Bylaws

ARTICLE 1 – PURPOSE

The purpose of the Los Angeles Hockey Officials Association (herein called LAHOA) shall be to register and train ice hockey officials in the state of California for the purpose of improving the quality of amateur hockey in the state, for ensuring uniformity of rule interpretations, for creating better understanding between officials, coaches, players and other persons. It will also serve the purpose of developing more proficient officiating and maintaining the highest standards of officiating. Lastly, it will provide a forum for the discussion and dissemination of information on ice hockey rules and interpretations.

In addition, the LAHOA will cooperate with any recognized organization, authorized to sponsor tournaments, in order to coordinate the methods and manner by which officials of LAHOA will be selected and assigned to the tournament games. The qualifications of said officials will be determined by and be the responsibility of LAHOA.

In order to accomplish these purposes, the LAHOA will test officials, critique, offer training seminars covering rules, skating, procedures and will maintain close contact with United States of America Hockey (herein called USA Hockey) and its State and District Referees-in-Chief’s.

ARTICLE 2 – MEMBERSHIP

Section 2.1 – Membership Qualifications

Membership shall be restricted to those persons who have met the requirements as determined by the Board of Directors. The requirements are: paying annual dues, completing a background check and getting certified with USA Hockey. Any member having outstanding fees, fines, levied or impending disciplinary action, shall be considered a member not in good standing.

Section 2.2 – Voting Rights

Each member is entitled to one vote on any issue requiring the consent of the general membership. Any member not in good standing shall not have the right to vote. Membership shall be required to be renewed by all members each year. The President of LAHOA shall have voting rights at all meetings, including committees, with the exception of the meeting of the general membership, where he or she will cast a vote only to break a tie.

Section 2.3 – Registration Fees

Registration fees for all classifications of officials shall be the amount deemed necessary by the LAHOA Board.

Section 2.4 – Additional Information

Only members in good standing may vote, make bylaw proposals or nominate themselves for a board seat.

Section 2.5 – Lifetime Members

LAHOA members with 20 years membership and have served on the Board of Directors are a lifetime member at no additional cost. They do not have any additional rights to a member in good standing and are still subject to following all policies and guidelines to be a member in good standing.

ARTICLE 3 – JURISDICTION

The LAHOA shall have final jurisdiction over all USA Hockey officiating programs and any hockey sanctioned by USA Hockey in the following Counties of the State of California: Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Orange, Kern, San Bernardino and Riverside.

ARTICLE 4 – MEETINGS

Section 4.1 – Annual Meeting

The annual LAHOA meeting shall be held in the spring or summer of each year for the purpose of electing officers and directors and for the transaction of any other business which may come before the membership at that meeting. Other meetings may be called by the LAHOA President, when deemed necessary or appropriate.

Section 4.2 – Quorum

A majority of the members of LAHOA Board of Directors or Executive Committee shall constitute a Quorum at any meeting.

Section 4.3 – Elections

Elections for LAHOA Board of Directors will be overseen by the Election Committee, assembled each year, and will be held via ballot by election software available to all current LAHOA members. No other proxies will be allowed. The top vote receivers equal to the available LAHOA board slots for that year will be awarded positions on the LAHOA Board for the determined three (3) year term.

Section 4.4 – Electronic Meetings

Allowing the ability for virtual meetings to take place either online via email or conference (chat) room or and online format and conference calls.

1. Allow for motions requiring a vote to be excepted via email or conference (chat) room or any online format and conference calls.
2. Allow for voting via email or conference (chat) room or and online format and conference calls.

ARTICLE 5 – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 5.1 – General Powers

The Board of Directors shall have the power to run the business and affairs of the LAHOA, if any, subject to policies procedures, rules and regulations of USA Hockey. LAHOA shall adhere to a budget as approved by the Board of Directors at the annual meeting. Expenses in excess of $200.00 beyond any amount budgeted shall be approved by a majority vote of the Board prior to purchase.

Section 5.2 – Number of Members

The number of Directors of the LAHOA shall be ten (10).

Section 5.3 – Term

Each elected Director shall hold office for three (3) years. Any member in good standing may hold the position of LAHOA Board of Directors.

Section 5.4 – Meetings

Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time pursuant to Article 5, Section 1 of these bylaws.

