape Library. The Librarian/Historian shall have the duties of advertising video tapes and other training materials available for training in the Association’s Newsletter, maintain a system for obtaining and returning of training materials, be in charge of any fees the Association may find necessary to charge for the use of the training materials, and postage and handling of the training materials. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of Librarian/Historian, it shall be filled by Presidential appointment with the approval of a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION VII: PAST PRESIDENT

It shall be the duty of the Past President to chair the Annual Awards Committee. Committee members shall be the members of the Nominating Committee. The purpose of the Annual Awards Committee will be to solicit nomination, determine the winner and present the Judicial Officer of the Year, Member of the Year, Appreciation Award, and Lifetime Service Award at the Annual Conference. It shall also be the duty of the Past President to coordinate the judging and presentation of the Regional Excellence Award as well as the Region Participation Award at the Annual Conference. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of Past President, it shall be filled by the most recent former past president. If the former past president is unable to complete the duties, it shall be filled by Presidential appointment with the approval of a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors. Every effort should be made to fill the vacancy with a Past President of the Association.

 

ARTICLE IX - REGIONS

At least one Regional Representative shall be elected from each of the six (6) regions, designated as follows:

 

Region I: Douglas and Sarpy Counties.

 

Region II: Butler, Polk, Saunders, Lancaster, Cass, Otoe, Gage, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson, York, Seward, Fillmore, Saline, Thayer and Jefferson Counties.

 

Region III: Knox, Cedar, Dixon, Dakota, Antelope, Pierce, Wayne, Thurston, Boone, Madison, Stanton, Cuming, Burt, Nance, Platte, Colfax, Dodge and Washington Counties.

 

Region IV: Keya Paha, Boyd, Brown, Rock, Holt, Blaine, Loup, Garfield, Wheeler, Custer, Valley, Greeley, Sherman, Howard, Buffalo, Hall, Gosper, Phelps, Kearney, Adams, Furnas, Harlan, Franklin, Merrick, Nuckolls, Clay, Hamilton and Webster Counties.

 

Region V: Lincoln, Keith, Perkins, Chase, Hayes, Frontier, Dundy, Hitchcock, Red Willow, Arthur, McPherson, Logan, Grant, Hooker, Thomas, Cherry, and Dawson Counties.

 

Region VI: Scotts Bluff, Banner, Cheyenne, Kimball, Morrill, Garden, Deuel, Sioux, Box Butte, Dawes and Sheridan Counties.

 

Each Region shall elect its own Regional Representative(s) and only members from that region shall vote on who their Representative(s) shall be.

 

ARTICLE X – COMMITTEES

There shall be nine (9) standing committees, namely:

1. Legislative                                        

2. Finance – Sales/ Office                 

3. Finance – Fundraising                  

4. Publicity and Activities

5. Newsletter

6. Registration

7. Nomination   

8. Hospitality

9. Region Representative

 

The committee members shall be appointed at the Regional Meetings held at the Annual Training Conference. Each region will appoint a member to the Legislative, Finance-Sales/Office, Finance-Fundraiser, Publicity and Activities, Newsletter, Registration and Conference Coordinator Committees. Each committee chairperson shall be appointed by President elect prior to the start of his/her term as President. Appointed Chairpersons begin their term when the President elect assumes the term of the President. The President shall serve on all committees as an ex-officio member. Each committee shall have one vote on the Board of Directors.

 

It shall be the duty of the Legislative Committee to recommend and work for improvement in State Laws to make child support enforcement more efficient and responsive to the needs of the dependent membership on legislative matters pertaining before the State Legislature, to support and campaign for legislation as directed by the Board of Directors, to provide a synopsis of Federal and State Legislative proposals or changes and to meet as a committee at least twice per year and submit a written report to the Secretary and the general membership at the Annual Conference.

 

It shall be the duty of the Finance – Sales/Office Committee to explore, develop and utilize ways to promote membership in this Association and increase revenue and attendance at the Annual Conference through sales items and office promotions.

 

It shall be the duty of the Finance – Fundraising Committee to solicit, explore, develop and utilize sources of funding for Association projects as approved by the Board of Directors, to increase revenue and to promote membership in this Association and attendance at the Annual Conferences.

 

It shall be the duty of the Publicity and Activities Committee to coordinate and implement all special projects of the Association as a whole, such as an Association booth at the State Fair, and to promote and other activities for increasing the public awareness of this Association and child support in the State of Nebraska.

 

It shall be the duty of the Newsletter Committee to compile, edit, print and mail a newsletter to Association members at least three times per year or more often as directed by the Board of Directors.

 

It shall be the duty of the Registration Committee to assist the Treasurer with registrations at the Annual Training Conference and/or mini-conferences, to facilitate the availability of conference materials and help the Treasurer in any manner he/she deems necessary.

 

It shall be the duty of the Nominating Committee to solicit nomination for election of Executive Board members following the procedures in Article VI, to present a panel of committee chairpersons to the Vice President prior to the Annual Training Conference and to monitor the election process and results as provided in Article VI.

