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House Engrossed |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-first Legislature First Regular Session 2013
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HOUSE BILL 2276 |
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AN ACT
amending section 10‑122, Arizona Revised Statutes; amending title 10, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding chapter 22; relating to benefit corporations.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Section 10-122, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
10-122. Filing, service and copying fees; expedited report filing and access; same day and next day services; posted wait times; advance monies; definition
A. The commission shall collect and deposit, pursuant to sections 35‑146 and 35‑147, the following nonrefundable fees when the documents described in this subsection are delivered to the commission:
Document Fee
1. Articles of incorporation $50
2. Application for use of indistinguishable name 10
3. Application for reserved name 10
4. Notice of transfer of reserved name 10
5. Application for registered name 10
6. Application for renewal of registered name 10
7. Agent's statement of resignation 10
8. Amendment of articles of incorporation 25
9. Restatement of articles of incorporation with
amendment of articles 25
10. Articles of merger or share exchange 100
11. Articles of dissolution 25
12. Articles of domestication 100
13. Articles of revocation of dissolution 25
14. Application for reinstatement following
administrative dissolution, in addition
to other fees and penalties due 100
15. Application for authority 150
16. Application for withdrawal 25
17. Annual report 45
18. Articles of correction 25
19. Application for certificate of good standing 10
20. Any other document required or permitted
to be filed by chapters 1 through 17
of this title 25
B. The commission shall collect a nonrefundable fee of twenty‑five dollars each time process is served on it under chapters 1 through 17 of this title. The party to a proceeding causing service of process is entitled to recover this fee as costs if the party prevails in the proceeding.
C. The commission shall charge and collect a reasonable fee for copying documents on request, provided the fee does not exceed the cost of providing the service as determined by the commission. The commission shall also charge a reasonable fee for certifying the copy of a filed document, provided the fee does not exceed the cost of providing the service as determined by the commission.
D. A penalty of one hundred dollars payable in addition to other fees accrues and is payable if a foreign corporation fails to file an amendment, restated articles that include an amendment, or articles of merger within sixty days of the time of filing in the jurisdiction in which the corporation is domiciled. The penalty collected pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited, pursuant to sections 35‑146 and 35‑147, in the state general fund.
E. One‑third of the fees for the annual report of domestic and foreign corporations paid pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 17 of this section shall be deposited in the Arizona arts trust fund established by section 41‑983.01 and two-thirds of these fees shall be deposited, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, in the public access fund established by section 10‑122.01.
F. The commission shall provide for and establish an expedited service for the filing of all documents and services provided pursuant to this title as follows:
1. The expedited filing shall be a priority service to be completed as soon as possible after the documents are delivered to the commission.
2. In addition to any other fees required by this section or any other law, the commission shall charge a nonrefundable fee for expedited services, including those requested by fax. The fee shall be determined by a supermajority vote of the commissioners.
3. The commission may provide for and establish same day and next day services for the filing of any documents and services provided pursuant to this title as follows:
(a) The same day and next day services shall not be offered unless all expedited services filed pursuant to this title are processed within a maximum of five business days and all other documents and services filed pursuant to this title are processed within a maximum of thirty business days.
(b) The commission shall suspend same day or next day service if the commission determines that it does not have the necessary resources to perform the service within the established time period.
(c) In addition to any other fees required by this section or any other law, the commissioners may charge a nonrefundable fee for the same day or next day service or both. The fee shall be determined by a supermajority vote of the commissioners.
4. The commission shall publicly post the current wait times for processing regular, expedited and same day and next day services.
G. The commission may charge persons who access the commission's data processing system that is maintained pursuant to section 10‑122.01 from remote locations and persons requesting special computer generated printouts, reports and tapes a reasonable fee that does not exceed the cost of the time, equipment and personnel necessary to provide this service or product as determined by the commission.
