Senate Bill No. 703
(By Senators Fanning, Weeks and Minard)
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[Introduced March 21, 2005; referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary.]
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A BILL to amend and reenact §31B-2-203 of the Code of West
Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §31B-10-1002
of said code; to amend and reenact §31D-1-120 and §31D-1-150
of said code; to amend and reenact §31D-2-202 of said code; to
amend and reenact §31D-5-503 of said code; to amend and
reenact §31D-15-1509; to amend said code by adding thereto a
new section, designated §31D-15-1521; to amend and reenact
§31E-1-120 and §31E-1-150 of said code; to amend and reenact
§31E-2-202 of said code; to amend and reenact §31E-5-503 of
said code; to amend and reenact §31E-14-1409 of said code; to
amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated
§31E-14-1421; to amend and reenact §47-9-1, §47-9-8, §47-9-49
and §47-9-53 of said code; to amend and reenact §47B-3-3 of
said code; and to amend and reenact §47B-10-1 and §47B-10-4 of
said code, all relating to updating language in the Uniform Liability Act; West Virginia Business Corporation Act; West
Virginia Nonprofit Corporation Act; Uniform Limited
Partnership Act; limited liability partnerships; and authority
to revoke withdrawal under the West Virginia Business
Corporation Act and the West Virginia Nonprofit Corporation
Act.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §31B-2-203 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as
amended, be amended and reenacted; that §31B-10-1002 of said code
be amended and reenacted; that §31D-1-120 and §31D-1-150 of said
code be amended and reenacted; that §31D-2-202 of said code be
amended and reenacted; that §31D-5-503 of said code be amended and
reenacted; that §31D-15-1509 of said code be amended and reenacted;
that said code be amended by adding thereto a new section,
designated §31D-15-1521; that §31E-1-120 and §31E-1-150 of said
code be amended and reenacted; that §31E-2-202 of said code be
amended and reenacted; that §31E-5-503 of said code be amended and
reenacted; that §31E-14-1409 of said code be amended and reenacted;
that said code be amended by adding thereto a new section,
designated §31E-14-1421; that §47-9-1, §47-9-8, §47-9-49 and §47-9-
53 of said code be amended and reenacted; that §47B-3-3 of said
code be amended and reenacted; and that §47B-10-1 and §47B-10-4 of
said code be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:
CHAPTER 31B. UNIFORM LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ACT.
ARTICLE 2. ORGANIZATION.
§31B-2-203. Articles of organization.
(a) Articles of organization of a limited liability company
must set forth:
(1) The name of the company;
(2) The address of the initial designated office
in West
Virginia, if any, and the mailing address of the principal office;
(3) The name and address of the initial agent for service of
process,
if any;
(4) The name and address of each organizer and of each member
having authority to execute instruments on behalf of the limited
liability company;
(5) Whether the company is to be a term company and, if so,
the term specified;
(6) Whether the company is to be manager-managed and, if so,
the name and address of each initial manager;
and
(7) Whether one or more of the members of the company are to
be liable for its debts and obligations under section 3-303(c);
and
(8) The purpose or purposes for which the limited liability
company is organized.
(b) Articles of organization of a limited liability company
may set forth:
(1) Provisions permitted to be set forth in an operating
agreement; or
(2) Other matters not inconsistent with law.
(c) Articles of organization of a limited liability company
may not vary the nonwaivable provisions of section 1-103(b). As to
all other matters, if any provision of an operating agreement is
inconsistent with the articles of organization:
(1) The operating agreement controls as to managers, members
and members' transferees; and
(2) The articles of organization control as to persons other
than managers, members and their transferees who reasonably rely on
the articles to their detriment.
ARTICLE 10. FOREIGN LIMITED LIABILITY.
§31B-10-1002. Application for certificate of authority.
(a) A foreign limited liability company may apply for a
certificate of authority to transact business in this state by
delivering an application to the Secretary of State for filing,
together with the fee prescribed by section two, article one,
chapter fifty-nine of this code.
The application shall set forth:
(1) The name of the foreign company or, if its name is
unavailable for use in this state, a name that satisfies the
requirements of section 10-1005 of this article;
(2) The name of the state or country under whose law it is
organized;
(3) The
street mailing address of its principal office;
(4) The name and address of each member having authority to
execute instruments on behalf of the limited liability company;
(5) The address of its initial designated office in this
state, if any;
(6) The name and address of its initial agent for service of
process in this state, if any;
(7) Whether the duration of the company is for a specified
term and, if so, the period specified;
(8) Whether the company is manager-managed and, if so, the
name and address of each initial manager;
and
(9) Whether the members of the company are to be liable for
its debts and obligations under a provision similar to section
3-303(c);
and
(10) The purpose or purposes for which the limited liability
company is organized.
(b) A foreign limited liability company shall deliver with the
completed application a certificate of existence or a record of
similar import authenticated by the Secretary of State or other
official having custody of company records in the state or country
under whose law it is organized.
CHAPTER 31D. WEST VIRGINIA BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT.
ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
§31D-1-120. Filing requirements.
