PROPOSED CONSTITUTION

Article I: Name and Affiliation

Section 1.1 The name of this organization shall be Texas Municipal Human Resources Association. The Association shall be affiliated with the Texas Municipal League.

Section 1.2 The Constitution shall serve as the By-Laws for the Association.

Article II: Purpose

Section 2.1 The Purpose of this Association shall be to promote excellence in human resources administration in Texas municipalities.

A. To promote research, discussion and analysis of human resources issues arising from municipal human resources and civil service systems, State and National laws, court decisions, and administrative regulations promulgated by State and Federal agencies, and to promote changes in human resources management issues or laws which benefit the profession, Texas municipalities and municipal employees.

B. To obtain and circulate the latest and most current information on human resources administration.

C. To encourage the active cooperation and exchange of information among the members, and to provide information and guidance to persons new to the profession.

D. To sponsor and conduct conferences, seminars, meetings and workshops to foster professional development and the study of human resources issues.

E. To render whatever assistance possible to any municipality, Texas Municipal League Affiliate or organization interested in the promotion of effective human resources administration.

F. To promote the welfare of all Texas municipal employees, and to render to the citizens of Texas the best and most efficient municipal human resources administration possible.

G. To promote the status of the human resources profession in Texas municipalities.

H. To promote the overall purposes and goals established in the Texas Municipal League Constitution.

Article III: Membership

Section 3.1 Membership in the Association shall be classified as follows:.

A. Active. Active members shall be municipal employees responsible for the provision of services related to human resources management. Active members shall be entitled to all benefits and privileges of the Association including eligibility to vote and hold office.

B. Affiliate. Affiliate members shall be persons employed in a college or university; any person interested in contributing to the Association who works in a human resources management position in other municipal/public entities such as counties, state agencies, and special authorities/districts; any person who has attained a position in a field of specialization qualifying them to contribute to the advancement of professional knowledge and practice in cooperation with the membership of the Association; or who primarily represents the interests of management in the public sector; or any person who shall have been a member of the Association in good standing, and who shall have resigned, retired, or separated from his/her position with a city, and is in a position which would not qualify him/her to retain any other membership classification. Affiliate membership shall be entitled to all benefits and privileges of the Association except chairing committees, holding offices and voting.

C. Cooperating Member. Cooperating members shall be persons employed in human resources positions in the private sector, or persons who work for corporations or businesses that provide services for human resources functions. Cooperating members shall be entitled to all benefits and privileges of the Association except chairing committees, holding offices and voting.

D. Student/Intern. Student/Intern members shall be persons who are currently enrolled in a course of study related to human resources management at an accredited college or university in Texas. Student/Intern members shall be entitled to all benefits of the Association except chairing committees, holding offices, and voting.

E. Emeritus. Emeritus members shall be persons who have separated from active employment in a municipal human resources capacity while an active member in good standing of TMHRA, and who have contributed positively to TMHRA. Emeritus memberships shall be granted by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Section 3.2 All applicants for membership in all categories shall be subject to approval by the Executive Board. It is required that a complete application be filed only once. Membership is not transferable; it shall only be in the name of the individual and shall not attach to the position.

Section 3.3 The Association shall neither discriminate nor make decisions based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age or disability and shall encourage the active participation by all qualified members without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age or disability.

Article IV: Affiliate Section

Section 4.1 Membership in the Texas Employer Labor Relations Association (TX-PELRA) and the National Public Employer Relations Association (NPELRA) is available to persons who are eligible for active or affiliate membership in the Association under the provisions of Article III, Section 3.1, and who have responsibility for labor relations in their current position; or have an interest in labor relations in their current position.

Article V: Officers

Section 5.1 Elected Offices.

Section 5.1(a) The elected officers of the Association shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, Departmental Director (TML Board representative), and six (6) Trustees elected at-large, all of whom shall be active members.

Section 5.2 Executive Board. Between general meetings of the Association, the business of the Association shall be conducted by an Executive Board, which shall consist of the elected officers of the Association.

Section 5.3 Duties of Officers. The President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer shall perform those duties normally associated with their titles. The President shall serve as chairman of the Executive Board. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be responsible for seeing that the financial reports are maintained, and that the minutes are kept of all Executive Board and Association meetings. The TML Board Representative (also known as Department Director) shall serve as the Association’s representative on the Board of Directors of the Texas Municipal League. Officers and Trustees shall serve as chairs of committees and/or perform other duties as assigned by the President.

Section 5.4(a) Term of Officers. Terms of office for the President, Vice President, and the Secretary-Treasurer shall be for one year. At the conclusion of each year’s term of office the Vice President (President Elect) shall automatically advance to the position of President, and the Secretary-Treasurer shall automatically advance to the position of Vice President leaving the position of Secretary-Treasurer vacant. The term of office for the Departmental Director (TML Board Representative) shall be two years with a maximum of four years for any one person as provided in the Texas Municipal League Constitution. The term of office for the six (6) at-large trustees shall be two years, with three (3) trustees being elected each year. Each term of office shall commence on October 1 of each year, except that the term of office of the Departmental Director (TML Board Representative) shall commence upon the adjournment of the Texas Municipal League Annual Conference.

