Section 1. Name. The name of this organization is Missouri Seismic Safety Commission, herein termed the Commission. Section 2. Authority. The authority of the Commission was established by Revised Statute of Missouri (RSMo) Sections 44.225 through 44.237 also known as the "Seismic Safety Commission Act". No portion of these bylaws nor standing rules of the Commission shall be allowed to supersede or conflict with applicable statutes, rules and regulations of the State of Missouri. 1 Section 3. Location. The principle office and regular place for the transaction of business of this Commission shall be the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency office at 2302 Militia Drive, P.O. Box 116, Jefferson City Missouri 65102. Commission meetings and hearings may be held from time to time at various locations within the State of Missouri, as deemed appropriate by the Commission.
Section 1. Voting Members. The voting membership of this Commission shall consist of the Commissioners duly appointed by the Governor of Missouri and confirmed by the Senate of the State of Missouri or appointed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate or appointed by the Speaker of the House.
Section 2. Ex-officio Members. The Commission may appoint ex-officio members to advise the Commission. The appointment of ex-officio members shall be subject to a majority vote of the Commissioners. An ex-officio member shall have none of the Commissioners' rights nor responsibilities, other than voting responsibilities within their respective committee.
Section 1. Officers. The elective officers of the Commission shall be Chairman, Vice- Chairman, Secretary, and any other officers the Commission resolves by election. No Commissioner shall hold more than one elective office.
Section 2. Term of Office. Each of the elective officers of the Commission shall be elected for a term of one (1) year and shall serve until the successor is elected and qualified. No elective officer of the Commission may be eligible to serve more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same office.
Section 3. Candidates. The Nominating Committee shall solicit candidates from the commissioners. The Nominating Committee shall submit the list of candidates for each office to the voting membership at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting at which the officers are to be elected. Nominations from the floor on the day of election will be accepted.
Section 4. Elections. The Commission shall elect the officers at the last meeting of each calendar year. If there is but one candidate for each office to be filled, the election may be by acclamation. If there is more than one candidate for each office, the election shall be by ballot vote conducted by the Nominating Committee.
Section 5. Vacancies. Upon the death, resignation, or dismissal of any Officer, such office shall become vacant, and shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment of the Coordinating Committee.
Section 6. Duties of the Officers.
a. Chairman. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Commission, shall be the Chairman of the Executive Committee, and shall be an ex-officio member, without vote, of all committees, except the Nominating Committee.
b. Vice-Chairman. The Vice-Chairman shall assist the Chairman in the performance of the details and duties of his office, in the temporary absence or inability of the Chairman, shall act as Chairman and perform the duties for the time being, and shall be the Chairman of the Coordinating Committee.
c. Secretary. The Secretary shall record and preserve the minutes of all meetings of the Commission; shall maintain a list of the membership; shall keep all Commission documents which come to him/her officially; shall sign all documents requiring signature; shall handle all Commission correspondence; and keep a file of all Commission correspondence. In the temporary absence or inability of the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman simultaneously, the Secretary shall call meetings to order, and call for a motion to elect a Chairman pro-tem.
Section 1. General Meetings. The Commission shall meet at least two (2) times in each calendar year. Additional meetings of the Commission may be held as determined necessary by the Chairman subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. Meetings shall conform to all applicable statutes of Missouri, especially Section 610 RSMo, commonly referred to as the Sunshine Law.
Section 2. Notice of meetings. All members shall be notified by mail, email or facsimile at least seven (7) days in advance of General Meetings.
Section 3. Emergency Meetings. An emergency meeting of the Commission may be called by the Chairman, without advance notice or prior approval of the Commission, in the event of an earthquake or as ordered by the Governor. An Emergency meeting of the Commission may be held by telephone conference call provided a quorum can be obtained.
Section 4. Quorum. A quorum of the Commission for the transaction of business shall consist of nine (9) members of the Commission, in accordance with RSMo 44.227. A quorum of the Commission is necessary to open business, but a lesser number may adjourn. Proxies shall not be given or voted.
Section 1. Executive Committee.
a. Composition. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Commission. The Chairman of the Commission shall serve as the Chairman of the Executive Committee.
b. Duties and Responsibilities. The Executive Committee shall have general supervision of the business and affairs of the Commission between its business meetings, make recommendations to the Commission, and shall perform such other duties as are specified in these bylaws. The Executive Committee shall be subject to the orders of the Commission, and none of its deeds shall conflict with action taken by the Commission.
c. Meetings. The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the Chairman or of the majority of the committee members. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Committee members.
Section 2. Coordinating Committee.
a. Composition. The Coordinating Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Commission and a representative of each standing committee, excluding the Nominating Committee. The Vice-Chairman of the Commission shall serve as the Chairman of the Coordinating Committee.
b. Duties and Responsibilities. The Coordinating Committee shall assemble and develop products of the Commission and shall recommend Standing Committee responsibilities for regular Commission meetings. The Coordinating Committee shall be subject to the orders of the Commission, and none of its deeds shall conflict with action taken by the Commission.
c. Meetings. The Coordinating Committee shall meet at the call of its Chairman or upon written request of the majority of the committee members. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Committee members.
Section 3. Standing Committees. Standing committees may be established or revised or ended by the Commission. Standing Committees presently consist of the Committees for: Building Codes, Land Use and Planning; Geoscience; Preparedness, Response and Recovery; and Public Awareness and Education.
a. Members. Members of the Standing Committees shall consist of the voting and ex- officio members of the Commission.
b. Chairman. The Chairman of each Standing Committee shall be a voting member of the Commission, elected by the other voting members of that committee. The Chairman shall serve for a term of one (1) year or until the successor is elected and certified. The Chairman shall be elected at the first meeting following the election of Officers.
Section 4. Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of the three (3) Commissioners selected by the Coordinating Committee, who do not currently hold an office. The Chairman of the Nominating Committee shall be elected by the Nominating Committee members.
Section 5. Ad Hoc Committees. Other committees may be established by the Commission or by the Commission Chairman. These committees may be comprised of members of the Commission and interested public and private groups. The Chairman of these committees shall be a voting member of the Commission.
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Commission in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the statutes, rules and regulations of the State of Missouri nor with these bylaws nor with any special rules of order the Commission may adopt.
Section 1. Introduction. Amendments may be proposed by a majority of the Coordinating Committee, or by a written petition of at least four (4) of the Commissioners presented at a regular Commission meeting.
Section 2. Adoption. Adoption of amendments shall be by a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative majority of the membership at a regular Commission meeting, provided the proposal to amend had been introduced at a regular Commission meeting prior to being considered at the next stated meeting, and further, provided that notice to the members of the proposal to amend has been given at least ten (10) days in advance of the meeting at which a vote is to be taken.