(a) A document must satisfy the requirements of this section and any other provision of this code that adds to or varies these
requirements to be entitled to filing by the Secretary of State.
(b) The document to be filed must be typewritten or printed
or, if electronically transmitted, it must be in a format that can
be retrieved or reproduced in typewritten or printed form.
(c) The document to be filed must be in the English language:
Provided, That a corporate name is not required to be in the
English language if it is written in English letters or Arabic or
Roman numerals:
Provided, however, That the certificate of
existence required of foreign corporations is not required to be in
the English language if it is accompanied by a reasonably
authenticated English translation.
(d) The document to be filed must be executed:
(1) By the chairman of the board of directors of a domestic or
foreign corporation, by its president or by another of its
officers;
(2) If directors have not been selected or the corporation has
not been formed, by an incorporator; or
(3) If the corporation is in the hands of a receiver, trustee
or other court-appointed fiduciary, by that fiduciary.
(e) The person executing the document to be filed shall sign
it and state beneath or opposite his or her signature, his or her
name and the capacity in which he or she signs. The document may
contain a corporate seal, attestation, acknowledgment or verification.
(f) The document to be filed must be delivered to the office
of the Secretary of State for filing. Delivery may be made by
electronic transmission as permitted by the Secretary of State.
The Secretary of State may require one exact or conformed copy to
be delivered with the document to be filed if the document is filed
in typewritten or printed form and not transmitted electronically.
Provided, That a document filed pursuant to section five hundred
three, article five of this chapter and section one thousand five
hundred nine, article fifteen of this chapter concerning the
resignation of a registered agent must be accompanied by two exact
or conformed copies as required by those sections
(g) When a document is delivered to the office of the
Secretary of State for filing, the correct filing fee and any
franchise tax, license fee or penalty required by this chapter or
any other provision of this code must be paid or provision for
payment made in a manner permitted by the Secretary of State.
(h) In the case of service of notice and process as permitted
by subsection (c), section five hundred four, article five of this
chapter and subsections (d) and (e), section one thousand five
hundred ten, article fifteen of this chapter, the notice and
process must be filed with the Secretary of State as one original,
plus two copies for each person to be served or noticed.
§31D-1-150. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires
a different meaning, the term:
(1) "Articles of incorporation" includes, but is not limited
to, amended and restated articles of incorporation and articles of
merger.
(2) "Authorized shares" means the shares of all classes a
domestic or foreign corporation is authorized to issue.
(3) "Conspicuous" means written so that a reasonable person
against whom the writing is to operate should have noticed,
including, but not limited to, printing in italics or boldface or
contrasting color, or typing in capitals or underlined.
(4) "Corporation" or "domestic corporation" means a
corporation for profit, which is not a foreign corporation,
incorporated under or subject to the provisions of this chapter.
(5) "Deliver" or "delivery" means any method of delivery used
in conventional commercial practice, including, but not limited to,
delivery by hand, mail, commercial delivery and electronic
transmission.
(6) "Distribution" means a direct or indirect transfer of
money or other property or incurrence of indebtedness by a
corporation to or for the benefit of its shareholders in respect of
any of its shares:
Provided, That "distribution" does not include
a direct or indirect transfer of a corporation's own shares. A
distribution may be in the form of a declaration or payment of a dividend; a purchase, redemption or other acquisition of shares; or
a distribution of indebtedness.
(7) "Effective date of notice" means the date as determined
pursuant to section one hundred fifty-one of this article.
(8) "Electronic transmission" or "electronically transmitted"
means any process of communication not directly involving the
physical transfer of paper that is suitable for the retention,
retrieval and reproduction of information by the recipient.
(9) "Employee" includes an officer and may include a director:
Provided, That the director has accepted duties that make him or
her also an employee.
(10) "Entity" includes corporations and foreign corporations;
nonprofit corporations; profit and nonprofit unincorporated
associations; limited liability companies and foreign limited
liability companies; business trusts, estates, partnerships, trusts
and two or more persons having a joint or common economic interest;
and state, United States and foreign government.
(11) "Foreign corporation" means a corporation for profit
incorporated under a law other than the laws of this state.
(12) "Governmental subdivision" includes, but is not limited
to, authorities, counties, districts and municipalities.
(13) "Individual" includes, but is not limited to, the estate
of an incompetent or deceased individual.
(14) "Person" includes, but is not limited to, an individual and an entity.
(15) "Principal office" means the office so designated in the
return required pursuant to section three, article twelve-c,
chapter eleven of this code where the principal executive offices
of a domestic or foreign corporation are located.
(16) "Proceeding" includes, but is not limited to, civil suits
and criminal, administrative and investigatory actions.
(17) "Record date" means the date established under article
six or seven of this chapter on which a corporation determines the
identity of its shareholders and their shareholdings. The
determinations are to be made as of the close of business on the
record date unless another time for doing so is specified when the
record date is fixed.
(18) "Registered agent" means the agent identified by the
corporation pursuant to section five hundred one, article five of
this chapter.
(19) "Registered office" means the address of the registered
agent for the corporation, as provided in section five hundred one,
article five of this chapter.