Section 5.5 – Good Standing

All board members must be LAHOA members in good standing.

ARTICLE 6 – OFFICERS

Section 6.1 – Number

The officer of LAHOA shall be as a minimum: The President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Registrar. Such officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors bi-annually. This Bylaw does not change the 3 year nomination term. If your board seat expires so does your executive seat.

Section 6.2 – Removal

Any member elected to the Board of Directors may be removed from office by vote of two thirds or more of the LAHOA Board of Directors, when the Board determines that it is in the best interest of LAHOA.

Section 6.2.1 – Attendance of Meetings

All elected directors shall attend at least 75% of all board meetings. Exceptions may be made on individual cases having shown good cause. Any Director not able to make a meeting must notify the President and give good cause. When any Director has missed his third meeting (25%), having not shown good cause, the Board of Directors must bring up the matter under new business and take appropriate action. Any Director not meeting these guidelines can be removed by a vote of two thirds or more of the LAHOA Board of Directors present.

Section 6.3 – Vacancies

In the event of a vacancy by resignation or other reason, the President or designee shall appoint a member to fill the unexpired position of the term.

Section 6.4 – President

The President shall be the chief executive officer of the association and shall in general, supervise and control all business and affairs of the Association. The President shall preside at all meetings, serve as an ex-officio member on all committees, call special meetings of the LAHOA or its Board when deemed necessary.

The President will be responsible for all activities of LAHOA officials with respect to training, rules, procedures and conduct. The President shall also be responsible for coordinating these activities with USA Hockey through the District Referee-in-Chief.

Section 6.5 – Vice President

In the absence of the President or in the president’s inability or refusal to act, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the President and when so acting shall have all of the powers of the President.

Section 6.6 – Treasurer

The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all funds of the LAHOA. They shall provide a report at the annual spring meeting to include (but not limited to) a summery of all revenues, payments, expenses and any other reports when deemed necessary by the President. The Treasurer shall file Federal and State taxes annually pursuant to obtaining or maintaining 501(C)3 status for LAHOA. If LAHOA were to have processed payments for any officiating fees on behalf of any outside parties within the prior calendar year, the Treasurer shall process the IRS 1099 forms accordingly.

The president shall appoint a committee to review the treasurers’ documents and processes of submitting the required documents each year for tax purposes to ensure this is submitted on time.

Section 6.7 – Registrar

The Registrar shall (a) be responsible for registration of LAHOA members; (b) keep all registrations and memberships; (c) certify eligible voting members; and (d) implement procedures to coordinate registration activities with USA Hockey.

Section 6.8 – Secretary

The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings, see that all notices are given in accordance with these bylaws, and in general perform all duties incidental to the office of secretary or as assigned by the President.

ARTICLE 7 – STANDING COMMITTEES

Section 7.1 – General

The LAHOA may have standing committees to deal with the various components of the officiating program; nothing in this section shall limit the number of committees, nor their membership, provided that, at a minimum, there shall be the following committees:

• Discipline Committee
• Development Committee

Section 7.2 – Ratification

All Committees and their members are subject to review and approval of the Board of Directors or Executive Committee.

Section 7.3 – Discipline Committee, Board of Review

Recognizing the responsibility of recreational leagues and youth hockey associations to police the actions of their own participants (players, coaches and fans), this Association must also allow for appropriate scrutiny of its members in the performance of their duties.

The President will appoint a Chairperson of the Discipline Committee. All protests regarding an official, or serious consequences resulting from the actions of an official in the performance of their duties, must be submitted in writing to the Chairperson of the Discipline Committee. A copy shall also be forwarded to the LAHOA President.

