CURRENT BYLAWS OF
California District Attorney Investigators’ Association
A California Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I: CORPORATE OFFICES [View]
1.1 Name
1.2 Principal Office
1.3 Other Offices
ARTICLE II: CORPORATE PURPOSE [View]
2.1 Corporate Purpose
2.2 Construction and Definition 2
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP [View]
3.1 Classes of Members
3.2 Rights of Members
3.3 Dues, Fees and Assessments
3.4 Members in Good Standing
3.5 Termination of Membership
3.6 Suspension of Membership
3.7 Procedures for Suspension or Termination
3.8 Transfer of Membership
3.9 Annual Meetings
3.10 Place of Meetings
3.11 Special Meetings
3.12 Calling Special Meetings
3.13 Proper Business of Special Meetings
3.14 Notice
3.15 Manner of Giving Notice
3.16 Affidavit of Mailing Notice
3.17 Quorum
3.18 Eligibility to vote
3.19 Manner of Voting
3.20 Number of Votes
3.21 Approval by Majority Vote
3.22 Waiver of Notice or Consent
3.23 Action by Unanimous Written Ballots
3.24 Action by Written Ballots
3.25 Solicitation of Written Ballots
3.26 Number of Votes and Approvals Required
3.27 Revoking Ballots
3.28 Filing Ballots
3.29 Record Date
3.30 Record Date for Actions not Set by Board
3.31 Members Proxy Rights
3.32 Solicited Proxies
3.33 Subject Matter of Proxy to Be Seated
3.34 Revocability of Proxies
3.35 Adjournment and Notice of Adjourned Meetings
ARTICLE IV: BOARD OF DIRECTORS [View]
4.1 General Powers
4.2 Specific Powers
4.3 Number and Qualifications for Directors
4.4 Nomination by Committee
4.5 Nomination by Members
4.6 Floor Nominations
4.7 Nominee’s Right to Solicit Votes
4.8 Use of Corporate Funds to Support Nominee
4.9 Vacancies on Board of Directors
4.10 Resignation Filled by Board
4.11 Vacancies Filled by Board
4.12 No Vacancy on Reduction of Number of Directions
4.13 Place of Board Meetings
4.14 Meetings by Telephone
4.15 Annual and Other Meetings
4.16 Special Meetings
4.17 Notice of Special Meetings
4.18 Quorum
4.19 Wavier of Notice
4.20 Adjournment
4.21 Notice of Adjourned Meeting
4.22 Action without a Meeting
4.23 Compensation and Reimbursement
4.24 Creation and Powers of Committees
4.25 Meetings and Action of Committees
ARTICLE V: OFFICERS [View]
5.1 Offices Held
5.2 Duplication of Office Held
5.3 Election of Officers
5.4 Appointment of Other Officers
5.5 Removal of Officers
5.6 Resignation of Officers
5.7 Vacancies of Offices
5.8 Chairman of the Board
5.9 President
5.10 Vice President
5.11 Secretary
5.12 Chief Financial Officer
ARTICLE VI: CONTRACTS WITH DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS [View]
6.1 Contracts with Directors and Officers
6.2 Loans to Directors and Officers
ARTICLE VII: INDEMNIFICATION [View]
7.1 Indemnification
7.2 Insurance
ARTICLE VIII: MAINTENANCE OF CORPORATE RECORDS [View]
8.1 Corporate Books and Records
8.2 Members’ Right to Inspect
8.3 Accounting Records and Minutes
8.4 Maintenance and Inspection of Articles and Bylaws
8.5 Director’s Right to Inspect
ARTICLE IX: REQUIRED REPORTS [View]
9.1 Annual Report
9.2 Annual Statement of Certain Transactions and Indemnifications
ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS [View]
10.1 Amendment by Board
10.2 Changes to Number of Directors
10.3 Greater Vote Requirement
10.4 Members’ Approval Required
CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY #certificate
ARTICLE I: CORPORATE OFFICES
1.1 Name.
The name of this corporation is:California District Attorney Investigators’ Association.
1.2 Principal Office.
The Board of Directors shall fix the location of the principal executive office of the corporation at any place within or outside the State of California. If the principal executive office is located outside California and the corporation has one or more business offices in California, then the Board of Directors shall fix and designate a principal business office in California.
1.3 Other Offices.
The Board of Directors may at any time establish branch or subordinate offices at any place or places.
ARTICLE II: CORPORATE PURPOSE
2.1 Corporate Purpose.
This corporation is a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation organized under the Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation Law of California. This corporation may engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the California Nonprofit Corporation Law in the context of the following specific purposes:
(a) To establish and maintain closer association between all investigators and investigative units of the District Attorneys’ Offices of California and the other states that have joined the Association.
(b) To provide more effective communication between such offices.
(c) To develop ways and means of improving investigative techniques.
(d) To promote better coordination between all law enforcement agencies.
(e) To assist in the promotion of legislation designed to aid law enforcement and criminal prosecution.
(f) To maintain and improve the standards and qualifications of all District Attorney Investigators.
(g) To assist the Members maintain and improve their compensation, benefits and tenure.
2.2 Construction and Definition.
Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction, and definitions in the California Nonprofit Corporation Law shall govern the masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter, the singular includes the plural, the plural includes the singular, and the term “person” includes both a legal entity and a natural person.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
3.1 Classes of Members
There shall be four (4) classes of members: Regular; Associate; Honorary; and Life.
(a) Regular Members: shall be full time Investigators, Inspectors, Detectives or non-sworn investigative staff members, regularly employed by any District Attorney’s Office. Regular members who have retired may retain Regular status by continuing payment of dues: they are entitled to all of the privileges of active Regular members except they shall not hold office unless that member is still employed as a full-time peace officer in California. Non-sworn investigative staff members have the same rights and privileges as full time Investigators, Inspectors and Detectives, except that non-sworn investigative staff members may not hold office.
