The discipline Committee is a committee of the OKWA and subject to the bylaws of the OKWA. Any changes in these rules and procedures cannot supersede any bylaw of the OKWA.
The rules and procedures may be amended by the Executive Board at any regular or special meeting with changes becoming effective immediately.
DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE
1. MEMBERS AND CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEE
The discipline committee will be the Executive Board of the OKWA unless otherwise prescribed by statute of the bylaws of the OKWA.
If a Director is a violator before the discipline committee that person must step down during this action.
2. CAUSES FOR DISCIPLINE
Cause of disciplinary proceedings and/or disciplinary actions can result from one or any combination of, but not limited to any of the following violations:
A. Any action that tends to injure the good name of, disturb the well being of, or hamper the work of the OKWA, any committee or division of the OKWA, member clubs, individual members, official, coach, table worker, director, officer, or spectator.
B. Flagrant and/or repeated destruction of personal and/or public property.
C. Falsification of documents regarding wrestling.
D. Disciplinary suspension and/or expulsion from a member club.
E. Disqualification from a tournament because of flagrant brutality or misconduct.
F. Abusive language or unsportsman like conduct by a contestant, spectator, coach, official, table worker, or agent of the OKWA.
3. POSSIBLE VIOLATORS
Disciplinary proceedings and/or disciplinary action can be imposedupon one or any combination of, but not limited to, any of the following violators: members of the Executive Board, state committee member, member club, individual member (wrestler), honorary member, official, coach, or spectators.
4. ACTIONS
Disciplinary actions can include one or any combination of, but not limited to, one of the following: reprimand, probation, suspension, or expulsion.
5. COMMITTEE’S DUTIES
A. The prescribed duties of the committee are to be alert to disciplinary problems, to investigate them, and in case of a trial, manage the trial and any resulting actions from said trial.
B. The Discipline Committee does have the right power to exonerate the accused if the investigation and/or trial finds the accused innocent of any wrong doing.
C. The Discipline Committee will not have the power to impose a penalty except in the case of a violation as defined in Paragraph 2.
D. In the case of a violation listed under, but not limited to Paragraph 2, the Discipline Committee can temporarily suspend any violator defined under Paragraph 3. The length of the suspension will remain in effect until a hearing is held on the matter, or any prescribed penalty is satisfied.
6. DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE
A. Notice of complaint
1) A written notice of complaint for disciplinary action will be mailed to each member of the Discipline Committee. This document will contain, in detail, the necessary causes for disciplinary action.
2) A $100 deposit made payable to OKWA will accompany the notice of complaint. This deposit will be refunded if the accused party is found guilty of a violation defined in Paragraph 2.
3) The Discipline Committee will act on the complaint for disciplinary action at their next meeting or at a special meeting called for the purpose of this disciplinary action.
B. The Discipline Committee will conduct an investigation to gather all the facts necessary to make a just and proper decision. The Discipline Committee has the right to select and appoint from its own members an investigation committee.
C. The investigation committee will then present its findings to the discipline Committee. If, after the investigation, the Discipline Committee option is favorable to the accused, it will prepare a resolution exonerating the accused. However, if the committee, from the reports of the investigation, finds substance to the rumors and cannot resolve the matter satisfactorily in any other way, it will set a trial date and time.
D. If the Discipline Committee adopts a resolution ordering a trial, the Committee Chairperson will send to the accused, by registered mail, a letter notifying him or her of the date, hour, and place of the trial. The letter will also include the charges that are being directed against the accused.
7. TRIAL PROCEDURE
A. The Chair will call the meeting to order.
B. The Chair will appoint a Secretary to record proceedings.
C. The Chair will read the charges and specifications.
D. The Chair will ask the accused how he or she pleads to each specification and then to the charge.
E. If the accused pleads guilty, then the trial is ended.
F. If the accused pleads not guilty, then the trial proceeds on. First, the investigation committee will present its facts and witnesses. Second, the accused will present its facts and witnesses. Third, there will be a time for rebuttal which includes cross-examination, re-direct-examination, and recross examination.
G. After the rebuttal and/or closing arguments have been made, the accused will be asked to leave the room. The Chair asks the committee if the accused is guilty of each specification and then the charge or charges.
(Each specification and charge is open to debate and voted on separately). If the accused is found guilty, then the committee must decide on the penalty. For expulsion, a two-thirds vote is required.
H. After the trial, the Discipline Committee will inform the accused of its verdict and penalties, if any.
8. APPEAL TO STATE MEMBERS
An appeal may be made to the OKWA member clubs by the following procedures:
A. The accused must post a $400.00 bond with the OKWA Treasurer.
B. The Discipline Committee will issue a written report of trial’s proceedings to each member club within two weeks of their findings.
C. A form will be attached to ask for a vote for or against the accused which must be received no less than three weeks after the posting of the Discipline Committee’s findings.
D. The form will be posted to a neutral party agreed upon by both the accused and the Discipline Committee.
E. The Forms will be brought before the Discipline Committee and accused unopened on a date set by the Discipline Committee which will be no later than six weeks after the accused’s trial.
F. The forms will be opened by the neutral party before the Discipline Committee and the accused with a simple majority vote deciding for or against the accused.
9. RESPONSIBILITY OF EXPENSES FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION
A. If the accused is found innocent, then the accuser will be responsible for paying all expenses incurred by the Discipline Committee which can include, but not be limited to: phone calls, mileage, transportation fare if necessary, and legal fees if necessary. The expenses will first be deducted from the initial deposit with any excess expenses becoming immediately due. If there is credit balance, then the remainder will be returned to the accuser.
B. If the accused is found guilty, then the accused will be responsible for paying all expenses incurred by the Discipline Committee as stated above in Part A.
C. Any expenses incurred by the accused, if found not guilty, will be paid for by the accuser.
D. On appeal to member clubs, the accused is found not guilty, the State Association will pay 50% of only the cost for the appeal. The accuser will pay the other 50% of the appeal cost.
10. REINSTATEMENT
A. Reinstatement from suspension
1) Request of reinstatement in writing stating intentions to follow proper procedures.
2) Copy of request to every member of the Discipline Committee.
3) Deposit of $250 made payable to the OKWA.
4) Conference call with every member of the Discipline Committee, cost born by suspended party.
5) The State President will designate a representative to attend the suspended party’s next event for monitoring purposes. Any expense will be born by the suspended party.
B. Reinstatement from expulsion
1) Deposit of $500, made payable to the OKWA.
2) Automatic one-year probation.
3) If probation period is violated, automatic expulsion will incur for a minimum of three years.