H. Except as provided in section 10‑122.01, subsection B, paragraph 3, in addition to any fee charged pursuant to this section, the commission may charge and collect the following nonrefundable fees to help defray the cost of the improved data processing system that is maintained pursuant to section 10‑122.01:
1. Filing articles of incorporation of a domestic corporation, ten dollars.
2. Filing an application of a foreign corporation for authority to transact business in this state, twenty‑five dollars.
I. All monies received pursuant to subsections F, G and H of this section shall be deposited, pursuant to sections 35‑146 and 35‑147, in the public access fund established by section 10‑122.01.
J. Fees charged pursuant to this section are exempt from section 39‑121.03, subsection A, paragraph 3.
K. Any person may advance monies to the commission to pay fees required pursuant to this section for future filings and services. All monies received pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited, pursuant to sections 35‑146 and 35‑147, in the money on deposit account in the public access fund established by section 10‑122.01.
L. For the purposes of this section, "supermajority" means an affirmative vote of at least four commissioners.
M. In addition to any other fees required by this section or any other law, the commission may provide for and establish a fee for the filing of an annual benefit report delivered to the commission for filing pursuant to section 10‑2442. The fee shall be determined by a majority vote of the commissioners.
Sec. 2. Title 10, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding chapter 22, to read:
CHAPTER 22
BENEFIT CORPORATIONS
ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
10-2401. Application and effect of chapter
A. This chapter is applicable to all benefit corporations.
B. The existence of a provision of this chapter does not of itself create an implication that a contrary or different rule of law is applicable to a business corporation that is not a benefit corporation. This chapter does not affect a statute or rule of law that is applicable to a business corporation that is not a benefit corporation.
C. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 of this title are generally applicable to all benefit corporations. The specific provisions of this chapter control over the general provisions of chapters 1 through 17 of this title.
D. A benefit corporation may be subject simultaneously to this chapter and chapter 18 or 20 of this title. In that event, the provisions of this chapter control over chapter 18 or 20.
E. A provision of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of a benefit corporation may not limit, be inconsistent with or supersede a provision of this chapter.
10-2402. Definitions
In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Benefit corporation" means a corporation that both:
(a) Has elected to become subject to this chapter.
(b) The status of which as a benefit corporation has not been terminated.
2. "Benefit director" means either:
(a) The director designated as the benefit director of a benefit corporation under section 10-2432.
(b) A person with one or more of the powers, duties or rights of a benefit director to the extent provided in the bylaws under section 10-2432, subsection F.
3. "Benefit enforcement proceeding" means any claim or action for either of the following:
(a) The failure of a benefit corporation to pursue or create general public benefit or a specific public benefit purpose set forth in its articles.
(b) A violation of any obligation, duty or standard of conduct under this chapter.
4. "Benefit officer" means the individual designated as the benefit officer of a benefit corporation under section 10-2434.
5. "General public benefit" means a material positive impact on society and the environment, taken as a whole, assessed against a third-party standard, from the business and operations of a benefit corporation.
6. "Independent" means having no material relationship with a benefit corporation or a subsidiary of the benefit corporation. A material relationship between an individual and a benefit corporation or any of its subsidiaries is conclusively presumed to exist if any of the following applies:
(a) The individual is, or has been within the last three years, an employee other than a benefit officer of the benefit corporation or a subsidiary.
(b) An immediate family member of the individual is, or has been within the last three years, an executive officer other than a benefit officer of the benefit corporation or a subsidiary.
(c) There is beneficial or record ownership of five per cent or more of the outstanding shares of the benefit corporation, calculated as if all outstanding rights to acquire equity interests in the benefit corporation had been exercised, by either of the following:
(i) The individual.
(ii) An entity Of which the individual is a director, an officer or a manager or in which the individual owns beneficially or of record five per cent or more of the outstanding equity interests, calculated as if all outstanding rights to acquire equity interests in the entity had been exercised.
7. "Minimum status vote" means:
(a) In the case of a business corporation, in addition to any other required approval or vote, the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(i) The shareholders of every class or series are entitled to vote as a separate voting group on the corporate action regardless of a limitation stated in the articles of incorporation or bylaws on the voting rights of any class or series.
(ii) The corporate action is approved by vote of the shareholders of each class or series entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes that all shareholders of the class or series are entitled to cast on the action.
