Proposed OSSO Constitutional Amendment Changes

Current Constitution

Filing as a Candidate for Office

Any member desiring to run for an office of O.S.S.O. must file with the Secretary between January first and seven (7) calendar days prior to the general membership meeting of February. The Secretary shall furnish the member an application for filing for the office he desires. The member must fill out the application, sign it, and return same to the Secretary. The application shall contain the name, division and/or assignment of the member and the office he/she seeks. No member may file for more than one office. The Secretary shall certify and inform the member at the time of filing if he/she is so qualified for certification. At the close of the filing date, the Secretary may post a list of all candidates who have qualified for office on all bulletin boards at the Central and Sub-Stations of the Houston Police Department.

Proposed Changes

Any member desiring to run for an office of O.S.S.O. must file with the Secretary between January first and seven(7) calendar days prior to the general membership meeting of February. The Secretary shall furnish the member an application for filing for the office he/she desires. The member must fill out the application, sign it, and return same to the Secretary. The application shall contain the name, division and/or assignment of the member and the office he/she seeks. No member may file for more than one office. The Secretary shall certify and inform the member at the time of filing if he/she is so qualified for certification. At the close of the filing date, the Secretary may post a list of all candidates who have qualified for office on the Organization of Spanish Speaking Officer’s Website.

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Current Constitution

Nomination of Officers

All candidates’ names which have been filed with the Secretary and so certified, shall be read to the membership at the regular meeting of the general membership in the month of February. Members who have not filed as a candidate may be nominated from the floor in the February regular meeting. Nominations shall not cease until a motion has been entertained and properly carried.

Proposed Changes

All candidates’ names which have been filed with the Secretary and so certified, shall be read to the membership at the regular meeting of the general membership in the month of February. Members who have not filed as a candidate may be nominated from the floor and must physically be present at the February regular meeting to assure their acceptance. Nominations shall not cease until a motion has been entertained and properly carried.

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Current Constitution

Voting Procedures

A.   General Provisions

All elections may be held by mail out ballots or voting machines. Voting machines will he provided at any location designated by the Election Committee. The content of the ballot to be placed on the voting machines shall include the names, divisions, and assignments of the candidates and the offices they are seeking. In the event and proposition or amendment to the Constitution and By-Laws of O.S.S.O. is proposed, the ballot shall contain a brief description of any such proposal or amendment. Voting shall be conducted under the guidance of members of the Election Committee who shall serve as election judges. If voting machines are utilized, the voting hours will be from 5:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. for all elections. The chairperson of the Election Committee will be responsible: to provide voting places; for rental of the voting machines; (1) for printing of all ballots; for providing complete voting lists at all voting places; for posting a notice of election on all bulletin boards, fifteen (15) days prior to the election, for posting sample ballots at or near all voting machines during the periods of elections, and any additional locations deemed appropriate; to maintain a roster of all election judges and their time and location of assignment; to insure that election judges place a check mark next to each member's name on the voting list as that member votes and places a dated stamp on the reverse side of each member's check stub; for preparing each voting machine for each election; for opening each voting machine at the end of each election; (2) tabulating the results of each election; (3) for posting the tentative results of the election within twenty-four(24) hours after the close of the election; (4) for certifying the correctness of each election and results of each election to the Board of Directors at a Board meeting to be held within seventy­ two (72) hours after the close of the election. The Board of Directors shall certify the results of the election within seventy-two (72) hours after the close of the election and cause the posting of same. The receipt of a majority of votes cast shall pass any proposition except as otherwise specifically described elsewhere in this Constitution and By-Laws. The chairperson, or his designee(s), may require additional identification of a member voting. Only those members in good standing shall be eligible to vote in any election.

Proposed Changes

A.      General Provisions

All elections may be held by mail out ballots and or Email on the Organization of Speaking Officer’s website. The content of the ballot to be placed on the website shall include the names, divisions, and assignments of the candidates and the offices they are seeking. In the event a proposition or amendment to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Organization of Spanish Speaking Officer’s is proposed, the ballot shall contain a brief description of any such proposal or amendment. Voting shall be conducted under the guidance of members of the Election Committee who shall serve as election judges.  The chairperson of the Election Committee will be responsible: to provide  (1) for printing of all ballots; for providing complete voting lists on the Organization of Spanish Speaking Officer’s website, fifteen (15) days prior to the election,  (2) tabulating the results of each election; (3) for posting the tentative results of the election within twenty-four(24) hours after the close of the election; (4) for certifying the correctness of each election and results of each election to the Board of Directors at a Board meeting to be held within seventy­ two (72) hours after the close of the election. The Board of Directors shall certify the results of the election within seventy-two (72) hours after the close of the election and cause the posting of same.  The receipt of a majority of votes cast shall pass any proposition except as otherwise specifically described elsewhere in this Constitution and By-Laws. The chairperson, or his designee(s), may require additional identification of a member voting. Only those members in good standing shall be eligible to vote in any election.