(20) "Secretary" means the corporate officer to whom the board
of directors has delegated responsibility under subsection (c),
section eight hundred forty, article eight of this chapter for
custody of the minutes of the meetings of the board of directors
and the meetings of the shareholders and for authenticating records of the corporation.
(21) "Shareholder" means the person in whose name shares are
registered in the records of a corporation or the beneficial owner
of shares to the extent of the rights granted by a nominee
certificate on file with a corporation.
(22) "Shares" means the units into which the proprietary
interests in a corporation are divided.
(23) "Sign" or "signature" includes, but is not limited to,
any manual, facsimile, conformed or electronic signature
with means
to identify a record by signature, mark or other symbol, with
intent to authenticate it.
(24) "State", when referring to a part of the United States,
includes a state and commonwealth and a territory and insular
possession of the United States and their agencies and governmental
subdivisions.
(25) "Subscriber" means a person who subscribes for shares in
a corporation, whether before or after incorporation.
(26) "United States" includes, but is not limited to,
districts, authorities, bureaus, commissions, departments and any
other agency of the United States.
(27) "Voting group" means all shares of one or more classes or
series that, pursuant to the articles of incorporation or this
chapter, are entitled to vote and be counted together collectively
on a matter at a meeting of shareholders. All shares entitled by the articles of incorporation or this chapter to vote generally on
the matter are for that purpose a single voting group.
(28) "Voting power" means the current power to vote in the
election of directors.
ARTICLE 2. INCORPORATIONS.
§31D-2-202. Articles of incorporation.
(a) The articles of incorporation must set forth:
(1) A corporate name for the corporation that satisfies the
requirements of section four hundred one, article four of this
chapter;
(2) The number of shares the corporation is authorized to
issue, the par value of each of the shares or a statement that all
shares are without par value;
(3) The street address of the corporation's initial registered
office, if any, and the name of its initial registered agent at
that office, if any;
(4) The name and address of each incorporator;
and
(5) The purpose or purposes for which the corporation is
organized;
and
(6) The mailing address of the corporation's principal office.
(b) The articles of incorporation may set forth:
(1) The names and addresses of the individuals who are to
serve as the initial directors;
(2) Provisions not inconsistent with law regarding:
(A) Managing the business and regulating the affairs of the
corporation;
(B) Defining, limiting and regulating the powers of the
corporation, its board of directors and shareholders; or
(C) The imposition of personal liability on shareholders for
the debts of the corporation to a specified extent and upon
specified conditions;
(3) Any provision that, under this chapter, is required or
permitted to be set forth in the bylaws;
(4) A provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability
of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary
damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director:
Provided, That
a provision may not eliminate or limit the liability of a director:
(A) For any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the
corporation or its stockholders; (B) for acts or omissions not in
good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law; (C) under section eight hundred thirty-three,
article eight of this chapter for unlawful distributions; or (D)
for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit. No provision may eliminate or limit the
liability of a director for any act or omission occurring prior to
the date when that provision becomes effective; and
(5) A provision permitting or making obligatory
indemnification of a director for liability as that term is defined in section eight hundred fifty, article eight of this chapter to
any person for any action taken, or any failure to take any action,
as a director except liability for: (A) Receipt of a financial
benefit to which he or she is not entitled; (B) an intentional
infliction of harm on the corporation or its shareholders; (C) a
violation of section eight hundred thirty-three, article eight of
this chapter for unlawful distributions; or (D) an intentional
violation of criminal law.
(c) The articles of incorporation need not set forth any of
the corporate powers enumerated in this chapter.
ARTICLE 5. OFFICE AND AGENT.
§31D-5-503. Resignation of registered agent.
(a) A registered agent may resign his or her agency
appointment by signing and delivering to the Secretary of State for
filing
the signed original and two exact or conformed copies of a
statement of resignation. The statement may include a statement
that the registered office is also discontinued.
(b) After filing the statement, the Secretary of State shall
mail
one a copy
of the filed statement of resignation to the
registered office if the registered office is not discontinued and
the other copy to the corporation at its principal office.
(c) The agency appointment is terminated, and the registered
office is discontinued if provision for its discontinuation is
made, on the thirty-first day after the date on which the statement was filed.
ARTICLE 15. FOREIGN CORPORATIONS.
§31D-15-1509. Resignation of registered agent of foreign
corporation.
(a) The registered agent of a foreign corporation may resign
his or her agency appointment by signing and delivering to the
Secretary of State for filing
the original and two exact or
conformed copies of a statement of resignation. The statement of
resignation may include a statement that the registered office is
also discontinued.
(b) After filing the statement, the Secretary of State shall
attach the filing receipt to one copy and mail
the a copy
of the
filed statement of resignation and receipt to the
corporation at
its principal office. registered office if not discontinued. The
Secretary of State shall mail the other copy to the foreign
corporation at its principal office address shown in its most
recent return required pursuant to section three, article twelve-c,
chapter eleven of this code
(c) The agency appointment is terminated, and the registered
office discontinued if provided in the statement of registration,
on the thirty-first day after the date on which the statement was
filed.
§31D-15-1521. Revocation of withdrawal.