(b) In the case of a domestic entity other than a business corporation, in addition to any other required approval, vote or consent, the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(i) The holders of every class or series of equity interest in the entity that are entitled to receive a distribution of any kind from the entity are entitled to vote on or consent to the action regardless of any otherwise applicable limitation on the voting or consent rights of any class or series.
(ii) The action is approved by vote or consent of the holders described in item (i) of this subdivision entitled to cast at least two‑thirds of the votes or consents that all of those holders are entitled to cast on the action.
8. "Publicly traded corporation" means a business corporation that has shares listed on a national securities exchange or traded in a market maintained by one or more members of a national securities association.
9. "Specific public benefit" includes:
(a) Providing low-income or underserved individuals or communities with beneficial products or services.
(b) Promoting economic opportunity for individuals or communities beyond the creation of jobs in the normal course of business.
(c) Protecting or restoring the environment.
(d) Improving human health.
(e) Promoting the arts, sciences or advancement of knowledge.
(f) Increasing the flow of capital to entities with a purpose to benefit society or the environment.
(g) Conferring any other particular benefit on society or the environment.
10. "Subsidiary" means, in relation to a person, an entity in which the person owns beneficially or of record fifty per cent or more of the outstanding equity interests.
11. "Third-party standard" means a recognized standard for defining, reporting and assessing corporate social and environmental performance that is:
(a) Comprehensive because it assesses the effect of a business and its operations on the interests listed in section 10-2431, subsection A, paragraph 1.
(b) Developed by an entity that is not controlled by the benefit corporation.
(c) Credible because it is developed by an entity that both:
(i) Has access to necessary expertise to assess overall corporate social and environmental performance.
(ii) Uses a balanced multistakeholder approach to develop the standard, including a reasonable public comment period.
(d) Transparent because the following information is publicly available About the standard:
(i) The criteria considered when measuring the overall social and environmental performance of a business.
(ii) The relative weightings, if any, of those criteria.
(e) Transparent because the following information is publicly available About the development and revision of the standard:
(i) The identity of the directors, officers, material owners and governing body of the entity that developed and controls revisions to the standard.
(ii) The process by which revisions to the standard and changes to the membership of the governing body are made.
(iii) An accounting of the revenue and sources of financial support for the entity, with sufficient detail to disclose any relationships that could reasonably be considered to present a potential conflict of interest.
10-2403. Incorporation of benefit corporation
A benefit corporation shall be incorporated in accordance with chapter 2, article 1 of this title, except that its articles of incorporation must also state that it is a benefit corporation.
10-2404. Election of benefit corporation status
A. An existing business corporation may become a benefit corporation under this chapter by amending its articles of incorporation so that they contain, in addition to the requirements of section 10-202, a statement that the corporation is a benefit corporation. In order to be effective, the amendment must be adopted by at least the supermajority status vote.
B. If an entity that is not a benefit corporation is a party to a merger or the acquired entity in a share exchange, and the surviving or acquired entity in the merger or share exchange is to be a benefit corporation, the plan of merger or share exchange must be adopted by at least the supermajority status vote.
10-2405. Termination of benefit corporation status
A. A benefit corporation may terminate its status as a benefit corporation and cease to be subject to this chapter by amending its articles of incorporation to delete the provision required by sections 10-2403 or 10‑2404 to be stated in the articles of a benefit corporation. In order to be effective, the amendment must be adopted by at least the minimum status vote.
B. If a plan of merger or share exchange would have the effect of terminating the status of a business corporation as a benefit corporation, the plan must be adopted by at least the minimum status vote in order to be effective. Any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of a benefit corporation, unless the transaction is in the usual and regular course of business, shall not be effective unless the transaction is approved by at least the minimum status vote.
ARTICLE 2. CORPORATE PURPOSES
10-2421. Corporate purposes
A. A benefit corporation shall have a purpose of creating general public benefit. This purpose is in addition to its purpose under section 10‑301.
