Last Revised: 2014-03-04
BYLAWS
of the
SOUTHEAST
BRIDGE PRESERVATION PARTNERSHIP
Adopted: October 15, 2026
ARTICLE I: Name and Location
SECTION 1. Name.
The name of this organization shall be the Southeast Bridge Preservation Partnership (SEBPP).
SECTION 2. Location.
The offices and the principal place of business for the SEBPP shall be the National Center for Pavement Preservation, 2857 Jolly Road, Okemos, Michigan 48864.
SECTION 3. Southeast Region.
For the Southeast purposes of these bylaws, the Southeast refers to a geographic region that may include the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
ARTICLE II: Vision, Mission, and Objectives
SECTION 1. Vision Statement.
A collaborative effort of Bridge Preservation Practitioners, comprised of state, provincial, and local public agencies, local and federal government, contractors, suppliers, academia, and other stakeholders, focused on improvements and promotion of bridge preservation principles, concepts, and applications.
SECTION 2. Mission Statement.
Provide a platform for SEBPP Member Agencies and Organizations to exchange, promote, and advance best practices, new technologies, and innovation in highway bridge management, inspections, preservation, and maintenance.
SECTION 3. Objectives:
- Promote and implement the benefits of bridge
- Promote uniformity of regional specifications and guidelines for bridge maintenance and preservation
- Promote knowledge sharing and the use of advanced or improved technologies in the areas of bridge inspections, maintenance, and preservation among the Member
- Promote the sharing of innovative contracting
- Establish a coordinated regional research effort.
- Implement a comprehensive information-sharing process.
- Advocate the advancement of Bridge Preservation training.
- Publicize bridge preservation findings at the national level.
ARTICLE III. Membership
SECTION 1. Membership Eligibility.
Membership is open to Public Agencies or any Organization, Public or Private, active or interested in the preservation of the highway bridge infrastructure. Membership, excluding state agencies, may be subject to steering committee approval per the guidelines in Article IV Section 3.SEBPP
SECTION 2. Voting Rights.
Each Member State and Provincial Agency shall have two votes and all other Member Public Agencies and Organizations shall have one vote.
ARTICLE IV: Steering Committee
SECTION 1. Steering Committee Structure.
The Steering Committee of the SEBPP shall consist of ten (10) members, including a Chair (selected from a Member State Agency), two Vice-Chairs (one selected from a Member State Agency and one selected from a Non-Member State Agency), and a Secretary/Treasurer (selected from a Member State Agency).
SECTION 2. Authority of Steering Committee.
The governing body of this organization shall be the Steering Committee, constituted as prescribed by SECTION 1 of this ARTICLE. This Committee shall act on selected issues and requests brought by the general membership. The Steering Committee can appoint working groups to develop programs, tasks, and activities, or take action on items of common interest to the membership. The Steering Committee shall also actively pursue the objectives of this Organization.
SECTION 3. Appointment of the Directors.
All Directors shall be members of organizations in good standing with the SEBPP. Directors shall be selected by their individual Member Organizations. The Steering Committee Directors shall consist of ten (10) members from the following categories:
State Agency (AASHTO) Directors – Four (4) Directors will be selected by the participating Member State Agencies. Three (3) of these Directors will be selected to serve as Officers as outlined in this Section below.
Local Agency Director – One (1) Director will be selected by the general membership at the business meeting. Local Agency Directors must be willing and able to participate in partnership meetings and activities.
Industry Directors – Two (2) Directors will be selected by the general membership at the business meeting. Industry Directors must be either Regional or National members in good standing and be willing and able to participate in partnership meetings and activities.
Academic Directors – One (1) Director will be selected by the general membership at the business meeting. Academic Directors must be willing and able to participate in partnership meetings and activities
At-large Representative – One (1) Directors will be selected by the general membership of the SEBPP at the business meeting.
At-Large Directors are subject to the same requirements as shown above, per their respective organization.
Federal Highway Administration – One (1) Director will be selected by the FHWA to serve in an ex officio, advisory capacity to the Steering Committee but without voting rights.
The past Chair will serve in an ex officio, advisory capacity to the Steering Committee for a term of one year but without voting rights.
When a selected Member of the Steering Committee is not present, a designated alternate for each absent Member may serve on the Steering Committee as a voting Member by proxy.
If any group is not represented in the SEBPP, its membership on the Steering Committee shall remain vacant until such time as the group is represented.
