A council is a group of PTA units organized under the authority of the California State PTA for the purpose of conference, leadership training, and coordination of the efforts of the member units. A council provides the units within a city, county, or area an opportunity for cooperation in promoting their common interests and conference regarding their common problems. It coordinates the work of the council’s units with other agencies or organizations in the area working for children and youth. It serves as a channel of communication between the state and district PTA and the units.

To remain in good standing, a council must:

• Adhere to the Purposes and basic policies of the PTA;
• Adhere to the California State PTA policies and bylaws;
• Have bylaws approved according to the procedures of the California State PTA;
• Have a minimum of three units as council members;
• Have a minimum of three officers: president, secretary and treasurer;
• Forward the national, state, and district PTA portion of the unit per capita dues with member names and addresses through channels to the district PTA by the deadline date;
• Forward unit insurance premiums from local units to district PTA by the deadline date;
• Remit council insurance premiums to district PTA by the deadline date;
• Submit a roster of officers for units and council to the district PTA according to established procedures and deadline dates.

In addition:

• The Attorney General requires the filing of the Registration Renewal Fee Report (RRF-1) with the California Attorney General's Registry of Charitable Trusts; and
• The IRS requires the annual filing of the IRS 990 tax form as appropriate.

RESPONSIBILITIES (NOT ALL-INCLUSIVE)

The Council Should

Provide information and instruction to member units.

Form a close tie between the district PTA and the unit.

Interpret PTA programs, policies, principles, procedures, and bylaws.

Arrange training or workshops and group conferences for unit leaders in cooperation with the district PTA. Work closely with district PTA president and leadership department in organizing new units and all matters of leadership service.

Coordinate PTA activities in a community or school district with the consent of the majority of its member units.

Provide opportunities for local units to collaborate on projects together.

Implement council projects only after a majority of the local units vote to support them.

The Council Should Not

Legislate for units or regiment them in activities.

Hold too many meetings.

Duplicate the function of unit or district PTA type of meeting.

Take needed leadership from the units.

POLICIES

1. A council cooperates with, but does not join other organizations.

2. A council does not pay dues to the National PTA, California State PTA, or district PTA. It may collect council per capita dues from its units, and/or a unit assessment. An assessment must have units’ approval and be included in all the units’ standing rules.

3. A council's officers, committee chairmen, and representatives must be members of PTA units within the council.

4. The council president-elect (or the president continuing in office) or the elected alternate and one delegate or alternate elected from the council of the voting body shall represent the council at the California State PTA Convention.

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