March 1, 2005

BYLAWS OF THE BANNOCK COUNTY
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AND
SEXUAL ASSAULT TASK FORCE

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this organization is the Bannock County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Task Force (hereinafter “Task Force”).

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

Section 1. The purpose of this Task Force is to provide an effective, coordinated community response to incidents of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual abuse.

ARTICLE III: GOALS OF THE TASK FORCE

Section 1. The responsibilities of the Task Force shall be as follows:

1. To promote a community network of effective prevention, intervention, and treatment for victims and perpetrators of domestic violence and sexual assault; and
2. Examine how agencies, departments, and the courts in Bannock County respond to domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault in order to provide a coordinated community response.
3. Facilitate continued cooperation and coordination among all participants in the criminal justice system and civil system who deal with domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault.
4. Make recommendations to agencies, departments, the courts, and others regarding improving their response to domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault.
5. Encourage participation in and promotion of public education regarding domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault.
6. Form committees to assist in planning, policy-making, goal-setting, and priority recommendations, and such other functions as the Task Force deems necessary.
7. Review the progress made each year and make proposals as to what the Task Force shall try to accomplish in the next year.
8. Identify and promote state and federal legislation and policies in accordance with the objectives of the Task Force.

ARTICLE IV: BASIC POLICIES

Section 1. This organization shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan.

Section 2. No person shall be excluded from membership on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, or disability.

Section 3. This organization shall pursue the foregoing objectives exclusively and shall not promote any other objectives or agendas unless formally approved by the Task Force and incorporated by amendment in these bylaws.

ARTICLE V: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Composition

1. The Task Force shall be composed of a minimum of ten members representing organizations for which the objectives are of concern. Each organization may have a maximum of two representatives. These organizations represented shall include law enforcement, the Bannock County Prosecutor’s Office, the court system (including Magistrate and District Courts), Portneuf Medical Center, battered women’s programs, batterer’s treatment programs, pre-trial services, Idaho Legal Aid Services, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, and other organizations for whom the above objectives are of concern. Each organization will have a maximum of two votes. Representatives of each organization must be in attendance to vote.
2. Task Force members shall serve for a term of three years and shall be eligible for reappointment. Terms shall start in the month and year of the member’s approval by the Task Force. New members shall be nominated by a Task Force member and approved by a 2/3 vote of a quorum of current members of the Task Force. An e-mail or mail ballot may be used.
3. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the total voting members of the Task Force.
4. Each member shall be furnished a copy of these bylaws, a copy of the Task Force Approved Protocols, and a current copy of the membership roster by the secretary.

Section 2. Vacancies

1. Vacancies in Task Force membership shall be filled for the unexpired term by a person nominated by a Task Force member and approved by a 2/3 vote of a quorum of the total voting members of the Task Force. An e-mail or mail ballot may be used. Resignations shall be submitted to the Task Force President.
2. A Task Force member vacancy shall be created automatically in the event of a resignation. In the event that a board member misses two consecutive meetings without providing notice to the secretary, a letter will be sent to the member notifying the member that their continued membership will be subject to review at the next meeting.

Section 3. Judicial Members

1. Any judges who are members of the Task Force shall be ad hoc members with voting privileges when in attendance.

ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS AND THEIR ELECTION

Section 1. Elected Officers

1. The officers of this organization shall consist of a president, a president-elect, secretary, and treasurer.
2. Officers shall be elected by a 2/3 vote of a quorum annually at the September meeting. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the current voting members of the Task Force.
3. Officers shall assume their official duties following the close of the election meeting, and shall serve for a term of one year and until the election of their successors.
4. A person shall not be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office, unless by special vote of the Task Force.

ARTICLE VII: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The president shall preside at all meetings of the Task Force and of the executive committee meetings, shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed in these bylaws or assigned to the president by the organization or by the executive committee, and shall coordinate the work of the officers and committees of the organizations. Such duties shall include:

1. Conducting meetings;
2. Approving the monthly agenda;
3. Meeting with committee chairs each month (by phone contact or otherwise);
4. Proposing projects;
5. Maintaining contact with other regional domestic violence or sexual assault organizations; and
6. Delegating duties and responsibilities applicable to the position.

Section 2. The president-elect shall act as an aide to the president, and shall perform the duties of the president in the absence or disability of that officer to act.

Section 3. The secretary shall be responsible for recording the minutes of all meetings of the Task Force, handle correspondence, prepare the agenda in collaboration with other officers, and make arrangements for meetings. The secretary shall also keep track of the beginning and final month of the term for each member and shall notify the president of the last month of a member’s term at least one (1) month prior to that last month so that that member can be reappointed, if the member wishes to continue to serve on the Task Force. A file containing the Task Force bylaws, Approved Protocols, minutes, correspondence, up-to-date membership roster, and other pertinent materials shall be maintained by the secretary. At least one week prior to the next meeting, the secretary shall send to all members a copy of the minutes of the last meeting and the agenda for the next meeting.

Section 4. The Treasurer shall prepare and present a monthly financial report at each Task Force meeting.

Section 5. Committees created by the Task Force shall have a committee chair. A committee chair shall conduct meetings with committees and shall write a summary of committee actions, findings, and recommendations for the secretary and president for presentation at Task Force meetings.

ARTICLE VIII: MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular meetings of the Task Force shall be held every other month throughout the year, unless otherwise provided by the Task Force or by the executive committee.

Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the president or by the executive committee.

Section 3. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of voting members who are present at a meeting.

Section 4. Members unable to attend a meeting shall notify the secretary of the Task Force. Two successive absences without providing such notice shall trigger a review of that member’s membership.

Section 5. All regular meetings shall be open to the public unless, on the motion of any member and by a vote of a simple majority of a quorum, the Task Force decides that the general public shall be excluded from the meeting or any portion of the meeting. If any non-member wishes to attend a meeting or provide any presentation at a meeting, such person shall contact the President at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting.

Section 6. Any member may make a motion at a meeting, which must be seconded and approved by a majority vote of a quorum of those in attendance to be implemented.

Section 7. The secretary or other designated member shall provide a copy of the minutes of the last regular meeting and a copy of the proposed agenda to each member by mailing, fax, or email at least one (1) week prior to each regular meeting so that each member can review them in preparation for the meeting.

ARTICLE IX: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. The executive committee shall consist of the officers of the Task Force.

Section 2. The duties of the executive committee shall be (a) to transact necessary business in the intervals between Task Force meetings and such other business as may be referred to it by the Task Force and (b) to propose the creation of committees for consideration by the Task Force.

Section 3. Meetings of the executive committee shall be fixed by the committee. A majority of the executive committee members shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE X: STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Section 1. The executive committee may propose such standing committees as it may deem necessary to promote the objectives and to carry on the work of the Task Force.

Section 2. The president shall be a member ex-officio of all committees.

Section 3. The members of each standing committee shall appoint their own chairpersons.

ARTICLE XI: AMENDMENTS

Section 1. These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Task Force by a two-thirds vote of a quorum present and voting, provided that notice of the proposed amendment shall have been given at the previous meeting or by other prior notice to the members.

ARTICLE XII: TASK FORCE APPROVED PROTOCOLS

Section 1. In pursuit of its objectives, the Task Force shall formulate various protocols and recommendations that it shall promote in the community. These protocols and recommendations shall be maintained apart from these bylaws as a document that shall be entitled the “Task Force Approved Protocols.”