B. The articles of incorporation of a benefit corporation may identify one or more specific public benefits that it is the purpose of the benefit corporation to create in addition to its purposes under section 10-301 and subsection A of this section. The identification of a specific public benefit under this subsection does not limit the obligation of a benefit corporation under subsection A of this section.
C. The creation of general public benefit and a specific public benefit under subsections A and B of this section is in the best interests of the benefit corporation.
D. A benefit corporation may amend its articles of incorporation to add, amend or delete the identification of a specific public benefit that it is the purpose of the benefit corporation to create. In order to be effective, the amendment must be adopted by at least the minimum status vote.
E. A professional corporation that is a benefit corporation does not violate section 10-2211 by having the purpose to create general public benefit or a specific public benefit.
ARTICLE 3. ACCOUNTABILITY
10-2431. Standard of conduct for directors
A. In discharging the duties of their respective positions and in considering the best interests of the benefit corporation, the board of directors, committees of the board and individual directors of a benefit corporation:
1. Shall consider the effects of any action or inaction on:
(a) The shareholders of the benefit corporation.
(b) The employees and workforce of the benefit corporation, its subsidiaries and its suppliers.
(c) The interests of customers as beneficiaries of the general public benefit or specific public benefit purposes of the benefit corporation.
(d) Community and societal factors, including those of each community in which offices or facilities of the benefit corporation, its subsidiaries or its suppliers are located.
(e) The local and global environment.
(f) The short-term and long-term interests of the benefit corporation, including benefits that may accrue to the benefit corporation from its long‑term plans and the possibility that these interests may be best served by the continued independence of the benefit corporation.
(g) The ability of the benefit corporation to accomplish its general public benefit purpose and any specific public benefit purpose.
2. May consider The interests referred to in section 10-2702 and Other pertinent factors or the interests of any other group that they deem appropriate except that they do not have to give priority to the interests of a particular person or group referred to in this subsection over the interests of any other person or group unless the benefit corporation has stated in its articles of incorporation its intention to give priority to certain interests related to its accomplishment of its general public benefit purpose or of a specific public benefit purpose identified in its articles.
B. The consideration of interests and factors in the manner required by subsection A of this section does not constitute a violation of section 10-830.
C. Except as provided in the articles of incorporation or bylaws, a director is not personally liable for monetary damages for:
1. Any action or inaction in the course of performing the duties of a director under subsection A of this section if the director performed the duties of office in compliance with section 10-830 and this section.
2. Failure of the benefit corporation to pursue or create general public benefit or a specific public benefit.
D. A director does not have a duty to a person that is a beneficiary of the general public benefit purpose or a specific public benefit purpose of a benefit corporation arising from the status of the person as a beneficiary.
10-2432. Benefit director
A. The board of directors of a benefit corporation that is a publicly traded corporation shall, and the board of any other benefit corporation may, include a director who both:
1. Is designated the benefit director.
2. In addition to the powers, duties, rights and immunities of the other directors of the benefit corporation, has the powers, duties, rights and immunities provided in this article.
B. The benefit director shall be elected in the manner provided by chapter 8 of this title. Except as provided in subsections G and H of this section, the benefit director shall be an individual who is independent. The benefit director may serve as the benefit officer at the same time as serving as the benefit director. The articles of incorporation or bylaws of a benefit corporation may prescribe additional qualifications of the benefit director that are consistent with this subsection.
C. The benefit director shall prepare, and the benefit corporation shall include in the annual benefit report to shareholders required by section 10-2441, the opinion of the benefit director on all of the following:
1. Whether the benefit corporation acted in accordance with its general public benefit purpose and any specific public benefit purpose in all material respects during the period covered by the report.
2. Whether the directors and officers complied with section 10-2431, subsection A and section 10-2433, subsection A, respectively.
3. If the benefit corporation or its directors or officers failed, in the opinion of the benefit director, to act or comply in the manner described in parAGRAPHS 1 AND 2 of this subsection, a description of the ways in which the benefit corporation or its directors or officers failed to ACT OR comply.
