The National Association of Legislative Fiscal Offices

By-Laws of the National Association of Legislative Fiscal Offices

Index

Article One: Name, Membership, Voting, Purpose, Objectives
Article Two: Meetings of Members
Article Three: Officers, Selection of Officers
Article Four: Executive Committee
Article Five: Training Seminar
Article Six: Changes in Amendments of By-Laws

Article One

Name—The name of this organization is the National Association of Legislative Fiscal Offices, hereinafter referred to as the association.

Membership—Membership in the association is open to professional legislative fiscal staff of the states and territories of the United States.

Voting—All members present shall be entitled to vote on questions of interest to the association unless a division is called for, in which case each state shall have one vote. Votes shall be cast by a representative selected by the membership in that state.

Purpose—The purpose of the association is to improve the quality and effectiveness of legislative fiscal staff and the services they provide to state legislatures.

Objectives—To implement this overall purpose, the association has the following objectives:

to provide and support comprehensive and effective training programs for legislative fiscal staff.
to promote the development of effective relationships between association members and state legislators through the association's role within NCSL.
to promote the professional image of the association.
to promote interaction and information exchange among association members on a national and regional basis and,
to improve intergovernmental fiscal policy through the development and dissemination of fiscal information.

The assessment of dues upon the membership is hereby prohibited.

Article Two

Meetings of Members—Meetings of the association shall be held at such time and place as shall be designated by the executive committee. Meetings shall be held at least annually and at other times as may be determined by the executive committee. Adequate notice of meetings shall be given to all members prior to the meeting, such notice to be provided at least ten (10) days in advance.

Article Three

Officers—The officers of the association shall be as follows:

The president shall preside at all meetings of the association and of the executive committee and shall have general control over the affairs of the association subject to the approval of the executive committee.

The president-elect shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the president or the executive committee. In case of death, disability, or absence of the president, the president-elect shall perform and be vested with all the powers and duties of that office.

The secretary shall maintain a record of all votes and minutes of meetings of the association and executive committee. The secretary shall provide notice of meetings to all member offices.

The treasurer shall keep account of all moneys received or disbursed by the association in a bank account or depository approved by the executive committee. All checks for payment of money shall be signed by the president or president-elect and the treasurer.

An executive committee, consisting of the officers of the association, the immediate past president, the chairs of any committees the association chooses to create and two representatives from the two geographical regions of the nation. There will be two regional organizations within NALFO, an Eastern Region, and a Western Region. The demarcation between the Eastern and Western Regions shall be the Mississippi River, except Michigan and Wisconsin shall be considered Western members.

Selection of Officers —The president-elect, secretary, and treasurer shall be elected from the membership by a vote of the association as provided for in Article One of these by-laws and shall serve one year terms. After serving one term, the president-elect shall assume the office of president and serve one term. After serving one term the president shall assume the office of immediate past president and serve one term. The secretary and treasurer do not automatically move to the next higher office. Two regional officers shall be selected by the membership of each of the two geographic regions by whatever method the regional membership chooses.

A three-member nominating committee shall recommend to the membership a slate of candidates for the positions of president-elect, secretary, and treasurer. Nominations may also be made by any member of the association. The nominating committee shall include the immediate past president (chair) and two others not on the executive committee, appointed by the president. A president-elect before assuming the office of president shall present to the association his/her nominees for committee chair positions. These nominees shall be subject to the approval of the association.

In the event any officer of the association vacates that office before completion of a term, the executive committee shall select a replacement for the unexpired term.

Article Four

Executive Committee—The executive committee shall be responsible to the association for implementation of actions adopted by the voting membership. The executive committee shall meet annually and at such other times as called by the president of the association who shall notify the members at least ten (10) working days in advance of the meeting. Meetings may be conducted by conference telephone call at the discretion of the president. The executive committee may appoint special committees to assist it in the performance of its responsibilities.

Article Five

Training Seminar—NALFO authorizes that any balance in excess of expenses for the Fiscal Analysts Seminar shall revert to the a reserve fund to be applied to any future seminar costs.

Article Six

Changes in Amendments of By-laws—The by-laws may only be amended by a majority vote of the states present and voting at the annual meeting of the association, held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures, and may not be amended by executive committee. A copy of the proposed amendment shall be mailed to the member offices with the call.

By-laws effective as of August 15, 2006.