Fighting for the Constitutional Rights of all American Citizens.

RSOL Bylaws

BYLAWS

Reform Sex Offender Laws

(Reformsexoffenderlaws.org | RSOL)


ARTICLE I—NAME AND PURPOSE

The name of the organization shall be Reform Sex Offender Laws (RSOL). RSOL is a national informational, educational, and advocacy organization devoted to reforming sexual offense laws and ending the dehumanization of those labeled sex offenders. RSOL advocates ending draconian, unconstitutional laws and policies such as public registration, residency restrictions, civil commitment, criminalization of consensual sexual activities among minors, punitive treatment of those awaiting trial, and excessive punishments. RSOL seeks to foster collaboration among all its component parts and sister organizations to create a nationally coordinated effort to prevent sexual harm to children through carefully structured laws that are based on solid research and proven, effective policies.

ARTICLE II—PARTICIPATION

Participation in RSOL shall be open without discrimination to all persons 18 years or older who are supportive of RSOL’s purpose as expressed in Article I.

Article III—Admin Team

Membership: The Admin Team shall consist of nine (9) members and will choose from among its members an Executive Director to carry out the decisions of the Admin Team, to make day to day decisions between Admin Team meetings, and to lead RSOL. The Admin Team may reverse a decision of the Executive Director, as well as replace an Executive Director, at any time by majority vote of its members in attendance. The Admin Team shall be responsible for overall policy and direction of RSOL. The Admin Team will strive to reach consensus on important matters, but if consensus cannot be reached, decisions will be made by a majority vote of existing members. To hold a seat on the Admin Team, persons must be a public or non-public signatory of the RSOL Statement, and be either a regular contributor of funds or an active participant in national or state affiliate projects. The Admin Team shall receive no compensation other than reasonable expenses for reimbursement.

Terms and Elections: Commensurate with the time that the Admin Team has a full nine (9) members, those members shall serve rotating three-year-terms, with three (3) team members standing for election each year. The Admin Team existing at the time of adoption of this article shall be brought up to its full complement of 9 members and the terms for each member determined in the following manner:

At the adoption of this Article, a Committee of Electors shall be created in the following manner: Each state and general affiliate coordinator shall have the option to appoint one (1) person to the Committee of Electors. The Committee of Electors shall, with due deliberation, arrange to appoint or elect the four (4) new members of the Admin Team.

At the first meeting of the full nine-member Admin Team, three (3) of its members will be assigned to a three-year-term. Three (3) more will be assigned to a two-year-term. The final three (3) will be assigned to a one-year-term. The manner for assigning the term of each member will be decided by the Admin Team.

In subsequent years, a new Committee of Electors shall be responsible for electing or appointing two (2) of the three (3) seats being vacated by members of the Admin Team whose terms are ending. The third seat will be filled by the Admin Team. Members whose terms are ending may choose to present themselves to the Committee as candidates for a new term. Such members shall be subject to the same process as all other candidates for that year.

Officers: The Admin Team shall appoint from its own membership the following four (4) officers: Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Executive Director. The Executive Director may hold more than one office but not more than two.

Meetings: The Admin Team will hold regular meetings at least monthly but may meet more often if its members so choose, or at the discretion of the Chair. Meeting agendas and meeting times will be announced to all listed organizers via email at least one week prior to a regular meeting. State organizers will be encouraged to place questions and concerns on the agenda at that time. A summary report including team votes will be posted within one week following the meeting. A quorum of any Admin Team meeting shall be sixty percent (60%) of existing members. Each team member has one vote, and voting will not be allowed by proxy. A minimum of two (2) Admin Team meetings per year will be designated for state affiliates to participate so that they may address the Admin Team, ask questions, and make recommendations.

Resignation/Termination/Vacancies: A member who desires to resign from the Admin Team may do so in writing (acceptable by e-mail) to the Chair. By a majority vote, a member may be terminated from the Admin Team due to excessive absences. By a two-thirds majority vote of the Admin Team, a member may be removed for any reason whatsoever.

If an Admin Team-appointed seat is vacated, the Admin Team shall take immediate steps to fill the seat. The Chair at his/her discretion may move to temporarily fill a vacated electoral seat with the approval of a majority vote of members in attendance. This temporary member shall serve until the next scheduled electoral process. However, the Committee of Electors may allow the temporary member to fill out the remaining term of the vacated seat or may search for a different person to fill the seat.

