Chapter 8. Legislation and Amendments

8.1 Amendment. These Bylaws may be added to, amended, or repealed by a two-thirds vote of members present and voting at a Santa Cruz Division meeting, provided that written notice of the proposed change was sent to all members at least five calendar days previously. (CC 31 Aug 98)

8.2 Regulations. Regulations of the Santa Cruz Division may be added to, amended, or repealed by a majority of votes cast, provided that written notice of the proposed change was sent to all Senate members at least five calendar days previously. (Am 9 June 93; CC 2 June 82, 31 Aug 98, 31 Aug 99; EC 1 Sept 74)

8.3 Effective Date. New or amended legislation becomes effective at the beginning of the fall term, unless otherwise provided. (CC 31 Aug 98)

8.4.1 Referendum. Upon petition by at least 25 members of the Santa Cruz Division, the Senate Secretary, acting under the supervision of the Committee on Rules, Jurisdiction, and Elections, shall conduct a referendum by mail ballot on any specific action of the Santa Cruz Division or of the Executive Committee acting for the Santa Cruz Division. Such a petition must be submitted not later than 14 calendar days after the Notice of Divisional Actions of the Santa Cruz Division or of the Executive Committee has been circulated to the Division either by mail or through direct electronic communications. The results of such a mail ballot referendum are deemed conclusive. The Santa Cruz Division may not reconsider for a period of one year a question substantially the same as that decided by the mail ballot. [DLI 1996.10C and 1996.10E] (Am 21 Oct 81 EI, 9 Oct 85, 19 Feb 03, 9 Nov 10; CC 31 Aug 98, 31 Aug 03; EC 18 Oct 91, 31 Aug 08)

8.4.2 Vacating Referenda. Should the petitioners wish to withdraw the request for a referendum, they have until the ballots are printed to file a motion to vacate the original petition. This motion must be signed by enough of the original petitioners to reduce the number of supporting signatures below 25. (En 6 Nov 91)

8.5 Lack of Quorum. When a report or a piece of legislation appears on the agenda of two successive regularly scheduled meetings of the Santa Cruz Division, and when action on that report or piece of legislation is prevented by lack of a quorum at those two Divisional meetings, then the Executive Committee is empowered to act upon the report or piece of legislation prior to the next meeting of the Santa Cruz Division. When a Standing or Special Committee of the Santa Cruz Division proposes a piece of legislation and identifies this piece of legislation as Urgent Legislation in the Call to a regularly scheduled Divisional meeting, and when action on this legislation is prevented by the lack of a quorum at this regularly scheduled meeting of the Santa Cruz Division, then the Executive Committee is empowered to act upon the piece of legislation prior to the next meeting of the Santa Cruz Division. To enact legislation under this Bylaw, the Executive Committee must pass the legislation with the same percentage vote that would have been required at a Divisional meeting. When the Executive Committee takes any action under the provisions of this Bylaw, written notice of the action must be sent to all members of the Santa Cruz Division within fifteen calendar days. The Executive Committee may not take any action under the provisions of this Bylaw on a report or piece of legislation if the Santa Cruz Division Office has received a petition from twenty-five voting members of the Santa Cruz Division within ten working days after the scheduled meeting requesting a Special Meeting of the Division to discuss the report or piece of legislation. (En 9 Oct 85; Am 9 Dec 87; CC 31 Aug 98, 31 Aug 03, 31 Aug 10)