BILL NUMBER: SB 119 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 102
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE JULY 21, 2005
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR JULY 21, 2005
PASSED THE SENATE JULY 7, 2005
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY JULY 5, 2005
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 13, 2005
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 31, 2005
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 5, 2005
AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 17, 2005
INTRODUCED BY Senator Ackerman
JANUARY 27, 2005
An act to amend Sections 5211, 7211, 9211, and 12351 of, and to
amend, repeal, and add Section 307 of, the Corporations Code,
relating to corporations.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 119, Ackerman Corporations: board meetings.
Existing law provides that an action required or permitted to be
taken by the board of a corporation may be taken without a meeting if
all members of the board consent in writing to that action.
This bill would generally provide until January 1, 2011, that "all
members of the board" includes an "interested director" or a "common
director" who abstains in writing from providing consent if
specified disclosures have been made to noninterested or noncommon
directors, the disclosures are included in the written consent, and
the noninterested or noncommon directors approve the action by a
specified vote.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 307 of the Corporations Code is amended to
read:
307. (a) Unless otherwise provided in the articles or, subject to
paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 204, in the bylaws, all
of the following apply:
(1) Meetings of the board may be called by the chair of the board
or the president or any vice president or the secretary or any two
directors.
(2) Regular meetings of the board may be held without notice if
the time and place of the meetings are fixed by the bylaws or the
board. Special meetings of the board shall be held upon four days'
notice by mail or 48 hours' notice delivered personally or by
telephone, including a voice messaging system or by electronic
transmission by the corporation (Section 20). The articles or bylaws
may not dispense with notice of a special meeting. A notice, or
waiver of notice, need not specify the purpose of any regular or
special meeting of the board.
(3) Notice of a meeting need not be given to a director who
provides a waiver of notice or a consent to holding the meeting or an
approval of the minutes thereof in writing, whether before or after
the meeting, or who attends the meeting without protesting, prior
thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to that director.
These waivers, consents and approvals shall be filed with the
corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.
(4) A majority of the directors present, whether or not a quorum
is present, may adjourn any meeting to another time and place. If the
meeting is adjourned for more than 24 hours, notice of an
adjournment to another time or place shall be given prior to the time
of the adjourned meeting to the directors who were not present at
the time of the adjournment.
(5) Meetings of the board may be held at a place within or without
the state that has been designated in the notice of the meeting or,
if not stated in the notice or there is no notice, designated in the
bylaws or by resolution of the board.
(6) Members of the board may participate in a meeting through use
of conference telephone, electronic video screen communication, or
electronic transmission by and to the corporation (Sections 20 and
21). Participation in a meeting through use of conference telephone
or electronic video screen communication pursuant to this subdivision
constitutes presence in person at that meeting as long as all
members participating in the meeting are able to hear one another.
Participation in a meeting through electronic transmission by and to
the corporation (other than conference telephone and electronic video
screen communication), pursuant to this subdivision constitutes
presence in person at that meeting if both of the following apply:
(A) Each member participating in the meeting can communicate with
all of the other members concurrently.
(B) Each member is provided the means of participating in all
matters before the board, including, without limitation, the capacity
to propose, or to interpose an objection to, a specific action to be
taken by the corporation.
(7) A majority of the authorized number of directors constitutes a
quorum of the board for the transaction of business. The articles or
bylaws may not provide that a quorum shall be less than one-third
the authorized number of directors or less than two, whichever is
larger, unless the authorized number of directors is one, in which
case one director constitutes a quorum.
(8) An act or decision done or made by a majority of the directors
present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present is the
act of the board, subject to the provisions of Section 310 and
subdivision (e) of Section 317. The articles or bylaws may not
provide that a lesser vote than a majority of the directors present
at a meeting is the act of the board. A meeting at which a quorum is
initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding
the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by at
least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting.
