Section 1. Active Membership

Any representative of good moral character involved with government or a government agency and/or any representative of a business or industrial concern who is actively engaged in some phase of fire and arson investigation or administration of justice at the time the representative makes application shall be eligible for membership in the Kentucky Chapter, provided such person is not less than eighteen (18) years of age at the time he/she makes application.  Active members shall have the right to vote on Association business and have the right to hold office.

Section 2. Associate Membership

Persons who do not qualify for active membership may become associate members.  Associate members shall have the privileges of an active member, except voting and holding office.

Section 3. Student Membership

Student Members will be permitted to pay a reduced fee for membership.  This fee shall be established by the Board of Directors. “Student” shall be defined as any individual not currently working in a paid position in the fire investigation field who is currently enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited institution of post-secondary education pursuing a degree in fire science, fire investigation, the administration of justice, or related field of study.  Student members shall not have the right to hold office or vote on Association business.

Section 4. Life Membership

Life Membership.             The Association may bestow life membership upon any qualified member of the Association who has met the following requirements:

Life Membership for Distinguished Service:

1. The individual must be, or have been, an active member of the Kentucky Chapter.
2. The individual must be an active member in good standing for a minimum of ten (10) years.
3. The individual must have rendered distinctive service to the Kentucky Chapter through participation on committees or activities for a minimum of five (5) years.

Nominations for lifetime membership for distinguished service shall be made to the Board of Directors at least Sixty (60) days prior to the annual meeting.  The Board of Directors shall review the nominations and make its recommendations to the Membership as to recipients of this life membership.  No more than two (2) life memberships for distinguished service shall be bestowed in any one calendar year.

A life member shall have all rights and privileges of an active member without the payment of dues.

Section 5. Corporate Members

Corporations and Public Agencies whose services or mission includes fire safety and prevention, fire loss claims and litigation, or arson enforcement and prosecution; related professions and disciplines; or those companies and organizations who support public safety may become Corporate Members.  Benefits of Corporate Membership and annual dues for Corporate Memberships shall be approved by the Board of Directors. Corporate Members shall not have the right to vote on Association business.

Section 6. Personal Qualifications

To be eligible for membership in the Kentucky Chapter of International Association of Arson Investigators, the following qualifications shall be applicable to wit:

•     The applicant should be of good moral personal character and reputation.
•     The nature, character, and reputation of the applicant’s business should be consistent with the Kentucky IAAI Code of Ethics.
•    The character and reputation of the applicant’s employer and associates should be consistent with the Kentucky IAAI Code of Ethics.
•    The general nature, character, and reputation of the principal business of the applicant’s employer and associates should be consistent with the Kentucky IAAI Code of Ethics.

No person shall be eligible for any class of membership if that person has been a member, or is presently a member, or becomes a member of a subversive organization or of any organization whose objectives and purposes are inconsistent with the purposes of the Association.

Section 7. Retired Membership

A member who wishes to apply for Retired Membership must have been a Kentucky Chapter Active Member in good standing at the time of application for Retired Membership.  The applicant must be retired and no longer actively working in any phase of fire and arson investigation or administration of justice.  This section shall also apply to members who are permanently disabled due to job injuries.  If the applicant is granted a Retired Membership status and, anytime thereafter, obtains employment in any form in the fire investigation industry, the Retired Membership status must be upgraded to Active status.  Any member holding the Retired Membership status found to be working in the aforementioned areas shall be determined to be in a breach of ethics and subject to sanctions as prescribed in Section 10.  The member shall be given one (1) notice to adjust to the appropriate status.  Retried members shall not have the right to vote on Association business and are not eligible to hold any office.  Dues for Retired Membership status will be fixed by the Board of Directors with the approval of the membership. 

Section 8. Membership Approval

Applications for membership shall be made to the Chairperson of the Membership Committee.  Upon the recommendation of an active member, in good standing, the Board of Directors shall process such an application in accordance with Section 6 of this Article.  Applications for membership shall be administratively processed and approved if the applicant meets all qualifications.  Applications which contain information that requires further review shall be forwarded to the Membership Committee for their action.

Section 9. Termination

Membership in the Association shall terminate by:

• Voluntary withdrawal
• The Board of Directors when after notice, such member is in arrears in the payment of dues or any other obligation to the Kentucky Chapter.
• The consent of a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
  1. If the applicant is within the aforementioned temporary status period, or
  2. In accordance with sanctions prescribed in Section 10.
  3. The Board of Directors, at its discretion, determines that such member has conducted himself/herself in such a manner as is prejudicial to the good name or best interests of the Kentucky Chapter.

Section 10. Sanctions

The Board of Directors may place on probation, censure, suspend, or terminate the membership of any member upon receipt and after initial review of circumstances, for but not limited to the following:

• Falsifications, misrepresentations, or omissions in the application for membership.
• Conviction of a felony or any criminal offense.
• Entry of a judgment or order against any member in a criminal, civil, or contempt action related to the status of the member as an investigator.
• Breach of professional responsibilities or legal duties as an investigator.
• Violations of the Constitution and By-Laws or the Code of Ethics.
• Misuse or misrepresentation of an IAAI professional designation, certification, or accreditation.
• Violation of any IAAI committee Standard Operating Procedure that has been approved by the International Board of Directors.
• Falsification or misrepresentation under circumstances intended to influence or affect the outcome of any proceeding, including, but not limited to, trials, hearings, depositions, interviews, or applications.

Section 11. Reinstatement

Any former member may be reinstated in the Kentucky Chapter at the discretion of and by the consent of a majority of the Board of Directors, provided, however, that is such a former member shall have been in arrears in the payment of dues or other financial obligation to the Kentucky Chapter at the time of his/her separation, he/she shall be required to pay to the Kentucky Chapter all such arrears as a condition to his/her reinstatement, unless the Board of Directors, by majority and for good cause, shall waive the payment thereof.  In this instance, the member’s original join date shall be retained.  If a member has been terminated for more than one year for nonpayment of dues only, the member shall have the option of reapplying for membership, subject to meeting the qualifications outlined in this article, without paying arrearage.  In such cases, the member shall be assigned a new join date.  The member shall not be able to claim, advertise, or otherwise reference his/her join date to imply uninterrupted membership.