Constitution and Bylaws

Adopted:  September 10, 1992,
Amended: April 5, 1994, April 21, 1999, March 27, 2003, March, 2007

ARTICLE I.  NAME

The name of this Association shall be the Kansas Narcotics Officer’s Association, Inc., hereinafter known as the “Association” and or KNOA.

ARTICLE II.  PURPOSE 

The general purpose and objectives of this Association shall be to promote the cooperation, education and exchange of information among all Law Enforcement Agencies involved in the enforcement of controlled substance laws.

ARTICLE III.  MEMBERSHIP

There shall be four classes of members of this Association; namely, Active Member, Charter Member, Life-Time Member and Honorary Member.

Section I – Active Members.  Any full-time, sworn, law enforcement officer, who is officially certified by the jurisdiction wherein the officer is employed may apply for membership.  This precludes circumstances involving nominal compensation or limited law enforcement employ-ment, which is utilized as an adjunct to a non-law enforcement occupation.

1. Any County Attorney, District Attorney, or assistant prosecutors of a County Attorney or District Attorney may also apply for membership in the Association.

   1. The membership will be reviewed by the Executive Board for approval or denial.

   2. These members may not qualify for certain training as per rules of DEA and other agencies providing training.

2. Criminal Analysts, Lab Technicians, Crime Scene Technicians, state certified part-time or reserve law enforcement officers may also apply.

   1. The membership will be reviewed by the Executive Board for approval or denial.  The applicant shall be sponsored by a full-time member in good standing in the association who is willing to endorse the character of the applicant.

   2. These members may not qualify for certain training as per rules of DEA and other agencies providing training.

3. Application for active membership in the association must be completed in its entirety and must be accompanied by payment of all applicable fees and a minimum of one year’s dues.  Application, dues and fees for membership shall be submitted to the Treasurer, who shall forward the application to the President or his designate.

Section II – Charter Members.  There shall be fifty-three (53) Charter Members in the Association.  Charter Members shall have all the rights of an Active Member except that they may not hold office or attend law enforcement training unless they also meet the requirements to be an Active member.  These Charter Members are as follows:

Section III – Life-Time Members:  A retired law enforcement officer, or other previous Active Member, is one who is no longer a sworn officer as defined in Article III, Section I.

1. Active members of the Association who retire from employment in a law enforcement agency shall be entitled to a free life-time membership in the Association, provided that the member has been an active, dues paying member for the five years preceding retirement.

2. A Life-Time Member may not attend training or seek an elected office on the Executive Board.  Such a member does, however, have the right to attend business meetings and has the right to vote.

3. Active members in good standing who retire from law enforcement but who do not meet the qualification for a free life-time membership shall be entitled to continue their membership in the Association by payment of their dues.

4. Any active member who retires from law enforcement but does not qualify for Life-Time Membership may petition the Executive Board for Life-Time Membership status.  The Executive Board may grant the members a Life-Time Membership.

Section IV – Honorary Members:  The Executive Board may appoint any person who had done or is doing outstanding work for or providing support to the Association as an Honorary Member.  This Honorary membership may be canceled at any time, for cause, by the Executive Board.  Honorary Members may not attend business meetings or attend law enforcement training in the Association unless they also meet the requirements to be an Active or Associate Member.

Section V – Termination of Membership.  Any membership other than a Life-Time Membership shall cease:

1. Upon termination of the member’s employment as a law enforcement officer, except as provided for by Article III Section #III of the Constitution, provided that the member may make written application to the Executive Board to continue the membership.  Upon receipt of such application, the Executive Board may, by their unanimous vote, continue the paid membership of that person until the next full business meeting of the Association, at which time the continued membership of such member shall be put to a vote of the members present.

2. Upon the arrest of any member for a crime amounting to a felony or any controlled substance offense the member shall have their membership suspended, and upon conviction of a crime amounting to a felony or any controlled substance offense the membership shall be terminated.

Section VI – The president or his designate, may refer the application to the Executive Board for investigation of the qualifications and/or character of the applicant before approving the application.  Should any member of the Executive Board find the applicant to be unqualified for membership by failure to meet the minimum standards for the type of membership applied for or for any other reason deemed to be so serious as to preclude favorable consideration, the application, together with the dues submitted, shall be returned to the applicant along with a letter explaining the reason the application was denied.

Section VII – The Secretary will provide to each new member a printed copy of the Articles of the Associations Constitution and Bylaws.  The applicant shall then become a member of the Association, subject to and bound by the Constitution and the Bylaws of the Association existing at the time or as they may thereafter be amended.