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Current Constitution

Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws

No alterations or amendments to this Constitution and by-laws shall be made except by written resolution offered at a meeting of the Board of Directors by any member. Such resolution shall layover at least until the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors, or a minimum of twenty (20) days, after which is shall require a simple majority vote of the members of the Board of Directors to place such resolution on a ballot for vote of the general membership. Any passage of any such alteration or amendment of the Constitution and by-laws placed on the ballot for consideration shall require a simple majority vote of all members voting in such a result or special election. Any alteration or amendment so proposed May be posted in written form on all bulletin boards of  O.S.S.O. for at least fifteen (15) days prior to any election. The entire wording of the alteration or amendment shall be posted in the immediate vicinity of any voting device on the day of the voting. Provided, however, that the Board of Directors may, in lieu of the posting requirements of this section, elect to notify the membership of such proposed alteration or amendment by mailing a copy of same to each member's last known mailing address.

Proposed Changes

Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws

No alterations or amendments to this Constitution and by-laws shall be made except by written resolution offered at a meeting of the Board of Directors by any member. Such resolution shall layover at least until the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors, or a minimum of twenty (20) days, after which is shall require a simple majority vote of the members of the Board of Directors to place such resolution on a ballot for vote of the general membership. Any passage of any such alteration or amendment of the Constitution and by-laws placed on the ballot for consideration shall require a simple majority vote of all members voting in such a result or special election. Any alteration or amendment so proposed may be posted in written form on the Organization of Spanish Speaking Officer’s website for at least fifteen (15) days prior to any election. The entire wording of the alteration or amendment shall be posted on the Organization of Spanish Speaking Officer’s website on the day of the voting. Provided, however, that the Board of Directors may, in lieu of the posting requirements of this section, elect to notify the membership of such proposed alteration or amendment by mailing a copy of same to each member's last known mailing address.

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Current Constitution

Section 7.

          Qualifications of Office

No member may be a candidate for office who is not in good standing in this organization. No officer may Continue in office or perform the duties of office or exercise the powers of an office who is not in good standing in this organization. Good standing is deemed to mean that all dues and assessments have been paid, and that his or her membership in O.S.S.O. is not in jeopardy due to the provisions of this Constitution and By-Laws.

Proposed Changes

Section 7. 

Qualifications of Office

No member may be a candidate for office who is not in good standing in this organization. No officer may

continue in office or perform the duties of office or exercise the powers of an office who is not in good

standing in this organization. Good standing is deemed to mean that all dues and assessments have been paid, and that his or her membership in O.S.S.O. is not in jeopardy due to the provisions of this Constitution and By-Laws. Any retired member in good standing shall be eligible for any Board Position except the office of President and Vice-President.

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Current Constitution

MEMBERSHIP

Section I.

     Qualification for Membership

Membership in this organization shall be comprised primarily of Hispanic Houston Police Officers;  however, O.S.S.O. will not be limited to Hispanic Houston Police Officers, but open to any sworn Houston Police Officer and retired Houston Police Officers that share an interest­ in this organization's goals and objectives. Members may hold any elected office, serve on any standing, ad hoc, or special committees, hold any appointive office, attend all meetings, and vote on any issue before the membership. Members will receive all rights, benefits, and privileges of O.S.S.O.

Proposed Changes

MEMBERSHIP

Section I.

     Qualification for Membership

Membership in O.S.S.O. shall be open to any sworn Houston Police Officer and Retired Houston Police Officers that shares an interest­ in this organization's goals and objectives. Members may hold any elected office, serve on any standing, ad hoc, or special committees, hold any appointive office, attend all meetings, and vote on any issue before the membership. Members will receive all rights, benefits, and privileges of O.S.S.O.

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