Proposed Crp Rules Changes Fall2009.pages

Unknown Aug 24, 12:18 PM Added Text

Re:

PROPOSED BYLAW AMENDMENTS

Below please find the proposed bylaw amendments that were submitted by delegates and received in a timely manner and will be considered by the CRP’s Committee on Rules. SUMMARY OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Concerning voters in primary elections (Fleischman) Concerning CRP elections (Lenning) Concerning the COO (Fleischman) Concerning the County Chairmen’s Association (Pruner) Concerning discipline of delegates (Joy) Concerning endorsements (Joy)

Proposal 1: Concerning voters in primary elections Under Section 1.04(A) (2) delete the following: any person who is registered as decline-to-state or non-partisan, who is otherwise qualified to vote at the election. Under Section 1.04(B) delete the following words: and decline-to-state and non-partisan voters. Submitted by Jon Fleischman Proposal 2: Concerning CRP Elections 1) P. 17 Modification/amendment by addition. Paragraph two under (A) 60/30 Day “Window” Rule: Submissions of candidacy for the Officers of the Committee in Sect. 2.03.01, as well as County Chairs, shall be submitted no earlier than 60 days before, and no later than 30 days before scheduled elections. Candidacy forms are to be submitted to the State CRP Rules & Elections Committee, and to the State CRP office for state positions, and to the County headquarters for county chairs and officers by these specified deadlines. 90 Day Forms “Post” Rule: Submission requirements and forms for state positions shall be posted on the CAGOP and/or County GOP websites as applicable, no later than 90 days before elections. Candidacy forms must be faxed, mailed, or emailed, and must be postmarked by midnight no later than 30 days before elections. Pertinent filing information will be included on submission forms. 5 Day “Notification” Rule: The Rules & Elections Committee shall notify the County Chairs of eligible state committee candidates within 5 days after the submission deadline. The County

Chairs shall notify the Rules & Elections Committee of eligible candidates for County Chairs and officers within 5 days after the submission deadline. 3 Year “Membership/Qualification” Rule: All candidates must be registered Republicans in good standing at least three years before “declaring” candidacy for state and county party positions. Candidates for State Committee and County Chair must have held a prior position in the Republican party structure, such as but not exclusively; central committee member, prior candidate for office, local office holder, appointed/ elected committee member or office, local unit officer or member, activist/ volunteer, or anyone given a signed recommendation from a recognized Republican party leader in good standing. Appeals “Hearing” Rule: The Rules and Election Committee will determine if candidates are “qualified” candidates as soon as possible, and notify candidates in a timely manner in order to allow reasonable time for appeal. Appeals must be considered by the Rules and Elections Committee if legitimate grounds are given. Appeal decisions must be given within a reasonable time-frame, in order to allow the candidate declared by the Rules and Election Committee to be “unqualified” to have a fair and reasonable opportunity to re-enter the election. Floor Nominations “Exception” Rule: In the event there are no “qualified” candidates for an office at the time of the election, nominations may be taken from the floor at the time scheduled for the election; however, nominations may “only” be taken if there are no previously declared “qualified” candidates for the specified office, and the individual can show proof of being a registered Republican for at least three years. If there are one or more declared candidates who have “qualified” for an office, no nominations will be considered on the floor for those offices. If declared candidates are determined not to “qualify” for an office, and there are no other procedural declared “qualified” candidates, nominations may be taken on the floor for applicable offices only. P 36 Sec 2.06.06 (B) Rules and Elections Committee Paragraph 2: The Rules & Elections Committee shall provide oversight of elections of CRP State Officers (i.e., Sect. 2.03.01 {a} ). The Rules & Elections Committee shall have exclusive jurisdiction and monitor elections, including determining eligibility of candidates, timely filing, maintaining oversight of elections as advertised, and resolving election disputes in consultation with CRP counsel or the Bi-laws Chair, as necessary. P 55 Section 5.03

Proposed Amendments reported favorably by the Rules and Elections Committee may, ……(and wherever “and Elections” may be deemed necessary to follow this Addition to “Rules….Committee” as required). Submitted by Dianne Lenning Proposal 3. Concerning the COO In the following sections, change “Chief Operating Officer” or "COO" to read "Executive Director” Table of Contents: 2.03.09 Duties of Chief Operating Officer Executive Director Section 2.03.01 In addition, the following shall be an appointive officer of the Committee: a Chief Operating Officer Executive Director, appointed by the Board of Directors. The following shall be elected honorary officers of the Committee: the current Republican National Committee members for California. The following shall be an honorary officer of the Committee: the President of the Association of the Republican County Central Committee Chairmen of California. The Committee may appoint such additional subordinate officers as it may deem necessary from time to time. Section 2.03.03 (C) The Chairman shall be the Chairman of the Operations Committee of the Board of Directors, and shall perform general oversight and supervision of the operations of the Committee and the Chief Operating Officer Executive Director, on a day-to-day basis, and shall review and make recommendations to the Board concerning the programs and projects of the Committee. Section 2.03.09 Duties of Chief Operating Officer Executive Director (A) The Chief Operating Officer Executive Director shall be the Chief Operating Officer Executive Director of the Committee and shall, under the direction and control of the Chairman, conduct the business and operations of the Committee. (B) The Chief Operating Officer Executive Director shall be employed on a full-time basis by the Committee. (C) The Chief Operating Officer Executive Director shall recommend to the Chairman plans, strategies, policies, and projects that will further the goals and responsibilities of the Committee. The Chairman may then recommend those plans, strategies, policies and projects to be approved by the Board of Directors. (D) The Chief Operating Officer Executive Director shall establish a management and operations structure, and shall hire, employ, manage and remove such personnel, as necessary to discharge his responsibilities and the goals and

