Policy 203.01; House of Delegates: California Delegation

Policy: The California Academy of Physician Assistants supports involvement of its elected delegation to the AAPA House of Delegates.

I.          Elections. Candidates for the California Delegation to the AAPA House of Delegates must be Fellow members in good standing of the California Academy of Physician Assistant both before the election and during their term of office. Candidates must comply with all CAPA/AAPA election policies and requirements—both before the election and during their term of office—or the California Academy will not certify them.  The election of the delegates of the HOD of AAPA will be held the first Thursday of each May.  Declaration of candidacy must precede the appointed date of election by at least sixty days.  Ballots will be mailed out at least 30 days prior to the date of election.

A.         The term of office of all delegates shall be one (1) year in accordance with the current AAPA policy.

B.         The number of delegates selected to attend the AAPA House of Delegates is at the discretion of the CAPA Board and may or may not equal the number apportioned by the AAPA.

C.         The Chief Delegate is appointed from among the regular delegates by the President each year. The Chief Delegate is responsible for:

1.         supervising the California Delegation. This includes taking roll at each session of the HOD,

2.         keeping the President and the Board of Directors apprised of policy considerations before the House of Delegates, and

3.         carrying the resolutions of the California Academy.

4.         summarize the action of the House of Delegates to the Board of Directors and members of CAPA.

D.         Unfunded alternates may be designated by the President in accordance with the AAPA policy.

II.         Reimbursement. CAPA shall provide funds toward travel expenses—as outlined below and contained in the CAPA Reimbursement Policy—for selected members of the California House Delegation who attend each and every session of the House of Delegates. Those delegates who are absent (without prior approval from the Chief Delegate), in so doing will waive any reimbursement by CAPA for travel to or attendance at the AAPA HOD. CAPA staff are authorized to review all travel arrangements and alert the President and the Chief Delegate when appropriate.

A.         Budget. The Budget Committee, in preparing the draft CAPA budget each year, will take into account the costs associated with the California Delegation’s participation in the House based on the location of the AAPA National Conference, among other factors. The HOD budget line item will be created taking into account CAPA’s overall financial picture as well as the cost versus the benefit of attendance at the AAPA HOD for any given year.

B.         Travel Stipend. CAPA will provide funds toward round-trip travel expenses to the AAPA National Conference for designated members of the California House delegation attending each and every session of the AAPA HOD in accordance with the CAPA Reimbursement Policy. The amount of the travel stipend will be determined by the Budget Committee and approved by the Board of Directors at the beginning of the fiscal year as part of the CAPA Annual Budget.

C.         Hotel. For designated and eligible Delegates, CAPA will provide funds toward lodging equal to the number of days that the AAPA House of Delegates is in session, plus one night. Reimbursement for expenses related to hotel costs shall be in accordance with the CAPA Reimbursement Policy

D.         Meals. For designated and eligible Delegates, CAPA will provide funds toward expenses related to meals in accordance with the CAPA Reimbursement Policy.

III.        The CAPA office will distribute copies of this policy to each member of the California House Delegation no later than July 31 of each year.

IV.    The California House Delegation will have at least one telephone conference call prior to the House convening.