HB2949 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 15869 JLS 21238 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB2949

Introduced 2/19/2021, by Rep. Bob Morgan

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

805 ILCS 5/7.05	from Ch. 32, par. 7.05
805 ILCS 5/7.15	from Ch. 32, par. 7.15
805 ILCS 5/7.30	from Ch. 32, par. 7.30

Amends the Business Corporation Act of 1983. Provides that if the board of directors is authorized to determine the place of a meeting of shareholders, the board of directors may determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication. Provides that a corporation may allow shareholders to participate in and act at any meeting of the shareholders through the use of remote connection; however, the corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide the shareholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the shareholders. Provides that the corporation may implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and entitled to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a shareholder. Makes corresponding changes. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning business.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Business Corporation Act of 1983 is amended by changing Sections 7.05, 7.15, and 7.30 as follows:

(805 ILCS 5/7.05) (from Ch. 32, par. 7.05)

Sec. 7.05. Meetings of shareholders.

(a) Meetings of shareholders may be held either within or without this State, as may be provided in the by-laws or in a resolution of the board of directors pursuant to authority granted in the by-laws. In the absence of any such provision, all meetings shall be held at the registered office of the corporation in this State. If, pursuant to the by-laws, the board of directors is authorized to determine the place of a meeting of shareholders, the board of directors may determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by subsection (c).

(b) An annual meeting of the shareholders shall be held at such time as may be provided in the by-laws or in a resolution of the board of directors pursuant to authority granted in the by-laws. Failure to hold the annual meeting at the designated time shall not work a forfeiture or dissolution of the corporation nor affect the validity of corporate action. If an annual meeting has not been held within the earlier of six months after the end of the corporation's fiscal year or fifteen months after its last annual meeting and if, after a request in writing directed to the president of the corporation, a notice of meeting is not given within 60 days of such request, then any shareholder entitled to vote at an annual meeting may apply to the circuit court of the county in which the registered office or principal place of business of the corporation is located for an order directing that the meeting be held and fixing the time and place of the meeting. The court may issue such additional orders as may be necessary or appropriate for the holding of the meeting.

(c) Unless specifically prohibited by the articles of incorporation or by-laws, a corporation may allow shareholders to participate in and act at any meeting of the shareholders through the use of a conference telephone or interactive technology, including but not limited to electronic transmission, Internet usage, or remote communication. However, the corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide the shareholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the shareholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with the proceedings. The corporation may implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and entitled to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a shareholder. , by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other.

(d) A shareholder entitled to vote at a meeting of the shareholders shall be permitted to attend the meeting at the designated place where space permits or by means of remote communication, as applicable, and subject to the corporation's by-laws and rules governing the conduct of the meeting and the power of the chairman to regulate the orderly conduct of the meeting. Participation in such meeting shall constitute attendance and presence in person at the meeting of the person or persons so participating.

(e) Special meetings of the shareholders may be called by the president, by the board of directors, by the holders of not less than one-fifth of all the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the matter for which the meeting is called or by such other officers or persons as may be provided in the articles of incorporation or the by-laws.

(Source: P.A. 94-655, eff. 1-1-06.)

(805 ILCS 5/7.15) (from Ch. 32, par. 7.15)

Sec. 7.15. Notice of shareholders' meetings. Written notice stating the place, if any, day, and hour of the meeting, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which shareholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting, or in the case of a merger, consolidation, share exchange, dissolution or sale, lease or exchange of assets not less than 20 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the president, or the secretary, or the officer or persons calling the meeting, to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the shareholder at his or her address as it appears on the records of the corporation, with postage thereon prepaid.

(Source: P.A. 83-1025.)

(805 ILCS 5/7.30) (from Ch. 32, par. 7.30)

Sec. 7.30. Voting lists. The officer or agent having charge of the transfer book for shares of a corporation shall make, within 20 days after the record date for a meeting of shareholders or 10 days before such meeting, whichever is earlier, a complete list of the shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, with the address of and the number of shares held by each, which list, for a period of 10 days prior to such meeting, shall be kept on file at the registered office of the corporation and shall be subject to inspection by any shareholder, and to copying at the shareholder's expense, at the registered office of the corporation at any time during usual business hours or on a reasonably accessible electronic network, at the corporation's election. If the corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to shareholders of the corporation. Such list shall also be produced and kept open at the time and place of the meeting, or on a reasonably accessible electronic network if the meeting will be held solely by means of remote communication, and shall be subject to the inspection of any shareholder during the whole time of the meeting. The original share ledger or transfer book, or a duplicate thereof kept in this State, shall be prima facie evidence as to who are the shareholders entitled to examine such list or share ledger or transfer book or to vote at any meeting of shareholders.

Failure to comply with the requirements of this Section shall not affect the validity of any action taken at such meeting.

An officer or agent having charge of the transfer books who shall fail to prepare the list of shareholders, or keep the same on file for a period of 10 days, or produce and keep the same open for inspection at the meeting, as provided in this Section, shall be liable to any shareholder suffering damage on account of such failure, to the extent of such damage.

(Source: P.A. 83-1025.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.