ARTICLE IV—COMMITTEES

The Chair may, in his or her discretion, create such ad-hoc committees as are needed from time to time. There shall be the following five standing committees; except where specified as a member, the executive director shall be an ex officio member of each standing committee.

Executive Committee: The Executive Committee shall include three (3) members: the Chair, Secretary, and Executive Director. If the Executive Director also happens to be one of the previously listed officers, an at-large member of the Admin Team shall be elected by the Admin Team. Except for the power to amend or alter these Bylaws, the Executive Committee shall have all the powers and authorities of the full Admin Team and is subject to the direction and control of the full Admin Team.

Conference Committee: At least one member of the Admin Team shall serve on the Conference Committee as liaison, and may also act as chair. Remaining members consist of at least one at-large RSOL participant, plus two or three participants from the host state(s). Total number of Committee members may not exceed five. The liaison(s) and at-large member(s) will serve staggered two-year terms, while members from the host state(s) will serve for the year preceding the conference their state is hosting.

The Conference Committee shall be responsible for planning and facilitating RSOL’s annual conference. The committee will accept bids from states interested in hosting each year’s conference, and work closely with the hosting state to prepare and present the conference focus, agenda, accommodations, budget, and fees.

Correspondence Committee: The Chair of the Admin Team shall appoint a Chair of the Correspondence Committee who may or may not be a member of the Admin Team. In turn, the Committee chair will appoint two or more additional individuals who may or may not be members of the Admin Team. At all times there must be at least one Admin Team member on the committee. The Correspondence Committee shall be responsible for press releases regarding issues of a national level, shall be responsible for communication and coordination of print media requests and projects, and shall be available to assist State Organizers, with their permission, on local/state issues.

Planning Committee: The Planning Committee shall be chaired by the Executive Director who, in turn, shall appoint two or more additional individuals who may or may not be members of the Admin Team. Such Committee will be tasked with developing organizational plans for the growth of RSOL and its affiliates.

Electoral Committee: The Electoral Committee shall be responsible for filling vacant electoral positions on the Admin Team as detailed in Article III above. Volunteer electors shall be solicited each year, with no more than one elector from each state and general affiliate. Ideally, electors should not be members of the current Admin Team, but a team member may serve if no other person is available. An elector may continue to serve in subsequent years as the representative of his or her affiliate.

ARTICLE V—AFFILIATES

Each state and general affiliate is a completely autonomous group with no legal relationship to RSOL. However, in order to be recognized as a cooperating affiliate with the right to appoint a member to the Committee of Electors and to participate in affiliate communications, the leadership in each affiliate must be public or non-public signatories of the RSOL Statement and request such cooperating status in accordance with terms established by the Admin Team. Affiliates may choose to disassociate from national RSOL at any time. The Admin Team may also terminate an affiliate's cooperating status. Affiliates shall not make any declarations on behalf of national RSOL without the approval of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VI—FINANCES

All RSOL participants will be requested to make an annual donation, commensurate with their financial resources. Such donations are not a prerequisite for participation in RSOL, except as defined elsewhere in these Bylaws. All income shall be spent according to policies laid out by the Admin Team. Expenditures over $150 (except for recurring expenses) must be approved by all three Executive Committee members or by majority vote of the Admin Team.

The Admin Team may choose in the future to establish criteria for membership, including dues which may be a requisite of membership.

ARTICLE VII—FAIRNESS AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Given that not every issue can be accounted for in any set of bylaws, in the event of an issue arising which is not explicitly covered by these Bylaws, such issue will be decided upon on the basis of fairness and the greater good of RSOL.  Consideration will be taken into account regarding the possible impact to parties directly or indirectly affected and the general common sense resident to the governing body.

Any dispute arising between members or components of RSOL shall be resolved by a dispute resolution committee appointed by the Executive Director. The findings of that committee, once received and approved by the Admin Team, shall constitute a full and final resolution of the dispute.

ARTICLE VIII—LEGAL SERVICES DISCLAIMER

RSOL is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or counsel to its members or other interested parties but may refer individuals to attorneys and/or professional organizations that provide legal services.

ARTICLE IX—AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended when necessary by a two-thirds majority of the existing Admin Team. Proposed amendments must be submitted in advance for inclusion in the notice of a regular Admin Team meeting. A publicly announced meeting of the Admin Team must be called for the purpose of considering amendments to these Bylaws. No vote shall be taken on any amendment to the Bylaws during the same meeting in which it is proposed.

ARTICLE X—CERTIFICATION

Approved by unanimous vote of the Admin Team on the 29th day of December, 2011.