(b) Associate Members: shall be persons in some branch of law enforcement or some closely allied pursuit, who actively participate and cooperate in criminal detection, apprehension and prosecution, or whose business, occupation or profession causes them to have contact with and assist Regular members in the performance of their duties.(i) All candidates for Associate membership shall be proposed and sponsored by a Regular member. The sponsoring member shall submit a short biography of the prospective Associate member, stressing vocational background, and shall state briefly why he or she feels the candidate should be accepted. (ii) The name and a brief personal history shall be read at the next meeting and the proposed candidate shall be voted upon by the Board. To be accepted, a candidate must receive a majority vote. At the next business meeting of the board of directors, and in no event no sooner than sixty (60) days, the proposed candidate shall be voted upon by the board. To be accepted, a candidate must receive a majority vote.(iii) A rejected candidate shall not be re-proposed within the same elective year.(iv) Any regular member may protest the acceptance of a proposed Associate member. Such protest may be in person at the board of directors meeting, or may be submitted in writing. If written, it shall be in the hands of the board of directors at the beginning of the meeting.(v) Final acceptance or rejection of a candidate for Association membership is the responsibility of the board of directors and shall be consistent with the best interests of the Association.(vi) Association memberships are for one year, but may be renewed by payment of the required dues, unless cancelled by action of the board of directors.(vii) Associate members do not have voting rights, are not eligible to hold office and may have no voice in Association affairs. They may attend conventions, zone meetings and social functions, and shall receive such published materials as may be designated by the board of directors.(viii) The maximum number of Associate members may be limited by the board of directors to a percentage of the total of Regular members, or a specified number.
(c) Honorary members: shall be for a term of one year and shall be selected by the board of directors from persons who are distinguished because of their office, title or special service to the Association, or who have been outstanding in the field of crime prevention. Honorary members do not have voting rights, are not eligible to hold office and may have no voice in Association affairs. They may attend conventions, zone meetings and social functions, and shall receive such published materials as may be designated by the board of directors.
(d) Life Members: shall be Regular Members whose contributions to the advancement of the Association or whose work for the Association justifies the conferring of such honor, in the opinion of the board of directors.
3.2 Rights of Members
All Regular and Life members, except Associate members, shall have the right to vote, as set forth in these bylaws, on the election of directors, on the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the corporation, on any merger and its principal terms and any amendment of those terms, and on any election to dissolve the corporation. In addition, those members shall have all rights afforded members under the California Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation Law. If the corporation is dissolved, those members shall receive a prorata distribution of all assets, exclusive of those held in charitable trust, remaining after payment or provision for payment of the obligations and debts of the corporation and provision for any other payment required under applicable law.
3.3 Dues, Fees and Assessments.
Each member must pay, within the time and on the conditions set by the board, the dues, fees, and assessments in amounts to be fixed from time to time by the board of directors.
3.4 Members in Good Standing.
Members who have paid the required dues, fees, and assessments in accordance with these bylaws and who are not suspended shall be members in good standing.
3.5 Termination of Membership.
A membership shall terminate on occurrence of any of the following events:
(a) Resignation of the member;
(b) Expiration of the period of membership, unless the membership is renewed on the renewal terms fixed by the board;
(c) The member’s failure to pay dues, fees, or assessments as set by the board within sixty (60) days after they are due and payable;
(d) Any event that renders the member ineligible for membership, or failure to satisfy membership qualifications; or
(e) Termination of membership under these bylaws based on the good faith determination by the board, or a committee person authorized by the board to make such a determination, that the member has failed in a material and serious degree to observe the rules of conduct of the corporation, or has engaged in conduct materially and seriously prejudicial to the corporation’s purposes and interests.
3.6 Suspension of Membership.
A member may be suspended, under these bylaws, based on the good faith determination by the board, or a committee or person authorized by the board to make such a determination, that the member has failed in a material and serious degree to observe the rules of conduct of the corporation, or has engaged in conduct materially and seriously prejudicial to the corporation’s purposes and interests. A person whose membership is suspended shall not be a member during the period of suspension.
3.7 Procedures for Suspension or Termination.
If grounds appear to exist for suspending or terminating a member under these bylaws, the following procedure shall be followed:
(a) The board shall give the member at least 15 days’ prior notice of the proposed suspension or termination and the reasons for the proposed suspension or termination. Notice shall be given by any method reasonably calculated to provide actual notice. Notice given by mail shall be sent by first-class or registered mail to the member’s last address as shown on the corporation’s records.
(b) The member shall be given an opportunity to be heard, either orally or in writing, at least five days before the effective date of the proposed suspension or termination. The hearing shall be held, or the written statement considered, by the board or by a committee or person authorized by the board to determine whether the suspension or termination should occur.
(c) The board, committee, or person shall decide whether the member should be suspended, expelled, or sanctioned in any way. The decision of the board, committee, or person shall be final.
(d) Any action challenging an expulsion, suspension, or termination of membership, including a claim alleging defective notice, must be commenced within one year after the date of the expulsion, suspension, or termination.
3.8 Transfer of Membership
A membership may be transferred to a prospective member meeting the qualifications set forth in these bylaws; provided, however, that no member may transfer a membership or any right arising from it for value. The board may by resolution impose transfer fees or other conditions on the transferring party as it deems fit, provided that those fees and conditions are the same for similarly situated all rights of membership cease on the member’s death, suspension, termination, or dissolution.
3.9 Annual Meetings.
An annual meeting of members shall be held on the such date and at such time as the board of directors may, from time to time, determine. At the meeting, directors may be elected and other proper business may be transacted.