Section 5.4(b) Requirements for Advancement to President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, and Departmental Director (TML Board Representative). In order for a member to advance to the next higher office, that member must have served a minimum of one year and must have attended at least 50% of the scheduled board meetings held during the members last completed year of office. Attendance of less than 50% removes that member from ascension to the next higher office. In order for a member to be appointed to the position of Departmental Director (TML Board Representative), that member must have successfully served a minimum of two years on the TMHRA Board of Trustees and be an active member of TMHRA in good standing. The member need not be a current TMHRA Board Trustee in order to serve as Departmental Director (TML Board Representative). Appointment to the vacant office(s) shall be open to trustees.

Article VI: Elections

Section 6.1 Nominations of Officers. The Executive Board shall appoint a Nominating Committee. Two of the members must not be members of the Executive Board. The Nominating Committee shall submit, at the Annual Conference of the Association, a list of at least two nominees for each elected office with an expired term or vacancy. The TML Board Representative from TMHRA shall be filled by election by a member who has successfully served a minimum of two years on the TMHRA Board of Trustees and is an active member of TMHRA in good standing. Nominations for Secretary-Treasurer shall be made from members who have served as trustee for at least one year. In nominating trustees the Nominating committee shall strive to achieve representation from all regions of the State. Additional nominations may be made by Active voting members, from the floor, at the Annual Conference.

Section 6.2 Election of Officers. The annual election shall be by mail, either by conventional mail or e-mail ballot. Should a nominee become ineligible for office or unable to serve, then the Nominating Committee shall nominate another qualified member prior to sending the ballot. The nominating committee shall send to each voting member, no less than 30 days prior to the September Conference (currently Employment Law Seminar), a ballot including the candidates for each office together with biographical information on each candidate. Ballots shall be returned to the Executive Director of the Texas Municipal League or his designate no later than seven days prior to the beginning of the September Conference (currently Employment Law Seminar). At the annual business meeting the ballots shall be canvassed by the Executive Board. The President shall declare the election of new officers, and those elected shall take office on October 1, except that the term of office of the Departmental Director (TML Board Representative) shall commence upon the adjournment of the Texas Municipal League Annual Conference.

Article VII: Dues

Section 7.1 The Executive Board, with the approval of a majority of the members voting at the annual meeting, shall fix annual dues for the members of the Association.

Article VIII: Meetings

Section 8.1 Association Meetings There shall be at least three meetings of the Association each year. The Annual Meeting shall be held at the time and place of the Employment Law Seminar. An Annual Conference shall be scheduled by the Executive Board. Other meetings of the Association may be called by the President or by a majority of the Executive Board. A majority of those registered at any meeting of the Association shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meetings.

Section 8.2 Executive Board Meetings The Executive Board shall meet upon the call of the President or any three officers. Seven members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum. The Executive Board may authorize the reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred by Board Members or others while conducting official business of the Association.

Article IX: Proceedings

Section 9.1 The proceedings of the Texas Municipal Human Resources Association shall be conducted as directed in its Constitution; and, where the absence of specific direction prevails, the proceedings of the Association shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order.

Section 9.2 Any question as to the meaning or construction of this Constitution shall be decided by a majority vote of the Executive Board.

Article X: Vacancies

Section 10.1 President/Vice President. In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall become President, and shall serve in this capacity until the next Annual Meeting, when he/she shall commence to serve the one (1) year term as President to which he/she would have automatically succeeded, as provided herein. A vacancy, which occurs in the office of Vice President vacating such office in order to serve the remainder of an unexpired term of the President, shall remain vacant until the next succeeding Annual Meeting. In the event of a vacancy in both the office of President and Vice President, the Secretary-Treasurer shall become President, and shall serve in this capacity until the next Annual Meeting.

Section 10.2 Other Officers. A vacancy in the office of Secretary-Treasurer or Trustee may be filled by appointment of the President as approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board for the remainder of the unexpired term. The appointment for the vacancy of the office of Secretary-Treasurer shall be selected from the trustees that have served a minimum of one year.

Section 10.3 Departmental Director. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Director, the President shall become the representative to the TML Board of Directors until the next Annual Meeting, when an election for the office of Director shall be held.

Article XI: Committees

Section 11.1 The Executive Board shall appoint standing committees of the Association to include, but not be limited to, the Newsletter Committee and Programs Committee. The President may appoint such additional committees as he/she deems advisable except that the creation of said committees shall be subject to the approval of the Executive Board.

Article XII: Amendments

Section 12.1 This Constitution may be amended by either of two methods. First, it may be amended at any regular or special membership meeting of the Association by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the active members present, provided that written notice and copies of the proposed amendments to be considered have been sent to all active members at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting. The Constitution may also be amended by mail ballot, either by conventional mail or e-mail, provided that such ballot shall be sent to all active members and they be allowed thirty (30) days to respond. Any amendment must be approved by the Texas Municipal League before becoming effective. Proposed amendments and method of amendment must be approved by majority vote of the Executive Board prior to being submitted to the membership.

Article XIII: Effective Date

This Constitution shall become effective upon its adoption by the membership, and approval of the Texas Municipal League.

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