1. This Society may be composed of branch societies.

1. All members shall abide by the Bylaws of NSCLS and ASCLS.
2. Maintain their constitutional codes and conduct their affairs and activities in accordance with the principles, policies, purposes, and procedures of NSCLS and ASCLS.

B.  A branch society shall not accept into membership any individual possessing the qualifications for professional, student,   or collaborative membership in NSCLS, unless he becomes a member of  NSCLS and ASCLS in the category for which he qualifies.

C.  A branch society may establish a special category of membership for those people not eligible for NSCLS and ASCLS membership.  Special category members may not vote or hold office or in any way influence the internal affairs of the branch society of NSCLS and ASCLS.

D.  A branch society shall submit two copies of proposed bylaws changes to NSCLS Bylaws committee for review and approval.

E.  A branch society’s affiliation may be revoked by a 2/3 vote of the NSCLS members attending annual business meeting.  Cause for revocation of affiliation may be any one or all of the following:

1. Fails to abide by terms under which the affiliation was granted.
2. Adopts or persists in policies and procedures contrary to the purposes of this society, or
3. Fails to regulate its members and its conduct of business by means of its constitutional codes, so that the principles, policies, purposes and procedures of NSCLS and ASCLS shall not be superseded nor obstructed.

The branch society shall be notified 60 days in advance of a revocation vote.  Reinstatement of a branch society whose affiliation has been revoked shall require a majority vote of  Board of Directors of NSCLS.

1. This Society may have a student Society.

1. All members shall abide by the Bylaws of NSCLS.
2. Maintain their bylaws and conduct their affairs and activities in accordance with the principles, policies, purposes, and procedures of NSCLS and ASCLS.

B.  A duty of the student society will be to elect from their constituency a delegate to the annual NSCLS and ASCLS meeting.  In the event that no student representative is elected or the elected student is unable to attend the meeting the student delegate shall be appointed by the president of NSCLS from the ASCLS student members.

1. The members of NSCLS shall consist of professional members and all other classes of membership appropriate to the constituent societies as specified in the current Bylaws of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS).  Each applicant shall be considered for membership only in the class appropriate to the maximum qualifications they possess.
    
2. Membership requirements for all classes shall be those specified in the current Bylaws of the ASCLS.
    
3. As defined by ASCLS Bylaws certain member classifications are entitled to vote, hold office, and serve on any board or committee of this Society and are designated hereinafter in this document as voting members.  All other rights, benefits, and privileges of this Society shall be extended to all members.
    
4. A member may be expelled for conduct detrimental to the ASCLS or to this Society.   Procedures relating to expulsion shall be conducted by ASCLS in accordance with its Bylaws and Standard Operating Procedures.
    
5. Impeachment and incapacitation proceedings shall be conducted in a manner consistent with such proceedings as defined in the ASCLS Bylaws.

1. Annual dues for membership in this Society shall be based on the class of membership for which the applicant is eligible.  The amount due for each class shall be defined in the Society Regulations.
    
2. A member shall remit the dues of this Society and of the ASCLS to the Executive Office of ASCLS.  Procedure shall be defined in the Society Regulations.

1. Annual dues for membership in this Society shall be based on the following schedule:
               Professional Member ($15.00)
               Emeritus Member (NONE)
               Student Member ($5.00)
               Honorary Member (none)
    
2. The annual dues of ASCLS shall be added to the dues of this Society and the total shall be remitted to the Executive Office of ASCLS.  The executive office of ASCLS shall retain the appropriate amount for membership in ASCLS and shall remit the remainder to the treasurer of this Society.
    
3. Annual dues are due and payable on the date and at the time specified by the Board of Directors of ASCLS.  Membership is to be renewed in the same category provided that the member has not in the interim become eligible for a different class of membership.
    
4. Membership with all rights, benefits, and privileges will be forfeited by any member who is in arrears in the payment of dues for a period of sixty days following the due date of payment.

1. There shall be at least one annual meeting a year.
    
2. There shall be at least one continuing education meeting a year.

1. The time and place of the annual meeting shall be determined by the Board of Directors.  The members shall be notified in writing of all meetings at least two weeks before each meeting is to be held.  The meeting of this society shall be open to all members upon proper identification.
    
   1. Each active member of this society shall be entitled to one vote.
   2. The student delegate shall be entitled to one vote.
   3. The privilege of the floor shall be granted to nonvoting members by consent of the membership.
   4. A quorum for all meetings of this Society shall consist of the President and a majority of the Board of Directors and all voting members present at the meeting.
       
2. The Board of Directors may authorize one or more special continuing education meetings a year as the interests of this Society dictate.  A continuing education meeting may be held in conjunction with a business meeting when deemed appropriate.

1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, President-elect, Secretary, Treasurer, the immediate Past President, Senior board member, and Junior board member.
    