3.10 Place of Meetings.
Meetings of the members may be held at any place within or outside California designated by the board. In the absence of any such designation, member’s meeting shall be held at the corporation’s principal office.
3.11 Special Meetings.
The board or the chairman of the board, if any, or the president, or 5 percent or more of the members, may call a special meeting of the members for any lawful purpose at any time.
3.12 Calling Special Meetings.
A special meeting called by any person entitled to call a meeting (other than the board) shall be called by written request, specifying the general nature of the business proposed to be transacted, and submitted to the chairman of the board, if any, or the president or any vice president or the secretary of the corporation. The officer receiving the request shall cause notice to be given promptly to the members entitled to vote, under these bylaws, stating that a meeting will be held at a specified time and date fixed by the board, provided, however, that the meeting date shall be at least 35 but no more than 90 days after receipt of the request. If the notice is not given within 20 days after the request is received, the person or persons requesting the meeting may give the notice. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as limiting, fixing, or affecting the time at which a meeting of members may be held when the meeting is called by the board.
3.13 Proper Business of Special Meeting.
No business, other than the business that was set forth in the notice of the meeting, may be transacted at a special meeting.
3.14 Notice.
Whenever members are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given, under these bylaws, to each member entitled to vote at that meeting. The notice shall specify the place, date, and hour of the meeting. For the annual meeting, the notice shall state the matters that the board, at the time notice is given, intends to present for action by the members. For a special meeting, the notice shall state the general nature of the business to be transacted and shall state that no other business may be transacted. The notice of any meeting at which directors are to be elected shall include the names of all persons who are nominees when notice is given. Except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, any proper matter may be presented at the meeting.
3.15 Manner of Giving Notice.
Notice of any meeting of members shall be in writing and shall be given at least 10 but no more than 90 days before the meeting date. The notice shall be given either personally or by first-class, registered, or certified mail, or by other means of written communication, charges prepaid, and shall be addressed to each member entitled to vote, at the address of that member as it appears on the books of the corporation or at the address given by the member to the corporation for purposes of notice. If no address appears on the corporation’s books and no address has been so given, notice shall be deemed to have been given if either (i) notice is sent to that member by first-class mail or facsimile or other written communication to the corporation’s principal office or (ii) notice is published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the principal office is located.
3.16 Affidavit of Mailing Notice.
An affidavit of the mailing of any notice of any members’ meeting, or of the giving of such notice by other means, may be executed by the secretary, assistant secretary, or any transfer agent of the corporation, and if so executed, shall be filed and maintained in the corporation’s minute book.
3.17 Quorum.
The President or Vice President and five percent of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of members.
3.18 Eligibility to Vote.
Subject to the California Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation Law, all Regular and Life members in good standing on the record date as determined under these bylaws shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of members.
3.19 Manner of Voting.
Voting may be by voice or by ballot, except that any election of directors must be by ballot if demanded before the voting begins by any member at the meeting.
3.20 Number of Votes.
Each member entitled to vote may cast one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the members.
3.21 Approval by Majority Vote.
If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power represented at the meeting, entitled to vote and voting on any matter, shall be deemed the act of the members unless the vote of a greater number, or voting by classes, is required by the California Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation Law or by the articles of incorporation.
3.22 Waiver of Notice or Consent.
The transactions of any meeting of members, however called or noticed and wherever held, shall be as valid as though taken at a meeting duly held after standard call and notice, if
(a) a quorum is present either in person or by proxy, and
(b) either before or after the meeting, each member entitled to vote, not present in person or by proxy, signs a written waiver of notice, a consent to the holding of the meeting, or an approval of the minutes of the meeting.
The waiver of notice, consent, or approval need not specify either the business to be transacted or the purpose of the meeting except that, if action is taken or proposed to be taken for approval of any matter specified in these bylaws, the waiver of notice, consent, or approval shall state the general nature of the proposal. All such waivers, consents, or approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.
A member’s attendance at a meeting shall also constitute a waiver of notice of and presence at that meeting unless the member objects at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting was not lawfully called or convened. Also, attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to object to the consideration of matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting but not so included, if that objection is expressly made at the meeting.
3.23 Action By Unanimous Written Consent.
Any action required or permitted to be taken by the members may be taken without a meeting, if all members consent in writing to the action. The written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the meeting. The action by written consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the members.
3.24 Action By Written Ballots.
Any action that members may take at any meeting of members may also be taken without a meeting by complying with the provisions of these bylaws pertaining to written ballots.
3.25 Solicitation of Written Ballots.
This corporation shall distribute one written ballot to each member entitled to vote on the matter. The ballots shall be mailed or delivered in the manner required by these bylaws. All solicitations of votes by written ballot shall
(a) state the number of responses needed to meet the quorum requirement;
(b) state, with respect to ballots other than for election of directors, the percentage of approvals necessary to pass the measure or measures; and
(c) specify the time by which the ballot must be received in order to be counted.
Each ballot so distributed shall
(a) set forth the proposed action;
(b) give the members an opportunity to specify approval or disapproval of each proposal; and
(c) provide a reasonable time in which to return the ballot to the corporation.
If the corporation has 100 or more members, any written ballot distributed to ten or more members shall provide that, subject to reasonable specified conditions, if the person solicited specifies a choice in any such matter, the vote shall be cast according to that specification.
3.26 Number of Votes and Approvals Required.
Approval by written ballot shall be valid only when (i) the number of votes cast by ballot within the time specified equals or exceeds the quorum required to be present at a meeting authorizing the action, and (ii) the number of approvals equals or exceeds the number of votes that would be required for approval at a meeting at which the total number of votes cast was the same as the number of votes cast by written ballot without a meeting.