D. The action or inaction of an individual in the capacity of a benefit director shall constitute for all purposes an action or inaction of that individual in the capacity of a director of the benefit corporation.
E. Regardless of whether the articles of incorporation of a benefit corporation include a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors authorized by section 10-202, SUBSECTION b, PARAGRAPH 1, a benefit director is not personally liable for an act or omission in the capacity of a benefit director unless the act or omission constitutes self‑dealing, wilful misconduct or a knowing violation of law.
F. The articles of incorporation or bylaws of a benefit corporation must provide that the persons or shareholders who perform the duties of the board of directors include a person with the powers, duties, rights and immunities of a benefit director if either of the following applies:
1. aN AGREEMENT AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 10-732 provideS that the powers and duties conferred or imposed on the board of directors be exercised or performed by a person other than the directors.
2. The articles of incorporation or bylaws of a close corporation that is a benefit corporation provide that the business and affairs of the corporation be managed by or under the direction of the shareholders.
G. A person that exercises one or more of the powers, duties or rights of a benefit director under subsection F of this section:
1. Does not need to be independent of the benefit corporation.
2. Shall have the immunities of a benefit director.
3. May share the powers, duties and rights of a benefit director with one or more other persons.
4. Shall not be subject to the procedures for election or removal of directors in section 10-803 or 10-808, respectively, unless one of the following applies:
(a) The person is also a director of the benefit corporation.
(b) The articles or bylaws make the procedures applicable.
H. The benefit director of a professional corporation does not need to be independent.
I. For the purposes of this section, an individual may be independent even if the individual serves as benefit director or benefit officer.
10-2433. Standard of conduct for officers
A. Each officer of a benefit corporation shall consider the interests and factors described in section 10-2431, subsection A, in the manner provided in that subsection, if both of the following apply:
1. The officer has discretion to act with respect to a matter.
2. It reasonably appears to the officer that the matter may have a material effect on the general public benefit or specific public benefit identified in the articles of incorporation of the benefit corporation.
B. The consideration of interests and factors in the manner described in subsection A of this section does not constitute a violation of section 10-842.
C. Except as provided in the articles of incorporation or bylaws, an officer is not personally liable for monetary damages for either of the following:
1. An action or inaction as an officer in the course of performing the duties of an officer under subsection A of this section if the officer performed the duties of the position in compliance with section 10-842 and this section.
2. Failure of the benefit corporation to pursue or create general public benefit or A specific public benefit.
D. An officer does not have a duty to a person that is a beneficiary of the general public benefit purpose or the specific public benefit purpose of a benefit corporation arising from the status of the person as a beneficiary.
E. An officer who makes a business judgment in good faith fulfills the duty under this section if all of the following apply:
1. The officer is not interested in the subject of the business judgment.
2. The officer is informed with respect to the subject of the business judgment to the extent the officer reasonably believes to be appropriate under the circumstances.
3. The officer Rationally believes that the business judgment is in the best interests of the benefit corporation.
10-2434. Benefit officer
A. A benefit corporation may have an officer designated the benefit officer.
B. A benefit officer shall have both of the following:
1. The powers and duties relating to the purpose of the corporation to create the general public benefit or specific public benefit that is provided by either of the following:
(a) The bylaws.
(b) Absent controlling provisions in the bylaws, resolutions or orders of the board of directors.
2. The duty to prepare the benefit report required by section 10‑2441.
10-2435. Right of action
A. Except in a benefit enforcement proceeding, a person may not bring an action or assert a claim against a benefit corporation or its directors or officers with respect to either of the following:
1. The Failure to pursue or create general public benefit or a specific public benefit set forth in its articles of incorporation.
2. The Violation of an obligation, duty or standard of conduct under this chapter.
B. A benefit corporation is not liable for monetary damages under this chapter for any failure of the benefit corporation to pursue or create general public benefit or a specific public benefit.
C. A benefit enforcement proceeding may be commenced or maintained only by either of the following:
1. Directly by the benefit corporation.
2. Derivatively in accordance with chapter 7, article 4 of this title by any of the following:
(a) A person or group of persons that owns beneficially or of record at least two per cent of the total number of shares of all classes and series outstanding AT THE TIME OF THE ACT OR OMISSION THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE COMPLAINT.