2. The term of office for the Senior board member and Junior board member shall be defined in the Society Regulations.
    
3. The Board of Directors shall have general supervision and control of all the affairs and funds of the Society.
    
4. A quorum shall consist of the President or President-elect and a majority of the members of the Board of Directors.

2. The term of office shall be two years.  One Board member shall be elected each year as the Junior board member.
3. The Board shall be vested with the properties, control, and management of all affairs and funds of this Society and shall have power and authority to do and perform all acts and functions not inconsistent with the constitutional codes or with any action taken by the membership at business meetings of this Society.  All business transacted by the Board shall be reported to the membership at the annual meeting.
    
   1. The Board of Directors shall choose the place and time of the annual meeting and notify the membership at least two weeks in advance.
   2. The incoming and outgoing Boards shall meet together after the House of Delegates at the Annual ASCLS Meeting for the purpose of transferring all records and property of this Society.
   3. Board meetings may be called by the chairperson or at the request of four Board members as the business of the Society may require.
   4. It shall be the prerogative of the president to assign duties to the Board as needed.
   5. There must be at least two meetings of the Board of Directors a year.  One of these meetings may be in conjunction with the annual meeting or continuing education meeting if deemed appropriate.
   6. The Board of Directors may under conditions and procedures defined in the society regulations, poll its members by means of a ballot distributed via mail, fax, electronic mail, or other means as current communications technology allows.  This polling shall constitute a “meeting” of the Board of Directors.
       
4. The President or President-elect and three other voting members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.

• The Society shall have official representatives at the ASCLS regional meetings.

B.  Official Delegates:

• The Society shall send representatives to the House of Delegates at the ASCLS convention as specified by the ASCLS Bylaws and Society Regulations.

• The delegates to the region council meetings of ASCLS shall be the president and president elect or an appointed delegate, if either of the primary delegates are unable to attend.

B.  The appointed number of delegates and alternates shall be elected by the members present at the annual NSCLS meeting from those indicating their intention to attend the ASCLS convention.  The President may appoint delegates to any unfilled positions.

• The Society shall have one Student delegate to the ASCLS House of Delegates.

1. Elective Committees:
   There shall be the following elective committee:
    
   1. The Nominations Committee.
   2. Qualifications for membership, method of election, and duties of the elective committees shall be defined in the Society Regulations
       
2. Additional Committees
    
   1. The Board of Directors shall develop mechanisms whereby NSCLS advocacy is implemented in areas of accreditation, certification, professional affairs, governmental affairs, education, membership development, and strategic planning.  The Board of Directors may establish and delegate such of its authority to additional committees as it deems appropriate in accordance with these Bylaws, the Articles of Incorporation, and the laws of the state of incorporation.
   2. Areas of activity for the Membership Committee include keeping a current and up to date state membership list, contacting new graduates, keeping a supply of membership blanks and encouraging and participating in any activities which would further the cause of increased membership.  The chairman would also notify the Bylaws Committee of new members.  Prime concerns for the membership committee are recruitment of new members, retention of present members, and reactivation of lapsed members.
       
3. Ad Hoc Committees shall be appointed by the President on authority given him/her by the membership at a business meeting or by the Board.

1. Nominations Committee.
   The nominations committee shall be responsible for procedures relating to nominations to elective positions in this Society.  It shall prepare for the Society a slate which shall present a candidate for each position under consideration.  The nominations committee shall not be responsible for presenting qualifications of persons nominated from the floor.

• The nominations committee shall consist of three professional members of this Society.  The immediate Past President shall serve as chairperson of the committee.
• Members of the committee shall be elected at the annual business meeting of the society.
• The term of office will be for one year.  In the event that the chairperson is unable to serve, the President shall appoint from the two elected members one to serve as chairperson and then also appoint one more qualified person to serve on the committee for the rest of the unexpired term.
• When a vacancy occurs on the committee as a result of change of residence outside the state or for any other cause, the president shall appoint a qualified person to serve the rest of the unexpired term.
• Duties of the committee shall include:

1. Publication to the membership of this Society no less than two weeks in advance of the next annual session a list of all nominated offices and candidates.
2. Initiate and maintain direct contact with qualified persons to assure the society a full slate of candidates.