3.27 Revoking Ballots.
A written ballot may not be revoked.
3.28 Filing Ballots.
All written ballots shall be filed with the secretary of the corporation and maintained in the corporate records.
3.29 Record Date.
For purposes of establishing the members entitled to receive notice of any meeting, entitled to vote at any meeting, entitled to vote by written ballot, or entitled to exercise any rights in any lawful action, the board of directors may, in advance, fix a record date. The record date so fixed for:
(a) Sending notice of a meeting shall be no more than 90 nor less than 10 days before the date of the meeting;
(b) Voting at a meeting shall be no more than 60 days before the date of the meeting;
(c) Voting by written ballot shall be no more than 60 days before the day on which the first written ballot is mailed or solicited; and
(d) Taking any other action shall be no more than 60 days before that action.
3.30 Record Date for Actions Not Set By Board.
If not otherwise fixed by the board, the record date for determining members entitled to receive notice of a meeting of members shall be the next business day preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, the next business day preceding the day on which the meeting is held. If not otherwise fixed by the board, the record date for determining members entitled to vote at the meeting shall be the day on which the meeting is held.
If not otherwise fixed by the board, the record date for determining members entitled to vote by written ballot shall be the day on which the first written ballot is mailed or solicited.
If not otherwise fixed by the board, the record date for determining members entitled to exercise any rights with respect to any other lawful action shall be the date on which the board adopts the resolution relating to that action, or the 60th day before the date of that action, whichever is later.
For purposes of these bylaws, a person holding a membership at the close of business on the record date shall be a member of record.
3.31 Members Proxy Rights.
Each member entitled to vote shall have the right to do so either in person or by one or more agents authorized by a written proxy, signed by the person and filed with the secretary of the corporation. A proxy shall be deemed signed if the member’s name is placed on the proxy by the member or the member’s attorney-in-fact, whether by manual signature, typewriting, facsimile transmission, or otherwise.
3.32 Solicited Proxies.
If the corporation has 100 or more members, any form of proxy distributed to 10 or more members shall give the member an opportunity to specify a choice between approval and disapproval of each matter or group of related matters and, subject to reasonable specified conditions, shall provide that, when the person solicited specifies a choice in any such matter, the vote shall be cast according to that specification. In an election of directors, any form of proxy that a member marks “withhold,” or otherwise marks in a manner indicating that authority to vote for the election of directors is withheld, shall not be voted either for or against the election of a director.
3.33 Subject Matter of Proxy to be Stated.
Any revocable proxy covering matters for which a vote of the members is required shall not be valid unless the proxy sets forth the general nature of the matter to be voted on. Such matters include amendments to the articles of incorporation; amendments to the articles or bylaws changing proxy rights; removal of directors without cause; filling vacancies on the board of directors; the sale, lease, exchange, conveyance, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all corporate assets unless the transaction is in the usual and regular course of the corporation’s activities; the principal terms of a merger or the amendment of a merger agreement; the election to dissolve the corporation; contracts or transactions between the corporation and one or more directors or between the corporation and an entity in which a director has a material financial interest; or a plan of distribution of assets other than money to members when the corporation is in the process of winding up, when the distribution is not in accordance with liquidation rights of any class or classes.
3.34 Revocability of Proxies.
No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date of the proxy, unless provided otherwise in the proxy, except that the maximum term of a proxy shall be three years after the date of execution. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by Corporations Code section 7613. A validly executed proxy that does not state that it is irrevocable shall continue in full force and effect until either:
(a) it is revoked by the member executing it before the vote is cast under that proxy, (i) by a writing delivered to the corporation stating that the proxy is revoked, (ii) by a subsequent proxy executed by that member and presented to the meeting, or (iii) as to any meeting, by the member’s personal attendance and voting at the meeting, or
(b) written notice of the death or incapacity of the maker of the proxy is received by the corporation before the vote under the proxy is counted.
3.35 Adjournment and Notice of Adjourned Meetings.
Any members’ meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned from time to time by the vote of the majority of the members represented at the meeting, either in person or by proxy. No meeting may be adjourned for more than 45 days. When a members’ meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place to which the meeting is adjourned are announced at the meeting at which adjournment is taken. If after adjournment a new record date is fixed for notice or voting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each member who, on the record date for notice of the meeting, is entitled to vote at the meeting. At the adjourned meeting, the corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting.
ARTICLE IV: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
4.1 General Powers.
Subject to the provisions and limitations of the California Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation Law and any other applicable laws, and subject to any limitations of the articles of incorporation or bylaws regarding actions that require approval of the members, the corporation’s activities and affairs shall be managed, and all corporate powers shall be exercised, by or under the direction of the board.
4.2 Specific Powers.
Without prejudice to the general powers set forth in these bylaws, but subject to the same limitations, the board shall have the power to:
(a) Appoint and remove, at the pleasure of the board, all corporate officers, agents, and employees; prescribe powers and duties for them as are consistent with the law, the articles of incorporation, and these bylaws; fix their compensation; and require from them security for faithful service.
(b) Change the principal office or the principal business office in California from one location to another; cause the corporation to be qualified to conduct its activities in any other state, territory, dependency, or country; conduct its activities in or outside California; and designate a place in or outside California for holding any meeting of members.
(c) Borrow money and incur indebtedness on the corporation’s behalf and cause to be executed and delivered for the corporation’s purposes, in the corporate name, promissory notes, bonds, debentures, deeds of trust, mortgages, pledges, hypothecations, and other evidences of debt and securities.
4.3 Number and Qualifications for Directors.
The board of directors shall consist of at least 5 but no more than 13 directors unless changed by amendment to these bylaws. Each director shall be an officer of the corporation. The exact number of directors shall be fixed, within those limits, by a resolution adopted by the board of directors.
