EMS Compact Bylaws

Adopted: October 17, 2017
Amended: June 13, 2023, November 15, 2023

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ARTICLE I. Commission Purpose, Function and Bylaws

Section 1. Purpose

Pursuant to the terms of the Recognition of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact (the “Compact”), The Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice (the “Commission”) is established as a body politic and an instrumentality of the compact states to fulfill the objectives of the Compact through a means of joint cooperative action among the Member States: to develop a comprehensive process that complements the existing licensing and regulatory authority of the State EMS Authority and extends to EMS personnel a Privilege to Practice across state boundaries in Member States, thereby providing immediate legal recognition to EMS personnel and ensuring the safety of patients.

Section 2. Functions.

In pursuit of the fundamental objectives set forth in the Compact, the Commission shall, as necessary or required, exercise all of the powers and fulfill all of the duties as provided by the Compact. The Commission’s activities shall include, but are not limited to, the following: the promulgation of binding rules and operating procedures; equitable distribution of the costs, benefits and obligations of the Compact among the Member States; enforcement of Commission Rules, Operating Procedures and Bylaws; provision of dispute resolution; sharing of licensure history of Member State EMS personnel and coordination of significant investigatory information; and the collection and dissemination of information concerning the activities of the Compact, as provided by the Compact, or as determined by the Commission to be warranted by, and consistent with, the objectives and provisions of the Compact. The provisions of the Compact shall be reasonably and liberally construed to accomplish the purposes and policies of the Compact.

Section 3. Bylaws.

As required by the Compact, these Bylaws shall govern the management and operations of the Commission. As adopted and subsequently amended, these Bylaws shall remain at all times subject to, and limited by, the terms of the Compact.

ARTICLE II. Membership

The Commission Membership shall be comprised as provided by the Compact. Each Member State shall have and be limited to one appointed voting representative. The appointees shall be the Commissioners of the Member States. Each Member State shall forward the names of its Commissioners to the Commission chairperson. The Commission chairperson or their designee shall promptly advise the State EMS Authority of the Member State of the need to appoint a new Commissioner whenever a vacancy occurs.

ARTICLE III. Officers

Section 1. Election and Succession.

The officers of the Commission shall include a chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary, and treasurer. The officers shall be duly appointed Commissioners. Officers shall be elected by the Commission at the full Commission meeting held in the last quarter of each year or any special meeting as provided by the bylaws. The chairperson and treasurer shall be elected in even numbered calendar years and the vice-chairperson and secretary shall be elected in odd numbered calendar years. All terms shall be two years. Officers shall take office immediately following the close of the meeting at which they are elected. No commissioner shall serve more than two (2) full consecutive terms in a single elected office. Fulfilling an incomplete term is not considered part of the term limit. At the end of their term, officers are eligible for re-election. The elected officers shall serve without compensation or remuneration, except as provided by the Compact.

Section 2. Removal of Officers.

Any officer may be removed from office by a majority vote of the Commission.

Section 3. Duties

The officers shall perform all duties of their respective offices as provided by the Compact and these Bylaws. Such duties shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

Chairperson. The chairperson shall call and preside at all meetings of the Commission and in conjunction with the Executive Committee, the chairperson shall prepare agendas for such meetings. The chairperson shall make appointments to all committees of the Commission, and, in accordance with the Commission’s directions, or subject to ratification by the Commission, shall act on the Commission’s behalf during the interims between Commission meetings as delegated by the Commission.

Vice Chairperson. The vice chairperson shall, in the absence or at the direction of the chairperson, perform any or all of the duties of the chairperson. In the event of a vacancy in the office of chairperson, the vice chairperson shall serve as acting chairperson until a new chairperson is elected by the Commission.

Secretary. The secretary shall keep minutes of all Commission meetings and shall act as the custodian of all documents and records pertaining to the status of the Compact and the business of the Commission.

Treasurer. The treasurer shall act as custodian of all Commission funds and shall be responsible for monitoring the administration of all fiscal policies and procedures set forth in the Compact or adopted by the Commission. Pursuant to the Compact, the treasurer shall execute such bond as may be required by the Commission covering all officers, Commissioners and Commission personnel, as determined by the Commission, who may be responsible for the receipt, disbursement, or management of Commission funds.

