Sec. 1.This organization shall be known as the Texas State Legislative Board (TSLB) of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE).

Sec. 2. The Mission Statement of the TSLB shall be to promote the health, welfare and safety, protect the financial interests and enhance the political education, of Texas Locomotive Engineers, through the legislative process.

The TSLB shall consist of one delegate from each BLE Division located within the state, in accordance with the International Division (I.D.) Constitution.

Each delegate shall be identified by a credential from his Division printed on a form approved by the I.D.

Sec. 1. The TSLB shall convene quadrennial not later than June 1^st. The date shall be set by the Chairman, and approved by the Executive Committee. The Chairman shall give thirty (30) days notice, of the meeting time and place, to each Division’s Legislative Representative.

Sec. 2. The TSLB may be convened more frequently by a favorable vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Divisions within the state.

Sec. 1. The officers of The TSLB shall be, Chairman, 1^st Vice Chairman, 2^nd Vice Chairman, Secretary-Treasurer and an Auditing Committee comprised of three delegates.

Sec. 2. Other officers of The TSLB shall consist of an Alternate Secretary Treasurer, and Alternate 2^nd Vice Chairman. Officers of the Board and Alternate Officers shall be elected at the regular quadrennial convention by the majority vote of the delegates present. All officers shall hold office for a period of four years or until the next regular meeting of the TSLB. In the event of a change in Chairmanship, the in-coming Chairman will be available and compensated for fifteen (15) working days to assist the out-going Chairman. All newly elected officers will assume the duties of the office on June 1^st following the election of officers.

Sec. 3. Should a permanent vacancy occur in any office of the TSLB between regular four year conventions, the Executive Committee shall fill such vacancy as follows: (1) 1^st Vice Chairman shall fill the Chairman’s position, (2) 2^nd Vice Chairman shall fill the 1^st Vice Chairman’s position, (3) Alternate 2^nd Vice Chairman shall fill the 2^nd Vice Chairman’s position, (4) Alternate Secretary-Treasurer shall fill the Secretary-Treasurer’s position. (5) The Executive Committee shall fill vacancies in alternate positions, and/or on the audit committee, by appointment.

Sec. 1. The Executive Committee of the Texas State Legislative Board shall consist of the following officers: Chairman of the Board, 1^st Vice Chairman, 2^nd Vice Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer. The Chairman of the Board shall be Chairman of the Executive Committee. The Secretary-Treasurer of the Board shall be Secretary of the Executive Committee.

Sec. 2. The Executive Committee shall meet annually, except in a convention year, with thirty days notice given by the Chairman to each member of the date, time and place of holding same. The minutes of each Executive Committee Meeting will be sent to each Division Legislative Representative (L.R.) no later than 45 days after adjournment of each meeting.

The location of the Office of the Texas State Legislative Board shall be at a point approved by the Executive Committee.

Sec. 1. It shall be the duty of the Chairman to preside over all sessions of the Board and Executive Committee, to appoint all committees unless otherwise provided for, to interpret these Bylaws and decide all questions of controversy under the jurisdiction of the Board. His decision shall be final unless modified or reversed by the Executive committee or the ensuing TSLB convention. He shall devote his time to the interest of the Board and the Brotherhood and strive in every way to advance the purpose for which this Board was organized.

(A). The Executive committee shall be informed in writing of all decisions and interpretations made by the Chairman.

Sec. 2. It shall be his duty to keep informed on all legislative matters of interest to labor, the work being done by other state and federal labor legislative boards, and in every way possible protect and advance the interests of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers in accordance with the principles and policy of this Board.

Sec. 3. He shall represent the TSLB at the Texas State Capitol during sessions of the State Legislature, in hearings before the Texas Railroad Commission, the Surface Transportation Board, or any other state or federal tribunal where our interests are affected and when no other provision is made for representation by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He may attend Precinct, County, State and national political conventions. When funds are available he may attend the I.D. Convention for a reasonable length of time upon approval of the Executive committee. He shall attend meetings of the National Association of State Legislative Board Chairman. When time and other duties will permit, he may attend union meetings and meetings of other labor groups when in his judgment it would be helpful and would be in interest of this Board.

Sec. 4. He shall, in accordance with provisions of the Constitution of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, with the approval of the Executive Committee, join with representatives of other recognized railroad labor organizations in the formation of a Joint Legislative Board.

Sec. 5. The Chairman shall discuss questions of interest to this Board with our officers and members on various properties in the state and is authorized to call any member, active or retired, of our Brotherhood in the state as a witness, or other expert witness, to assist him when he deems it necessary. For their service the witness will be paid their time lost, but not to exceed the daily rate set by the I.D. for special representatives for delegates at the TSLB convention, plus actual and reasonable expenses.

Sec. 6. The Chairman will interview candidates seeking a Texas State wide office, Texas candidates to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and candidates to the Texas Senate and House of Representatives and evaluate the results.

He shall make recommendations of Texas candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of representatives to the BLE National Legislative board. He shall make recommendations of candidates for Texas State wide office, Texas Senate, and House of Representatives to the Executive Committee of the State Legislative Board. The Executive Committee by a majority vote will determine which candidate is to be recommended to the membership of the BLE. The Texas State Legislative Board is committed to support honest, sincere, and qualified candidates for public office who by their records or pledges have demonstrated their support of the objectives to which the Texas State Legislative Board is dedicated. In making recommendations the capability and past voting record shall be employed as criteria.