4.4 Nomination by Committee.
The chairman of the board or, if none, the president shall appoint a committee to nominate qualified candidates for election to the board at least 90 days before the date of any election of directors. The nominating committee shall make its report at the board meeting before the annual meeting of the members, or at such other time as the board may set, and the secretary shall forward to each member, with the notice of meeting required by these bylaws, a list of all candidates nominated by committee.
4.5 Nomination by Members.
Members may nominate candidates for directors by delivering a nomination, in writing, to an officer of the corporation. On timely receipt of the nomination, the secretary shall cause the names of the candidates to be placed on the ballot along with the names of the candidates chosen by the nominating committee.
4.6 Floor Nominations.
When a meeting is held for the election of directors, any member present at the meeting in person or by proxy may place names in nomination.
4.7 Nominee’s Right to Solicit Votes.
The board shall formulate procedures that allow a reasonable opportunity for a nominee to communicate to members the nominee’s qualifications and the reasons for the nominee’s candidacy, a reasonable opportunity for the nominee to solicit votes, and a reasonable opportunity for all members to choose among the nominees.
4.8 Use of Corporate Funds to Support Nominee.
If more people have been nominated for director than can be elected, no corporate funds may be expended to support a nominee without the board’s authorization.
4.9 Vacancies on Board of Directors.
A vacancy or vacancies on the board of directors shall occur in the event of
(a) the death or resignation of any director,
(b) the declaration by board resolution of a vacancy in the office of a director who has been declared of unsound mind by a court order, convicted of a felony, or, if the corporation holds assets in charitable trust, found by a final order or judgment of any court to have breached a duty arising under Corporations Code section 7238;
(c) the vote of the members or, if the corporation has fewer than 50 members, the vote of a majority of all members, to remove any director(s);
(d) an increase in the authorized number of directors; or
(e) a failure of the members, at any meeting of members at which any director or directors are to be elected, to elect the number of directors required to be elected at that meeting.
4.10 Resignation of Directors.
Except as provided below, any director may resign by giving written notice to the chairman of the board, if any, or to the president or the secretary of the board. The resignation shall be effective when the notice is given unless it specifies a later time for the resignation to become effective. If a director’s resignation is effective at a later time, the board may elect a successor to take office as of the date when the resignation becomes effective.
4.11 Vacancies Filled by Board.
Except for a vacancy created by the removal of a director by the members, vacancies on the board may be filled by approval of the board or, if the number of directors then in office is less than a quorum, by (1) the unanimous written consent of the directors then in office, (2) the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office at a meeting held according to notice or waivers of notice complying with Corporations Code section 7211, or (3) a sole remaining director. The members may fill any vacancy not filled by the directors.
4.12 No Vacancy on Reduction of Number of Directors.
Any reduction of the authorized number of directors shall not result in any director’s being removed before his or her term of office expires.
4.13 Place of Board Meetings.
Meetings of the board shall be held at any place within or outside California that has been designated by the board or in the notice of the meeting.
4.14 Meetings by Telephone.
Any board meeting may be held by conference telephone, video screen communication or other communications equipment. Participation in a meeting under this Section shall constitute presence in person at the meeting if all of the following apply:
(a) Each member participating in the meeting can communicate concurrently with all other members.
(b) Each member is provided the means of participating in all matters before the board, including the capacity to propose, or to interpose an objection to, a specific action to be taken by the corporation.
(c) The board has adopted and implemented a means of verifying both of the following: (i) A person communicating by telephone, video screen, or other communications equipment is a director entitled to participate in the board meeting; and (ii) All statements, questions, actions or votes were made by that director and not by another person not permitted to participate as a director.
4.15 Annual and Other Meetings.
Contemporaneous to each annual meeting of members, the board shall hold a general meeting for purposes of organization, and transaction of other business. Notice of this meeting is not required.
Other general meetings of the board may be held without notice at such time and place as the board may fix from time to time.
4.16 Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the board for any purpose may be called at any time by the chairman of the board, if any, the president or any vice president, the secretary, or any two directors.
4.17 Notice of Special Meetings.
Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be given to each director by
(a) personal delivery of written notice;
(b) first-class mail, postage prepaid;
(c) telephone, including a voice messaging system or other system or technology designed to record and communicate messages, either directly to the director or to a person at the director’s office who would reasonably be expected to communicate that notice promptly to the director;
(d) facsimile;
(e) electronic mail; or
(f) other electronic means.
All such notices shall be given or sent to the director’s address or telephone number as shown on the corporation’s records.
Notices sent by first-class mail shall be deposited in the United States mails at least 4 days before the time set for the meeting. Notices given by personal delivery, telephone, or electronic mail shall be delivered, telephoned, or sent, at least 48 hours before the time set for the meeting.
The notice shall state the time of the meeting and the place, if the place is other than the corporation’s principal office. The notice need not specify the purpose of the meeting.
4.18 Quorum.
A majority of the authorized number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business except adjournment. Every action taken or decision made by a majority of the directors present at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present shall be an act of the board, subject to the more stringent provisions of the California Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation Law, including, without limitation, the provisions on
(a) approval of contracts or transactions between this corporation and one or more directors or between this corporation and any entity in which a director has a material financial interest,
(b) creation of and appointments to committees of the board, and
(c) indemnification of directors. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business, despite the withdrawal of some directors, if any action taken or decision made is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting. When a quorum is lacking, urgent business, such as payment of bills, may be transacted subject to ratification at the next sufficient meeting.
