PINELLAS COUNTY JUVENILE JUSTICE COUNCIL

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I – NAME, AUTHORITY, PURPOSE, POWERS AND DUTIES

1.1              Name and Authority

The name of the body is the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council.  Authority for the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council comes from Section 985.664, Florida Statutes (2006) that authorizes each of the 67 counties to establish a juvenile justice county council.  The Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council (hereinafter referred to as the “Council”) is an agency of the state and serves the Department of Juvenile Justice (hereinafter referred to as the “Department”) and is subject to Chapter 120, Florida Statutes.

1.2              Purpose

The purpose of the Council is to provide advice and direction to the Department in the development and implementation of juvenile justice programs, and to work collaboratively with the Department in seeking program improvements and policy changes to address the emerging and changing needs of Florida’s youth who are at risk of delinquency, and to advocate for at-risk youth in Pinellas County.

1.3              Powers and Duties

The Council has the following powers, duties and responsibilities including, but not limited to:

1.3.1        Provide to the Circuit Board an annual report describing the activities of the Council, including advice and direction to the Department in relation to juvenile justice program improvements and policy changes.  In turn, the Circuit Board shall provide an annual report to the Department describing the activities of the Circuit Board and each of the County Councils contained within its circuit, whereas the Department may prescribe a format and content requirements for submission of such annual reports.

1.3.2       Development of a juvenile justice prevention and early intervention plan for the county and collaboration with the Circuit Board and other county councils assigned to that circuit in the development of a comprehensive juvenile justice plan for the circuit;

1.3.3       Development of community-based juvenile delinquency prevention, diversion and intervention strategies for county youth;

1.3.4       Participation in facilitating interagency cooperation and information sharing; Ensure that the needs of children at risk of entering the system, the needs of children already in the system, and the needs of children returning from the system receive proper attention and advocacy.

1.3.5       Ability to apply for and receive public or private grants, to be administered by one of the community partners, whereas applications for funding must be for projects that support one or more components of the juvenile justice plan of the county, circuit or Department;

1.3.6       Provision of advice and assistance to the Department in the evaluation and award of prevention and early intervention grant programs, including the Community Juvenile Justice Partnership Grant Program authorized in Section 985.676, Florida Statutes (2006) and “Invest in Children” license plate proceeds;

1.3.7       Designation of county representatives to the Circuit Juvenile Justice Board pursuant to Section 985.664(7), Florida Statutes (2006);

1.3.8        Election of officers;

1.3.9        Establishment of committees to implement the juvenile justice prevention and early intervention plan; and

1.3.10    Making and adoption of bylaws.

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

2.1             Council Membership

Council membership shall include individuals representing the diversity of the county with regards to age, gender and ethnicity, and shall include at least two members who are consumers of the Department’s services or are their parents or guardians.  Council membership shall be open to any interested party.  The number of members from one agency may be unlimited, although voting eligibility is limited to one member per agency.

Council membership may include, but is not limited to the following entities as established in Section 985.664(10), Florida Statutes (2006):

2.1.1    Representatives of the school district, which may include elected school board officials, the school superintendent, school or district administrators, teachers and counselors;

2.1.2        Representative(s) of the Board of County Commissioners;

2.1.3        Representative(s) of the governing body of a municipality within each county;

2.1.4        Representative of the Department of Children and Families;

2.1.5        Representatives of local law enforcement agencies, including the Sheriff or his designee;

2.1.6        Representatives of the judicial system;

2.1.7       Representatives of the business community;

2.1.8       Representatives of any other interested officials, groups or entities including, but not limited to a children’s services council, public or private providers of juvenile justice programs and services, students, parents and advocates, whereas private providers of juvenile justice programs may not exceed one-third of the voting membership;

2.1.9       Representatives of the faith community;

2.1.10    Representatives of victim service programs and victims of crimes; and

2.1.11   Representatives of the Department of Corrections

2.2       Registration and Active Membership

2.2.1       To become a regular, active member of the Council, participants must complete and submit a registration form and attend two (2) consecutive Council meetings.  Member is eligible to vote at second consecutive Council meeting.

2.2.2       All membership forms will be recorded by the Membership Registrar. 

2.2.3       Registered Council members will be placed on the Council mailing list for meeting notices.

2.2.4      To maintain active membership status, a Council member may miss no more than three (3) consecutive Council meetings.  A Council member who is absent for three (3) consecutive Council meetings is deemed to have resigned and shall be removed from the Council membership list.