(b) An action required or permitted to be taken by the board may
be taken without a meeting, if all members of the board shall
individually or collectively consent in writing to that action and if
the number of members of the board serving at the time constitutes a
quorum. The written consent or consents shall be filed with the
minutes of the proceedings of the board. For purposes of this
subdivision only, "all members of the board" shall include an
"interested director" as described in subdivision (a) of Section 310
or a "common director" as described in subdivision (b) of Section 310
who abstains in writing from providing consent, where the
disclosures required by Section 310 have been made to the
noninterested or noncommon directors, as applicable, prior to their
execution of the written consent or consents, the specified
disclosures are conspicuously included in the written consent or
consents executed by the noninterested or noncommon directors, and
the noninterested or noncommon directors, as applicable, approve the
action by a vote that is sufficient without counting the votes of the
interested or common directors. If written consent is provided by
the directors in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence
and the disclosures made regarding the action that is the subject of
the consent do not comply with the requirements of Section 310, the
action that is the subject of the consent shall be deemed approved,
but in any suit brought to challenge the action, the party asserting
the validity of the action shall have the burden of proof in
establishing that the action was just and reasonable to the
corporation at the time it was approved.
(c) This section applies also to committees of the board and
incorporators and action by those committees and incorporators,
mutatis mutandis.
(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2011, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2011, deletes or extends
that date.
SEC. 2. Section 307 is added to the Corporations Code, to read:
307. (a) Unless otherwise provided in the articles or, subject to
paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 204, in the bylaws, all
of the following apply:
(1) Meetings of the board may be called by the chair of the board
or the president or any vice president or the secretary or any two
directors.
(2) Regular meetings of the board may be held without notice if
the time and place of the meetings are fixed by the bylaws or the
board. Special meetings of the board shall be held upon four days'
notice by mail or 48 hours' notice delivered personally or by
telephone, including a voice messaging system or by electronic
transmission by the corporation (Section 20). The articles or bylaws
may not dispense with notice of a special meeting. A notice, or
waiver of notice, need not specify the purpose of any regular or
special meeting of the board.
(3) Notice of a meeting need not be given to a director who
provides a waiver of notice or a consent to holding the meeting or an
approval of the minutes thereof in writing, whether before or after
the meeting, or who attends the meeting without protesting, prior
thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to that director.
These waivers, consents and approvals shall be filed with the
corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.
(4) A majority of the directors present, whether or not a quorum
is present, may adjourn any meeting to another time and place. If the
meeting is adjourned for more than 24 hours, notice of an
adjournment to another time or place shall be given prior to the time
of the adjourned meeting to the directors who were not present at
the time of the adjournment.
(5) Meetings of the board may be held at a place within or without
the state that has been designated in the notice of the meeting or,
if not stated in the notice or there is no notice, designated in the
bylaws or by resolution of the board.
(6) Members of the board may participate in a meeting through use
of conference telephone, electronic video screen communication, or
electronic transmission by and to the corporation (Sections 20 and
21). Participation in a meeting through use of conference telephone
or electronic video screen communication pursuant to this subdivision
constitutes presence in person at that meeting as long as all
members participating in the meeting are able to hear one another.
Participation in a meeting through electronic transmission by and to
the corporation (other than conference telephone and electronic video
screen communication), pursuant to this subdivision constitutes
presence in person at that meeting if both of the following apply:
(A) Each member participating in the meeting can communicate with
all of the other members concurrently.
(B) Each member is provided the means of participating in all
matters before the board, including, without limitation, the capacity
to propose, or to interpose an objection to, a specific action to be
taken by the corporation.
(7) A majority of the authorized number of directors constitutes a
quorum of the board for the transaction of business. The articles or
bylaws may not provide that a quorum shall be less than one-third
the authorized number of directors or less than two, whichever is
larger, unless the authorized number of directors is one, in which
case one director constitutes a quorum.
(8) An act or decision done or made by a majority of the directors
present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present is the
act of the board, subject to the provisions of Section 310 and
subdivision (e) of Section 317. The articles or bylaws may not
provide that a lesser vote than a majority of the directors present
at a meeting is the act of the board. A meeting at which a quorum is
initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding
the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by at
least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting.
(b) An action required or permitted to be taken by the board may
be taken without a meeting, if all members of the board shall
individually or collectively consent in writing to that action. The
written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the
proceedings of the board. The action by written consent shall have
the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the directors.
(c) This section applies also to committees of the board and
incorporators and action by those committees and incorporators,
mutatis mutandis.
(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2011.
SEC. 3. Section 5211 of the Corporations Code is amended to read:
5211. (a) Unless otherwise provided in the articles or in the
bylaws, all of the following apply:
(1) Meetings of the board may be called by the chair of the board
or the president or any vice president or the secretary or any two
directors.