ARTICLE IV.  OFFICERS

Section I – Designation.  The principle officers of the Association shall be a President, a Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.  There shall be six (6) Regional Trustees.  The President may appoint a Parliamentarian or Sergeant-At-Arms and such other appointees as the President and the Executive Board deems necessary.

Section II – President.  The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Association.  The President shall preside at all meetings of the members and at the Executive Board meetings.  The President shall approve all disbursement of funds and shall be the primary signatory of two signatories on all checks.  The President shall have all the general powers and duties which are usually vested in the office of President of an Association, including but not limited to, the power to appoint committees from among the membership from time to time as President may, in the President’s discretion, decide are appropriate to assist in the conduct of the affairs of the Association.

Section III – Vice President.  Vice President shall take the place of the President and perform the duties of the President whenever the President shall be absent or unable to act.  The Vice President shall coordinate, and manage all Association activities of Regional Trustee.  The Vice President shall also perform such other duties as the Vice President from time to time be charged with by the President or Executive Board.

Section IV – Secretary.  The Secretary shall keep and maintain the minutes of all meetings of the Executive Board and the minutes of all meetings of the member of the Association, and shall have charge of the membership books, and of such other books and records as the Executive Board may direct.  The Secretary shall issue all notices, bulletins, membership certificates and cards, and conduct the official correspondence. At the expiration of the Secretary’s term, the Secretary shall deliver to the successor all property of the Association in the Secretary care, custody, or control.

Section V – Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall receive and deposit, in the name and to the credit of the Association in such depositories as may from time to time be designated by the President.  The Treasurer shall collect and receive all funds of the Association.  The Treasurer is authorized to disburse funds as the second signatory of all checks.  The Treasurer shall disburse such funds as are directed from time to time by resolution of the Executive Board.  An Executive Resolution shall not be necessary for disbursements made in the ordinary course of business.  At the expiration of the Treasurer’s term, the Treasurer shall deliver to the successor all money and property of the Association in the Treasurers care, custody, or control.

Section IV - Second Vice-President. The Second Vice-President shall examine membership cards of Officers and members, ascertaining that all present at Conferences and meetings are in good standing. Make a report to the President. Assist others as designated by the president to review and offer changes to the bylaws and constitution. He shall perform such other duties as the President may require.

Section V – Trustees.  There shall be six (6) regions in the Association.  These regions will correspond to the attached region map as adopted on September 10, 1992, by the membership.

1. At each conference the delegates from each region shall caucus to select from their number a single delegate present at the conference to serve as the Trustee from that region.

2. Trustees will serve as members of the Board and will represent the interests of their regions at Board meetings.

3. Trustees will coordinate all Association business within their region during their tenure.

ARTICLE V.  EXECUTIVE BOARD

The current President, Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Association shall constitute the Executive Board, which shall act for the Association in all Association business between annual meetings.  The Executive Board shall decide all questions, which may arise under the Bylaws subject to appeal of its decision at the general business meeting of the annual conference.  The immediate Past President may serve as an advisor to the Executive Board at the discretion of the President.  Robert’s Rules of Order will govern the Executive Board in matters not covered by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Associations.

ARTICLE VI.  AMENDMENTS

The Constitution or the Bylaws of the Association may be amended by two-thirds vote of the membership present at the annual conference at which the amendment is presented.  The Constitution and By Laws of the Association may also be amended by a two-thirds vote of the membership of the Association voting, as a write-in ballot.  Amended 4-10-96.

Section I – The membership shall be notified of the proposed changes in writing at least sixty days prior to such a vote.

Section II – Amendments may be proposed by the Executive Board of the Association on its own motion or upon the written request of any five (5) members, in good standing, of the Association.

Section III – Any amendments, additions, deletions, or other changes to the Articles of the Association shall become effective.

ARTICLE VII.  DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION

This Association shall not be dissolved unless three-fourths (3/4) of the members eligible to vote, vote for dissolution.

Section I – The vote will be conducted as provided for in Article VI, Section II of the Bylaws, by a vote of the members present at the Annual Conference and by mail in ballots, provided, however, the full membership shall have been notified at least sixty days prior to the date of the vote and the reason for the vote, the vote count shall be made at the Annual Conference.

Section II – Should it not be possible, for cause, to have an Annual Conference each and every member entitled to vote shall be sent a mail-in ballot and the Executive Board shall conduct the vote count.