In the event of a protest involving any official who is a member of this Association, the following recommendations will be used to evaluate the complaint by the Discipline Committee Chairperson:

• Rejection of any protest not submitted in writing;
• Rejection of any protest concerning any judgment call(s) made by an official;
• Rejection of any protests wherein any conflict of personalities between the protesting party and the official is discovered;
• Assessment of fines (no-shows only) equal to the game fees that the official would have received;
• Call for a Board of Review.When a disciplinary review is required, the Chairperson of the Discipline Committee will assemble a Board of Review consisting of five (5) individuals: the Chairperson, two (2) members of the LAHOA Board of Directors, and two (2) members of the Association in good standing and who do not currently serve on the Board of Directors. Each appointed member on the Board of Review shall disclose any conflict or potential conflict of interest promptly to the Committee Chairperson and/or the LAHOA President, who may replace the individual at their discretion. Any individual replaced under this statute shall neither participate nor be present during any discussion by the Board of Review regarding the matter on which the conflict of interest exists.The appointed Board of Review shall have the authority to take any action deemed necessary to adjudicate the complaint.The Chairperson of the Discipline Committee shall notify the official facing possible discipline by electronic mail of the hearing date, time and location. The official shall have the right to discuss the incident and to inquire about the specific accusations against them. The official shall also have the right to bring any person to the hearing to speak on their behalf. The Committee will then hold a closed session to review the matter and render a decision. The Committee must notify the official of their decision by e-mail within ten (10) days of the hearing date.

The following are examples that this Association deems to be valid causes for protests:

• Drunkenness, or the consumption of alcoholic beverages and/or illegal substances, prior to or during any game, witnessed and reported by any player and/or other official(s), including minor officials;
• Continued failure to appear for scheduled games;
• Continued failure to appear on time for scheduled games; 
• Use of profane, obscene or abusive language by an official directed toward any person while performing their duties, including any time the official is in the vicinity of the ice rink before, during and following a game;
• Gross incompetence;
• Physical abuse of players, excessive of the requirements necessary to prevent or break up any physical altercation(s);
• Any action deemed detrimental to the game of ice hockey and/or the Association.

Section 7.3.1 – Appeals

Any decision imposed on a member of LAHOA by the Discipline Committee can be appealed to the LAHOA Board of Directors. The appeal must be postmarked within ten (10) calendar days of the decision date. The appeal must include the grounds for appeal.

ARTICLE 8 – AMENDMENTS

Section 8.1 – Procedures

These bylaws may be amended or changed at the annual meeting or at any special meeting of the general membership. Each proposed amendment must be submitted to the President. No amendment shall be eligible for presentation at a meeting, unless it has been published at least twenty-one (21) days prior to said meeting. Bylaw additions and amendments must be submitted by a member in good standing and may not be submitted anonymously.

Section 8.2 – Adoption

The proposed amendments shall then be presented, following publishing, at the next annual or special meeting. After discussion, a vote of the majority of the Board of Directors in attendance and voting at the meeting, shall be required to adopt the amendments. Except as required by law to be approved by a vote of the general membership.

ARTICLE 9 – PARLIAMENTARIAN

The Secretary of the LAHOA shall act as Parliamentarian at all meetings and the LAHOA shall follow Robert’s Rules of Order when conducting meetings.

ARTICLE 10 – NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

The Board of Directors shall appoint an Election Secretary who will be responsible for conducting elections under the rules approved by the Board of Directors. Board member nominees must self nominate and be above the age of 18 to serve on the board. A Director, currently holding office, shall have the opportunity to again run for office. In addition, the Election Secretary shall publish, a notice requesting other lists of candidates. They may be placed in nomination with the Election Secretary or his designee in writing twenty-one (21) prior to the published date of the annual meeting.

The order of expiration of Directors terms shall be as follows:

ELECTIONS 2025, 2028, 2031
Seat #1, Seat #2, Seat #3

ELECTIONS 2026, 2029, 2032
Seat #4, Seat #5, Seat #6, Seat #7

ELECTIONS 2027, 2030, 2033
Seat #8, Seat #9, Seat #10

This rotation of three (3) year terms shall continue, unless modified by Board action and ratified by a simple majority vote of the eligible membership taking part in the election. The three year rotation is intended to provide some stability to the Board in the initial years and still allow changes in leadership to occur regularly.

As first adopted at the special LAHOA formation meeting on August 28, 1991 and modified at the Board’s meetings on August 12, 1992, June 15, 1993, July 12, 1994, July 10, 1995, June 24, 1996, July 14, 1997, August 28, 2006, July 28, 2008, June 29, 2009, July 19, 2010, May 20, 2018, July 21, 2020, June 26, 2021, July 27, 2024 for presentation to the members at the annual meeting as required in the bylaws.