(2) Regular meetings of the board may be held without notice if
the time and place of the meetings are fixed by the bylaws or the
board. Special meetings of the board shall be held upon four days'
notice by first-class mail or 48 hours' notice delivered personally
or by telephone, including a voice messaging system or by electronic
transmission by the corporation (Section 20). The articles or bylaws
may not dispense with notice of a special meeting. A notice, or
waiver of notice, need not specify the purpose of any regular or
special meeting of the board.
(3) Notice of a meeting need not be given to a director who
provides a waiver of notice or consent to holding the meeting or an
approval of the minutes thereof in writing, whether before or after
the meeting, or who attends the meeting without protesting, prior
thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to that director.
These waivers, consents and approvals shall be filed with the
corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meetings.
(4) A majority of the directors present, whether or not a quorum
is present, may adjourn any meeting to another time and place. If the
meeting is adjourned for more than 24 hours, notice of an
adjournment to another time or place shall be given prior to the time
of the adjourned meeting to the directors who were not present at
the time of the adjournment.
(5) Meetings of the board may be held at a place within or without
the state that has been designated in the notice of the meeting or,
if not stated in the notice or there is no notice, designated in the
bylaws or by resolution of the board.
(6) Members of the board may participate in a meeting through use
of conference telephone, electronic video screen communication or
electronic transmission by and to the corporation (Sections 20 and
21). Participation in a meeting through use of conference telephone
or electronic video screen communication pursuant to this subdivision
constitutes presence in person at that meeting as long as all
members participating in the meeting are able to hear one another.
Participation in a meeting through use of electronic transmission by
and to the corporation, other than conference telephone and
electronic video screen communication, pursuant to this subdivision
constitutes presence in person at that meeting if both of the
following apply:
(A) Each member participating in the meeting can communicate with
all of the other members concurrently.
(B) Each member is provided the means of participating in all
matters before the board, including, without limitation, the capacity
to propose, or to interpose an objection to, a specific action to be
taken by the corporation.
(7) A majority of the number of directors authorized in the
articles or bylaws constitutes a quorum of the board for the
transaction of business. The articles or bylaws may not provide that
a quorum shall be less than one-fifth the number of directors
authorized in the articles or bylaws, or less than two, whichever is
larger, unless the number of directors authorized in the articles or
bylaws is one, in which case one director constitutes a quorum.
(8) Subject to the provisions of Sections 5212, 5233, 5234, 5235,
and subdivision (e) of Section 5238, an act or decision done or made
by a majority of the directors present at a meeting duly held at
which a quorum is present is the act of the board. The articles or
bylaws may not provide that a lesser vote than a majority of the
directors present at a meeting is the act of the board. A meeting at
which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business
notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is
approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that
meeting, or a greater number required by this division, the articles
or bylaws.
(b) An action required or permitted to be taken by the board may
be taken without a meeting, if all members of the board shall
individually or collectively consent in writing to that action. The
written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the
proceedings of the board. The action by written consent shall have
the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the directors. For
purposes of this subdivision only, "all members of the board" does
not include an "interested director" as defined in Section 5233.
(c) The provisions of this section apply also to incorporators, to
committees of the board, and to action by those incorporators or
committees mutatis mutandis.
SEC. 4. Section 7211 of the Corporations Code is amended to read:
7211. (a) Unless otherwise provided in the articles or in the
bylaws, all of the following apply:
(1) Meetings of the board may be called by the chair of the board
or the president or any vice president or the secretary or any two
directors.
(2) Regular meetings of the board may be held without notice if
the time and place of the meetings are fixed by the bylaws or the
board. Special meetings of the board shall be held upon four days'
notice by first-class mail or 48 hours' notice delivered personally
or by telephone, including a voice messaging system or by electronic
transmission by the corporation (Section 20). The articles or bylaws
may not dispense with notice of a special meeting. A notice, or
waiver of notice, need not specify the purpose of any regular or
special meeting of the board.
(3) Notice of a meeting need not be given to a director who
provided a waiver of notice or consent to holding the meeting or an
approval of the minutes thereof in writing, whether before or after
the meeting, or who attends the meeting without protesting, prior
thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to that director.
These waivers, consents and approvals shall be filed with the
corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meetings.
(4) A majority of the directors present, whether or not a quorum
is present, may adjourn any meeting to another time and place. If the
meeting is adjourned for more than 24 hours, notice of an
adjournment to another time or place shall be given prior to the time
of the adjourned meeting to the directors who were not present at
the time of the adjournment.