 

The Nominating Committee shall also, under the direction of the Past President, solicit nominations, select and present the following awards:

1.       Judicial Officer of the Year – criteria for the award are :

  • juvenile or district court judge, referee, or clerk
  • demonstrated interest and concern about child support as evidenced by:
    • writing articles for professional or popular publication
    • giving professional child support presentations and/or training
    • drafting and/or testifying on behalf of child support legislation
    • participating in child support related committee for HHS or professional associations

·         not a reward for judicial rulings

  • presented as appropriate – not necessarily every year

2.       Member of the Year – criteria for the award are:

  • Any member of two or more years

·         outstanding service to child support during the past year(s)

  • presented as appropriate – not necessarily every year

3.       Lifetime Achievement Award – criteria for the award are:

  • at least 10 years professional experience in child support
  • record of leadership, innovation and dedication
  • preference to retired or soon-to-retire persons
  • presented as appropriate -- not necessarily every year

4.       Appreciation Award – criteria for the award are:

  • not a person or organization working primarily in child support (i.e. legislator, educator, journalist, advocacy group or business)
  • significant contribution toward the improvement of child support functioning in Nebraska
  • presented as appropriate -- not necessarily every year

Nominations for each of the aforementioned awards must contain the nominee’s name, address, phone number, and brief description of why the nominator feels the nominee should be considered for the award. Submission containing the name and address of the nominee only will be refused.

 

It shall be the duty of the Hospitality Committee to solicit items for, and to facilitate and monitor the Hospitality Room at the Annual Conference. Also, to help foster community and coordination among various child support agencies, to assist region representatives and region representative coordinators with conference activities and to provide a welcome to new members of the Association.

 

It shall be the duty of the Region Representative committee to encourage attendance at the Annual Conference, to serve as liaisons and represent members of their region at the meeting of the Board of Directors and to handle regional membership matters. In the event of a vacancy in any of the Regional Representative positions, it shall be filled by Presidential appointment with the approval of a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors. Unlike the other committees where only the chairperson is granted a vote on the board, this committee is granted seven (7) votes, one for the chairperson and one each for the individual regions.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

Amendments to the Constitution and by-laws can be made by a simple majority vote of the regular voting members present at the Annual Meeting and those voting by way of absentee ballot if such amendments are available prior to the Annual Meeting.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

Meeting procedures shall be determined by Robert’s Rules of Order.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

The Board of Directors shall, in addition to meeting at the Annual Conference, meet in at least one month following the Annual Conference but prior to the beginning of the President elects term as President and shall in addition meet not less than three months preceding the Annual Conference, or as deemed necessary by the President.

 

ARTICLE XIV

 

The Association Logo and any public service announcement, advertisement, or artwork created for use by the Association shall be considered the property of the Association. Any member may use any of the above named items provided they have received approval by a majority vote of the Board of Directors and provided they make no change to the design, content, or context of the items. Members of the Board of Directors may use any of the above items without Board Approval provided no changes in design, content, or context is made.

 


NEBRASKA CHILD SUPPORT

ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION

CONSTITUTION

Revised September 2004

Parents have a legal and moral responsibility to support their children. The purpose of the Association is to provide community outreach, work toward the improved enforcement of the child support laws and a standardization of enforcement procedures and cooperation among the counties of Nebraska and other States and territories for the enforcement of child support laws.

ARTICLE I

The name of the Association shall be the Nebraska Child Support Enforcement Association.

ARTICLE II

The Association shall be a non-profit organization.

ARTICLE III

Membership in the Association shall be bestowed upon:

1.       any Nebraska County Attorney or Authorized Attorney and related child support staff;

  1. any Nebraska Clerk of the District Court or Court Administrator and related child support staff;
  2. any Nebraska District Court Judge, County Court Judge, Juvenile Court Judge, or Child Support Referee;
  3. any employee of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services engaged in child support related work; and
  4. any employee contracted to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services engaged in any child support related work.

An individual not listed in the above categories may make a request for membership in the Association by submitting a written request to the acting Association President. Application shall be reviewed and approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors at the first meeting following receipt of the application.

 

The Board of Directors, at it’s discretion, may award honorary membership to any organization, agency, business, or individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the Association or who is engaged in any child support related work.

 

The Board of Directors shall determine the need for annual dues and shall establish amounts, as appropriate, in all membership categories.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Members shall elect a Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Liaison Officer and Librarian/Historian at the Annual Training Conference. Each member in good standing of the Association shall be allowed to cast one vote for each of said offices. All executive committee officers may only serve two consecutive terms in any one position, unless approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. The Vice President shall be the President elect. Members shall elect up to three (3) Regional Representative(s) from their Region at the Regional Meetings held at the Annual Training Conference. Newly appointed Regional Representative(s) shall appoint volunteers from their regions to be on the various committees. Committee chairs and Regional Representative Coordinator(s) shall be appointed by the President.

 

The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Liaison Officer, Librarian/Historian, and the immediate Past President.

The Board of Directors shall be comprised of the Executive Committee, Region Representatives, Region Representative Coordinator(s) and Committee Chairpersons. One vote on the Board of Directors is allowed for each region, each committee and one for the Region Representative Coordinator. A vacancy in any Board of Directors position shall occur by resignation or failure to attend two consecutive Board meetings without good reason as determined by the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE V

 

This Association shall hold an Annual Training Conference. The Board of Directors may, in their sole discretion, elect to cancel or postpone the Annual Training Conference by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. If the Annual Training Conference is cancelled or postponed all Board positions shall be held until such time as the next statewide training conference, not to exceed two years. The Board of Directors may hold other training conferences throughout the year, as they determine necessary, for educational purposes.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Amendments to the Constitution shall be adopted by a simple majority vote of regular voting members present or voting by absentee ballot at the Association’s Business Meeting held at the Annual Training Conference.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

This Association may be dissolved by a vote of three-fourths of its active members attending the Annual Training Conference Business Meeting. In the event of dissolution, the assets of the Association shall be distributed to a non-profit agency or association concerned with child support enforcement.