Bylaws of the State Bar of Texas Entertainment and Sports Law Section
(as amended June 2017)
ARTICLE I
NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1. Name. This Section shall be known as the Entertainment and Sports Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.
Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of this Section shall be to promote the objectives of the State Bar of Texas within the field of sports and entertainment law, subject to applicable federal and state laws, and regulations and the policies of the State Bar of Texas.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Section 1. Voting Members. Voting Members of the Section are those licensed Texas attorneys who are members in good standing of the State Bar of Texas, have joined the Section and are current in the payment of their Section dues. Only Voting Members may vote in Section elections and on matters coming before the Section Members for action.
Section 2. Associate Members. Law students may become associate members of the Section. Associate Members shall have no Section member voting rights and may not hold themselves out as being members of the State Bar or make any representation that they are licensed by the State Bar. Associate Members shall have their dues waived.
Section 3. Annual Dues. The annual dues that each member of this Section shall be required to pay shall be set from time to time by the members of the Council of this Section with the approval of the Directors of the State Bar of Texas. The annual dues shall be due and payable in advance each year concurrently with the payment of the regular annual dues of the State Bar of Texas. Texas lawyers licensed less than one year may join the Section for up to one year without payment of dues.
Section 4. Termination of Membership. Any member of this Section whose annual dues shall be more than six months delinquent or who ceases to be a member in good standing of the State Bar of Texas shall thereupon cease to be a member of this Section. Any Associate Member who is found by a majority vote of the Council to have represented himself or herself as a member of the State Bar or as a member licensed by the State Bar shall thereupon cease to be an Associate Member of this Section.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers. The officers of this Section shall be a Chairperson, Chair-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Immediate Past Chairperson, each of which shall be a Voting Member of the Section in good standing. Each shall hold office for a term beginning with the close of the annual meeting at which he or she is elected and ending at the close of the next succeeding annual meeting of the Section and until his or her successor has been elected (the Chair-Elect, shall hold that office for one term and then shall automatically become the Chairperson for the next term).
Section 2. Chairperson. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Council and at the annual meeting of the Section. He or she shall formulate and present at each annual meeting of the State Bar of Texas a report of the work of the Section for the then past year. He or she shall perform such other duties and acts as usually pertain to his or her office.
Section 3. Chair-Elect. The Chair-Elect shall be an ex-officio member of all of the committees appointed by the Chairperson of the Council. Upon the death, resignation, or during the disability of the Chairperson, or upon his or her absence or refusal to act, the Chair-Elect shall perform the duties of the Chairperson for the remainder of the Chairperson’s term except in case of the Chairperson’s absence or disability and then only during so much of the term as the absence or disability continues. Upon expiration of the Chairperson’s term, the Chair-Elect shall become the Chairperson.
Section 4. Secretary. The Secretary shall be the custodian of all books, papers, documents, and other property of the Section. He or she shall keep a true record of the proceedings of all meetings of the Section and of the Council, whether assembled or acting under submission. With the Chairperson, he or she shall prepare a summary or digest of the proceedings of the Section at its annual meeting for publication in the Texas Bar Journal, upon approval by the President of the State Bar of Texas. He or she, in conjunction with the Chairperson, as authorized by the Council, shall attend generally to the business of the Section.
Section 5. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall receive all dues payable by the members of the Section and all other funds to which the Section is entitled and shall make payments for expenses incurred in the regular course of the Section’s business, and for other times approved by the Chairperson or the Council. He or she shall keep accurate records and shall account for all sums received by him or her. He or she shall keep an accurate account of all dues collected and of any monies appropriated to the Section and expended for its use. The Treasurer shall submit to the State Bar accounting department on a monthly basis copies of all bank statements, canceled checks, deposit slips, and a copy of the check register.
Section 6. In the event of the death, disability, resignation, or termination of Section membership of the Secretary of Treasurer, the Council may fill the vacancy by appointment. The person so filling the vacancy will serve until the close of the next Section annual meeting.
ARTICLE IV
THE COUNCIL
Section 1. General Responsibility. The Council shall have general supervision and control of the affairs of this Section subject to the provisions of the Charter and Bylaws of the State Bar of Texas and these Bylaws. It shall adopt procedures to authorize expenditures of money generally, and shall approve any expenditures which exceed the amount of annual dues collected by the Section and commitments or contracts which involve obligations for the payment of money by the Section in excess of Two Thousand Dollars.