(a) A corporation may revoke its withdrawal within one hundred twenty days of its effective date.
(b) Revocation of withdrawal must be authorized in the same
manner as the withdrawal was authorized unless that authorization
permitted revocation by action of the board of directors alone, in
which event the board of directors may revoke the withdrawal
without shareholder action.
(c) After the revocation of withdrawal is authorized, the
corporation may revoke the withdrawal by delivering to the
Secretary of State for filing articles of revocation of withdrawal,
together with a copy of its application of withdrawal, that sets
forth:
(1) The name of the corporation;
(2) The effective date of the withdrawal that was revoked;
(3) The date that the revocation of withdrawal was authorized;
(4) If the corporation's board of directors or incorporators
revoked the withdrawal, a statement to that effect; and
(5) If the corporation's board of directors revoked the
withdrawal authorized by the shareholders, a statement that
revocation was permitted by action by the board of directors alone
pursuant to that authorization.
(d) Revocation of withdrawal is effective upon the effective
date of the articles of revocation of withdrawal.
(e) When the revocation of withdrawal is effective, it relates
back to and takes effect as of the effective date of the withdrawal and the corporation resumes carrying on its business as if
withdrawal had never occurred.
CHAPTER 31E. WEST VIRGINIA NONPROFIT CORPORATION ACT.
ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
§31E-1-120. Filing requirements.
(a) A document must satisfy the requirements of this section
and any other provision of this code that adds to or varies these
requirements to be entitled to filing by the Secretary of State.
(b) The document to be filed must be typewritten or printed
or, if electronically transmitted, it must be in a format that can
be retrieved or reproduced in typewritten or printed form.
(c) The document to be filed must be in the English language:
Provided, That a corporate name is not required to be in the
English language if it is written in English letters or Arabic or
Roman numerals:
Provided, however, That the certificate of
existence required of foreign corporations is not required to be in
the English language if it is accompanied by a reasonably
authenticated English translation.
(d) The document to be filed must be executed:
(1) By the chairman of the board of directors of a domestic or
foreign corporation, by its president or by another of its
officers;
(2) If directors have not been selected or the corporation has
not been formed, by an incorporator; or
(3) If the corporation is in the hands of a receiver, trustee
or other court-appointed fiduciary, by that fiduciary.
(e) The person executing the document to be filed shall sign
it and state beneath or opposite his or her signature, his or her
name and the capacity in which he or she signs. The document may
contain a corporate seal, attestation, acknowledgment or
verification.
(f) The document to be filed must be delivered to the office
of the Secretary of State for filing. Delivery may be made by
electronic transmission as permitted by the Secretary of State.
The Secretary of State may require one exact or conformed copy to
be delivered with the document to be filed if the document is filed
in typewritten or printed form and not transmitted electronically.
Provided, That a document filed pursuant to section five hundred
three, article five of this chapter and section one thousand four
hundred nine, article fourteen of this chapter concerning the
resignation of a registered agent must be accompanied by two exact
or conformed copies as required by those sections
(g) When a document is delivered to the office of the
Secretary of State for filing, the correct filing fee and any
franchise tax, license fee or penalty required by this chapter or
any other provision of this code must be paid or provision for
payment made in a manner permitted by the Secretary of State.
(h) In the case of service of notice and process as permitted by subsection (c), section five hundred four, article five of this
chapter and subsections (d) and (e), section one thousand four
hundred ten, article fourteen of this chapter, the notice and
process must be filed with the Secretary of State as one original,
plus two copies for each person to be served or noticed.
§31E-1-150. Chapter definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires
a different meaning, the term:
(1) "Articles of incorporation" includes, but is not limited
to, amended and restated articles of incorporation and articles of
merger.
(2) "Authorized shares" means the shares of all classes a
domestic or foreign corporation is authorized to issue.
(3) "Board" or "board of directors" means the group of persons
vested with management of the affairs of the corporation
irrespective of the name by which the group is designated.
(4) "Business corporation" means a corporation with capital
stock or shares incorporated for profit.
(5) "Conspicuous" means written so that a reasonable person
against whom the writing is to operate should have noticed,
including, but not limited to, printing in italics or boldface or
contrasting color, or typing in capitals or underlined.
(6) "Corporation" or "domestic corporation" means a
corporation without capital stock or shares, which is not a foreign corporation, incorporated under the laws of this state:
Provided,
That "corporation" or "domestic corporation" does not include
towns, cities, boroughs or any municipal corporation or any
department or any town, city, borough or municipal corporation.
(7) "Deliver" or "delivery" means any method of delivery used
in conventional commercial practice, including, but not limited to,
delivery by hand, mail, commercial delivery and electronic
transmission.
(8) "Distribution" means a direct or indirect transfer of
money or other property or incurrence of indebtedness by a
corporation to or for the benefit of its members in respect of any
of its membership interests or to or for the benefit of its
officers or directors:
Provided, That the payment of reasonable
compensation for services rendered, the reimbursement of reasonable
expenses, the granting of benefits to members in conformity with
the corporation's nonprofit purposes and the making of
distributions upon dissolution or final liquidation as provided by
article thirteen of this chapter may not be deemed a distribution.
