Article I
Name and Purpose
Section 1:
Name: The name of this corporation shall be the South Carolina Coroners’
Association, Inc.
Section 2:
Principal Office: The principal office of the corporation shall be in
Columbia, South Carolina, or such other location as the Board of Directors may
determine.
Section 3:
Purpose: The purpose and objective of this organization shall be:
• To assist its members in any and all possible ways to improve their ability to
perform the functions of their offices with the highest degree of professionalism.
• To create better public relations between its members and the public.
• To conduct educational seminars and other similar programs for the benefit and
welfare of its members.
• To maintain a high level of ethical conduct on the part of all Coroners; to provide
a forum of constant exchange of knowledge and experience among all of the
Coroners of the State of South Carolina.
• To propose and lobby for new laws to improve death investigation in South
Carolina and to do all things necessary or incidental to the foregoing.
Section 4: No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall insure the benefit of, or
be distributed to its members, directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the
corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for the
services rendered and to make payment and distribution in furtherance of the above-
described purposes. No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the
carrying on of propaganda, and the corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in
(including the publishing or distribution of statements) and political campaign on behalf
of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any of the above provisions, the
corporation shall not carry on by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under
Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Service Code of 1954 (or the corresponding
provision of any future Unites States Internal Revenue law).
Article II
Membership
Revised 7/20/2022:
Article VI 6; Section 1: Name; Section 7: At-Large Directors
Section 1: Regular Membership: Regular membership in the organization shall
consist of current dues paying Coroners’ offices that hold office in the State of South
Carolina.
Section 2: Privilege of Regular Membership: Each current Coroner or the
Coroner’s designee shall be entitled to one (1) vote on matters voted upon at any regular
meeting of the membership and any other specially called meeting, and to such rights as
may be provided from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Each Coroner’s office shall have one (1) vote only at any meetings of the association.
Section 3: Intentionally Omitted.
Section 4: Honorary Memberships: A reputable business organization and/or
individual may be invited to have an honorary membership upon approval by the Board
of Directors. The Board of Directors shall determine the terms, privileges, and dues for
honorary membership, as it may from time to time determine.
Section 5: Associate Members: In addition to the above described membership,
individuals, businesses, partnership, or corporations engaged in the sale, distribution, or
supplying of services to members of the coroners profession or certain individuals, and
businesses may be admitted as associate members, at the discretion of the Board but, who
can nevertheless contribute to the general welfare in the profession. Associate members
shall have a voice but shall not be entitled to vote at any meeting of the association.
Associate membership will have four levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The
membership dues will be set by the Board of Directors.
Article III
Meetings
Meetings of the regular membership shall be held the second Tuesday of every other
month beginning in January, at such times as established by the Board of Directors. One
annual meeting shall be held during the month of June at which time the officers for the
next term shall be elected. Meetings of the regular membership shall be held at a location
in Columbia, South Carolina, unless otherwise noted by the Board of Directors.
Article IV
Annual Conference
Revised 7/20/2022: Article VI 6; Section 1: Name; Section 7: At-Large Directors
In addition to the regular meetings of the membership, an annual Training and
Educational Workshop Conference shall be held within the State of South Carolina, at a
time and place established by the Board of Directors, as they may from time to time
determine. The purpose of the annual conference shall be for the transaction of business,
educational programs, and workshops involving both law enforcement and non-law
enforcement entities.
Article V
Board of Directors
Section 1: Board of Directors: The Board of Directors shall be the governing body
of the organization and shall be vested with the duty and power of directing the activities
and the operations of the organization, subject to the will of the membership and to the
Bylaws and policies of the organization. The members of the Board of Directors shall be
elected bi-annually to a two (2) year term. The election shall be held during the annual
Training and Educational Workshop Conference meeting every two (2) years beginning
in the year 2010. Election notices shall be sent to the regular membership in January of
the election year with nominations taking place at the March meeting of that year.
Members who are elected shall be recognized as officers elect until taking office the
following July. All officers, directors, and the immediate past president of the
organization shall serve on the Board of Directors.
Section 2: Voting: Each member of the Board of Directors shall have one (1) vote.
The act of the majority of the members of the Board of Directors present at any meeting
there is a quorum (5 directors (Executive Committee) members) shall be the act of the
Board of Directors.
