BYLAWS - National Radon Safety Board

BYLAWS

Article 1. Name

1. The name of the organization shall be the National Radon Safety Board, which herein after shall be designated as the Board.

Article II. Objectives

1. The primary objective of the Board shall be the development of standards and procedures for certification of radon testers and mitigators, the development and administration of examinations leading to certification, the awarding of certificates, the issuance of written proof of certification to individuals who satisfy requirements for certification, and the revocation of certification. The Board shall also develop standards and procedures to establish that certified radon testers and mitigators are knowledgeable of new developments in the profession through continuing education and have remained active in providing radon services.

2. The Board shall also develop standards and procedures for certification of radon (RDP) measurement devices and the programs that produce radon test results, evaluate the performance of test devices and programs, award certificates to devices and programs that pass performance requirements for certification, and revocation of certificates. The Board shall also develop standards and procedures to establish that measurement devices and programs continue to achieve performance and quality assurance requirements.

3. The Board shall develop standards and procedures for certification of radon testing laboratories and radon chambers, award certificates to those facilities that pass performance and quality assurance requirements, and revocation of certificates.

4. The Board shall develop protocols and standards of practice for radon measurements, radon mitigation, radon laboratories, and radon chambers.

Article III. Membership

1. The membership of the Board shall be at least five (5) members elected by the Board.  Each Board member must represent by direct interest, expertise, or experience, and be designated as such, one of the following categories of stakeholders: federal (US EPA), states (regulatory), states (non-regulatory), radon testers, radon mitigators, radon chambers, radon training providers, radon industry trade group, home inspectors, consumer advocate and an Advisory Council (representing all other interested radon stakeholders).   No more than one Board member may be designated to represent any particular stakeholder category.

2. Board members shall be certified in radon testing or mitigation, or shall have demonstrated professional responsibilities in the health risks, measurement, remediation, and public policies related to radon, or shall have had appropriate experience as a radon stakeholder.

3. Board members shall act as individuals and not as representatives of any organization and shall receive no compensation for services from the Board.

4. The term of office of each Board member shall be three (3) years beginning January 1 following election to the Board. Terms of office shall be staggered to minimize the number of vacancies occurring in a given year.

5. The NRSB Nominating Committee shall seek qualified candidates from the above categories of radon stakeholders and shall nominate one or more persons for each vacancy to assure a balance of Board representation among the stakeholder categories. Election to the Board shall be by majority vote of the total membership of the Board from the nominations submitted.

6. When a member of the Board is unable to complete a term of office for any reason, the Board shall, by majority vote of the remaining members, elect a replacement for the remainder of the term.

7. A Board member may be removed from the Board for unethical conduct or other just cause (such as missing two (2) consecutive meetings) by a three-quarters vote of the total membership of the Board.

8. Members of Board appointed panels or committees may sit with the Board without voting privileges.

Article IV: Officers

1. The officers of the NRSB are the President, President-elect, Past President, Secretary and Treasurer [Jan 99] elected from members of the Board by a majority vote of the NRSB members voting. The President-elect shall succeed to President and Past President during a three year term.

2. The President shall preside over the meetings of the Board, and shall appoint necessary panel and committee members with the approval of the Board. The President shall also administer the business affairs of the Board, delegating duties to other members or the Executive Secretary as appropriate.

3. The President-elect shall perform such duties as delegated by the President and, in the absence of the President, shall assume the duties of the President.

4. The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Board and the Treasurer shall provide an accounting of all financial transactions of the Board with the assistance of an Executive Secretary as authorized by the Board. [Jan 99]

5. The terms of the officers shall be one year and may be followed by consecutive terms. [May 99]

6. The Secretary and Treasurer of the Board and such other persons as may be designated by the Board shall be bonded in an amount as shall be determined by the Board and by a bonding company approved by the Board. Expense of bonding will be borne by the Board.