Section 4. Costs and Expense Reimbursement.

Subject to the availability of budgeted funds, the officers shall be reimbursed for any actual and necessary costs and expenses incurred by the officers in the performance of their duties and responsibilities as officers of the Commission.

Section 5. Vacancies

Upon the resignation, removal, or death of an officer of the Commission before the next annual meeting of the Commission, a majority of the Executive Committee shall appoint a successor to hold office either (1) for the unexpired portion of the term of the officer whose position shall so become vacant if there is under a year left in the term or (2) until the next regular or special meeting of the Commission at which the vacancy is filled by majority vote of the Commission should greater than a year remain on the original term with said election being for the unexpired portion of the term of the vacant position.

Section 6. Resignation

An officer may resign at any time by filing a written resignation with the chairperson.

ARTICLE IV. Commission Offices and Personnel

Section 1. Commission Staff and Offices.

Contractual arrangements may be made with a professional management firm to act or serve as an authorized agent on behalf of the Commission. The management firm must be approved by the Commission and serves under a contract that is legal and binding under law. The Commission may contract for administrative and management functions and tasks that further the purposes and objectives of the Compact but that do not replace the powers of the Commission as delineated by these bylaws. The management firm designates one professional employee as executive director. The executive director an ex-officio member of the Commission without voting rights.

A.         Operations: The Executive Committee oversees management firm operations and, from time to time, receives reports on the administration of the organization.
B.         Obligation: The management firm must be bonded if the person or firm performs any fiduciary or financial functions on behalf of the Commission.
C.        Meeting Attendance: The executive director is required to attend the Commission meetings and present reports of activities carried out on behalf of the Commission.

ARTICLE V. Qualified Immunity, Defense and Indemnification

The members, officers and authorized agents such as an executive director, other personnel acting on behalf of the Commission shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused by or arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties or responsibilities; provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to protect any such person from suit and/or liability for any damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the intentional or willful or wanton misconduct of that person.

The Commission shall defend any member, officer and other authorized agent of the Commission in any civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities; provided that nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit that person from retaining his or her own counsel; and provided further, that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from that person’s intentional or willful or wanton misconduct.

The Commission shall indemnify and hold harmless any member, officer and other authorized agent of the Commission for the amount of any settlement or judgment obtained against that person arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from the intentional or willful or wanton misconduct of that person.

ARTICLE VI. Meetings of the Commission

Section 1. Meetings and Notice.

The Commission shall meet at least once each calendar year at a time and place to be determined by the Commission. Commissioners may participate in meetings by telephone or other means of virtual participation. Additional meetings may be scheduled at the discretion of the chairperson and must be called upon the request of a majority of Commissioners, as provided by the Compact. All Commissioners shall be given written notice of Commission meetings at least thirty (30) days prior rules will be considered and voted on by the Commission. Final agendas shall be provided to all Commissioners no later than ten (10) days prior to any meeting of the Commission. Thereafter, additional agenda items requiring Commission action may not be added to the final agenda. Discussion items not requiring action may be added to the agenda at any time upon a majority vote of the Commissioners. All Commission meetings shall be open to the public except as set forth in the Compact Section 10, B, 5. Public notice will be made to announce the meeting at least 30 days prior to any meeting. A meeting may enter closed session if the Commission determines by a majority vote of the Commissioners present that there exists at least one of the conditions for closing a meeting, as provided by the Compact or authorized Rules.

Section 2. Quorum.

A majority of Commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, except as otherwise required in these bylaws. The presence of a quorum must be established before any vote of the Commission can be taken.

Section 3. Voting.

Each Commissioner is entitled to one vote. A Commissioner shall vote on such member’s own behalf and shall not delegate such vote to another Commissioner. Except as otherwise required by the Compact or these Bylaws, any question submitted to a vote of the Commission shall be determined by a simple majority.

Section 4. Procedure.

Matters of parliamentary procedure not covered by these bylaws shall be determined by the chairperson.

Section 5. Public Participation in Meetings.

With the exception as written under Section 12 of the Compact, upon prior written request to the Commission, any person who desires to present a statement on a matter that is on the agenda shall be afforded an opportunity to present an oral statement to the Commission at a time designated on the meeting’s agenda.