Section III – All members shall be notified of the result of the vote.

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I.  GOVERNING AUTHORITY

The Bylaws of the Association shall govern the administration and operation of the Association.

ARTICLE II.  DUES/FINANCES

Section I – The dues of the Association shall be set by a vote of the members present at the Annual Conference acting upon a recommendation for change made by the Executive Board.

Section II – The fiscal year of the Association shall be from January 1 to December 31.  The books and accounts of the Association shall be audited by an independent accounting firm selected by the Executive Board during the fiscal year.

Section III – At the Annual Conference a committee of at least three members shall review the report of this audit and shall review the books and accounts of the Association for the time period since that audit.  The committee shall report their findings to the members present at the conference.

Section IV – Members who have not paid their current dues shall not be eligible to serve on committees, run for office, or vote on any Association business, including elections of officers of the Association.  Any member who is in arrears may be dropped from membership in the Association.

ARTICLE III.  NOTICE OF CONFERENCE

At least sixty days prior to the event, notice shall be given in writing to the entire membership of the date and location of each business meeting of the Association.  The Executive Board shall meet as is required to conduct the business of the Association.

ARTICLE IV.  CONFERENCE

There shall be an annual meeting and training conference of the Association at such time and place as shall be decided by a vote of the members present at the preceding conference.  The Executive Board may change the location of the conference for cause.  Prior to a vote by the membership about a conference site, any member who wishes to host the conference must present to the Executive Board information that establishes that member has the necessary support of local law enforcement, local government, and/or local business to ensure a successful conference at the proposed location.  With the consent of the Executive Board, the member who wishes to host the conference shall then make a presentation to the membership present regarding the proposed conference site.

ARTICLE V.  QUORUM

A quorum of the Executive Board shall be at least one-half of the members of such Board.  At any duly called conference or special meeting of the membership, one-twentieth of the membership of the Association preset and entitled to vote, and represented in person shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VI.  VOTING

Section I – In all elections for officers of the Association, every member entitled to vote shall be permitted to cast only one vote, in person at the annual meeting, for each elective office.

Section II – Any member entitled to vote may vote in person or writing by such member when it pertains to the Constitution or Bylaws of the Association.

Section III – Unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws, the affirmative vote of the majority of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary for the adoption of any matter voted on by members.

ARTICLE VII.  ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section I – The officers of the Association shall be elected annually by the member’s eligible to vote that are in attendance at the Annual Conference.

Section II – The President shall appoint an Election Committee to receive the names of nominees for office, to review the credentials of the nominees, to present a list of certified candidates to the membership, and to oversee the election process.

Section III – The election of officers shall take place on the second full day of the Conference, with nominations for each office being closed on twelve o’clock noon on that day.  Voting shall be conducted by written ballot in accordance with Article V and Article VI of the Bylaws.  Any ballot cast for an individual who has not been properly certified by the Election committee will be treated as a blank ballot.

Section IV – To ensure an orderly transition, the officers of the incoming and outgoing Executive Boards will been in executive session prior to the close of the conference to transfer all books, records and property of the Association from the old to the new officers.

ARTICLE VIII.  ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICE

Section I – Any Active Member may seek any office of the Association except that of President and Vice President.  An Active Member must have served as an Executive Board Officers for at least two consecutive terms preceding the conference at which the Active Member seeks election to the Presidency. An Active Member must have served on the Executive Board or Board for at least one consecutive term preceding the conference at which the Active Member seeks election to the Vice Presidency.

Section II – No more than two members of the Executive Board may be employed by the same governmental agency, with the exception of the six (6) Regional Trustees.  One Regional Trustee may be from the same department as a principal officer as defined in Article 3, Sec. 1 of the Bylaws, or two Trustees may be from the same Department.  Amended 4-10-96.

Section III – Effective at the 1995 conference, An Active Member seeking election to the Executive Board must have attended at least two (2) of the four (4) KNOA Conferences immediately preceding the conference at which the member seeks election.

ARTICLE IX.  LENGTH OF TERMS

There shall be a limit of two (2) consecutive terms for the President.  There shall be no limit on the numbers of terms of the Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, or Trustee, except as proved for in Article VIII of these Bylaws which applied to all officers.  The term of office for each officer shall run from close of conference to close of conference.

ARTICLE X.  REMOVAL OF OFFICERS

Upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Executive Board, any officer may be removed, with cause, and his successor elected at any regular meeting of the Executive Board, or at any special meeting of the Board called for such purpose.