Section 3: Meetings: The Board of Directors shall meet at least three (3) times annually,
or at such other times as may be authorized by the Board of Directors. Special meetings
of the Board of Directors may be called whenever the same may be deemed necessary by
the President of the Board of Directors or by any two (2) members of the Board of
Directors, provided that a written notice is given to each member of the Board of
Revised 7/20/2022: Article VI 6; Section 1: Name; Section 7: At-Large Directors
Directors, mailed to their last know address no less than ten (10) days prior to the date of
the special meetings. A unanimous agreement by the members of the Board of Directors
may waive the notice requirement of this section for any one special called meeting.
Section 4: The Board may enter, execute, and enforce any contract, agreement, or
transaction, which may be to the benefit of its members, and engage in other related
activities, such as the gathering and dissemination of statistics and information, that will
promote and safeguard the profession of coroners in South Carolina.
Article VI
Officers – Directors
Section 1: Name: The officers and directors of the organization shall consist of a
President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, Training Director, Legislative Liaison,
Immediate Past President, and two (2) at-large directors. All officers shall be elected bi-
annually at the annual Training and Educational Workshop Conference of the
membership; the President, Vice President, and Legislative Liaison shall be an elected
Coroner; there shall be no term limits if elected member chooses to continue to serve.
Section 2: President: The President shall be a current elected Coroner and shall be the
Chairman of the Board of Directors and shall direct the business of the organization and
shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the membership. The
President shall have such other powers and perform such duties which usually pertain to
this office, including, but not limited to, the authority to appoint any committees, except
as otherwise provided by these Bylaws, and the authority to sign checks written on behalf
of the organization.
Section 3: Vice-President: The Vice-President shall be a current elected Coroner and,
in the absence or disability of the President, perform the duties and exercise the powers of
the President. The Vice-President’s duties shall also include assisting the President in
coordination of the activities of the standing and special committees of the organization,
and s/he shall also perform such other duties as are customarily performed by such officer
Revised 7/20/2022: Article VI 6; Section 1: Name; Section 7: At-Large Directors
in a corporation of like character and such additional duties as may from time to time be
imposed upon him/her by the Board of Directors or membership.
Section 4: Secretary-Treasurer: The Secretary-Treasurer shall ensure the Executive
Secretary perform the following:
• Keep and preserve all records of the organization,
• Keep minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the membership,
• See that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these
Bylaws,
• Have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds of the organization,
• Collect membership dues,
• Keep an accurate record of the organization,
• Shall deposit all such monies in the name of the organizations designated by the
Board of Directors and, at any time, subject the books of the organization to be
examined by any accountant or regular member of the organization.
The Secretary-Treasurer shall further provide financial updates to the Board of Directors
and the officers and provide an annual financial audit. The Secretary-Treasurer shall
discharge such other duties as are customarily performed by such an officer in a
corporation of like character and such additional duties as may from time to time be
imposed upon him/her by the Board of Directors.
Section 5: Training Director: The training Director shall lead the invocation at all
meetings of the Board of Directors and the membership, plan all educational programs
(seminars) and shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be imposed upon
him/her by the President or the Board of Directors.
Section 6: Immediate Past President: The Immediate Past President shall serve on
the Board of Directors and assist the other members of the Board of Directors in policy
making and assist in areas that would be beneficial to the association and the President.
The immediate past president is not required to attend regular meetings.
Revised 7/20/2022: Article VI 6; Section 1: Name; Section 7: At-Large Directors
Section 7: At-Large Directors: The members elected as At-Large Directors, shall
be elected at the bi-annual Training and Workshop Conference and shall serve on the
Board of Directors. One At-Large Member shall be a current elected coroner that will be
elected and one (1) At-Large Member shall be a current appointed Deputy Coroner that
will be elected. There shall be no term limits if elected member chooses to continue to
serve.
Section 8: Legislative Liaison: The Legislative Liaison shall be a current elected
coroner and assist in the development, promotion or review of legislation either proposed
or affecting South Carolina Coroners. The Legislative Liaison will work at the direction
of the South Carolina Coroners Association with its designated lobbyist and members of
the state legislature. The Legislative Liaison will serve as chairperson of the Legislative
Committee.