responsibilities of the Committee in a highly professional manner. (E) The Chief Operating Officer Executive Director may receive, protect, manage and disburse funds of the Committee as authorized or permitted by Board of Directors through approved budgets, specific and general directions, and policies, subject to and in compliance with these bylaws. The Chief Operating Officer Executive Director shall be authorized to sign on all accounts of the Committee, as a part of the procedures adopted by the Board under Sections 2.05.02(D) and 3.04(E)(2). (F) The Chief Operating Officer Executive Director may enter into agreements, contracts, and purchase orders with third parties in amounts less than $15000.00 for the life of the contract to carry out these duties, subject to approval of the Board of Directors, these bylaws, and the Committee’s budget. (G) The Chief Operating Officer Executive Director shall comply with applicable laws, regulations, these bylaws, and Board of Directors’ policies and directions in carrying out his or her responsibilities. Section 2.05.02 (A). The business and operations of the Committee shall be managed by the Chief Operating Officer Executive Director under the direction of the Chairman in accordance with these bylaws. Section 3.04 (C) The Chief Operating Officer Executive Director, with the specific approval of the Budget Committee, shall propose to the Board of Directors for approval the biennial budget, within sixty days after the biennial Election Convention. The Chief Operating Officer Executive Director, with the concurrence of the Budget Committee, may propose revisions or amendments to the budget for adoption by the Board of Directors. Section 3.04 (E) (2) Effective January 1, 2009, the Chief Operating Officer Executive Director, or the Controller in the physical absence of the Chief Operating Officer Executive Director, shall be authorized by the Board to co-sign as an authorized signer on all accounts of the Committee. The Treasurer or the Chairman in the Treasurer’s physical absence and the Controller in the Chief Operating Officer’s Executive Director’s physical absence shall be required on all accounts of the Committee, or may provide recordable electronic approval. All wire or electric fund transfers must be approved by the above-listed persons in advance. Section 3.04 (E) (3) If a Reserve for Unbudgeted Expenditures is specifically budgeted, the Chief Operating Officer Executive Director shall have the power to make from the reserve single expenditures, for unbudgeted items that do not exceed $5,000 or a lesser limit established by board policy, without prior approval of the Operations Committee. Section 3.04 (E) (4)

Notwithstanding the foregoing, after approval of the biennial budget by the Board, neither the Chief Operating Officer Executive Director nor any other officer of the Committee shall disburse Committee funds or honor any obligations except in accordance with the budget approved or amended by the Board. Section 3.05 (G) (1) The Chief Operating Officer Executive Director shall submit to the Operations Committee of the Board of Directors on an ongoing basis, in accordance with the Operations Committee’s performance of daytoday oversight and supervision, such written reports and documents as the Operations Committee shall require. Section 3.05 (G) (2) The Chief Operating Officer Executive Director, in consultation with the Treasurer, shall also submit to the Board of Directors on a monthly basis, by the end of the month following, a written report comparing actual revenue and expenditures to budgeted revenue and expenditures. Section 3.05 (G) (3). The Chief Operating Officer Executive Director, in consultation with the Treasurer, shall submit to the Board of Directors a semi- annual written report comparing actual revenue and expenditures to budgeted revenue and expenditures for the preceding six-month period. Such report shall be submitted no later than 60 days following the close of the period. Section 3.05 (I). The Chief Operating Officer Executive Director shall cause to be prepared and filed all financial reports required by federal, state and local law, including payroll tax returns, income tax returns, and campaign disclosure reports. The Treasurer shall monitor and supervise the preparation of such reports, and shall sign such reports, in accordance with his or her duties set forth in Section 2.03.06. Section 3.05 (A). Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Bylaws, the Chief Operating Officer Executive Director, in consultation with the Treasurer, may employ or retain a Chief Financial Officer to manage the financial activities of the Committee. The COO Executive Director, in consultation with the Treasurer, shall employ or retain a certified public accountant to oversee the accounting and financial reporting functions of the Committee, including assisting the Chief Operating Officer Executive Director, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Treasurer in preparing all budgets, revenue and expenditure reports, financial statements, tax filings, campaign disclosure statements and other reports required by law. Section 3.11 (A). The Committee shall establish and maintain financial development programs aimed at donors of all giving capabilities and utilizing proven techniques for solicitation of donors, maintaining of donor relationships, and informing donors of how their funds are used. Primary responsibility for the establishment and maintenance of these programs shall be with the Chairman, the Finance Committee and Chairman, the Team Cal Committee and Chairman, and members of the staff as designated by the Chief Operating Officer Executive Director.