(5) Meetings of the board may be held at a place within or without
the state that has been designated in the notice of the meeting or,
if not stated in the notice or if there is no notice, designated in
the bylaws or by resolution of the board.
(6) Members of the board may participate in a meeting through use
of conference telephone, electronic video screen communication, or
electronic transmission by and to the corporation (Sections 20 and
21). Participation in a meeting through use of conference telephone
or electronic video screen communication pursuant to this subdivision
constitutes presence in person at that meeting as long as all
members participating in the meeting are able to hear one another.
Participation in a meeting through use of electronic transmission by
and to the corporation, other than conference telephone and
electronic video screen communication, pursuant to this subdivision
constitutes presence in person at that meeting if both of the
following apply:
(A) Each member participating in the meeting can communicate with
all of the other members concurrently.
(B) Each member is provided the means of participating in all
matters before the board, including, without limitation, the capacity
to propose, or to interpose an objection to, a specific action to be
taken by the corporation.
(7) A majority of the number of directors authorized in the
articles or bylaws constitutes a quorum of the board for the
transaction of business. The articles or bylaws may not provide that
a quorum shall be less than one-fifth the number of directors
authorized in the articles or bylaws, or less than two, whichever is
larger, unless the number of directors authorized in the articles or
bylaws is one, in which case one director constitutes a quorum.
(8) Subject to the provisions of Sections 7212, 7233, 7234, and
subdivision (e) of Section 7237 and Section 5233, insofar as it is
made applicable pursuant to Section 7238, an act or decision done or
made by a majority of the directors present at a meeting duly held at
which a quorum is present is the act of the board. The articles or
bylaws may not provide that a lesser vote than a majority of the
directors present at a meeting is the act of the board. A meeting at
which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business
notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is
approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that
meeting, or a greater number required by this division, the articles
or bylaws.
(b) An action required or permitted to be taken by the board may
be taken without a meeting, if all members of the board shall
individually or collectively consent in writing to that action. The
written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the
proceedings of the board. The action by written consent shall have
the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the directors. For
purposes of this subdivision only, "all members of the board" does
not include an "interested director" as defined in Section 5233,
insofar as it is made applicable pursuant to Section 7238.
(c) This section applies also to incorporators, to committees of
the board, and to action by those incorporators or committees mutatis
mutandis.
SEC. 5. Section 9211 of the Corporations Code is amended to read:
9211. (a) Unless otherwise provided in the articles or in the
bylaws, all of the following apply:
(1) Meetings of the board may be called by the chair of the board
or the president or any vice president or the secretary or any two
directors.
(2) Regular meetings of the board may be held without notice if
the time and place of the meetings are fixed by the bylaws or the
board. Special meetings of the board shall be held upon four days'
notice by first-class mail or 48 hours' notice delivered personally
or by telephone, including a voice messaging system or by electronic
transmission by a corporation (Section 20). The articles or bylaws
may not dispense with notice of a special meeting. A notice, or
waiver of notice, need not specify the purpose of any regular or
special meeting of the board.
(3) Notice of a meeting need not be given to a director who
provided a waiver of notice or consent to holding the meeting or an
approval of the minutes thereof in writing, whether before or after
the meeting, or who attends the meeting without protesting, prior
thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to that director.
These waivers, consents and approvals shall be filed with the
corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meetings.
(4) A majority of the directors present, whether or not a quorum
is present, may adjourn any meeting to another time and place.
(5) Meetings of the board may be held at a place within or without
the state that has been designated in the notice of the meeting or,
if not stated in the notice or there is no notice, designated in the
bylaws or by resolution of the board.
(6) Members of the board may participate in a meeting through use
of conference telephone, electronic video screen communication, or
electronic transmission by and to the corporation. Participation in a
meeting through use of conference telephone or electronic video
screen communication pursuant to this subdivision constitutes
presence in person at that meeting as long as all members
participating in the meeting are able to hear one another.
Participation in a meeting through use of electronic transmission by
and to the corporation, other than conference telephone and
electronic video screen communication pursuant to this subdivision
constitutes presence in person at that meeting, if both of the
following apply:
(A) Each member participating in the meeting can communicate with
all of the other members concurrently.
(B) Each member is provided the means of participating in all
matters before the board, including, without limitation, the capacity
to propose, or to interpose an objection to, a specific action to be
taken by the corporation.