(b) A director.
(c) A person or group of persons that owns beneficially or of record five per cent or more of the outstanding equity interests in an entity of which the benefit corporation is a subsidiary AT THE TIME OF THE ACT OR OMISSION THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE COMPLAINT.
(d) Other persons as specified in the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the benefit corporation.
D. For purposes of this section, a person is the beneficial owner of shares or equity interests if the shares or equity interests are held in a voting trust or by a nominee on behalf of the beneficial owner.
ARTICLE 4. TRANSPARENCY
10-2441. Preparation of annual benefit report
A. A benefit corporation shall prepare an annual benefit report that includes all of the following:
1. A narrative description of:
(a) The ways in which the benefit corporation pursued general public benefit during the year and the extent to which general public benefit was created.
(b) Both:
(i) The ways in which the benefit corporation pursued a specific public benefit that the articles of incorporation state is the purpose of the benefit corporation to create.
(ii) The extent to which the specific public benefit was created.
(c) Any circumstances that have hindered the benefit corporation in creating general public benefit or a specific public benefit.
(d) The process and rationale for selecting or changing the third‑party standard used to prepare the benefit report.
2. An assessment of the overall social and environmental performance of the benefit corporation against a third-party standard that is either of the following:
(a) Applied consistently with any application of that standard in prior benefit reports.
(b) Accompanied by an explanation of the reasons for either of the following:
(i) Any inconsistent application.
(ii) The change to that standard from the one used in the immediately prior report.
3. The name of the benefit director and the benefit officer, if any, and the address to which correspondence to each of them may be directed.
4. The compensation paid by the benefit corporation during the year to each director in the capacity of a director.
5. The statement of the benefit director described in section 10-2432, subsection C.
6. A statement of any connection between the organization that established the third-party standard, or its directors, its officers or any holder of five per cent or more of the governance interests in the organization and the benefit corporation or its directors, its officers or any holder of five per cent or more of the outstanding shares of the benefit corporation, including any financial or governance relationship that might materially affect the credibility of the use of the third‑party standard.
7. If the benefit corporation has dispensed with or restricted the discretion or powers of the board of directors as provided in section 10‑2432, subsection F, a description of both of the following:
(a) The persons that exercise the powers, duties and rights and who have the immunities of the board of directors.
(b) The benefit director, as required by section 10-2432, subsection F.
B. If, during the year covered by a benefit report, a benefit director resigned from or refused to stand for reelection to the position of benefit director or was removed from the position of benefit director and the benefit director furnished the benefit corporation with any written correspondence concerning the circumstances surrounding the resignation, refusal or removal, the benefit report shall include that correspondence as an exhibit.
C. Neither the benefit report nor the assessment of the performance of the benefit corporation in the benefit report required by subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section needs to be audited or certified by a third‑party standards provider.
10-2442. Availability of annual benefit report
A. A benefit corporation shall send its annual benefit report to each shareholder:
1. Within one hundred twenty days following the end of the fiscal year of the benefit corporation.
2. At the same time the benefit corporation delivers any other annual report to its shareholders.
B. A benefit corporation shall post all of its benefit reports on the public portion of its Internet website, if any, except that the compensation paid to directors and financial or proprietary information included in the benefit reports may be omitted from the benefit reports as posted.
C. If a benefit corporation does not have an internet website, the benefit corporation shall provide a copy of its most recent benefit report, without charge, to any person that requests a copy, except that the compensation paid to directors and financial or proprietary information included in the benefit report may be omitted from the copy of the benefit report provided.
D. Concurrently with the delivery of the benefit report to shareholders under subsection A of this section, the benefit corporation shall deliver a copy of the benefit report to the Arizona corporation commission for filing, except that the compensation paid to directors and financial or proprietary information included in the benefit report may be omitted from the benefit report as delivered to the Arizona corporation commission.
Sec. 3. Effective date
This act is effective from and after December 31, 2014.