(9) "Effective date of notice" means the date as determined
pursuant to section one hundred fifty-one of this article.
(10) "Electronic transmission" or "electronically transmitted"
means any process of communication not directly involving the
physical transfer of paper that is suitable for the retention,
retrieval and reproduction of information by the recipient.
(11) "Employee" includes an officer and may include a
director:
Provided, That the director has accepted duties that
make him or her also an employee.
(12) "Entity" includes corporation and foreign corporations;
business corporations and foreign business corporations; profit and
nonprofit unincorporated associations; limited liability companies
and foreign limited liability companies; business trusts, estates,
partnerships, trusts and two or more persons having a joint or
common economic interest; and state, United States and foreign
government.
(13) "Foreign corporation" means any nonprofit corporation
which is incorporated under a law other than the laws of this
state.
(14) "Governmental subdivision" includes, but is not limited
to, authorities, counties, districts and municipalities.
(15) "Individual" includes, but is not limited to, the estate
of an incompetent or deceased individual.
(16) "Member" means a person having membership rights in a
corporation in accordance with the provisions of its certificate of
incorporation or bylaws.
(17) "Nonprofit corporation" means a corporation which may not
make distributions to its members, directors or officers.
(18) "Person" includes, but is not limited to, an individual
and an entity.
(19) "Principal office" means the office so designated in the
return required pursuant to section three, article twelve-c,
chapter eleven of this code, where the principal executive offices
of a domestic or foreign corporation are located.
(20) "Proceeding" includes, but is not limited to, civil suits
and criminal, administrative and investigatory actions.
(21) "Record date" means the date established under article
six or seven of this chapter on which a corporation determines the
identity of its members and their interests. The determinations
are to be made as of the close of business on the record date
unless another time for doing so is specified when the record date
is fixed.
(22) "Registered agent" means the agent identified by the
corporation pursuant to section five hundred one, article five of
this chapter.
(23) "Registered office" means the address of the registered
agent for the corporation, as provided in section five hundred one,
article five of this chapter.
(24) "Secretary" means the corporate officer to whom the board
of directors has delegated responsibility under subsection (c),
section eight hundred forty, article eight of this chapter for
custody of the minutes of the meetings of the board of directors
and the meetings of the members and for authenticating records of
the corporation.
(25) "Sign" or "signature" includes, but is not limited to,
any manual, facsimile, conformed or electronic signature
with means
to identify a record by a signature, mark or other symbol, with
intent to authenticate it.
(26) "State," when referring to a part of the United States,
includes a state, commonwealth and a territory and insular
possession of the United States and their agencies and governmental
subdivisions.
(27) "United States" includes, but is not limited to,
districts, authorities, bureaus, commissions, departments and any
other agency of the United States.
ARTICLE 2. INCORPORATION.
§31E-2-202. Articles of incorporation.
(a) The articles of incorporation must set forth:
(1) A corporate name for the corporation that satisfies the
requirements of section four hundred one, article four of this
chapter;
(2) A statement that the corporation is nonprofit and that the
corporation may not have or issue shares of stock or make
distributions;
(3) Whether the corporation is to have members and, if it is
to have members, the provisions required by section six hundred
one, article six of this chapter to be set forth in the certificate
of incorporation;
(4) The mailing address of the corporation's initial
registered office, if any, and the name of its initial registered
agent at that office, if any;
and
(5) The name and address of each incorporator;
and
(6) The mailing address of the corporation's principal office.
(b) The articles of incorporation may set forth:
(1) The names and addresses of the individuals who are to
serve as the initial directors;
(2) Provisions not inconsistent with law regarding:
(A) Managing and regulating the affairs of the corporation; or
(B) Defining, limiting and regulating the powers of the
corporation, its board of directors and members or any class of
members;
(3) Any provision that under this chapter is required or
permitted to be set forth in the bylaws;
(4) A provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability
of a director to the corporation or its members for monetary
damages for any action taken, or any failure to take any action, as
a director or member, except liability for: (A) The amount of a
financial benefit received by a director or member to which he or
she is not entitled; (B) an intentional infliction of harm on the
corporation or the members; (C) a violation of section eight
hundred thirty-three, article eight of this chapter regarding
unlawful distributions; or (D) an intentional violation of criminal law; and
(5) A provision permitting or making obligatory
indemnification of a director for liability as that term is defined
in section eight hundred fifty, article eight of this chapter to
any person for any action taken, or any failure to take any action,
as a director, except liability for: (A) Receipt of a financial
benefit to which he or she is not entitled; (B) an intentional
infliction of harm on the corporation or its members; (C) a
violation of section eight hundred thirty-three, article eight of
this chapter for unlawful distributions; or (D) an intentional
violation of criminal law.
(C) The articles of incorporation need not set forth any of
the corporate powers enumerated in this chapter.
ARTICLE 5. OFFICE AND AGENT.
§31E-5-503. Resignation of registered agent.
(a) A registered agent may resign his or her agency
appointment by signing and delivering to the Secretary of State for
filing the
signed original and two exact or conformed copies of a
statement of resignation. The statement may include a statement
that the registered office is also discontinued.
