RULE 22 - Settlement of Grievances

  1. The Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida shall appoint as a standing Committee, a Grievance Committee, consisting of seven members, including the Chairman. The Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida shall also appoint alternate members to serve if necessary. The Committee shall meet at the call of the Chairman of the Committee.

  2. If a dispute arises among the members of any county Republican Party Executive Committee, Republican Club, Republican group, or group subject to the rules and regulations of the Republican Party of Florida, or between such parties, and such a dispute cannot be resolved by the members of said committee, club or group, then the resolution of the dispute may be referred in writing, by a member in good standing of the State or County Executive Committee, to the Executive Director of the Republican Party of Florida. The Executive Director shall refer the dispute to the Grievance Committee if determined along with the Legal Counsel to the Republican Party of Florida that the dispute raises issues that are subject to the rules and regulations of the Republican Party of Florida.

  3. The dispute shall be referred to the Chairman of the Grievance Committee to be resolved. If the Committee Chairman determines that a hearing is necessary, the Grievance Committee shall hold hearings with respect to the dispute, inviting all parties to the dispute or others, who may be of help to be heard, meet before the Grievance Committee. Other parties who may be of help to settle the dispute may also be given the opportunity to be heard. The Committee shall conduct the hearing in accordance with the Committee’s adopted rules of procedure. The notice of written grievance setting forth the conduct of the hearing shall be provided to the parties not less than 10 days in advance of the hearing.

  4. Hearings will be held within (90) ninety days of such referral in Tallahassee, Florida, at the discretion of the Chairman of the Grievance Committee. Hearings shall be held with at least five members of the Committee present. The Committee shall within (30) thirty days after the hearing make a written report to the RPOF Chairman, setting forth its findings and recommendations as to settling the dispute.

  5. If the Chairman of the RPOF approves the recommendations, they are adopted and become final. If the Chairman does not approve the recommendations, he may (a) refer the matter back to the Grievance Committee for further consideration or (b) refer the Committee recommendations to a Grievance Review Committee consisting of the Chairman of the RPOF, the Vice Chairman, RPOF, the Secretary, RPOF, Treasurer, RPOF, and the Legal Counsel to the Republican Party of Florida. The Review Committee shall make a final determination as to a course of action within (30) thirty days. Adoption by the RPOF Chairman as well as any final determination by the Review Committee shall be made in writing and provided to all parties concerned.

    As final authority in all Republican matters as granted under Article VII of the Constitution of the Republican Party of Florida, the action of the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida or the Review Committee may include, but not be limited to the following: Removal or suspension of a Club Charter; removal or suspension of an officer or member of any authorized or chartered Club, Executive Committee or other committee from office or membership; revocation of a prior action or election by a Club, Executive Committee or other Committee; or ordering new elections by such clubs or committees. All actions by the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida shall be final, unless modified by the State Executive Committee.