Article V. Meetings of the Board

1. There shall be at least one meeting of the NRSB each year.

2. The quorum for a meeting of the NRSB is a majority of the members.

3. Except as provided elsewhere in this Article, all actions and decisions made at meetings of the NRSB shall require a simple majority of those members present and voting. [May 99]

4. Motions may be introduced and voted upon electronically:

a. motions may be introduced for discussion by any member of the board during any calendar month and may be amended or withdrawn by the sponsor during the calendar month in which it is posted.

b. A motion shall be considered as having been introduced and seconded if posted and not withdrawn by the last calendar day of the month in which it is introduced.

c. Board members may vote on a motion which has been introduced during the calendar month following the introduction of the motion; for a motion to be considered electronically a majority of the board must respond by voting Yay, Nay, Abstain, or Table.

d. If a majority of those voting Yay, Nay, or Table vote in the affirmative (Yay), the motion shall carry.

e. If a majority of those voting Yay, Nay, or Table vote in the negative (Nay), the motion shall be defeated.

f. If a majority of those voting Yay, Nay, or Table, vote to Table, the motion shall be tabled and voted upon again during the following month.

g. All motions shall be tallied at the end of the month in which they are voted upon and the results shall be posted electronically by the Executive Director. [May 99]

5. Additional meetings of the Board may be called by the President or by request of a majority of the members.

Article VI. Rules of Procedure

1. In questions pertaining to conduct of meetings of the Board, not covered by the Bylaws or formally established policies of the Board, Robert’s Rule of Order shall prevail.

Article VII. Financial

1. The Secretary/Treasurer is responsible for proper accounting of all assets of the Board. The Secretary/Treasurer may be assisted by the Executive Secretary as authorized by the Board. The duties of the Secretary/Treasurer include:

a. Billing and collecting all funds due the Board.

b. Paying all obligations of the Board.

c. Assuring administration of the Board’s funds in accordance with the approved budget.

d. Keeping a proper account of all financial transactions of the Board and submitting an annual report, properly audited.

e. Transferring all funds and properties of the Board to the new Secretary/Treasurer.

f. Overseeing investment of Board funds according to established policy.

2. Fees related to certification and renewal of certification shall be established by the Board.

Article VIII. Panels and Committees

1. The Board shall establish the following Panels and Standing Committees:

Panels

a. Examination and Certification Panel

b. Continuing Education and Certification Renewal Panel

c. Radon Chamber and Measurement Device Certification Panel

d. Protocols and Standards of Practice Panel

Committees

a. Nominating

b. Public Awareness

c. Professional Standards and Ethics

d. Enforcement

e. Appeals

2. Other Panels or Committees may be established for efficient administration of Board affairs.

3. Members of Panels, Committees, and their Chairs are nominated by the President and approved by the Board.

4. The term of a Committee or Panel appointment is three years. Additional terms may be allowed following review by the Board. Committee and Panel Chairs are appointed for a one year term, but may succeed themselves in office.

5. Members of Panels and Committees will have staggered terms so that one third of the membership is changed each year.

6. Members of certification panels for radon testers and mitigators shall be appropriately qualified for their panel as determined by the Board.

Article IX. Advisory Council

1. An Advisory Council shall may [May 99] be established to provide the opportunity for Board representation by a broad cross section of radon stakeholders not otherwise represented on the Board. Members of the Advisory Council are appointed by the Board for one year terms. [July 15] The Advisory Council and its programs will not be funded by the Board.

2. The Advisory Council may nominate two members to the Board.

3. The Advisory Council will serve as a forum for broad stakeholder input to the Board.

4. The Advisory Council will assist the Board in achieving broad stakeholder support for Board programs.

5. The President of the Board will convene a meeting of the Advisory Council at least once a year to brief the Council on Board activities and to seek advice from the Council.

Article X. Certification, Approval and Accreditation Procedures

1. Applicants for certification shall apply to the Board on forms designated by the Board.

2. Applicants for certification as radon testers and mitigators shall pass an examination approved by the Board.

3. Applicants for measurement device certification shall submit results of performance and quality assurance testing.

4. Applicants for certification of radon laboratories and radon chambers shall provide design and operational criteria for their facility and quality assurance results.

Article XI. Revocation of Certificates, Accreditations, and Approvals

1. Certificates for radon testers and mitigators may be revoked for actions considered by the Board to be in violation of the Board’s policy on professional responsibilities of certified radon testers and mitigators In addition, radon testers may lose certification for failure to use an approved measurement device or failure to meet quality assurance requirements.

2. Approvals for radon measurement devices may be revoked for failure to meet performance requirements.

3. Accredited laboratories and radon chambers may lose their accreditation for failure to demonstrate performance requirements or failure to maintain a rigorous quality assurance program.

Article XII. Amendments

1. The Bylaws may be changed by a two-thirds vote of the Board.