SB423: Bill Text

SB423,39,4 (a) The domestic corporation's corporate name or the foreign corporation's corporate name and fictitious name, if any, used in this state.

SB423,39,5 (b) Whether each of the following is true:

SB423,39,7 1. The domestic corporation is incorporated under the laws of this state, or the foreign corporation is authorized to transact business in this state.

SB423,39,10 3. The domestic corporation or foreign corporation has, during its most recently completed report year, filed with the department an annual report required by s. 181.1622.

SB423,39,11 4. The domestic corporation has not filed articles of dissolution.

SB423,39,14 5. The foreign corporation has not applied for a certificate of withdrawal under s. 181.1520 and is not the subject of a proceeding under s. 181.1531 to revoke its certificate of authority.

SB423,39,16 (c) The domestic corporation's date of incorporation and the period of its duration if less than perpetual.

SB423,39,18 (3) Other content of certificate of status. The certificate of status may include other facts of record in the department that are requested.

SB423,39,23 (4) Statement of status. Upon request, the department shall issue, by telegraph, teletype, facsimile or other form of wire or wireless communication, a statement of status, which shall contain the information required in a certificate of status under sub. (2) and may contain any other information permitted under sub. (3).

SB423,40,2 (5) Evidential effect. Subject to any qualification stated in a certificate or statement of status issued by the department, the certificate or statement is conclusive evidence that the domestic corporation or foreign corporation is in existence or is authorized to transact business in this state.

SB423,40,6 (6) Confirmation of information by telephone. Upon request by telephone or otherwise, the department shall confirm, by telephone, any of the information required in a certificate of status under sub. (2) and may confirm any other information permitted under sub. (3).

SB423,40,11 181.0129 Penalty for false document. (1) Signing false document. A person may not sign a document with intent that it be delivered to the department for filing or deliver, or cause to be delivered, a document to the department for filing, if the person knows that the document is false in any material respect at the time of its delivery.

SB423,40,13 (2) Penalty. Whoever violates this section may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 2 years or both.

SB423,40,16 181.0141 Notice. (1) Applicability. This section applies to notice that is required under this chapter and that is made subject to this section by express reference to this section.

SB423,40,18 (2) When notice must be written. (a) A person shall give notice in writing, except as provided in par. (b).

SB423,40,20 (b) A person may give oral notice if oral notice is permitted by the articles of incorporation or bylaws and not otherwise prohibited by this chapter.

SB423,41,2 (3) Method of communication. Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation or bylaws, notice may be communicated in person, by telephone, telegraph, teletype, facsimile or other form of wire or wireless communication, or by mail or private carrier, and, if these forms of personal notice are impracticable, notice may be communicated by a newspaper of general circulation in the area where published, or by radio, television or other form of public broadcast communication.

SB423,41,8 (4) Address to be used. Written notice to a domestic corporation or a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state may be addressed to its registered agent at its registered office or to the domestic corporation or foreign corporation at its principal office. With respect to a foreign corporation that has not yet filed an annual report under s. 181.1622, the address of the foreign corporation's principal office may be determined from its application for a certificate of authority.

SB423,41,10 (5) When notice effective. (a) Except as provided in par. (b) and ss. 181.0807 (2) and 181.0843 (1), written notice is effective at the earliest of the following:

SB423,41,11 1. When received.

SB423,41,13 2. Five days after its deposit in the U.S. mail, if mailed postpaid and correctly addressed.

SB423,41,16 3. On the date shown on the return receipt, if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and the receipt is signed by or on behalf of the addressee.

SB423,41,17 4. On the effective date specified in the articles of incorporation or bylaws.

SB423,41,21 (b) Written notice by a domestic corporation or foreign corporation to its member is effective when mailed and may be addressed to the member's address shown in the domestic corporation's or foreign corporation's current record of members.

SB423,41,22 (c) Oral notice is effective when communicated.

SB423,42,5 181.0160 Judicial relief. (1) When court may order meeting or ballot. If the requirements of this subsection are met, the circuit court for the county where a corporation's principal office is located, or if a corporation's principal office is not located in this state the circuit court for the county where the corporation's registered office is located, may order a corporation to hold a meeting of members, delegates or directors or may order a corporation to authorize a written ballot for obtaining the vote of members, delegates or directors. The court may enter an order under this subsection only if at least one of the following conditions is met:

SB423,42,10 (a) Upon the petition of the attorney general or a director, officer, delegate or member of the corporation, the court determines that it is impractical or impossible for the corporation to call or conduct a meeting of its members, delegates or directors, or to otherwise obtain their consent, in the manner described in this chapter or the corporation's articles of incorporation or bylaws.

SB423,42,14 (b) Upon the petition of a member or another person entitled to participate in an annual member meeting, the court determines that the annual meeting was not held within 6 months after the end of the corporation's fiscal year or 15 months after its last annual meeting.