Section 2. Membership. The Council for the Section shall consist of the Chairperson, Chair-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate Past Chairperson and nine general Council members to be elected by the Section as hereinafter provided. All members of this Section in good standing who have served as Chairpersons of this Section shall be ex-officio members of the Council. The Editor of the Newsletter also shall be an ex-officio member of the Council. In addition, the President, Vice-President and President-Elect of the State Bar of Texas and the Board of advisors to this Section from the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas shall be ex-officio members of the Council.
Section 3. Filling Vacancies in Office. The Council, during the interim between annual meetings of the Section, may fill vacancies in its own membership, in the office of Secretary or Treasurer, or in the position of Editor of the Newsletter, or in the event of a vacancy in both the office of Chairperson and Chair-Elect, then in the office of Chairperson.
Section 4. Ex-officio Members. Ex-officio members of the Council shall have the right to attend all Council meetings and participate in the discussions at Council meetings, but shall have no right to vote. Ex-officio members may serve on any committees, either as committee members or as Chairperson.
Section 5. No Re-election of General Members. No person shall be eligible for election as a general member of the Council if he or she is then a general member of the Council and has been such member continuously for a period of three years or more.
Section 6. Removal for Failure to Attend Meetings. If any elected general members of the Council shall fail to attend three consecutive regular meetings of the Council, the office held by such member shall be automatically vacated, and the Council shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.
Section 7. Newsletter. The Council shall cause to be published a newsletter and the Chairperson shall appoint one or more assistant editors for the newsletter. The assistant editor or editors shall serve at the pleasure of the Chairperson.
Section 8. Permanent Committees. There shall be a permanent committee to study and make reports and recommendations concerning legislation and to conduct institutes and otherwise deal with problems and subjects related to the field of sports and entertainment law.
Section 9. Special Committees. The Council may authorize the Chairperson to appoint special committees from Section members, to perform such duties and exercise such powers as the Council may direct, subject to the limitations of these Bylaws and the Charter and Bylaws of the State Bar of Texas. Special committees may be appointed to draft and study proposed legislation in the field of law of special interest to this Section. The Chairperson and members of such special committees may, but need not, be members or officers of the Council. The Chairperson may designate to whom any special committee shall report.
Section 10. Continuing Legal Education. The Council may authorize the study of any and all problems related to the field of sports and entertainment law, may conduct institutes and seminars and study sessions thereon and appoint a director of any such institute, and may authorize participation in any institute or meeting related to such subject matters conducted by the State Bar of Texas or any section or committee authorized by it.
Section 11. Journal. The Council shall cause to be published a Journal of the first rank concerning substantive law issues about entertainment and sports law, as well as others matters of interest. The Chairperson, with the consent of the Council, shall appoint an editor and one or more assistant editors for the Journal.
Section 12. Webmaster. The Chairperson, with the consent of the Council, shall appoint a Webmaster to manage the Section’s website, domain name or names, and other related matters.
ARTICLE V
NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Section 1. Initial Nominations. The Chairperson, Chair-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Newsletter Editor, and Council shall be nominated and elected at the organizational meeting of this Section and thereafter, except for the Chairperson, at each annual election meeting of this Section. The Chairperson for the preceding year shall be the Immediate Past Chairperson, to hold office for an initial term beginning with the date of approval and creation of this Section until the close of the next annual meeting thereafter.
Section 2. Nominations. Not less then ninety (90) days prior to the next annual meeting, the Chairperson shall appoint a nominating committee of five members of the Council, one of whom to be designated Chairperson of the nominating committee, which committee shall make and report nominations to the Section for the offices of Chair-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer, and to the position of Editor of the Newsletter, and the members of the Council to succeed those whose terms will expire at the close of the then annual meeting to which officers and members of the Council will be elected. Ex-officio members of the Council may serve on the nominating committee. Upon receipt of a nomination, the Nominating Committee will confirm that the nominee wishes to be considered for election. A copy of the report of the nominating committee shall be submitted to the Chairperson of this Section in sufficient time to conform to the notice requirement of Section 4 of this Article V, and shall be presented to the annual meeting by the Chairperson of the nominating committee. Other nominations for the three offices and the position of Editor of the Newsletter may be made from the floor.
Section 3. Representative Membership. The voting membership of the Section Council should reflect, as much as possible, the membership of the Section as a whole, taking into consideration all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the geographical location of the membership as a whole and other factors relevant to maintaining a Section Council membership which reflects the membership of the Section as a whole. Provided, however, that the representation need not be in proportion between those Section members who are Board Certified Specialists and those who are not.
