Standing Rules of the California Commission on Aging

(As amended 10/15/2008)

Section 01: Purpose. The purpose of the Standing Rules is to provide guidelines for the conduct of the Commission's business.

Section 02: Adoption, Amendment, Suspension and Termination. Any standing rule shall be subject to adoption, amendment, suspension, or termination by a majority vote of the quorum present at any general or special meeting of the Commission provided that the proposed change in the Standing Rules has been placed on the agenda of a duly noticed meeting in which the proposed change is to be acted upon.

Section 03: Conflicts. No standing rule shall be adopted which is inconsistent with the bylaws of the Commission or with any applicable federal or state law or regulation.

Section 04: Meetings. Meeting dates of the Commission shall be established by the Executive Committee as appropriate.

Section 05: Conduct of Meetings. The order of business at all meetings shall be determined by the agenda as adopted by the Commission. All agendas and minutes may be obtained at the CCoA web site or by written request. Commission meetings are open to the public and are held in barrier-free facilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. A Public Comment period shall be placed on all meeting agendas of the Commission and its committees immediately following the approval of the agenda and the approval of minutes from any past meeting(s). Members of the public, within appropriate time limits set by the Chair, may speak on any subject of interest to the Commission that is not scheduled on the agenda for discussion or action. The Commission or committee is not required to discuss such public comment and may not take action concerning it. Members of the public shall be given the opportunity to provide input on agenda items at any time designated by the chair, but before any action is taken on the item by the Commission.

The Chair shall, as frequently as practicable, invite to participate in Commission or committee meetings representatives from State departments or agencies that have a direct tie to the Commission’s Operational Plan and/or issues or concerns of the Commission. Department and Agency representatives would be included on the meeting agenda to: a) update the Commission on status and action(s) their organization has taken on appropriate section(s) of the Strategic Plan for an Aging California, b) report on any emerging issues they foresee and/or items of specific interest of the Commission, and c) to participate in Commission discussions to assist the Commissioners in their understanding of issue(s) and decision making. Expenses for these non-voting representatives would not be authorized.

Section 06: Reports and Correspondence. All written reports, recommendations, and resolutions of the Commission, except as noted below, to be submitted by the Commission to other agencies or interested or affected parties, shall be approved by a majority of a quorum vote of the Commission and shall be signed by the Chair or the presiding officer. Correspondence, communications, and/or testimony reflecting previously taken CCoA policy positions do not require additional approval. Copies of all official reports, correspondence and resolutions shall be on file in the office of the Commission.

Section 07: Commission Representation. Every member of the California Commission on Aging has the right to express his or her opinion on any subject whenever the member is acting as an individual and not on behalf of or at the expense of the Commission. Members who agree to represent the Commission in meetings, conferences, testimony in public hearings, speaking engagements, etc., and do so at the request of the Commission - with or without compensation - agree also to represent only the officially approved positions of the Commission. Members whose personal positions are in conflict with the Commission's official positions must represent either the Commission's positions only or decline the request to represent the Commission. A member is considered to be acting officially on behalf of the Commission whenever he or she states or implies that he or she is acting as a representative or member of the Commission, whenever the member is authorized by the Commission to represent it, or the activity of the member results in an expense - direct or indirect - to the Commission. Examples of such expenses would include but not be limited to: compensation for travel, per diem, phone calls, postage, use of Commission stationery, or other materials produced or furnished by the Commission. Nothing shall prevent members of the Commission from expressing their views as individuals in regular or special meetings of the Commission when these views bear directly upon policy issues under discussion.

Section 08: Committees

1. Duties

   Each committee is authorized and directed to ascertain and analyze all facts relating to all matters, programs, proposed Legislation and administrative decisions dealing with the subject matter given to the committee as its charge by the Commission.

   Recommendations by any committee for consideration to the Commission will be approved by a simple majority vote of a quorum of that committee. However, in the absence of a quorum, committee members present may informally discuss agenda items and, if there is consensus, present a "minority report" reflecting their discussions. Any action based on such minority reports would have to be moved and seconded by Commissioners not members of the reporting committee.

   Reports and recommendations of all committees shall be made to the Commission, which may accept, adopt, amend, or reject the recommendation.