SB423,42,17 (c) Upon the petition of a member or another person entitled to participate in a regular meeting, the court determines that the regular meeting is not held within 40 days after the date by which it was required to be held.

SB423,42,22 (d) Upon the petition of a member who signed a valid demand under s. 181.0702 for a special meeting or upon the petition of another person entitled to call a special meeting, the court determines that notice of the special meeting was not given within 30 days after the date on which the demand was delivered to a corporate officer or that the special meeting was not held in accordance with the notice.

SB423,43,3 (2) Notice. The court shall, in an order issued under this section, provide for a method of notice reasonably designed to give actual notice to all persons who would be entitled to notice of a meeting held under the articles of incorporation, the bylaws and this chapter, whether or not the method results in actual notice to all such persons or conforms to s. 181.0141. In a proceeding under this section the court may determine who the members, delegates or directors are.

SB423,43,10 (3) Voting requirements. In an order issued under this section, the court may dispense with any requirement relating to the holding of or voting at meetings or to obtaining votes, including any quorum requirement or any requirement as to the number or percentage of votes needed for approval, that would otherwise be imposed by the articles of incorporation or bylaws or this chapter. The court may fix alternate quorum or voting requirements and enter other orders necessary to accomplish the purpose of the meeting.

SB423,43,15 (4) Subject matter. (a) Whenever practical, any order issued under this section shall limit the subject matter of meetings or other forms of consent authorized to those items, including amendments to the articles of incorporation or bylaws, the resolution of which will or may enable the corporation to continue managing its affairs without further resort to this section.

SB423,43,18 (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), an order under this section may authorize the obtaining of whatever votes and approvals are necessary for dissolution, merger or the sale of assets.

SB423,43,23 (5) Effect of meeting or ballot. Any meeting or other method of obtaining the vote of members, delegates or directors conducted under an order issued under this section and that complies with all of the provisions of the order is for all purposes a valid meeting or vote and shall have the same effect as if it complied with every requirement imposed by the articles of incorporation, the bylaws and this chapter.

SB423,43,25 Subchapter II Incorporation

SB423,44,3 181.0201 Incorporators. One or more persons may act as the incorporator or incorporators of a corporation by delivering articles of incorporation to the department for filing.

SB423,44,5 181.0202 Articles of incorporation. (1) Required content. The articles of incorporation shall include all of the following information:

SB423,44,6 (a) A statement that the corporation is incorporated under this chapter.

SB423,44,7 (b) A corporate name for the corporation that satisfies s. 181.0401.

SB423,44,8 (c) The mailing address of the initial principal office of the corporation.

SB423,44,10 (d) The street address of the corporation's initial registered office and the name of its initial registered agent at that office.

SB423,44,11 (e) The name and address of each incorporator.

SB423,44,12 (f) Whether or not the corporation will have members.

SB423,44,14 (g) If the corporation is authorized to make distributions under s. 181.1302 (4), a statement to that effect.

SB423,44,16 (2) Permissible content. The articles of incorporation may set forth other information, including any of the following:

SB423,44,18 (a) The names and addresses of the natural persons who will serve as the initial directors.

SB423,44,19 (b) Provisions not inconsistent with law regarding:

SB423,44,20 1. The purpose or purposes for which the corporation is organized.

SB423,44,21 2. Managing the business and regulating the affairs of the corporation.

SB423,44,22 3. Distributing assets on dissolution.

SB423,44,24 4. Defining, limiting and regulating the powers of the corporation, its board of directors and its members.

SB423,45,2 (c) Any provision that, under this chapter, is required or permitted to be set forth in the bylaws.

SB423,45,4 (3) Powers enumerated in chapter. The articles of incorporation need not include any of the corporate powers enumerated in this chapter.

SB423,45,6 (4) Articles supersede bylaws. If a provision of the articles of incorporation is inconsistent with a bylaw, the provision of the articles of incorporation controls.

SB423,45,8 181.0203 Incorporation. (1) When corporate existence begins. The corporate existence begins when the articles of incorporation become effective.

SB423,45,12 (2) Conclusive proof of incorporation. The department's filing of the articles of incorporation or articles of domestication is conclusive proof that the corporation is incorporated under this chapter, except in a proceeding by the state to cancel or revoke the incorporation or involuntarily dissolve the corporation.

SB423,45,16 (3) Notification of reporting requirements. Upon filing articles of incorporation of a corporation, the department shall inform the corporation of the reporting requirements under s. 440.42 for charitable organizations that solicit contributions.

SB423,45,22 181.0205 Organization of corporation. (1) Organizational meeting required. (a) After incorporation, if initial directors are named in the articles of incorporation, the initial directors shall hold an organizational meeting, at the call of a majority of the directors, to complete the organization of the corporation by appointing officers, adopting bylaws and carrying on any other business brought before the meeting.

SB423,45,25 (b) After incorporation, if initial directors are not named in the articles of incorporation, the incorporator or incorporators shall hold an organizational meeting, at the call of a majority of the incorporators, to do any of the following:

SB423,46,1 1. Elect directors and complete the organization of the corporation.

