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Association Rules
100. DIVISIONS
100-1. REPORTS, LIABILITY INSURANCE, PUBLIC STATEMENTS, CONTRACTS, AND POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
100-1.1 On or about February 1 of each year, Divisions shall submit to the Board of Directors a report that covers the activities of the Division during the preceding year. The report shall be in a format requested by the Recording Secretary.
100-1.2 The annual report of the Division shall cover financial activities (including a copy of the division's annual tax return), membership, elections, special projects undertaken during the year, new committees, new chapters and sections, political advocacy, interorganizational linkages, and such other matters as may be required to present an accurate accounting of the Division's activities during the reporting period.
100-1.3 The Board of Directors shall inform Divisions of activities that appear to be out of compliance with the Bylaws, Association Rules or policies of the Association. Continued failure or refusal to comply with these requirements may constitute good and sufficient reason for the imposition of sanctions, including the dissolution of a Division by the Council of Representatives. The Board shall seek to resolve issues of concern with Divisions on an informal basis before placing the issue on Council's action agenda.
100-1.4 A division of the Association or a subunit of a division may release a position or policy statement on public policy matters in its field in its own name so long as the statement “complies with all relevant association bylaws, rules and current association policies” (APA Bylaws, Article VI.5) and does “not establish or enforce standards for ethics, accreditation, certification, or credentialing of specialty recognition” (APA Bylaws, Article VI .5). If the position or policy statement is intended to establish or could be construed by APA members or the public as establishing a standard or guideline for psychologists or for individuals or organizations that work with psychologists, the provisions of Association Rule 30-8 apply. Unless a division or division subunit obtains approval for a proposed statement on public policy issues from Council, such statements shall contain a disclaimer clause making it clear that the division or subunit is not speaking for the APA or for any other division or unit of the APA. Position or policy statements issued in the name of the APA require prior approval by Council.
When issuing statements on public policy matters in its field, a division or its subunit should contact the Division Services office, which will consult with APA legal counsel and executive directors, to determine if the proposed position or policy statement is in conflict with APA Bylaws, rules or policies and to determine if Rule 30-8 applies. Provided there is no such conflict, the Division Services office, in consultation with APA legal counsel, will determine appropriate disclaimer language to accompany the position or policy statement.
For positions or policy statements to be presented by a division or its subunit in amicus curiae briefs, affidavits or other statements in legal proceedings, the provisions of Rule 100-1.9 apply.
100-1.5 As stated in Article VI, Section 9 of the APA Bylaws, divisions shall publish journals only with the approval of Council. Proposals for division journal publication go to Council via the Publications and Communications Board. Such journals shall be operated in a manner consistent with APA and Publications and Communications Board policies on division journals.
100-1.6 APA shall obtain liability insurance for publications of APA and its divisions.
100-1.7 A Division may execute contracts or negotiate grants with outside entities. Such contracts or grants (with the exception of those for routine, annually recurring events or expenses, e.g., meetings) which provide for payment or receipt by a Division or the Association of funds, goods, services or other value in excess of $10,000 must be submitted to the APA Executive Office for prior legal and financial review. The legal and financial reviews will be conducted in a timely manner.
100-1.8 A division or other unit of the Association may participate in amicus briefs according to the procedures approved by the Board of Directors. In the event that the Board decides that APA will file an amicus curiae brief in a case, a division or other APA-related entity may not file a separate brief in the same case.
100-1.9 A division or other unit of the Association may not support, either directly or indirectly, any candidate for federal, state, or local office including contributions or other support to any political action committees.
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