National Plant Board

Southern Plant Board Constitutions and By-laws

Southern Plant Board Constitution

Article I.

Section 1. NAME: This organization shall be known as the Southern Plant Board.

Section 2. MEMBERS: The Southern Plant Board membership shall be composed of the official state or commonwealth plant regulatory agencies of the following states and/or commonwealths:

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Kentucky
  • North Carolina
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • Oklahoma
  • Puerto Rico
  • South Carolina
  • Texas
  • Tennessee
  • Virginia

Each member state or commonwealth may at the discretion of the chief regulatory officer appoint a second Southern Plant Board representative to assist and participate in Board activities or functions.The membership shall be eligible to serve as Southern Plant Board officers or committee representatives provided all other provisions of the Constitution are complied with.

Article II.

Section 1. PURPOSE: The purpose of this organization shall be to promote better understanding and efficiency in the administration of laws and other written instruments of regulatory authority between states to protect the agricultural and horticultural industries on state, national or international levels.

Article III.

Section 1. VOTING: In the transaction of Southern Plant Board official business, each member state or commonwealth shall be entitled to one vote per state or commonwealth which is to be cast by the chief plant pest control regulatory official, or his authorized representative from his own state or commonwealth.

Section 2. QUORUM: A quorum shall consist of a number of members representing a majority of the member states.

Section 3. CONDUCT OF MEETINGS: All meetings of the Southern Plant Board shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's "Rules of Order” except when there is conflict with this constitution and bylaws, in which case the constitution and bylaws shall prevail.

Article IV.

Section 1. OFFICERS: The officers of this organization shall consist of a president, vice-president and secretary-treasurer, to be elected annually for a maximum of two years, or until their successors are elected and qualified. Officers are eligible for re-election. All officers shall, on expiration of their terms, surrender to their successors all Southern Plant Board property.

Section 2. NATIONAL PLANT BOARD-BOARD OF DIRECTORS:All Southern Plant Board members in good standing are eligible for membership with the National Plant Board. The Southern Plant Board president shall serve as a delegate representing the Southern Plant Board on the National Plant Board-Board of Directors. There shall be elected one at-large delegate to represent the Southern Plant Board on the National Plant Board-Board of Directors. The at-large delegate shall be elected each year and shall serve for a term of one year. The at-large delegate is eligible for re-election. The third delegate shall be the Southern Plant Board member currently serving as an officer/immediate past president of the National Plant Board. If this delegate resigns from service, the Southern Plant Board president shall appoint a replacement delegate until members elect a permanent replacement. In the event a duly authorized delegate to the National Plant Board-Board of Directors cannot attend a scheduled meeting, then the president of the Southern Plant Board shall designate an alternate attendee.

Section 3. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:The executive committee of this organization shall consist of the officers, the immediate past Southern Plant Board president, and the Southern Plant Board at-large delegate to the National Plant Board-Board of Directors.

Article V.

Section 1. AMENDMENTS: The Constitution may be amended at any meeting by three fourths vote of the states represented, provided those present constitute a quorum and provided the proposed amendment or amendments have been submitted to each member thirty (30) days before the meeting.

Southern Plant Board By-Laws

Article I.

The duties of the officers shall be such as are ordinarily performed by such officers in similar organizations.

Article II.

The officers and representatives of this Board shall be elected by written ballot.

Article III.

The executive committee shall function in all matters for the Board in the interim between meetings. Action of the executive committee shall be communicated to all members of the Board.

Article IV.

The president shall appoint members to such committees as deemed necessary to conduct the business of the Board

Article V.

A sum of money as determined by the Board shall be paid by the members to the Board to finance its operations. The Board, at its discretion shall appropriate to the National Plant Board a sum of money to finance its operation in accordance with the needs and available funds. Money paid by member states to the treasury of the Southern Plant Board shall be available for paying ordinary expenses of the Board, including the payment of part or all of the expenses of the Board's delegates to the annual National Plant Board Meeting, or to special meetings of the National Plant Board, insofar as funds will permit.

Article VI.

The time and place of the annual meeting shall be determined by the executive committee.

Article VII.

Special meetings of the Board shall be called at the discretion of the executive committee or upon the petition of four (4) or more member states.

Article VIII.

An executive session of the Board shall be called by the President at the request of any member of the Board with the approval of the majority of the Board Members present. Members may have their agency associates attend executive sessions. Nonmembers may appear before the Board upon majority vote of the membership present.

Article IX.

The bylaws may be amended at any meeting by a three-fourths vote of those present, providing those present constitute a quorum.

  1. Adopted, as amended, by unanimous decision at the Annual Meeting of the Southern Plant Board, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 2-4, 1975.
  2. Adopted, as amended, by unanimous decision at the Annual Meeting of the Southern Plant Board, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 18-21, 1983.
  3. Adopted, as amended, by unanimous decision at the Annual Meeting of the Southern Plant Board, Jackson, Mississippi, April 13-16, 1992.
  4. Adopted, as amended, by unanimous decision at the Annual Meeting of the Southern Plant Board, Huntsville, Alabama, April 9-11, 2001.

Updated: July, 2005