SB423,46,2 2. Elect a board that will complete the organization of the corporation.

SB423,46,6 (2) Written consents. Action required or permitted by this chapter to be taken by incorporators at an organizational meeting may be taken without a meeting if the action taken is evidenced by one or more written consents describing the action taken and signed by each incorporator.

SB423,46,8 (3) Location of organizational meeting. An organizational meeting may be held in or outside of this state.

SB423,46,10 181.0206 Bylaws. (1) Initial bylaws. The incorporators, members or board of a corporation shall adopt the initial bylaws for the corporation.

SB423,46,16 (2) Subsequent adoption, amendment and repeal. After the adoption of the initial bylaws under sub. (1), bylaws may be adopted either by the members or the board, but no bylaw adopted by the members shall be amended or repealed by the directors, unless the bylaws adopted by the members shall have conferred such authority upon the directors. Any bylaw adopted by the board is subject to amendment or repeal by the members as well as by the directors.

SB423,46,19 (3) Content of bylaws. The bylaws of a corporation may contain any provision for regulating and managing the affairs of the corporation that is not inconsistent with its articles of incorporation or with the laws of this state.

SB423,46,22 181.0207 Emergency bylaws. (1) Definition. In this section, "emergency" means a catastrophic event that prevents a quorum of the corporation's directors or members from being readily assembled.

SB423,47,3 (2) Adoption of emergency bylaws. Unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise, the board of a corporation may adopt bylaws that are effective only in an emergency. Emergency bylaws are subject to amendment or repeal by the board or by the members, if any. Emergency bylaws may provide special procedures necessary for managing the corporation during the emergency, including any of the following:

SB423,47,4 (a) Procedures for calling a meeting of the board.

SB423,47,5 (b) Quorum requirements for the meeting.

SB423,47,6 (c) Designation of additional or substitute directors.

SB423,47,9 (3) Effectiveness. Provisions of the regular bylaws that are consistent with the emergency bylaws remain effective during the emergency. The emergency bylaws are not effective after the emergency ends.

SB423,47,13 (4) Action taken under emergency bylaws. Notwithstanding ss. 181.0831 and 181.0833, corporate action taken in good faith in accordance with the emergency bylaws binds the corporation and may not be used to impose liability on a corporate director, officer, member, employe or agent.

SB423,47,15 Subchapter III Purposes and powers

SB423,47,18 181.0301 Purposes. (1) Permitted purposes. A corporation incorporated under this chapter has the purpose of engaging in any lawful activity unless a more limited purpose is set forth in the articles of incorporation.

SB423,47,22 (2) Effect of other regulation. A corporation engaging in an activity that is subject to regulation under another statute of this state may incorporate under this chapter only if incorporation under this chapter is not prohibited by the other statute. The corporation shall be subject to all limitations of the other statute.

SB423,48,2 181.0302 General powers. Unless its articles of incorporation provide otherwise, a corporation has perpetual duration and succession in its corporate name and has the same powers as an individual to do all things necessary or convenient to carry out its affairs, including the power to do all of the following:

SB423,48,3 (1) Legal actions. Sue and be sued, complain and defend in its corporate name.

SB423,48,6 (2) Corporate seal. Have a corporate seal, which may be altered at will, and to use it, or a facsimile of it, by impressing or affixing it or in any other manner reproducing it.

SB423,48,9 (3) Bylaws. Make and amend bylaws not inconsistent with its articles of incorporation or with the laws of this state, for regulating and managing the affairs of the corporation.

SB423,48,12 (4) Property acquisition. Purchase, receive, lease or otherwise acquire, and own, hold, improve, use and otherwise deal with, property or any legal or equitable interest in property, wherever located.

SB423,48,14 (5) Disposition of property. Sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange and otherwise dispose of all or any part of its property.

SB423,48,18 (6) Interests in other entities. Purchase, receive, subscribe for or otherwise acquire, and own, hold, vote, use, sell, mortgage, lend, pledge or otherwise dispose of, and deal in and with, shares or other interests in, or obligations of, any other entity.

SB423,48,21 (7) Contracts and liabilities. Make contracts and guarantees; incur liabilities; borrow money; issue notes, bonds and other obligations; and secure any of its obligations by mortgage or pledge of any of its property, franchises or income.

SB423,48,23 (8) Loans. Lend money, invest and reinvest its funds and receive and hold property as security for repayment, except as limited by s. 181.0832.

SB423,48,25 (9) Participation in other entities. Be a promoter, partner, member, associate or manager of any entity.

SB423,49,2 (10) Exercise of powers. Conduct its activities, locate offices and exercise the powers granted by this chapter in or outside this state.

SB423,49,5 (11) Directors, officers, employes and agents. Elect or appoint directors, officers, employes and agents of the corporation, define their duties and fix their compensation.