4.19 Waiver of Notice.
Notice of a meeting need not be given to any director who, either before or after the meeting, signs a waiver of notice, a written consent to the holding of the meeting, or an approval of the minutes of the meeting. The waiver of notice or consent need not specify the purpose of the meeting. All such waivers, consents, and approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meetings. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any director who attends the meeting and who, before or at the beginning of the meeting, does not protest the lack of notice to him or her.
4.20 Adjournment.
A majority of the directors present, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn any meeting to another time and place.
4.21 Notice of Adjourned Meeting.
Notice of the time and place of holding an adjourned meeting need not be given unless the original meeting is adjourned for more than 24 hours. If the original meeting is adjourned for more than 24 hours, notice of any adjournment to another time and place shall be given, before the time of the adjourned meeting, to the directors who were not present at the time of the adjournment.
4.22 Action Without a Meeting.
Any action that the board is required or permitted to take may be taken without a meeting if a majority of board members consent in writing to the action. Such action by written consent shall have the same force and effect as any other validly approved board action. All such consents shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the board.
4.23 Compensation and Reimbursement.
Directors and members of committees of the board may receive such compensation, if any, for their services as directors or officers, and such reimbursement of expenses, as the board may establish by resolution to be just and reasonable as to the corporation at the time that the resolution is adopted.
4.24 Creation and Powers of Committees.
The board, by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors then in office, may create one or more committees, each consisting of two or more directors and no one who is not a director, to serve at the pleasure of the board. Appointments to committees of the board shall be by majority vote of the directors then in office. The board may appoint one or more directors as alternate members of any such committee, who may replace any absent member at any meeting. Any such committee shall have all the authority of the board, to the extent provided in the board resolution, except that no committee may:
(a) Take any final action on any matter that, under the California Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation Law, also requires approval of the members or approval of a majority fall members;
(b) Fill vacancies on the board or any committee of the board;
(c) Fix compensation of the directors for serving on the board or on any committee;
(d) Amend or repeal bylaws or adopt new bylaws;
(e) Amend or repeal any resolution of the board that by its express terms is not so amendable or repealable;
(f) Create any other committees of the board or appoint the members of committees of the board; or
(g) Expend corporate funds to support a nominee for director if more people have been nominated for director than can be elected.
4.25 Meetings and Action of Committees.
Meetings and actions of committees of the board shall be governed by, held, and taken under the provisions of these bylaws concerning meetings and other board actions, except that the time for general meetings of such committees and the calling of special meetings of such committees may be set either by board resolution or, if none, by resolution of the committee. Minutes of each meeting shall be kept and shall be filed with the corporate records. The board may adopt rules for the governance of any committee as long as the rules are consistent with these bylaws. If the board has not adopted rules, the committee may do so.
ARTICLE V: OFFICERS
5.1 Offices Held.
This corporation shall have nine officers each of which shall be a director of the corporation, and all of which together shall constitute the board of directors. The officers of the corporation shall be a president, a vice president, a secretary, a chief financial officer, a sergeant at arms and four directors at large. The corporation, at the boards discretion may also establish additional officer positions, which positions shall be filled by election provisions under these bylaws for the election of officers subject to the limitation, if any contained in these bylaws on the number and qualifications for directors.
5.2 Duplication of Offices Held.
Any number of offices may be held by the same person.
5.3 Election of Officers.
The officers of this corporation shall be nominated and elected pursuant to the provisions for the nomination and election of directors set forth in Article IV of these bylaws. Provided, however, that to the extent possible, the president and vice president shall alternately be selected from the Southern Zone and the Northern Zone in the State of California, as such zones may be determined from time to time by the board. If a candidate for either such position cannot be found in the appropriate zone, such position may be filled from the other zone.
5.4 Appointment of Other Officers.
The board may appoint and authorize the president to appoint any other officers that the corporation may require. Each appointed officer shall have the title and authority, hold office for the period, and perform the duties specified in the bylaws or established by the board.
5.5 Removal of Officers.
Without prejudice to the rights of any officer under an employment contract, the board may remove any officer with or without cause. An officer who was not chosen by the board may be removed by any other officer on whom the board confers the power of removal.
5.6 Resignation of Officers.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the board. The resignation shall take effect on the date the notice is received or at any later time specified in the notice. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation need not be accepted to be effective. Any resignation shall be without prejudice to any rights of the corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.
5.7 Vacancies in Offices.
A vacancy in any office because of death resignation, removal, disqualification, or any other cause may be filled by the board of directors or in the manner prescribed in these bylaws for election to that office by the members.
5.8 Chairman of the Board.
If a chairman of the board of directors is elected, he or she shall preside at board meetings and shall exercise and perform such other powers and duties as the board may assign from time to time. If there is no president, the chairman of the board shall also be the chief executive officer and shall have the powers and duties of the president of the corporation set forth in these bylaws.
5.9 President.
Subject to the control of the board, the president shall be the general manager of the corporation and shall supervise, direct, and control the corporation’s activities, affairs, and officers. The president shall preside at all members’ meetings and, in the absence of the chairman of the board, or if none, at all board meetings. The president shall have such other powers and duties as the board or the bylaws may require.
5.10 Vice President.
If the president is absent or disabled, the vice presidents, if any, in order of their rank as fixed by the board, or, if not ranked, a vice president designated by the board, shall perform all duties of the president. When so acting, a vice president shall have all powers of and be subject to all restrictions on the president. The vice presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as the board or the bylaws may require.
5.11 Secretary.
The secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, at the corporation’s principal office or such other place as the board may direct, a book of minutes of all meetings, proceedings, and actions of the board, of committees of the board, and of members’ meetings. The minutes of meetings shall include the time and place that the meeting was held; whether the meeting was annual, general, or special, and, if special, how authorized; the notice given; the names of persons present at board and committee meetings; and the number of members present or represented at members’ meetings.
The secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, at the principal California office, a copy of the articles of incorporation and bylaws, as amended to date. The secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, at the corporation’s principal office or at a place determined by resolution of the board, a record of the corporation’s members, showing each member’s name, address, and class of membership.
The secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of members, of the board, and of committees of the board that these bylaws require to be given. The secretary shall keep the corporate seal, if any, in safe custody and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as the board or the bylaws may require.
5.12 Chief Financial Officer.
The chief financial officer shall (i) deposit, or cause to be deposited, all money and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the corporation with such depositories as the board may designate; (ii) disburse the corporation’s funds as the board may order; (iii) render to the president, chairman of the board, if any, and the board, when requested, an account of all transactions as chief financial officer and of the financial condition of the corporation; and (iv) have such other powers and perform such other duties as the board or the bylaws may require.
If required by the board, the chief financial officer shall give the corporation a bond in the amount and with the surety or sureties specified by the board for faithful performance of the duties of the office and for restoration to the corporation of all of its books, papers, vouchers, money, and other property of every kind in the possession or under the control of the chief financial officer on his or her death, resignation, retirement, or removal from office.
5.13 Sergeant-at-Arms.
The Sergeant-at-Arms shall maintain order, perform those duties usually associated with this office, and such other related duties as may be requested of him/her by the President during the meeting.
5.13 Executive Committee Members.
Shall attend meetings as representatives of the members at large.
ARTICLE VI: CONTRACTS WITH DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
6.1 Contracts With Directors and Officers.
No director of this corporation nor any other corporation, firm, association, or other entity in which one or more of this corporation’s directors have a material financial interest, shall be interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract or other transaction with this corporation, unless
(a) the material facts as to the transaction and such director’s interest are fully disclosed or known to the members and such contract or transaction is approved by the members in good faith, with any membership owned by any interested director not being entitled to vote thereon; or
(b) the material facts regarding such director’s financial interest in such contract or transaction or regarding such common directorship, officership, or financial interest are fully disclosed in good faith and are noted in the minutes or are known to all board members before consideration by the board of such contract or transaction, and such contract or transaction is authorized in good faith by a majority of the board by a vote sufficient for that purpose without counting the vote of the interested director.
6.2 Loans to Directors and Officers.
This corporation shall not lend any money or property to, or guarantee the obligation of, any director or officer of the corporation or of its parent, affiliate, or subsidiary unless
(a) the board decides that the loan or guaranty may reasonably be expected to benefit the corporation, and
(b) before consummating the transaction or any part of it, the loan or guaranty is approved by either the members, without counting the vote of the director or officer, if a member, or the vote of a majority of the directors then in office, without counting the vote of the director who is to receive the loan or guaranty.
ARTICLE VII: INDEMNIFICATION
7.1 Indemnification.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, this corporation shall indemnify its directors, officers, employees, and other persons described in Corporations Code section 7237(a), including persons formerly occupying any such positions, against all expenses, judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with any “proceeding,” as that term is used in that section, and including an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that the person is or was a person described in that section. “Expenses,” as used in this bylaw, shall have the same meaning as in that section of the Corporations Code.
On written request to the board by any person seeking indemnification under Corporations Code section 7237(b) or section 7237(c), the board shall promptly decide under Corporations Code section 7237(e) whether the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Corporations Code section 7237(b) or section 7237(c) has been met and, if so, the board shall authorize indemnification. If the board cannot authorize indemnification, because the number of directors who are parties to the proceeding with respect to which indemnification is sought prevents the formation of a quorum of directors who are not parties to that proceeding, the board shall promptly call a meeting of members. At that meeting, the members shall determine under Corporations Code section 7237(e) whether the applicable standard of conduct has been met and, if so, the members present at the meeting in person or by proxy shall authorize indemnification.
To the fullest extent permitted by law and except as otherwise determined by the board in a specific instance, expenses incurred by a person seeking indemnification under these bylaws in defending any proceeding covered by those Sections shall be advanced by the corporation before final disposition of the proceeding, on receipt by the corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of that person that the advance will be repaid unless it is ultimately found that the person is entitled to be indemnified by the corporation for those expenses.
7.2 Insurance.
This corporation shall have the right to purchase and maintain insurance to the full extent permitted by law on behalf of its officers, directors, employees, and other agents, to cover any liability asserted against or incurred by any officer, director, employee, or agent in such capacity or arising from the officer’s, director’s, employee’s, or agent’s status as such.
ARTICLE VIII: MAINTENANCE OF CORPORATE RECORDS
8.1 Corporate Books and Records.
This corporation shall keep adequate and correct books and records of account, including but not limited to, written minutes of the proceedings of its members, board, and committees of the board and a record of each member’s name, address, and class of membership.
8.2 Members’ Right to Inspect.
Unless the corporation provides a reasonable alternative as provided below, any member may do either or both of the following for a purpose reasonably related to the member’s interest as a member:
(a) Inspect and copy the records containing members’ names, addresses, and voting rights during usual business hours on five days’ prior written demand on the corporation, which must state the purpose for which the inspection rights are requested; or
(b) Obtain from the secretary of the corporation, on written demand and tender of a reasonable charge, a list of names, addresses, and voting rights of members who are entitled to vote for directors as of the most recent record date for which that list has been compiled, or as of the date, after the date of demand, specified by the member. The demand shall state the purpose for which the list is requested. The secretary shall make this list available to the member on or before the later of ten days after the demand is received or the date specified in the demand as the date as of which the list is to be compiled.
The corporation may, within ten business days after receiving a demand under this Section, make a written offer of an alternative method of reasonable and timely achievement of the proper purpose specified in the demand without providing access to or a copy of the membership list. Any rejection of this offer must be in writing and must state the reasons the proposed alternative does not meet the proper purpose of the demand.