Commission meetings will have a designated time for public comment on items not on the agenda. The chairperson may limit the time and manner of any such statements.

The chairperson may, depending on the circumstances, afford any person who desires to present a statement on a matter that is on the agenda an opportunity to be heard absent a prior written request to the Commission. The chairperson may limit the time and manner of any such statements at any open meeting and at the beginning of the meeting.

ARTICLE VII. Committees

Section 1. Executive Committee.

The Commission may establish an Executive Committee which shall be empowered to act on behalf of the Commission during the interim between Commission meetings, except for rulemaking or amendment of the Compact or these bylaws. The Executive Committee shall be composed of all officers of the Commission, the immediate past chairperson and one member At-Large. A Commissioner-At-Large will be elected by the membership of the Commission as a whole to an initial two- year term. The At-Large position will be elected concurrent with the chairperson and Treasurer.

The immediate past chairperson is a non-voting member of the Executive Committee. The procedures, duties, budget, and tenure of such an Executive Committee shall be determined by the Commission. The power of such an Executive Committee to act on behalf of the Commission shall be subject to any limitations imposed by the Compact. Public notice of all Executive Committee meetings must be made at least three (3) days prior to the meeting date and the meeting agenda must be made public 24 hours prior to the meeting date.

Section 2. Committees.

The Commission may establish such Committees as it deems necessary to advise it concerning the fulfillment of its objectives, which may include but not be limited to a Budget-Finance Committee, Technology Committee, Bylaws and Rules Committee and Communications and Education and Training Committee. The composition, procedures, duties, budget and tenure of such committees shall be determined by the Commission. The Commission may dissolve any committee it determines is no longer needed.

ARTICLE VIII. Finance

Section 1. Fiscal Year.

The Commission’s fiscal year shall begin on July 1 and end on June 30.

Section 2. Budget.

The Commission shall operate on an annual budget cycle and shall, in any given year, adopt budgets for the following fiscal year or years as provided by the Compact.

Section 3. Accounting and Audit.

The Commission will arrange for an independent audit or financial review at least once a year or as required by the Compact. The results of the audit or financial review are presented as part of the Treasurer's report during the annual meeting of the Commission.
The Commission’s internal accounts, any documents related to any internal audit, and any documents related to the independent audit shall be confidential; provided, that such materials shall be made available:
i)          in compliance with the order of any court of competent jurisdiction;
ii)         pursuant to such reasonable rules as the Commission shall promulgate; and
iii)        to any Commissioner of a Member State, or their duly authorized representatives.

Section 4. Debt Limitations.

The Commission shall monitor its own and its committees’ affairs for compliance with all provisions of the Compact, its rules, and these bylaws governing the incursion of debt and the pledging of credit.

Section 5. Travel Reimbursements.

Subject to the availability of budgeted funds and unless otherwise provided by the Commission, Commissioners shall be reimbursed for any actual and necessary expenses incurred pursuant to their attendance at all duly convened meetings of the Commission or its committees as provided by the Compact.

ARTICLE IX Withdrawal, Default and Termination

Member States may withdraw from the Compact only as provided by the Compact. The Commission may terminate a Member State as provided by the Compact.

ARTICLE X Adoption and Amendment of Bylaws

Any bylaw may be adopted, amended or repealed by a majority vote of Commissioners, provided that written notice and the full text of the proposed action is provided to all Commissioners at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting at which the action is to be considered. Failing the required notice, a two-third (2/3rds) majority vote of Commissioners shall be required for such action.

ARTICLE XI Dissolution of the Compact

The Compact shall dissolve effective upon the date of the withdrawal or the termination by default of a Member State which reduces Membership in the Compact to one Member State as provided by the Compact.

Upon dissolution of the Compact, the Compact becomes null and void and shall be of no further force or effect, and the business and affairs of the Commission shall be concluded in an orderly manner and according to applicable law. Each Member State in good standing at the time of the Compact’s dissolution shall receive a pro rata distribution of surplus funds based upon a ratio, the numerator of which shall be the amount of its last paid annual assessment, and the denominator of which shall be the sum of the last paid annual assessments of all Member States in good standing at the time of the Compact’s dissolution. A Member State is in good standing if it has paid its assessments timely.