2.3     Membership Termination

Any regular, active member who misses three (3) consecutive Council meetings is deemed to have resigned and will have no voting privileges until he/she becomes an “active member” again as described in 2.2.1.

2.4     Term of Membership

Council membership is indefinite so long as ARTICLE II membership requirements are met.

ARTICLE III – MEETINGS AND ATTENDANCE

3.1             Meetings

3.1.1  The Council shall establish an annual schedule of meetings and shall provide public notice of such meetings in accordance with the Florida Sunshine Law.  All meetings are open to the public.

3.1.2       Special meetings of the Council may be called at the discretion of the Chair or by written request of no less than five (5) Council members.  An agenda, together with a notice of the date, time and place of any special meeting must be provided to the Council members at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the meeting date.  Only items contained in the agenda shall be voted upon at any special meeting unless there is a temporary setting aside of the order of business.

3.1.3       Minutes of Council meetings shall be kept, prepared and circulated by the Council Secretary at each regularly scheduled Council meeting, to be presented and approved by majority vote at the next scheduled meeting.

3.2     Attendance
Attendance at all regularly scheduled Council meetings is strongly encouraged.   Council members shall sign in at each Council meeting to verify their attendance at the meeting.

ARTICLE IV – VOTING AND QUORUM

4.1     Voting:  Only “active” Council members are eligible to vote.  Not more than one (1) voting member per agency or organization can vote on any given issue.

4.1.1       To remain a voting member, a participant must maintain regular “active” status.

4.1.2       Department of Juvenile Justice employees may attend meetings, but shall not have voting privileges.

4.1.3       No proxy voting shall be permitted.

4.1.4       All voting issues before the Council will be determined by majority vote.

4.1.5        At the beginning of each Council meeting, the Membership Registrar will determine who is eligible to vote, whether or not a quorum is present, and the percentage of provider agency representation.

4.1.6       All votes at Council meetings may be taken by roll call to allow the Membership Registrar to certify the voting percentage of provider agencies.

4.2       Quorum

4.2.1       All voting issues before the Council must be brought before a quorum.

4.2.2       Regular and Special Meetings:  A quorum shall consist of one Council Officer and no less than four (4) active Council members in attendance.

4.2.3        Executive Committee Meetings:  A quorum shall consist of at least two (2) members of the Executive Committee.

4.2.4        If less than a quorum is present at any meeting of the Council, those members present may opt to meet, but shall not vote on any item until a quorum is obtained or until the next Council meeting in which a quorum is present.

ARTICLE V – OFFICERS

5.1              Election of Officers

5.1.1       The Council shall elect a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Membership Registrar from among its active members.

5.1.2       A Nomination Committee shall be appointed by the Chair.  The Nomination Committee shall accept nominations from active Council members in order to develop a slate of candidates for each Council office.  The Nomination Committee shall present the slate of candidates for election by the Council.  Officers shall be elected by majority vote.

5.1.3      The annual election of officers shall take place at the September Council meeting.

5.2     Offices and Duties

5.2.1        The Officers of the Council are the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Membership Registrar.  Officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these by-laws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Council, as follows:

5.2.2       Chair—the Chair shall be the principal executive officer of the Council and shall supervise all business and affairs of the Council.  The Chair shall:

5.2.2.1       Preside at and conduct all regular and special meetings of the Council and all Executive Committee meetings;

5.2.2.2       Serve as the official spokesperson for the Council in all activities that the Council may deem proper

5.2.2.3       Submit such reports as deemed necessary and required by Florida Statute to the appropriate local and state agencies;

5.2.2.4       Sign official documents and correspondence on behalf of the Council;

5.2.2.5       Keep abreast of the Council’s programs and be knowledgeable of the legal mandates of the Council;

5.2.2.6       Monitor the activities of the Council, committees and task forces; and attend the Circuit Juvenile Justice Board meetings as a voting member of this Board and as the representative of the Council, and provide verbal and/or written reports to the Juvenile Justice Board as appropriate, including the annual report requested by the Department.