Submitted by Jon Fleischman Proposal 4: Concerning the County Chairmen’s Association If the CRP decides to endorse, or not endorse, a candidate or initiative after the CCA has taken a position, the position of the CCA shall be automatically suspended or, at the option of the CCA the position of the CCA may be conformed to the position later taken by the CRP. Add New Section 2.06.06(K) (K)

County Chairmen’s Association (1) The County Chairmen’s Association shall be authorized, in its own name only, to endorse registered Republicans for partisan office in California and proposed California initiatives, but only subject to the following conditions: (a) The Committee has not taken a position with respect to such candidate or the proposed initiative; (b) Two-thirds of the members of the County Chairmen’s Association present and voting at a duly called and held meeting vote in favor of the endorsement; (c) The County Chairmen’s Association may not endorse such candidate or proposed initiative contrary to a position taken by the Committee with respect to such candidate or proposed initiative; and (d) If the Committee decides t endorse, or not endorse, or take any position with respect to such candidate or proposed initiative after the County Chairmen’s Association has taken a position, the position taken by the Committee shall be deemed to be the position of the County Chairmen’s Association. (2) The County Chairmen’s Association shall be authorized to set up its own bank account with funds raised from its members and expended under the provisions of its bylaws.

Submitted by Mark Pruner, President of the County Chairmen’s Association. Proposal 5. Concerning discipline of delegates Section 2.01.06

Discipline of Delegates

Add new subsection (C) as follows: (C)

Any delegate who has voted as a legislator to support a bill increasing state taxes or fees that was opposed by the majority of the members of the Republican Caucus in that member’s respective house of the California Legislature, or to override an incumbent Republican Governor’s veto of any bill increasing state taxes or fees, and any delegate who as Governor has signed a bill increasing state taxes or fees opposed by the majority of the members of the Republican Caucus in either house of the California Legislature, shall be deemed to have thereby resigned as a delegate of the Committee. The individual’s position(s) on the Committee, the Executive Committee, and all other committees created by these bylaws shall be vacant immediately, without any other action required. This vacancy shall be filled pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.01.05. This provision shall be effective upon adoption and shall encompass prior actions of delegates.

Existing subsection (C) becomes subsection (D) and is amended as follows:

(C)(D) Individuals who have been deemed to have resigned under Section 2.01.06(B) or Section 2.01.06(C) shall be ineligible for a future delegate position on the Committee, the Executive Committee, and all other committees created by these bylaws. Such individuals and their campaign organizations shall be ineligible to receive funds from accounts owned or controlled by the California Republican Party. With respect to individuals deemed to have resigned under Section 2.01.06(C), this provision shall be effective upon adoption. Section 3.02.02

Pre-Primary Endorsements for Partisan Elective Office in a Direct Primary or Recall Election

Add new subsection (C) as follows: (C)

The Committee, the Executive Committee, and each Republican County Central Committee shall have the authority to endorse in any partisan primary election in which one or more of the candidates for the Republican nomination has voted as a legislator either to support a bill increasing state taxes or fees that was opposed by the majority of the members of the Republican Caucus in that candidate’s respective house of the California Legislature, or to override an incumbent Republican Governor's veto of any bill increasing state taxes or fees, or as Governor has signed a bill increasing state taxes or fees opposed by the majority of the members of the Republican Caucus in either house of the California Legislature. Such an endorsement shall require a majority vote of the voting members present and shall be in order at any meeting of the Committee, Executive Committee, or Republican County Central Committee without any other action required. This provision shall be effective upon adoption.

Submitted by Rohit Joy Proposal 6. Concerning endorsements Section 3.02.01 Board of Directors Endorsements (A) The Board of Directors shall not endorse, support or oppose any candidate for partisan nomination in a partisan primary, any candidate for statewide nonpartisan elective office, or any state or local ballot measure; provided, however, the Board of Directors may endorse, support or oppose the recall of a state elected officeholder. Add new Section 3.02.05 as follows: Section 3.02.05 Endorsements for Statewide Nonpartisan Elective Office (A) Where there is more than one registered Republican candidate for election to a statewide nonpartisan elective office, neither the Committee nor the Executive Committee shall endorse, support, or oppose any candidate in such an election, except in the following manner and circumstances: (1) If the proposed action occurs at any time other than one of the twiceyearly regular conventions and meetings of the Committee, written notice has been given to all persons entitled to vote at least five days in advance of the meeting of the Committee or Executive Committee. (2) A hearing is held and the candidates affected are given an opportunity to appear.

(3) A candidate receives a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members of the Committee or Executive Committee present and voting. Existing Section 3.02.05 becomes Section 3.02.06 and new subsection (C) is added as follows: Section 3.02.053.02.06 Definitions (C) “Statewide nonpartisan elective office” includes the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Submitted by Rohit Joy