(b) After filing the statement the Secretary of State shall
mail
one a copy
of the filed statement of resignation to the
registered office if the registered office is not discontinued and
the other copy to the corporation at its principal office.
(c) The agency appointment is terminated, and the registered
office is discontinued if provision for its discontinuation is
made, on the thirty-first day after the date on which the statement
was filed.
ARTICLE 14. FOREIGN CORPORATIONS.
§31E-14-1409. Resignation of registered agent of foreign
corporation.
(a) The registered agent of a foreign corporation may resign
his or her agency appointment by signing and delivering to the
Secretary of State for filing
the original and two exact or
conformed copies of a statement of resignation. The statement of
resignation may include a statement that the registered office is
also discontinued.
(b) After filing the statement, the Secretary of State shall
attach the filing receipt to one copy and mail
a the copy
of the
filed statement of resignation and receipt to the
corporation at
its principal office. registered office if not discontinued. The
Secretary of State shall mail the other copy to the foreign
corporation at its principal office address shown in its most
recent return required pursuant to section three, article twelve-c,
chapter eleven of this code
(c) The agency appointment is terminated, and the registered
office discontinued if provided in the statement of registration,
on the thirty-first day after the date on which the statement was filed.
§31E-14-1421. Revocation of withdrawal.
(a) A corporation may revoke its withdrawal within one hundred
twenty days of its effective date.
(b) Revocation of withdrawal must be authorized in the same
manner as the withdrawal was authorized unless that authorization
permitted revocation by action of the board of directors alone, in
which event the board of directors may revoke the withdrawal
without shareholder action.
(c) After the revocation of withdrawal is authorized, the
corporation may revoke the withdrawal by delivering to the
Secretary of State for filing articles of revocation of withdrawal,
together with a copy of its application of withdrawal, that sets
forth:
(1) The name of the corporation;
(2) The effective date of the withdrawal that was revoked;
(3) The date that the revocation of withdrawal was authorized;
(4) If the corporation's board of directors or incorporators
revoked the withdrawal, a statement to that effect; and
(5) If the corporation's board of directors revoked the
withdrawal authorized by the shareholders, a statement that
revocation was permitted by action by the board of directors alone
pursuant to that authorization.
(d) Revocation of withdrawal is effective upon the effective date of the articles of revocation of withdrawal.
(e) When the revocation of withdrawal is effective, it relates
back to and takes effect as of the effective date of the withdrawal
and the corporation resumes carrying on its business as if
withdrawal had never occurred.
CHAPTER 47. REGULATION OF TRADE.
ARTICLE 9. UNIFORM LIMITED PARTNERSHIP ACT.
§47-9-1. Definitions.
As used in this article, unless the context otherwise
requires:
(1) "Certificate of limited partnership" means the certificate
referred to in section eight of this article and the certificate as
amended;
(2) "Contribution" means any cash, property, services rendered
or a promissory note or other binding obligation to contribute cash
or property or to perform services, which a partner contributes to
a limited partnership in his or her capacity as a partner;
(3) "Deliver" or "delivery" means any method of delivery used
in conventional commercial practice, including, but not limited to,
delivery by hand, mail, commercial delivery and electronic
transmission;
(4) "Electronic transmission" or "electronically transmitted"
means any process of communication not directly involving the
physical transfer of paper that is suitable for the retention, retrieval and reproduction of information by the recipient;
(5) "Event of withdrawal of a general partner" means an event
that causes a person to cease to be a general partner as provided
in section twenty-three of this article;
(6) "Foreign limited partnership" means a partnership formed
under the laws of any state other than this state and having as
partners one or more general partners and one or more limited
partners;
(7) "General partner" means a person who has been admitted to
a limited partnership as a general partner in accordance with the
partnership agreement and named in the certificate of limited
partnership as a general partner;
(8) "Limited partner" means a person who has been admitted to
a limited partnership as a limited partner in accordance with the
partnership agreement;
(9) "Limited partnership" and "domestic limited partnership"
means a partnership formed by two or more persons under the laws of
this state and having one or more general partners and one or more
limited partners;
(10) "Partner" means a limited or general partner;
(11) "Partnership agreement" means any valid agreement,
written or oral, of the partners as to the affairs of a limited
partnership and the conduct of its business;
(12) "Partnership interest" means a partner's share of the profits and losses of a limited partnership and the right to
receive distributions of partnership assets;
(13) "Person" means a natural person, partnership, limited
partnership (domestic or foreign), limited liability company,
professional limited liability company, trust, estate, association,
corporation, or any other legal or commercial entity;
(14) "Sign" or "signature" includes, but is not limited to,
any manual, facsimile, conformed or electronic signature
with means
to identify a record by a signature, mark or other symbol, with
intent to authenticate it; and
(15) "State" means a state, territory or possession of the
United States, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico.
§47-9-8. Certificate and formation of limited partnership.
(a) In order to form a limited partnership, two or more
persons must execute a certificate of limited partnership. The
certificate shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State
and set forth:
(1) The name of the limited partnership;
(2) The general character of its business;
(3) The
mailing address of the
principal office and the name
and address of the agent for service of process,
required to be
maintained by section four of this article; if any
(4) The name and the business address of each general partner;
and
(5) Any other matters the general partners determine to
include therein.