5.2.3       Vice Chair—the Vice Chair shall:

5.2.3.1       Assume the powers and perform the duties of the Chair in his or her absence;

5.2.3.2       Assume the vacancy created by the resignation, removal or death of the Chair for the remainder of his or her term;

5.2.3.3       Carry out other duties as delegated by the Chair; and

5.2.3.4       Serve as a member of the Executive Committee.

5.2.4        Secretary—the Secretary shall:

5.2.4.1       Ensure that the minutes of Council meetings are recorded, prepared and circulated as appropriate;

5.2.4.2      Provide a draft copy of meeting minutes or written notes to the Council Chair seven (7) calendar days following the Council meeting;

5.2.4.3      Record the attendance of members in Council meeting minutes;

5.2.4.4      Prepare correspondence as directed by the Chair; and

5.2.4.5     Serve as a member of the Executive Committee, and ensure that the minutes of Executive Committee meetings are recorded, prepared and circulated as appropriate.

5.2.5        Membership Registrar—the Membership Registrar shall:

5.2.5.1       Record Council membership and keep a log of attendance at Council meetings;

5.2.5.2       Determine the voting eligibility of members, including juvenile justice provider agencies voting limitations;

5.2.5.3       Certify a quorum at each meeting; and

5.2.5.4       Serve as a member of the Executive Committee.

5.3      Terms of Office

5.3.1       The officers shall hold office for one (1) year and shall begin their term of office at the close of the Council meeting at which they are elected.

5.3.2       No Council member shall be eligible to serve more than four (4) consecutive terms in the same office.

5.3.3      No Council member shall hold more than one (1) office at a time.

5.4     Resignation and Vacancies of Office

5.4.1       An officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chair.  Such resignations shall take effect at the time specified therein.

5.4.2       A vacancy in any office, except that of the Chair, may be filled by the Council for the remaining portion of the term of that office, pursuant to Article V, Section 5.1.2 of these by-laws.  In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chair, the Vice Chair shall succeed to that office for the remainder of the term.  An officer elected to fill a vacancy created by the resignation, removal or death of their predecessor shall serve the remainder of the regular one (1) year term. 

ARTICLE VI—COMMITTEES

6.1       The Pinellas Juvenile Justice Council shall establish standing and special committees as needed.  Standing committees of the Council shall be the Executive Committee, Community Planning Committee and Community Needs Committee and the Council Outreach Committee.

6.2      The Chair of the Council shall serve as the Chair of the Executive Committee and shall appoint each Committee Chair for all other standing and special committees.

6.3             Chairs of standing committees shall:

6.3.1   Schedule committee meetings;

6.3.2       Provide public notice of committee meetings in accordance with Florida Sunshine Law through the Department of Juvenile Justice Council Coordination;

6.3.3       Maintain a list of committee members and their contact information;

6.3.4       Prepare an agenda and meeting minutes.  A copy of the meeting minutes shall be provided to the Council Chair and Council Secretary prior to the monthly Council meetings for months that the committee meets;

6.3.5        Provide a verbal report during monthly Council meetings, as appropriate;

6.3.6       Serve as a member of the Executive Committee; and

6.3.7       Adhere to specific committee responsibilities as outlined in Section 6.4.

6.4      Standing Committees:

            6.4.1    The Executive Committee shall:

6.4.1.1      Be composed of the officers of the Council, the immediate past Chair of the Council and the Chairs of Standing Committees.  Any other Council member who attends Executive Committee meetings is an ex-officio member and may not vote.

6.4.1.2       Meet as deemed appropriate by the Council Chair.

6.4.1.3      Conduct Council business as directed by the Chair, ensure compliance with Florida Statutes, oversee committees, promote Council partnerships, advocate to the local legislative delegation for the support of Council activities, assist in the development of legislative budget requests for the Department and assist in monitoring juvenile justice grant programs.

6.4.2       The Community Planning Committee shall:

6.4.2.1        Prepare the annual Juvenile Justice Strategic Plan for review of the Council.

6.4.2.2       Review and rank all properly submitted grant applications related to Community Juvenile Justice Partnership Grants, “Invest in Children” license tag funds and other grant funds, as requested by the Circuit Juvenile Justice Board or the Department.

6.4.2.3       Declare any conflict of interest at the time of the grant review.  Conflicts of interest shall be declared in writing on a form provided by the Department.

6.4.2.4        Work with the Community Needs Committee to develop “local criteria” for juvenile justice grant applications directed toward meeting the needs of youth and families in the community.

6.4.2.5        Facilitate the development, implementation and revision of a comprehensive juvenile justice prevention and early intervention plan in collaboration with community partners and Council members.