Article VII
Committees
Section 1: Accreditation Committee: DELETED
Section 2: Directory Committee: DELETED
Section 3: Ethics Committee: DELETED
Section 4: Legislative Committee: The Legislative Committee shall be a standing
committee of the organization consisting of three (3) members, (2) of which shall be
appointed by the President. The Legislative Liaison will serve as chairperson of the
committee. It shall be the function of the Legislative Committee to review all legislation
and legislative matters effecting Coroners in the state of South Carolina and to present
their reports to the membership at each regular or special meeting of the organization.
Section 5: Membership Committee: DELETED
Section 6: Public Relationship Committee: DELETED
Section 7: Additional Committees: Other additional committees may be created by the
President of the organization as he deems necessary. The President shall appoint
members of any additional committees.
SECTION 7.1: Parliamentarian: It shall be the duty of the Parliamentarian to rule on
matters of Protocol and Parliamentary procedure in the conduct of all meetings of the
Revised 7/20/2022: Article VI 6; Section 1: Name; Section 7: At-Large Directors
membership. This position shall be appointed by the President and WILL NOT serve on
the Board of Directors.
Article VIII
Impeachment of Officers
Section 1: Impeachment Process: Any officer of the organization may be impeached
in the following manner:
(a) The question of impeachment of any officer may be brought before the
membership by five (5) members directing a written request to the Board of
Directors.
(b) The Board of Directors shall give written notice to the officer concerned and
to each regular member of the organization, mailed to his last known address
not less than thirty (30) days prior to the special meeting called for the
question of impeachment; and
(c) Such officer being impeached shall be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of
the members of the organization at the special meeting at which time there is a
quorum.
Article IX
Vacancies
Section 1: If at any time during the term, a vacancy shall exist in the Board of
Directors or in any office by resignation, death, removal, or otherwise, the President shall
appoint a suitable person or persons to fill the vacancy or vacancies and shall present the
new director or directors at the next regular meeting of the membership. The vacancy or
vacancies shall be filled upon election by a majority vote of the membership at the next
scheduled election.
Article X
Revised 7/20/2022: Article VI 6; Section 1: Name; Section 7: At-Large Directors
Quorums
Section 1: A quorum of the Board of Directors shall be four or more of the seven
voting members at any regular meeting or special meeting called in pursuance of the
Bylaws. A quorum if the membership shall be a majority of the regular members present
at any regular meeting or special meeting. A quorum for any other committee of the
organization shall be a majority of such committee’s members.
Article XI
Employees
Section 1: The administration and management of the association shall be selected
and employed by the Board of Directors. An Executive Secretary shall serve as the Chief
Financial Officer (CFO) and conduct the financial business affairs of the association.
The CFO shall administer, manage, and coordinate all functions of the association and
perform such other duties as may be designated by the Board.
Section 2: The Board of Directors shall interview and employ a Lobbyist registered
with the State as such. The Lobbyist shall introduce legislation as requested by the
Board of Directors and the Membership at large. Said Lobbyist shall also monitor
legislation introduced to see how it may affect the Association and its Members. The
Lobbyist may also be required to assist with business matters with regard to State Laws
and filing requirements required by the State of South Carolina to be a Lobbyist for the
SCCA.
Article XII
Amendments or Repeals
Section 1: The Bylaws may be modified, amended, or repealed by presentation at a
regular meeting of the membership or any special meeting called for the purpose of
making revisions, amendments, or repeals. Such revisions, amendments, or repeals
presented at such meetings shall be approved by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the members
present at voting at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the membership or any
subsequent special meeting of the membership called for the purpose of approving such
revisions, amendments, or repeals.
Article XIII
Parliamentary Authority
Revised 7/20/2022: Article VI 6; Section 1: Name; Section 7: At-Large Directors
Section 1: The rules contained in Roberts Rules of Order, revised, shall govern
proceedings at all meetings.
Article XIV
Seal
Section 1: The corporate seal of the organization shall be a circular seal with the
name of the organization as approved by the Board of Directors.
Article XV
Fiscal Year
Section 1: The Board of Directors shall establish the fiscal year of the organization.
Article XVI
Dissolution
Section 1: Upon the dissolution of the organization, the Board of Directors shall,
after paying or making provision for the payment of all liabilities of the organization,
dispose of all of the assets of the organization in such a manner, or to such organization
or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious,
or scientific purpose which shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or
organizations under Section 501 (c) (6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 19654 (or the
corresponding provision of any future United States Internal revenue law), and under
Section 12-7-330 (3) of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, as amended, as the
Board of Directors shall determine.