BYLAWS

Purpose of Bylaws

Each PTA/PTSA unit is actually a California non-profit, officially known as a 501(c)(3). As such, each unit is responsible for keeping up to date and accurate bylaws so as to comply with California Corporate Code. Bylaws are actually a legal document. A copy of Bylaws for the Local PTA/PTSA Units and California State PTA Bylaws 8.1, 327 should be provided to all officers and board members. Each board member is responsible for understanding the bylaws. A copy of the bylaws should be made available to any member of the association upon request.

Your PTA bylaws should be reviewed each year (it's a great way to orient your board to their responsibilities) and must be updated on a current version and sent through channels for State PTA's approval every three years (or sooner if you want to make any changes). Plan now by establishing a bylaw review committee.

Bilingual bylaws (with Spanish in one column and English in the other) are also available.

Procedures for Bylaw Review

To begin the bylaw review process, access the following links:

Bylaw Submittal Form

Tips for Getting Your Bylaws Approved

Review and know your bylaws – they make your job easier as president!

Provide a copy of your bylaws to your executive board.

Prior to or at the beginning of the school year, annually review your bylaws with your executive board.

Use your Standing Rules to better manage your PTA/PTSA and to pass on information to future boards. Simply create and maintain an additional Standing Rules document in Word using numbered bullet points beginning with the proceeding number from the last one listed on the last page of the bylaws. Add a footnote with the correct page number(s) and you’re all set!

Items to consider including in your Standing Rules:

• Special committees
• Who committee chair people should reach out/report to
• Items own by your PTA/PTSA and where they are stored
• When your Executive Board meets

Standing Rules must be aligned with your bylaws!

Standing Rules need to be submitted with your bylaws when you submit them for CA State PTA approval.

Bylaws are to be updated and submitted for approval from CA State PTA every three years, but can be updated sooner if need be. Units due to update will be notified at first council meeting.

Use eBylaws!

• Request your password from by clicking "eBylaws" on the CA State PTA home page or follow the following link, http://www.capta.org/sections/management/e-bylaws.cfm, then click "request a password."
• You will be requested to create a user name. This is not your personal user name and password, but your unit’s. You may want to consider a user name that makes sense for your unit.
• Make sure you record your unit's eBylaws user name and password, record them in your standing rules for future reference!
• You'll receive two emails: 1) user name / password and 2) instructions
• Then you can return to CA State PTA's bylaws page, http://www.capta.org/sections/management/e-bylaws.cfm, and click "Build e-Bylaws"
• You'll be taken through a series of screens in which you'll enter information needed to build your bylaws. You can save along the way without completing at one sitting.
• Once complete, you save a copy of the eBylaws as a PDF to your computer and print them. Be green and print them double sided.

Submit through channels. Submit your unit’s updated bylaws to either the council (or district) parliamentarian along with your standing rules document and the cover sheet. The cover sheet is provided below.

Most units can update their bylaws on-line, even those whose units vary from the standard bylaws. eBylaws can be printed DOUBLE SIDED and then modifications made.

Standing Rules

They are the last pages of your bylaws. Standing Rules actually state how your association functions and cannot conflict with the body of the bylaws. Many units write what committees report to each Vice President and how much members of the association while on PTA business. To add or remove a standing rule requires previous notice and a majority vote, or a two-thirds vote without previous notice.

For more information on bylaws, please access: www.capta.org/sections/management/bylaws.cfm

Cover Sheet

Here is a dowloadable file of the cover sheet which needs to be filled out when submitting bylaws to the District PTA parliamentarian.

Bylaws Cover Sheet
This downloadable pdf document is the Unit Bylaw Summary Form which directs your attention to the most important sections of the bylaws that may require revision.