6.4.2.6        Monitor the progress of the plan and provide regular reports to the Council.

6.4.2.7        Facilitate the development of community-based juvenile delinquency prevention, diversion and intervention strategies for county youth as outlined in the local juvenile justice plan.

6.4.3        The Community Needs Committee shall:

6.4.3.1        Analyze, compare and report on juvenile justice service delivery in the community.

6.4.3.2       Report on gaps in services and observed needs in the community.

6.4.3.3       Present the results of the gap analysis to the Council by September each year.

6.4.3.4       Assist the Community Planning Committee in developing “local criteria” for juvenile justice grant applications directed toward meeting the needs of youth and families in the community.

6.4.3.5       Prepare and submit an annual performance report on the plan to the entire Council.

6.4.3.6       Monitor juvenile justice grant programs funded by the Department, as appropriate.

6.4.4        The Outreach Committee shall:

6.4.4.1       Schedule, notice, and conduct special inquiry meetings at locations throughout the county three times per year to gain and report community input.

6.4.4.2       Provide input to the Council on methods to improve the diversity and representation of membership on the Council.

ARTICLE VII – BOARD APPOINTMENTS

7.1     The Circuit Juvenile Justice Board (hereinafter referred to as the “Board”) may not exceed eighteen (18) members, unless increased via the by-laws of the Board.  The members of the Board must include the State Attorney, the Public Defender and the Chief Judge of the Circuit (or their respective designees).  The remaining members of the Board must be appointed by the county councils within that circuit.  The Board must include at least one representative from each county council within the circuit.

7.2      The Council shall appoint Board members to represent the Council on the Circuit Juvenile Justice Board.

7.3      A Nomination Committee shall be appointed by the Chair.  The Nomination Committee shall accept nominations from active Council members in order to develop a slate of candidates for seats on the Board.  The Nomination Committee shall present the slate of candidates for appointment to the Board by the Council.  Board appointments shall be determined by majority vote.

7.4      Board appointments shall take place annually at the October Council meeting or at other regular Council meetings in the event of a vacant seat on the Board.

7.5      Board members shall be appointed to serve one (1) two-year term and shall begin their term on the Board at the close of the Council meeting at which they are appointed.  Board members may serve multiple terms as appointed.

7.6      A Board member may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chairs of the Council and the Board.  Such resignations shall take effect at the time specified therein.

7.7      A vacant seat on the Board shall be filled pursuant to Article VII, Sections 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5.

ARTICLE VIII – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

8.1      The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the Council in all cases to which they are applicable and not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Council may adopt or with any statute of the state.

ARTICLE IX – AMENDMENTS

9.1     These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the active Council members present at any meeting of the Council with public notice for that purpose and notice delivered to each Council member at least twenty-one (21) calendar days before the date set for the meeting.  The written notice shall include copies of the proposed amendment(s) to the bylaws.

ARTICLE X – CODE OF ETHICS

10.1    Council members are subject to the provisions of Chapter 112, Part III, Florida Statutes, Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees.  If an issue comes before the Council in which the member has a personal vested interest or a vested relationship with an agency or person that will benefit from a decision related to that issue, it shall be the duty of the member to declare the conflict of interest prior to the discussion of the issue.  The member may participate in the discussion of the issue, but shall abstain from voting on the issue.

ARTICLE XI – DEFINITIONS

11.1          Council:  Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council

11.2          Board:  Circuit Juvenile Justice Board

11.3          Department:  State of Florida Department of Juvenile Justice

11.4          Majority Vote:  Fifty-one percent (51%) or more of the votes at any regular or special meeting of the Council.

11.5          Provider Agency:  A provider is defined as any of the following:

11.5.1    Current recipient of a Department of Juvenile Justice grant;

11.5.2    An agency under contract to provide services to the Department of Juvenile Justice;

11.5.3    A private agency whose sole responsibility is providing paid services to the juvenile justice system.

11.6    Provider agencies cannot comprise more than one-third of the voting membership. The above criteria, does not apply to government entities that, by virtue of grant requirements, must be recipients of funds for community-based providers.

 ARTICLE XII – RECORDS

12.1    All records and official documents related to Council business shall be retained by the Council Chair as the official records of the Council for storage, distribution, and destruction according to statutory guidelines. 

             (Signed) David A. Plyer                                                         July 24, 2008

 Chair, Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council                                       Date

Previous amendments: 5/27/04, 1/27/05, 2/23/06, 9/28/06

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