Sec. 7. He shall be paid a salary to be fixed by the TSLB in convention, except his salary shall increase in the same increments as the governing agreement for engineers on the railroad of his seniority. Between regular conventions his salary may be increased or decreased by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee in the event the adjustment is justifiable in accordance with the financial condition of the Board.

Sec. 8. He shall be allowed a vacation with pay each year when the same can be arranged without interfering with the interests of the Board. It shall correspond with the governing agreement on the railroad of his seniority. If all due vacation cannot be taken during a calendar year, one week may be carried over, but must be taken during the ensuing year.

Sec. 9. He shall be required to furnish the Board at its regular sessions a complete report in writing of all work done.

Sec. 10. The Chairman shall participate as a voting member in the convention if he is the duly elected delegate from his home Division. It shall be the duty of the Chairman to cast the deciding vote in case of a tie. He shall participate as a voting member in the meetings of the Executive Committee. He shall be authorized to convene the Executive Committee when it is deemed necessary and/or upon request of a majority of the Executive committee.

Sec. 11. Should the Chairman be absent from, or unable to attend to the duties specified within these bylaws, a temporary vacancy shall exist. The Chairman shall at once notify the 1^st Vice Chairman who shall fill such temporary vacancy, assume the position and perform the duties herein specified, until the Chairman returns. Should the Chairman be incapacitated, or otherwise unable to make the notification specified within this section, this section shall apply without such notification.

Sec. 12. The Vice Chairman shall be informed of the duties of the office and assist the Chairman, when called upon to do so.

Sec. 13. Nepotism in the office of Chairman will not be allowed. Exception: The Executive Committee can make exceptions when it is in the best interest of the board to do so. When exceptions are made, the Executive Committee will assume the authority to hire and/or terminate the employment of the person for whom the exception is made if evidence shows that the employment of that person has become a detriment to the Board. The person for whom an exception is made will, when applying for employment, submit a detailed written resume and will be interviewed for the position in the same manner as any other applicant.

No transaction of the Board while in session shall be made known to anyone except with the consent of the Chairman or Presiding Officer.

The Executive Committee shall have control over, and be held responsible for any unusual expenditure of funds. They will give prompt consideration to matters submitted to them by the TSLB and its officers or Legislative Representatives of Divisions, and shall have supervision over the work done by the TSLB through its officers, as directed by the TSLB in convention. The Executive Committee shall be the Board between the regular four year convention.

Sec. 1. The Salary of the Chairman and State Legislative Representative shall prevail when attending the full Board convention and the Executive Committee meetings.

Members of the Executive Committee when convened shall be paid delegates rate of pay per day as fixed by the full Board in convention.

Sec. 2. The salary of the Secretary-Treasurer shall be fixed by the Board.

Sec. 3. The pay and per diem of the delegates while attending the convention shall be fixed at each convention.

A copy of all business, originating with the Chairman, a Legislative Representative, or Secretary-Treasurer, relating to matters between them and other Divisions in the state, shall be sent to the delegate and Secretary-Treasurer of each Division, and it shall be the duty of each delegate to bring such matter before his Division and see that it is given proper attention.

Prior to the convening of the regular session of the Board, the Chairman shall notify the Resolutions, Bylaws, and Auditing Committees to meet with the Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer one day before the quadrennial convention for the purpose of auditing the books and preparing their reports.

The Secretary-Treasurer shall furnish each division that is square on the books with credentials for its delegate to the Board, to be filled out by the Division Secretary, as per the Constitution of the I.D. The Secretary-Treasurer shall receive all monies paid to the Legislative Board.

He shall keep a true account of the same. He will deposit all monies of the Legislative Board in the name of the Legislative Board in a bank designated by the Executive Board, disbursing none of the funds in his possession except for Legislative Board purposes and with the authority given by the Executive Board. Disbursements will be by check, signed by the Secretary-Treasurer, and any one of the following persons: Chairman, Vice-Chairmen, Alternate Secretary-Treasurer. He shall have charge of the books and papers pertaining to the duties of his office and they shall be kept in a convenient place where he can have access to them at all times.

All assessments of this Board shall be levied and collected as provided for in the Constitution of the I.D.

Sec. 1. Divisions requesting amendments to these Bylaws or submitting any proposals relating to the political or legislative activities of the Texas State Legislative Board shall present same in writing to the Chairman not less than twenty days prior to the regular session of the Board; however, any proposals in writing offered from the floor of the convention may be considered by a two-thirds (2/3) vote.

Sec. 2. These Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of delegates present at any regular or special session of the Board.

Sec. 3. These Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of all Division Legislative Representatives when ordered by the Executive Committee to be polled for that purpose.

Sec. 4. A copy of the Bylaws as amended shall be furnished each Division L.R. not later than 45 days after amendment or the close of the convention.

These Bylaws shall not conflict in any manner with the Constitution of the International Division, and shall comply with any State and/or Federal law.

This body shall be governed by the Rules of Order governing Divisions, General Committees of Adjustments and Legislative Boards of the I.D. Constitution and Bylaws.

The Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer shall be bonded in such sum as the maximum amount likely to be in treasury, to provide bond that will comply with any State and/or Federal law.

In the event it becomes necessary to audit the books, the Executive committee may have this done by a Certified Public Accountant.

The Texas State Legislative Board shall have the power to acquire and hold real estate and to operate an office building, or buildings, or any other property for the benefit of the Texas State Legislative Board after authorized by a 2/3 majority vote of the Delegates at the quadrennial convention.

In accordance with Article 16 Section 2, the Bylaws of the Texas State Legislative Board are amended and become effective May 29, 2003

BYLAWS COMMITTEE