ARTICLE I
ORGANIZATION AND PURPOSE
This organization shall be known as the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators. It shall be comprised of Florida law enforcement/correctional officers or other law enforcement/correctional personnel having responsibilities of negotiating and/or facilitating negotiations during crisis incidents, all of proven integrity and ability, representing agencies/entities which maintain a dedicated interest in the successful resolution of crisis incidents. Its purpose is to assist in the sharing of information, training, equipment technology updates and techniques of crisis intervention, with the continuing goal of future successful resolutions of crisis incidents occurring within the state of Florida.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
1. Membership in the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators shall be limited to current, and/or retired Law Enforcement Officers, Corrections Officers, Parole and Probation Officers, and Criminal Justice Support Personnel of federal, state, county or local agencies having law enforcement jurisdiction and/or responsibilities in crisis incidents. For the purpose of this constitution, all such entities shall here after be referred to as agencies.
2. Agencies making application to or participating as a member of the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators must demonstrate a significant and ongoing commitment to the successful resolution of crisis incidents.
3. Regardless of the number of individual members from within any member agency, each individual member in good standing shall be entitled to vote on matters coming before the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators, in accordance with the stipulations outlined in the Bylaws.
4. Members can also be from agencies outside the State of Florida. These members will be considered "Associate Members" and not entitled to voting.
5. Each member is charged with the responsibility of assisting the furtherance of the association by providing information and intelligence concerning incidents of crisis negotiations occurring within the member’s jurisdiction, to include techniques and equipment utilized during the incident. Each member shall also assist in identifying topics for training and instruction along with qualified instructors for these topics to present useful information and/or training to members of the association.
ARTICLE III
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
1. Application for membership into the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators shall be made to the Secretary in writing.
2. Any member of the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators who has reason to believe that any person under consideration for membership in the Association should not be admitted into the Association should communicate the specifics giving rise to the belief, to any member of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
1. Executive Board defined:
The elected officers/ Executive Board of the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators, with voting rights, shall consist of the following officials:
President
Vice-President
Treasurer
Secretary
Sergeant at Arms
Ambassador at Large
Past Presidents
Regional Directors
The appointed officers/ Executive Board of the Florida of Hostage Negotiators, without voting rights, shall consist of the following officials:
Program / Training Director
Chaplain
2. No candidate, for any elected position on the Executive Board, shall be eligible to hold said office, unless he/she has served as Regional Director for at least one year or has served previously on the Executive Board for one year. Additionally, a candidate for President must have served in an elected Executive Board position for at least one year, as stipulated in Section 17 of the FAHN Bylaws.
3. The office of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Sergeant at Arms and Ambassador at Large shall be elected by a majority vote of individual agency representatives. The offices of Program/Training Director and Chaplain shall be appointed by the President with the concurrence of the other elected officials of the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators. Past Presidents shall serve as advisors and members of the Executive Board with full voting privileges.
4. Each elected member of the Executive Board shall be entitled to one vote.
5. No member agency may be represented on the Executive Board by more than two elected members and one appointed member, excluding Past Presidents. A FAHN member who has separated from all criminal justice agencies does not represent any agency. A FAHN member who has separated from an agency and who has subsequently become employed with another agency, is considered a representative of that law enforcement, corrections or criminal justice agency. For purposes of this section, a person shall be considered "employed" by an agency if they perform paid or unpaid sworn or civilian services on a routine or recurring basis for the agency.
6. The Executive Board shall have the authority to appoint members to fill vacancies in any of the elected or appointed offices if any elected or appointed office holder is unable to serve the full term of office. In the event that no member meets the criteria established to fill a board position or a board position is not filled during the established election period, the President will convene a meeting of the Executive Board to fill the vacancy. A notice of such meeting will be given to all Executive Board members at least 14 calendar days in advance, if conducted by telephone or electronically and 30 calendar days if it is in person. A 2/3rds vote of Executive Board members present is required to fill any such open vacancy.
7. The Executive Board shall have the authority to approve the attendance of any special guest or individual at any regular Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators meeting, training or sponsored event.
ARTICLE V
SUSPENSION OF MEMBERS
1. Failure to pay annual membership assessment in the allotted time set forth will result in the member being deemed inactive with their rights and privileges automatically suspended. Suspension for this reason alone shall result in immediate reinstatement upon receipt of payment to the Treasurer.
2. A member may be suspended at any time for any of the following reasons:
(a) Acts detrimental to the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators, or the profession of law enforcement/corrections.
(b) Improper or indiscreet handling of Association intelligence information.
3. All suspensions made by the Executive Board shall be reviewed by the full voting membership present at the next regular meeting. The voting membership present by way of a two- thirds vote may:
(a) Continue the suspension pending further investigation by the Executive Board, then again addressing the problem at the next regular meeting as described within #3 above.
(b) Terminate the member as set forth in Article VII. Suspension not affirmed by a two-thirds of the voting members present will result in the immediate cancellation of the suspension.
4. Any member suspended shall have the right to appear and appeal at the next regular Board of Directors meeting by filing an "Intention to Appeal" in writing to the Secretary at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.
ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
1. Any member under suspension pursuant to the provisions of Article V herein, may be terminated by a two-thirds vote of members present and voting at a regular meeting of the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators.
2. Any terminated member shall have the right to appear and appeal at the next regular meeting by filling an "Intention to Appeal" in writing to the Secretary at least thirty (30) days prior to the next meeting of the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators.
3. Upon being terminated for any reason as set forth in Article V, a member may be reinstated by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present at any regular meeting of the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators.
ARTICLE VII
ANNUAL ASSESSMENT AND CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEES
1. A conference registration fee per attendee will be assessed at each regular conference in accordance to the amount agreed upon by the Executive Board.
2. An annual membership assessment in amount determined by the Executive Board shall be assessed to each member.
3. The annual membership assessment will expire on September 30th of every year.
ARTICLE VIII
SPECIAL / EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES
If the President determines that circumstances warrant, a meeting of the Executive Board may be conducted by telephonic conference call, video teleconferencing or by other similar method. Voting requirements outlined in Section 14 of the Bylaws shall apply to any such meeting. The President shall ensure that all board members are properly notified of such meeting at least 14 calendar days in advance.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
1. A proposal to amend the Constitution or Bylaws of the Association shall be considered only when it is made in proper form by a qualified Association Member as defined in Section 14 of the Bylaws. A vote to adopt a proposed amendment shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions outlined in Section 14 of the Bylaws.
2. Any member desiring to speak in favor or against any proposed amendment change shall be afforded the opportunity to do so during the regular business meeting at the annual conference.
3. Qualified members present at the business meeting at the Annual Conference may amend and revise the language of a proposed resolution by majority vote on each such proposed revision.
4. Resolutions to amend shall become effective upon adjournment of the Conference wherein adopted.
ARTICLE X
COUNSEL / ACCOUNTING SERVICES
The President, with the approval by the Executive Board, may retain legal counsel and accounting services to furnish advice / assistance, as well as to represent the association in regulatory matters.
ARTICLE XI
ASSETS
1. Retention: All rights, title and interest, both legal and equitable, in and to property of the Association, shall remain in the Association.
2. Release: Association property in the hands of others for the purpose of the association shall be returned to the Association immediately upon demand.
3. Dissolution: Should the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators be dissolved, all of its interests shall be distributed to an organization(s) of similar purposes as selected by a two- thirds vote of an Annual Conference Quorum or similarly by the Executive Board if done between Conferences.
REFLECTS CHANGES RATIFIED @ 2022 CONFERENCE