B.  Additional Committees

1. The chairperson shall be appointed by the president.  The president in consultation with the chairman of each committee may appoint additional members to each committee as needed to serve a term of 1 year.
2. Each committee shall cooperate with the activities and programs of the corresponding committees of ASCLS whenever requested.
3. Areas of activity for the Professional Affairs/Leadership  Committee include handling publicity throughout the state, the study of the professional needs of the members, personnel development, and to promote the advancement of the image of clinical laboratory science to the layman and allied health professions.
4. Area of activity for the Government Affairs Committee shall be to be cognizant of all activity in the legislative body of this state involving laboratory medicine and personnel.  And, when deemed necessary to be responsible for any active participation involving legislation.
5. Area of activity of the Publication committee is to prepare and publish the state journal, “The Filter.”  The chairperson of this committee serves as Editor of the official state publication.
6. Area of activity for the Scholarship and Loan Committee is the supervision of all scholarships and loans under the administration of this Society and preparing the books for audit.
7. Areas of activity for the Recruitment Committee include promotion of all recruitment programs in state, maintain contact with school systems in the state and give them assistance and information on the career of medical technology.  The committee will be in charge of all information sources and visual aids for encouraging clinical laboratory science.
8. Areas of activity for the Award Committee shall be the publication of the NSCLS and ASCLS Awards, facilitation of nominations for awards, the selection of judges, the presentation of awards, and all publicity therein necessary.
9. The Bylaws Committee shall be cognizant of changes in the Bylaws and Society Regulations of ASCLS and prepare any needed proposals for this Society’s constitution ensuring its conformity to the Bylaws and Society Regulations of ASCLS.  This committee shall keep the copies of the Bylaws and Society Regulations and upon notification from the Membership Committee shall furnish new members with a copy.

• Examination and preparation of proposed amendments to the Bylaws of the society.  An amendment may be proposed by the committee or from the membership provided that at least three active members endorse it. The committee may edit, combine, or otherwise alter amendments submitted to it provided the original intent is not changed.  The endorsees may appeal such alteration to the Board of Directors for arbitration.  The committee is further authorized to reject proposed amendments provided full justification is returned in writing to the endorsees, Then endorsees may appeal the rejection to the Board of Directors for arbitration.  Proposed amendments in final form shall be submitted to the Board and to ASCLS Bylaws Committee prior to presentation to membership for consideration.
• Preparation of amendments to the Bylaws and Society Regulations of ASCLS as directed by the membership of this Society in session.  Such amendments shall be submitted to the Bylaws Committee of ASCLS in the form required.
• Examination of proposed amendments to the Bylaws and Society regulations by ASCLS.  The committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the membership of this Society.

10. The Budget Committee shall consist of four members who are, as of the annual meeting, the current President who shall serve as chairperson, current Treasurer, newly elected Treasurer, and incoming President.  The Budget committee shall meet after the ASCLS annual meeting and before the combined Boards meet.  The committee is responsible for setting up a budget for the following year.
11. The Program Committee shall arrange a meeting place for the continuing education meeting, plan the scientific sessions, contact exhibitors, see that membership is notified and make all other arrangements necessary for a successful meeting.

C.  Qualifications for membership and method of appointment of an Ad Hoc Committee shall be those, which are listed in the Society Regulations for the regular appointive committees.

1. The fiscal year shall be defined in the Society Regulations.

1. The fiscal year shall be from July 1 to June 30 inclusive.

1. Modifications of the Society Regulations may be made in accordance with the procedures defined in the Society Regulations.
    
2. The Bylaws of this Society may be amended as follows:
    
   1. A proposed amendment to these bylaws may be submitted, in writing, by a group of three or more voting members of this Society, to the chairman of the Bylaws committee not less than 7 months in advance of the next scheduled meeting.
   2. The Chairman of the Bylaws Committee shall submit four copies of the proposed Amendment(s) to the ASCLS Bylaws Committee for review and approval at least 60 days before such approval is desired.
   3. The NSCLS Bylaws Chairman shall submit the proposed amendment(s) with ASCLS’s suggestions and comments to the members of this society as stipulated in the Society Regulations.
   4. Adoption of the amendment(s) to the Bylaws shall require a two-thirds vote of the voting members certified as present at the time of the vote.
   5. Following adoption of amendment(s) to the Bylaws, the Bylaws Chairman shall transmit one official copy of the amended Bylaws to the executive office of the ASCLS and to the chairperson of the ASCLS Bylaws Committee.
   6. The Bylaws Committee of this Society shall have the responsibility and the authority to prepare amendment to the documents of this Society when such changes are necessary to bring them into conformity with those of ASCLS before enactment and distribution to the members of this Society.

1. Modifications in the Society Regulations shall be made by the NSCLS Board of Directors at any scheduled meeting.

1. This Society shall be dissolved upon a vote of two-thirds votes cast by the voting members at any meeting of the society provided that all voting members shall have been notified in writing of the Dissolution at least thirty (30) days prior to said meeting.
    
2. In the event of the dissolution of this Society, after the discharge of its debts, and the settlement of its affairs, any funds and properties of this Society remaining thereafter will be held in escrow by ASCLS for a maximum of three (3) years.  If a constituent society of ASCLS is not reorganized in the State of Nebraska by the end of said three (3) years, these funds are conveyed to the ASCLS Education and Research Fund, Inc.