If the corporation reasonably believes that the information will be used for a purpose other than one reasonably related to a person’s interest as a member, or if it provides a reasonable alternative under this Section, it may deny the member access to the membership list.
Any inspection and copying under this Section may be made in person or by the member’s agent or attorney. The right of inspection includes the right to copy and make extracts. This right of inspection extends to the records of any subsidiary of the corporation.
8.3 Accounting Records and Minutes.
On written demand on the corporation, any member may inspect, copy, and make extracts of the accounting books and records and the minutes of the proceedings of the members, the board of directors, and committees of the board at any reasonable time for a purpose reasonably related to the member’s interest as a member. Any such inspection and copying may be made in person or by the member’s agent or attorney. This right of inspection extends to the records of any subsidiary of the corporation.
8.4 Maintenance and Inspection of Articles and Bylaws.
This corporation shall keep at its principal California office the original or a copy of the articles of incorporation and bylaws, as amended to the current date, which shall be open to inspection by the members at all reasonable times during office hours. If the corporation has no business office in California, the secretary shall, on the written request of any member, furnish to that member a copy of the articles of incorporation and bylaws, as amended to the current date.
8.5 Director’s Right to Inspect.
Every director shall have the absolute right at any reasonable time to inspect the corporation’s books, records, documents of every kind, physical properties, and the records of each subsidiary. The inspection may be made in person or by the director’s agent or attorney. The right of inspection includes the right to copy and make extracts of documents.
ARTICLE IX: REQUIRED REPORTS
9.1 Annual Report.
The board shall cause an annual report to be prepared within 120 days after the end of the corporation’s fiscal year. That report shall contain the following information in appropriate detail:
(a) A balance sheet as of the end of the fiscal year, an income statement, and statement of changes in financial position for the fiscal year, accompanied by an independent accountants’ report or, if none, by the certificate of an authorized officer of the corporation that they were prepared without audit from the corporation’s books and records;
(b) A statement of the place where the names and addresses of current members are located; and
(c) Any information required by these bylaws.
This corporation shall annually notify each member of the member’s right to receive a copy of the financial report under this Section. Except as provided in the next paragraph of this bylaw, on written request by a member, the board shall promptly cause the most recent annual report to be sent to the requesting member.
This Section shall not apply if the corporation receives less than $10,000 in gross revenues or receipts during the fiscal year.
9.2 Annual Statement of Certain Transactions and Indemnifications.
As part of the annual report to all members, or as a separate document if no annual report is issued, the corporation shall annually prepare and mail or deliver to its members and furnish to its directors a statement of any transaction or indemnification of the following kinds within 120 days after the end of the corporation’s fiscal year:
(a) Unless approved by members under Corporations Code section 7233(a), any transaction (i) to which the corporation, its parent, or its subsidiary was a party, (ii) which involved more than $50,000 or was one of a number of such transactions with the same person involving, in the aggregate, more than $50,000, and (iii) in which either of the following interested persons had a direct or indirect material financial interest (a mere common directorship is not a material financial interest): (i) Any director or officer of the corporation, its parent, or its subsidiary; (ii) Any holder of more than 10 percent of the voting power of the corporation, its parent, or its subsidiary. The statement shall include a brief description of the transaction, the names of interested persons involved, their relationship to the corporation, the nature of their interest in the transaction, and, when practicable, the amount of that interest, except that, in a partnership in which such person is a partner, only the partnership interest need be stated.
(b) A brief description of the amounts and circumstances of any loans, guaranties, indemnifications, or advances aggregating more than $10,000 paid during the fiscal year to any officer or director of the corporation under Section 6.2 of these bylaws, unless the loan, guaranty, indemnification, or advance has already been approved by the members under Corporations Code section 5034, or the loan or guaranty is not subject to Corporations Code section 7235(a).
ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS
10.1 Amendment by Board.
Subject to the members’ rights under these bylaws, the board may adopt, amend, or repeal bylaws unless doing so would
(a) materially and adversely affect the members’ rights as to voting, dissolution, redemption, or transfer;
(b) increase or decrease the number of members authorized in total or for any class;
(c) effect an exchange, reclassification, or cancellation of all or part of the memberships; or
(d) authorize a new class of membership.
10.2 Changes to Number of Directors.
Once members have been admitted to the corporation, the board may not, without the members’ approval, specify or change any bylaw that would
(a) fix or change the authorized number of directors;
(b) fix or change the minimum or maximum number of directors; or
(c) change from a fixed number of directors to a variable number of directors or vice versa.
10.3 Greater Vote Requirement.
If any provision of these bylaws requires the vote of a larger proportion of the board than is otherwise required by law, that provision may not be altered, amended, or repealed except by that greater vote.
10.4 Members’ Approval Required.
Without the approval of the members, the board may not adopt, amend, or repeal any bylaw that would;
(a) increase or extend the terms of directors;
(b) allow any director to hold office by designation or selection rather than by election by the members;
(c) increase the quorum for members’ meetings;
(d) repeal, restrict, create, expand, or otherwise change proxy rights; or
(e) authorize cumulative voting.
CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY
I certify that I am the duly elected and acting Secretary of California District Attorney Investigator’s Association, a California nonprofit mutual benefit corporation; that these bylaws, consisting of 26 pages, are the bylaws of this corporation as adopted by the board of directors on ___________, 2002; and that these bylaws have not been amended or modified since that date.
Executed on ______________, 2002 at ________________, California.
Webmaster note:
The above bylaws have been ratified by a majority of the general membership at the regularly scheduled general membership meeting the Palm Springs 2002 conference held at the Spa Resort on September 13, 2002.