(b) A limited partnership is formed at the time of the filing
of the certificate of limited partnership in the office of the
Secretary of State or at any later time specified in the
certificate of limited partnership if, in either case, there has
been substantial compliance with the requirements of this section.
§47-9-49. Registration of foreign limited partnership.
(a) Before transacting business in this state, a foreign
limited partnership shall register with the Secretary of State. In
order to register, a foreign limited partnership shall submit to
the Secretary of State,
in duplicate an application for
registration as a foreign limited partnership, signed and sworn to
by a general partner and setting forth:
(1) The name of the foreign limited partnership
and, if
different, the name under which it proposes to register and
transact business in this state or if its name is unavailable for
use in this state, a limited partnership name that satisfies the
requirements of section two of this article, including a copy of
the resolution of its partners adopting the fictitious name;
(2) The state and date of its formation;
(3) The name and address of
any an agent for service of
process,
if any; on the foreign limited partnership whom the foreign limited partnership elects to appoint: Provided, That the
agent must be an individual resident of this state, a domestic
corporation, or a foreign corporation having a place of business in
and authorized to do business in this state;
(4) A statement that the Secretary of State is appointed the
agent of the foreign limited partnership for service of process if
no agent has been appointed under subdivision (3) of this section
or, if appointed, the agent's authority has been revoked or if the
agent cannot be found or served with the exercise of reasonable
diligence;
(5) (4) The address of the office required to be maintained in
the state of its organization by the laws of that state or, if not
so required, of the principal office of the foreign limited
partnership;
(6) (5) The name and business address of each general partner;
and
(7) (6) The address of the office at which is kept a list of
the names and addresses of the limited partners and their capital
contributions, together with an undertaking by the foreign limited
partnership to keep those records until the foreign limited
partnership's registration in this state is canceled or withdrawn.
(b) The foreign limited partnership shall deliver with the
completed application a certificate of existence, or a document of
similar import, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State or other official having custody of the partnership records in the
state or country under whose law it is organized.
§47-9-53. Foreign limited partnership -- Cancellation of
registration.
A foreign limited partnership may cancel its registration by
filing with the Secretary of State a certificate of cancellation
signed
and sworn to by a general partner. A cancellation does not
terminate the authority of the Secretary of State to accept service
of process on the foreign limited partnership with respect to
claims for relief or causes of action arising out of the
transaction of business in this state.
CHAPTER 47B. UNIFORM PARTNERSHIP ACT.
ARTICLE 3. RELATIONS OF PARTNERS TO PERSONS DEALING WITH
PARTNERSHIP.
§47B-3-3. Statement of partnership authority.
(a) A partnership may file a statement of partnership
authority, which:
(1) Must include:
(i) (A) The name of the partnership;
(ii) (B) The
street mailing address of its
chief executive
principal office and
of one of its office in this state, if there
is one;
(iii) (C) The names and mailing addresses of all of the
partners
or of an agent of process appointed and maintained by the partnership,
if any, for the purpose of subsection (b) of this
section; and
(iv) (D) The names of the partners authorized to execute an
instrument transferring real property held in the name of the
partnership; and
(2) May state the authority, or limitations on the authority,
of some or all of the partners to enter into other transactions on
behalf of the partnership and any other matter.
(b) If a statement of partnership authority names an agent,
the agent shall maintain a list of the names and mailing addresses
of all of the partners and make it available to any person on
request for good cause shown.
(c) If a filed statement of partnership authority is executed
pursuant to subsection (c), section five, article one of this
chapter and states the name of the partnership but does not contain
all of the other information required by subsection (a) of this
section, the statement nevertheless operates with respect to a
person not a partner as provided in subsections (d) and (e) of this
section.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (g) of this
section, a filed statement of partnership authority supplements the
authority of a partner to enter into transactions on behalf of the
partnership as follows:
(1) Except for transfers of real property, a grant of authority contained in a filed statement of partnership authority
is conclusive in favor of a person who gives value without
knowledge to the contrary, so long as and to the extent that a
limitation on that authority is not then contained in another filed
statement. A filed cancellation of a limitation on authority
revives the previous grant of authority.
(2) A grant of authority to transfer real property held in the
name of the partnership contained in a certified copy of a filed
statement of partnership authority recorded in the office for
recording transfers of that real property is conclusive in favor of
a person who gives value without knowledge to the contrary, so long
as and to the extent that a certified copy of a filed statement
containing a limitation on that authority is not then of record in
the office for recording transfers of that real property. The
recording in the office for recording transfers of that real
property of a certified copy of a filed cancellation of a
limitation on authority revives the previous grant of authority.
(e) A person not a partner is deemed to know of a limitation
on the authority of a partner to transfer real property held in the
name of the partnership if a certified copy of the filed statement
containing the limitation on authority is of record in the office
for recording transfers of that real property.