Section 4. Notice. Written notice of the nominees for election to the offices and Council positions as nominated by the nominating committee shall be given to members of the Section not less than thirty days prior to the date set for the election.
Section 5. Number and Term of Council Members. At the organizational meeting of this Section at which these Bylaws shall have been adopted, three members of the Council shall be nominated and elected to serve for one year; three members of the Council shall be nominated and elected to serve for a term of two years; and three members of the Council shall be nominated and elected to serve for a term of three years. (The word “year” as used herein means a term beginning at the close of the organizational meeting [and thereafter the annual meeting] at which they shall have been elected and ending at the close of the first, second, and third succeeding annual meeting of this Section, respectively.) Thereafter, upon the expiration of each of these initial terms, three members of the Council shall be elected at each annual meeting of the Section, for terms of three years beginning at the close of the annual meeting at which they shall have been elected and ending at the close of the third succeeding annual meeting of the Section.
Section 6. Elections. All elections shall be made by majority vote of the voting members of the Section in attendance at the annual meeting and shall be by voice or visible vote or by written ballot unless otherwise ordered by resolution duly adopted by the Section at the meeting at which the election is held.
ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS
Section 1. Annual Meeting of Section. The annual meeting of this Section shall be held during the annual meeting of the State Bar of Texas, and at the same city or place, with such program and order of business as may be arranged.
Section 2. Special Meetings of Section. Special meetings of this Section may be called by the Chairperson upon approval of the Council, at such time and place and upon such notice as the Council may determine.
Section 3. Voting at Section Meetings. The members of the Section present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. All binding action of the Section shall be by a majority vote of the members present.
Section 4. Meetings of Council. Special meetings of the Council may be called by the Chairperson at such place and time as he or she may designate. Regular meetings of the Council shall be held in the fall and spring at such place and time as the Chairperson may designate.
Section 5. Participation. With the approval of the Chair, Council members may participate in Council meetings by teleconference or videoconference. A Council member participating by teleconference or videoconference is counted toward a quorum and may vote on any matters coming before the Council at the meeting.
Section 6. Voting at Council Meetings. A majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Action by a majority vote of the Council members present shall constitute the binding action of the Council, except as provided in Section 6 of Article VI. Members of the Council when personally present at a meeting of the Council shall vote in person, but when absent may communicate their vote, in writing, upon any proposition to the Secretary and have it counted with the same effect as if cast personally at such meeting.
Section 7. Council Voting on Formal Propositions. The Chairperson of the Section may, and upon the request of any members of the Council shall, submit or cause to be submitted in writing to each of the members of the Council, any proposition upon which the Council may be authorized to act, and the members of the Council may vote upon such proposition or propositions so submitted by communicating their vote thereon, in writing over their respective signatures, to the Secretary, who shall record upon his or her minutes each proposition so submitted, when, how, at whose request same was submitted, and the vote of each member of Council thereon, and keep on file such written and signed votes. If the votes of a majority of the members of Council so recorded shall be in favor of such proposition or if such majority shall be against such proposition, such majority vote shall constitute the binding action of the Council.
ARTICLE VII
FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Depositories and Investments. Section funds must be invested consistent with the State Bar’s Investment Policy as set forth in the State Bar Board of Directors Policy Manual, as the same may be amended from time to time. Section funds must be deposited into either a branch of the State Bar banking depository or an alternative banking depository meeting the requirements of the State Bar’s Investment Policy.
Section 2. Financial Books, Records and Reports. The Section must maintain accurate financial books and records and have appropriate controls on the maintenance and disbursement of the Section’s funds, all in a fashion that permits the inclusion of the Section’s financial information in the State Bar’s financial statements and audit. The Section must provide to the State Bar such financial information as may be required for compliance with the requirements for the independent financial and/or internal audits of the State Bar as required by applicable law, rules and regulations, and pursuant to the State Bar’s procedures for reporting section financial reporting, as such procedures may be amended from time to time. The Section will submit to the Executive Director of the State Bar by July 15th of each year a budget for the then current fiscal year.
Section 3. Sales Tax. To the extent required by law, the Section will collect sales tax on goods or services that it sells, and will remit monthly to the State Bar all sales tax collected during the immediately preceding month, along with a report listing the price, quantity, and description of the goods or services sold in such detail as the State Bar Accounting Department reasonably may require to ensure compliance with applicable law, rules, and regulations.