2. Meetings

   Meetings of all committees shall be announced to all Commissioners at least ten (10) days in advance, but preferably at the Commission meeting preceding the committee meeting in order to facilitate the travel arrangements of Commissioners. All reimbursable travel of committee members shall be authorized in advance of the committee meetings by the Chair of the Commission or its Executive Committee.

3. Committee Members

   The Commission Chair with approval of the Commission may appoint no more than two (2) persons, including past Commissioners, as non-voting members or consultants to the Executive Committee. Expenses for these non-voting members or consultants would not be authorized. The period of membership of non-votingmembers or consultants would be determined by the Chair but shall not exceed one year and they would not be eligible for reappointment beyond that one-year term.

   In addition to the members of the Commission, committees may include non-Commission members as non-voting members or as consultants to the committee. Non-Commission members and consultants of these committees shall be approved in advance by the Executive Committee before assuming the role of a committee non-voting member or consultant. In no case may the number of non-Commission members exceed the number of Commission members of a committee.

   The expenses of non-Commission members and consultants of the committees are to be borne by the non-Commission members and consultants themselves unless their expenses related to their committee work have been authorized by legislation, executive order, or by previous action of the Commission.

   The Commission encourages its committees to utilize non-Commission members either as non-voting members of the committee or as consultants in order to broaden the expertise and the range of input into the committees' discussions, deliberations and recommendations.

4. Sub-Committees

   The chair or a majority of the members of any committee may divide the committee into sub-committees in order to further the work of the committee. Such committee subdivisions may be abolished at the discretion of the chair of the committee or by a majority of its members, whoever determined the original sub-division.

5. Standing Committees
   1. Executive Committee.

      Duties: Acts on behalf of the Commission between Commission meetings. Acts in the capacity of budget and personnel committees of the Commission. Advises the chair in the preparation of agendas for Commission meetings and advises the Commission on all matters not assigned to or dealt with by other standing committees.

      The Committee shall not have the authority to undertake any of the following actions:

      1. Amend or repeal Bylaws or Standing Rules or adopt new Bylaws.
      2. Amend or repeal any resolution or policy statement, other than editorial changes approved by the Commission.
      3. Create additional Standing Committees without the consent of the Commission.
   2. Advocacy/Policy Committee.

      Duties: Guides the Commission's advocacy efforts, including reviewing and positioning legislation and Commission Policy statements. Recommends legislation for CCoA sponsorship or support. Guides the Commission's efforts around the post-WHCoA activities and outcomes. Fosters efforts to strengthen advocacy efforts among organizations representing older adults and adults with disabilities.

   3. Operational Procedures/Bylaws Committee.

      Duties: Works with the Executive Director and staff to develop and implement the Commission's Operational Plan. Periodically reviews the Commission's Operational Plan and recommends updates. Reviews and recommends changes to the CCoA Bylaws and Standing Rules.

   4. Special Committees.

      The Commission may establish such special committees as deemed necessary.

Section 09: Policy on Participation in Non-State Projects.

1. In evaluating a request for Commission participation in a non-state project, the Commission should answer the following questions. An affirmative answer to any one of the following three questions shall preclude the Commission from participating in the project or activity.
   1. Is the request for the support or benefit of a commercial entity or for an association, asylum, hospital, or institution that is not operated or owned by the State?
   2. Will the activity involve the marketing of any commercial venture or product?
   3. Could the Commission’s participation in the activity be perceived as an improper gift or use of public funds?
2. In further considering the value of Commission participation in a viable non-state project, the Commission may wish to consider the following questions:
   1. Is the Commission’s participation in the activity consistent with the Commission’s statutory responsibilities?
   2. Will the Commission’s participation in the project further the cause of advocacy and/or information dissemination on behalf of older adults?
   3. Will the activity or project in question generally benefit all older Californians, or a critical segment of that population?
   4. Will the Commission’s commitment to the project be a good and/or reasonable use of staff time?
   5. Does the Commission’s participation in the project represent an endorsement or commitment that could be politically sensitive?
   6. Does participation in the project enhance the Commission’s understanding of, or ability to further, the goals of any current California plan on aging?

Section 10: Executive Director Evaluation.

There shall be an evaluation of the Executive Director submitted by the Commission chair to the Commission for approval on the anniversary of the Executive Director’s appointment and annually thereafter.