Directors shall be members of organizations that are in good standing in the Partnership. Member state agencies must be participants in the AASHTO Preservation Management Technical Service Program. Local Agency and Academia are considered to be in good standing with the Steering Committee when actively participating in the partnership. Industry directors must be a regional or national member each year they serve to be considered in good standing.
Officers
With the exception of the Immediate Past-Chair Officer, whose appointment is automatic, the general membership of the SEBPP shall select four (4) Officers from the Steering Committee Directors as outlined in this Section above, to preside over the business meetings.
SECTION 4. Terms of Service for Directors and Officers.
Directors of the Steering Committee shall serve a three-year term with approximately one-third rotating off each year. State Agency Officers will serve a one (1) year term with the Vice-Chair becoming the Chair and the Secretary/Treasurer becoming the Vice- Chair. The non-State Vice Chair shall serve a three-year term.
SECTION 5. Duties of Officers.
The Chair of the Steering Committee will preside over the annual meeting and shall have active control of the membership business meeting.
The State Agency Vice-Chair of the Steering Committee will preside over the annual meeting and the membership business meeting in the absence of the Chair.
The non-state member Vice-Chair shall assist the Chair and the Vice-Chair (state member) in the execution of their duties.
The Secretary/Treasurer of the Steering Committee will review financial reports for SEBPP maintained by the NCPP. The Secretary/Treasurer will review minutes produced by the appointed meeting recording secretary.
The Directors of the Steering Committee will maintain a strategic direction for the Partnership and provide oversight and guidance of specific items approved by the general membership for further action.
SECTION 6. Vacancies and Removal of Officers.
The Directors shall fill any vacancies in any Officers by a special election for the balance of the term of office. The Steering Committee may, at its discretion, by a two-thirds vote of all members, remove any Officer from their office with cause.
ARTICLE V: Meetings
SECTION 1. Annual Business Meeting.
The date of the annual business meeting shall be set by the Steering Committee. The purpose of the meeting shall include the presentation of formal reports from task groups, the election of Officers, the filling of vacancies on the Steering Committee, and the action on all business brought before the meeting.
The Officers of the Steering Committee will be responsible for developing the annual business meeting agenda. It is recommended that this be distributed at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.
SECTION 2. Other Meetings.
Other meetings of the organization, including, but not limited to, Task Groups and Working Teams, shall be at the discretion of the Steering Committee. The purpose of these meetings shall include acting on business items brought forth at the annual meeting.
SECTION 3. Notice of Meetings.
At the direction of the Steering Committee, written notice of any meeting of the organization shall be transmitted by mail or electronically to the last known address of each member organization at least forty-five (45) days before the date of the meeting.
SECTION 4. Quorum.
A majority of Officers and Steering Committee Directors present in person or via conference call shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Steering Committee.
ARTICLE VI: Amendment to Bylaws
SECTION 1. Amendment Process.
These Bylaws may be amended or repealed by a simple majority vote of the members present at an annual business meeting. Amendments may be proposed by the Steering Committee on their own initiative or by general membership. The Steering Committee will not present proposed amendments for consideration that create personal liability for SEBPP members.
ARTICLE VII: Assessments Section Deleted 2025
ARTICLE VIII: Fiscal Matters
SECTION 1. Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year of the SEBPP shall begin on October 1 and run through September 30 of the following year.
SECTION 2. Revenues.
State Agency Membership will be through the AASHTO Preservation Management Technical Services Program open to any state government agency. Other memberships, registration fees, exhibitor fees, or funds received for purposes consistent with Partnership programs, operations, and functions will be managed by the National Center for Pavement Preservation and dispersed for the operation and programs of the Partnership.
The fees charged for participation in the SEBPP will be subject to the fee schedule shown in each yearly meeting registration brochure.
SECTION 3. Expenditures.
Partnership-generated funds will be managed and administered by the National Center for Pavement Preservation, and expenditures shall only be for the purposes related to the SEBPP goals. The National Center for Pavement Preservation shall be accountable to the Steering Committee in these matters.
SECTION 4. Financial Reports.
The partnership financial report shall be submitted by the National Center for Pavement Preservation to the Secretary/Treasurer for approval at the annual business meeting. The Secretary/Treasurer and Steering Committee shall review the annual budget and work program prior to the annual business meeting.
SECTION 5. Audit.
The SEBPP account managed by the National Center for Pavement Preservation shall be subject to audit under the procedures of Michigan State University.