(7) A majority of the number of directors authorized in the
articles or bylaws constitutes a quorum of the board for the
transaction of business.
(8) An act or decision done or made by a majority of the directors
present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present is the
act of the board. The articles or bylaws may not provide that a
lesser vote than a majority of the directors present at a meeting is
the act of the board. A meeting at which a quorum is initially
present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the
withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by at least
a majority of the required quorum for that meeting, or a greater
number as is required by this division, the articles or bylaws.
(b) An action required or permitted to be taken by the board may
be taken without a meeting, if all members of the board shall
individually or collectively consent in writing to that action. The
written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the
proceedings of the board. The action by written consent shall have
the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the directors.
(c) This section applies also to incorporators, to committees of
the board, and to action by those incorporators or committees mutatis
mutandis.
SEC. 6. Section 12351 of the Corporations Code is amended to read:
12351. (a) Unless otherwise provided in the articles or in the
bylaws:
(1) Meetings of the board may be called by the chairman of the
board or the president or any vice president or the secretary or any
two directors.
(2) Regular meetings of the board may be held without notice if
the time and place of the meetings are fixed by the bylaws or the
board. Special meetings of the board shall be held upon four days'
notice by first-class mail or 48 hours' notice delivered personally
or by telephone, including a voice messaging system or by electronic
transmission by the corporation (Section 20). The articles or bylaws
may not dispense with notice of a special meeting. A notice, or
waiver of notice, need not specify the purpose of any regular or
special meeting of the board.
(3) Notice of a meeting need not be given to any director who
provides a waiver of notice or consent to holding the meeting or an
approval of the minutes thereof in writing, whether before or after
the meeting, or who attends the meeting without protesting, prior
thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to that director.
All waivers, consents and approvals shall be filed with the corporate
records or made a part of the minutes of the meetings.
(4) A majority of the directors present, whether or not a quorum
is present, may adjourn any meeting to another time and place. If the
meeting is adjourned for more than 24 hours, notice of any
adjournment to another time or place shall be given prior to the time
of the adjourned meeting to the directors who were not present at
the time of the adjournment.
(5) Meetings of the board may be held at any place within or
without the state which has been designated in the notice of the
meeting or, if not stated in the notice or if there is no notice,
designated in the bylaws or by resolution of the board.
(6) Members of the board may participate in a meeting through use
of conference telephone, electronic video screen communication, or
electronic transmission by and to the corporation (Sections 20 and
21). Participation in a
meeting through use of conference telephone or electronic video
screen communication pursuant to this subdivision constitutes
presence in person at that meeting as long as all members
participating in the meeting are able to hear one another.
Participation in a meeting through use of electronic transmission by
and to the corporation, other than conference telephone and
electronic video screen communication pursuant to this subdivision
constitutes presence in person at that meeting if both of the
following apply:
(A) Each member participating in the meeting can communicate with
all of the other members concurrently.
(B) Each member is provided the means of participating in all
matters before the board, including, without limitation, the capacity
to propose, or to interpose an objection to, a specific action to be
taken by the corporation.
(7) A majority of the number of directors authorized in the
articles or bylaws constitutes a quorum of the board for the
transaction of business. The articles or bylaws may not provide that
a quorum shall be less than one-fifth the number of directors
authorized in the articles or bylaws, or less than two, whichever is
larger.
(8) Subject to the provisions of Sections 12352, 12373, 12374 and
subdivision (e) of Section 12377, every act or decision done or made
by a majority of the directors present at a meeting duly held at
which a quorum is present is the act of the board. The articles or
bylaws may not provide that a lesser vote than a majority of the
directors present at a meeting is the act of the board. A meeting at
which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business
notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is
approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for the
meeting, or a greater number as is required by this division, the
articles or bylaws.
(b) Any action required or permitted to be taken by the board may
be taken without a meeting, if all members of the board shall
individually or collectively consent in writing to such action. Such
written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the
proceedings of the board.
The action by written consent shall have the same force and
effect as a unanimous vote of the directors.
SEC. 7. It is the intent of the Legislature that the provision of
this act that adds the language "and if the number of members of the
board serving at the time constitutes a quorum" does not constitute a
change of law but instead makes a clarification to guide directors.
It is also the intent of the Legislature that the provision of this
act that deletes the sentence "The action by written consent shall
have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the directors"
does not constitute a change of law but instead deletes superfluous
language addressed by the respective sections of law.