BILL REQ. #:  H-4496.2 

Read first time 01/21/10.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     AN ACT Relating to dissolving the assets and affairs of a nonprofit corporation; amending RCW 24.03.265, 24.03.270, and 24.03.290; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 24.03.265 and 1986 c 240 s 39 are each amended to read as follows:
     Superior courts shall have full power to ((liquidate)) dissolve the assets and affairs of a corporation:
     (1) In an action by a member, director, or the attorney general when it is made to appear:
     (a) That the directors are deadlocked in the management of the corporate affairs and that irreparable injury to the corporation is being suffered or is threatened by reason thereof, and either that the members are unable to break the deadlock or there are no members having voting rights; or
     (b) That the acts of the directors or those in control of the corporation are illegal, oppressive or fraudulent; or
     (c) That the corporate assets are being misapplied or wasted; or
     (d) That the corporation is unable to carry out its purposes.
     (2) In an action by a creditor:
     (a) When the claim of the creditor has been reduced to judgment and an execution thereon has been returned unsatisfied and it is established that the corporation is insolvent; or
     (b) When the corporation has admitted in writing that the claim of the creditor is due and owing and it is established that the corporation is insolvent.
     (3) Upon application by a corporation to have its dissolution continued under the supervision of the court.
     (4) When an action has been filed by the attorney general to dissolve a corporation under the provisions of this chapter and it is established that liquidation of its affairs should precede the entry of a decree of dissolution.
     Proceedings under subsections (1), (2), or (3) of this section shall be brought in the county in which the registered office or the principal office of the corporation is situated.
     It shall not be necessary to make directors or members parties to any such action or proceedings unless relief is sought against them personally.

Sec. 2   RCW 24.03.270 and 1967 c 235 s 55 are each amended to read as follows:
     In proceedings to ((liquidate)) dissolve the assets and affairs of a corporation the court shall have the power to issue injunctions, to appoint a receiver or receivers pendente lite, with such powers and duties as the court, from time to time, may direct, and to take such other proceedings as may be requisite to preserve the corporate assets wherever situated, and carry on the affairs of the corporation until a full hearing can be had.
     After a hearing had upon such notice as the court may direct to be given to all parties to the proceedings and to any other parties in interest designated by the court, the court may appoint a liquidating receiver or receivers with authority to collect the assets of the corporation, or, with or without ordering dissolution, may make such other orders and decrees and issues such injunctions in the case as justice and equity require. Such liquidating receiver or receivers shall have authority, subject to the order of the court, to sell, convey and dispose of all or any part of the assets of the corporation wherever situated, either at public or private sale. The order appointing such liquidating receiver or receivers shall state their powers and duties. Such powers and duties may be increased or diminished at any time during the proceedings.
     The assets of the corporation or the proceeds resulting from the sale, conveyance, or other disposition thereof shall be applied and distributed as follows:
     (1) All costs and expenses of the court proceedings and all liabilities and obligations of the corporation shall be paid, satisfied and discharged, or adequate provision shall be made therefor;
     (2) Assets held by the corporation upon condition requiring return, transfer or conveyance, which condition occurs by reason of the dissolution or liquidation, shall be returned, transferred or conveyed in accordance with such requirements;
     (3) Assets received and held by the corporation subject to limitations permitting their use only for charitable, religious, eleemosynary, benevolent, educational or similar purposes, but not held upon a condition requiring return, transfer or conveyance by reason of the dissolution or liquidation, shall be transferred or conveyed to one or more domestic or foreign corporations, societies or organizations engaged in activities substantially similar to those of the dissolving or liquidating corporation as the court may direct;
     (4) Other assets, if any, shall be distributed in accordance with the provisions of the articles of incorporation or the bylaws to the extent that the articles of incorporation or bylaws determine the distributive rights of members, or any class or classes of members, or provide for distribution to others;
     (5) Any remaining assets may be distributed to such persons, societies, organizations or domestic or foreign corporations, whether for profit or not for profit, specified in the plan of distribution adopted as provided in this chapter, or where no plan of distribution has been adopted, as the court may direct.
     The court shall have power to allow, from time to time, as expenses of the liquidation compensation to the receiver or receivers and to attorneys in the proceeding, and to direct the payment thereof out of the assets of the corporation or the proceeds of any sale or disposition of such assets.
     A receiver of a corporation appointed under the provisions of this section shall have authority to sue and defend in all courts in his own name as receiver of such corporation. The court appointing such receiver shall have exclusive jurisdiction of the corporation and its property, wherever situated.

Sec. 3   RCW 24.03.290 and 1967 c 235 s 59 are each amended to read as follows:
     In proceedings to ((liquidate)) dissolve the assets and affairs of a corporation, when the costs and expenses of such proceedings and all debts, obligations, and liabilities of the corporation shall have been paid and discharged and all of its remaining property and assets distributed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, or in case its property and assets are not sufficient to satisfy and discharge such costs, expenses, debts, and obligations, and all the property and assets have been applied so far as they will go to their payment, the court shall enter a decree dissolving the corporation, whereupon the existence of the corporation shall cease.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.