(f) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (d) and (e) of
this section and section four, article seven of this chapter and section five, article eight of this chapter, a person not a partner
is not deemed to know of a limitation on the authority of a partner
merely because the limitation is contained in a filed statement.
(g) Unless earlier canceled, a filed statement of partnership
authority is canceled by operation of law five years after the date
on which the statement, or the most recent amendment, was filed
with the Secretary of State.
ARTICLE 10. LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP.
§47B-10-1. Registered limited liability partnerships.
(a) To become a registered limited liability partnership, a
partnership shall deliver and file with the Secretary of State a
statement of registration stating the name of the partnership; the
address of its principal office; the address of a registered office
and the name and address of a registered agent for service of
process,
if any; a brief statement of the business in which the
partnership engages;
the name and address of each partner
authorized to execute instruments on behalf of the partnership; any
other matters that the partnership determines to include; and that
the partnership thereby registers as a registered limited liability
partnership.
(b) The registration shall be executed by one or more partners
authorized to execute a registration.
(c) The registration shall be accompanied by a fee of two
hundred fifty dollars.
(d) The Secretary of State shall register as a registered
limited liability partnership any partnership that submits a
completed registration with the required fee and deliver to the
partnership or its representative a receipt for the record and the
fees.
(e) A partnership registered under this section shall pay, in
each year following the year in which its registration is filed, on
a date specified by the Secretary of State, an annual fee of five
hundred dollars. The fee shall be accompanied by a notice, on a
form provided by the Secretary of State, of any material changes in
the information contained in the partnership's registration.
(f) Registration is effective:
(1) Immediately after the date a registration is filed; or
(2) On a date specified in the statement of registration,
which date shall not be more than sixty days after the date of
filing.
(g) Registration remains effective until:
(1) It is voluntarily withdrawn by filing with the Secretary
of State a statement of withdrawal; or
(2) Thirty days after receipt by the partnership of a notice
from the Secretary of State, which shall be sent by certified mail,
return receipt requested, that the partnership has failed to make
timely payment of the annual fee specified in subsection (e) of
this section, unless the fee is paid within a thirty-day period.
(h) The status of a partnership as a registered limited
liability partnership and the liability of the partners thereof
shall not be affected by:
(1) Errors in the information contained in a statement of
registration under subsection (a) of this section or notice under
subsection (e) of this section; or
(2) Changes after the filing of the statement of registration
or notice in the information stated in the registration or notice.
(i) The Secretary of State may provide forms for the statement
of registration under subsection (a) of this section or a notice
under subsection (e) of this section.
(j) All fees and moneys collected by the Secretary of State
pursuant to the provisions of this article shall be deposited by
the Secretary of State as follows: One-half shall be deposited in
the state general revenue fund and one-half shall be deposited in
the service fees and collections account established by section
two, article one, chapter fifty-nine of this code for the operation
of the office of the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State
shall dedicate sufficient resources from that fund or other funds
to provide the services required in this article.
§47B-10-4. Applicability of article to foreign and interstate
commerce.
(a) A registered limited liability partnership formed under
this article may conduct its business, carry on its operations and have and exercise the powers granted by this chapter in any state,
territory, district or possession of the United States or in any
foreign country.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the legal
existence of registered limited liability partnerships formed under
this article be recognized outside the boundaries of this state and
that the laws of this state governing such registered limited
liability partnerships doing business outside this state be granted
the protection of full faith and credit under the Constitution of
the United States.
(c) Notwithstanding section six, article one of this chapter,
the internal affairs of registered limited liability partnerships
formed under this article, including the liability of partners for
debts, obligations and liabilities of or chargeable to the
partnership, shall be subject to and governed by the laws of this
state.
(d) Before transacting business in this state, a foreign
registered limited liability partnership shall:
(A) (i) Comply with any statutory or administrative
registration or filing requirements governing the specific type of
business in which the partnership is engaged; and
(B) (ii) File a notice with the Secretary of State, stating
the name of the partnership
or if its name is unavailable for use
in this state, a limited partnership name that satisfies the requirements of section four-e of this article, including a copy of
the resolution of its partners adopting the fictitious name; the
address of its principal office; the address of a registered office
and the name and address of a registered agent for service of
process,
if any; a brief statement of the business in which the
partnership engages; the name and address of each partner
authorized to execute instruments on behalf of the partnership and
any other matters that the partnership determines to include; and
a brief statement of the business in which the partnership engages.
Such notice shall be effective for two years from the date of
filing, after which time the partnership shall file a new notice.
(e) The name of a foreign registered limited liability
partnership doing business in this state shall contain the words
"Registered Limited Liability Partnership" or the abbreviation
"L.L.P." or "LLP" as the last words or letters of its name.
(f) Notwithstanding section six, article one of this chapter,
the internal affairs of foreign registered limited liability
partnerships, including the liability of partners for debts,
obligations and liabilities of or chargeable to the partnership,
shall be subject to and governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in
which the foreign registered limited liability partnership is
registered.
________
(NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide consistency in
filing procedures for all organization types, cleaning up some out-dated language, as well as changing inconsistencies in
different sections of the code.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.)
§31D-15-1521 and §31E-14-1421 are new; therefore,
strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.