Section 4. State Bar Assistance. The Section may request the State Bar Accounting Department to manage Section funds, including depositing dues, managing operating expenses, issuing checks and preparing financial reports and budgets.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 1. Fiscal Year. The Fiscal Year shall be the same as that of the State Bar of Texas.
Section 2. Payment of Bills. All bills incurred by this Section, before payment by the Treasurer, shall be submitted to and approved by the Chairperson or, if the Council shall so direct, by both of them.
Section 3. Limitation on Compensation. No salary or compensation shall be paid to any officer, member of the Council, or member of a committee. Nevertheless, a person may be compensated for work done outside the meetings of the Council on any special study or project, provided he or she has been employed by vote of the Council.
Section 4. Reimbursement for Expenses. Members of the Council, the Journal editor (to the extent the Journal editor is not a member of the Council), and other persons expressly requested to attend a Council meeting shall be reimbursed for actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attendance at any meeting of the Council. Members of any committee shall be reimbursed for actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending any meeting of the committee, up to an amount that shall from time to time be established by the Council, provided that the Chairperson of the Council has approved reimbursement before or after the meeting. Except for non-Council members expressly requested to attend a Council meeting, the amount of the reimbursement shall not exceed the maximum amount of reimbursement from time to time established by the Directors of the State Bar of Texas for persons attending meetings of the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas or other official meetings.
Section 5. Exerting Positions on Behalf of State Bar of Texas. No action, policy determination, or recommendation of this Section or any committee thereof shall be deemed to be, or be referred to as, the action of the State Bar of Texas prior to submission of the same to, and approved by, the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas, the General Assembly of the State Bar of Texas in annual convention, or duly authorized referendum of the State Bar of Texas. Any resolution adopted or action taken by this Section may on request of this Section be reported by the Chairperson to the annual meeting of the State Bar of Texas for action thereon.
Section 6. Political or Social Policy Advocacy Position. No position may be taken by the Section or its members in the name of the Section or the State Bar that advocate for advances a political or social policy position in violation of State Bar policies, the State Bar Act, the State Bar Rules, or any other applicable state or federal law.
Section 7. Section Name Change. The Section may not change its name without the approval of the State Bar Board of Directors in accordance with the then current State Bar policies and procedures.
Section 8. Governmental Authority. The Section, through the process called “Governmental Authority,” may seek the authority to present a position of the State Bar of Texas before a public, judicial, executive or legislative body. A position of the Section with respect to which the Governmental Authority process is desired shall be authorized by the Council only after written notice to all members of the Council of the proposed position to be adopted and the date at which the position will be considered by the Council. If a proposed position is adopted by the Council as provided above, thereafter all requirements and procedures set forth in the Policy Governing Legislative Action by the State Bar of Texas adopted by the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas on July 3, 1984, as amended from time to time, with respect to application, notice, circulation, clearance, objections, disclaimer, presentation, filing and all other matters shall be strictly followed.
Section 9. Indemnification. Officers and general members of the Council and duly authorized permanent and general special committee members of the Section shall be indemnified by the Section for losses and expenses incurred as a result of a suit for any conduct in the course of their official duties not a result of intentional acts or gross negligence on the part of such person. The indemnification granted here shall extend to actions at law or in equity. Notwithstanding the provisions of this indemnification, this indemnification shall be qualified to the extent that professional liability insurance is maintained by each person and is effective in this instance, and at no time shall the amount for which any individual may seek indemnification exceed the amount of funds held on deposit by the Section.
Section 10. Amendment of Bylaws. These Bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Section by a majority vote of the Voting Members present and voting, provided that any proposed amendment is first approved by a majority of the Council and notice of the proposed amendment in accordance with these Bylaws has been provided to all Voting Members at least 30 days prior to the meeting at which the amendment will be considered. No amendment will become effective until approved by the State Bar Board of Directors in accordance with the then current State Bar policies.
Section 11. Electronically Communicated Notices. E-mail, facsimile and other electronic communication shall constitute notice for all purposes of these Bylaws.
Section 12. Confidentiality of Section Member Information. All information concerning any Section member that is deemed confidential by state or federal law, including Tex. Govt. Code Ch. 552 and Tex. Occ. Code Ch. 59, including email addressees, may be used only for official section business and may not be disclosed to the public or any third party. The Section will take reasonable and necessary precautions to protect the confidentiality of such information.
