| Chapter 371 |
| 2017 -- S 0719 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 10/04/2017 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS -- RHODE ISLAND BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT |
| Introduced By: Senator Hanna M. Gallo |
| Date Introduced: April 06, 2017 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Sections 7-1.2-1003, 7-1.2-1008, 7-1.2-1301, 7-1.2-1309, 7-1.2-1310, 7- |
| 1.2-1413 and 7-1.2-1414 of the General Laws in Chapter 7-1.2 entitled "Rhode Island Business |
| Corporation Act" are hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 7-1.2-1003. Articles of merger. |
| (a) Upon approval, articles of merger must be executed by each corporation by its |
| authorized representative and must state: |
| (1) The plan of merger. ; and |
| (2) If, pursuant to § 7-1.2-1005, the merger is to become effective at a time subsequent to |
| the issuance of the certificate of merger by the secretary of state, the date when the merger is to |
| become effective. |
| (b) The original articles of merger must be delivered to the secretary of state. If the |
| secretary of state finds that the articles conform to law, and, unless the surviving corporation is a |
| Rhode Island corporation, that all fees and taxes have been paid, as evidenced by an appropriate |
| certificate of good standing issued by the Rhode Island division of taxation, the secretary of state |
| shall: |
| (1) Endorse on the original the word "Ffiled," and the month, day, and year of the filing; |
| (2) File the original in his or her office; and |
| (3) Issue a certificate of merger. |
| (c) The secretary of state shall deliver the certificate of merger to the surviving or new |
| corporation, as the case may be, or its representative. |
| 7-1.2-1008. Conversion of a domestic corporation to other entities. |
| (a) A corporation of this state may, upon the authorization of such conversion in |
| accordance with this section, convert to a limited-liability company, business trust or association, |
| real estate investment trust, common-law trust, or any other unincorporated business or entity, |
| including a partnership (whether general or limited, including a registered limited-liability |
| partnership), or a foreign corporation. |
| (b) The board of directors of the corporation that desires to convert under this section |
| shall adopt a resolution approving such conversion, specifying the type of entity into which the |
| corporation shall be converted and recommending the approval of such conversion by the |
| stockholders of the corporation. Such resolution shall be submitted to the stockholders of the |
| corporation at an annual or special meeting. Due notice of the time and purpose of the meeting |
| shall be mailed to each holder of stock, whether voting or nonvoting, of the corporation at the |
| address of the stockholder, as it appears on the records of the corporation, at least twenty (20) |
| days prior to the date of the meeting. At the meeting, the resolution shall be considered and a vote |
| taken for its adoption or rejection. If all outstanding shares of stock of the corporation, whether |
| voting or nonvoting, shall be voted for the adoption of the resolution, the conversion shall be |
| authorized. |
| (c) If a corporation shall convert in accordance with this section to another entity |
| organized, formed, or created under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the state of Rhode Island |
| or to a Rhode Island unincorporated "other entity", upon payment of all fees and taxes by the |
| corporation, as evidenced by an appropriate certificate of good standing issued by the Rhode |
| Island division of taxation, the corporation shall file with the secretary of state a certificate of |
| conversion to non-Rhode Island entity, executed in accordance with § 7-1.2-105, that certifies: |
| (1) The name of the corporation, and if it has been changed, the name under which it was |
| originally incorporated; |
| (2) The date of filing of its original articles of incorporation with the secretary of state; |
| (3) The name and jurisdiction of the entity and type of entity to which the corporation |
| shall be converted; |
| (4) That the conversion has been approved in accordance with the provisions of this |
| section; |
| (5) The agreement of the corporation that it may be served with process in the state of |
| Rhode Island in any action, suit, or proceeding for enforcement of any obligation of the |
| corporation arising while it was a corporation of this state, and that it irrevocably appoints the |
| secretary of state as its agent to accept service of process in any such action, suit, or proceeding; |
| and |
| (6) The address to which a copy of the process referred to in subsection (c)(5) of this |
| section shall be mailed to it by the secretary of state. In the event of such service upon the |
| secretary of state in accordance with subsection (c)(5) of this section, the secretary of state shall |
| forthwith notify such corporation that has converted out of the state of Rhode Island by letter, |
| certified mail, return receipt requested, directed to such corporation that has converted out of the |
| state of Rhode Island at the address so specified, unless such corporation shall have designated in |
| writing to the secretary of state a different address for such purpose, in which case it shall be |
| mailed to the last address designated. Such letter shall enclose a copy of the process and any other |
| papers served on the secretary of state pursuant to this subsection. It shall be the duty of the |
| plaintiff in the event of such service to serve process and any other papers in duplicate; to notify |
| the secretary of state that service is being affected pursuant to this subsection; and to pay the |
| secretary of state the sum of fifteen dollars ($15.00) for the use of the state, which sum shall be |
| taxed as part of the costs in the proceeding, if the plaintiff shall prevail therein. The secretary of |
| state shall maintain an alphabetical record of any such service setting forth the name of the |
| plaintiff and the defendant; the title, docket number and nature of the proceeding in which process |
| has been served; the fact that service has been effected pursuant to this subsection; the return date |
| thereof; and the day and hour service was made. The secretary of state shall not be required to |
| retain such information longer than five (5) years from receipt of the service of process. |
| (d) Upon the filing in the office of the secretary of state of a certificate of conversion to |
| non-Rhode Island entity in accordance with subsection (c) of this section, or upon the future |
| effective date or time of the certificate of conversion to non-Rhode Island entity and payment to |
| the secretary of state of all fees prescribed under this title, the secretary of state shall certify that |
| the corporation has filed all documents and paid all fees required by this title, and thereupon the |
| corporation shall cease to exist as a corporation of this state at the time the certificate of |
| conversion becomes effective in accordance with § 7-1.2-105. Such certificate of the secretary of |
| state shall be prima facie evidence of the conversion by such corporation out of the state of Rhode |
| Island. |
| (e) The conversion of a corporation out of the state of Rhode Island in accordance with |
| this section and the resulting cessation of its existence as a corporation of this state pursuant to a |
| certificate of conversion to non-Rhode Island entity shall not be deemed to affect any obligations |
| or liabilities of the corporation incurred prior to such conversion or the personal liability of any |
| person incurred prior to such conversion, nor shall it be deemed to affect the choice of law |
| applicable to the corporation with respect to matters arising prior to such conversion. |
| (f) Unless otherwise provided in a resolution of conversion adopted in accordance with |
| this section, the converting corporation shall not be required to wind up its affairs or pay its |
| liabilities and distribute its assets, and the conversion shall not constitute a dissolution of such |
| corporation. |
| (g) In connection with a conversion of a domestic corporation to another entity pursuant |
| to this section, shares of stock of the corporation of this state that is to be converted may be |
| exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights or securities of, or interests in, the entity to |
| which the corporation of this state is being converted or, in addition to or in lieu thereof, may be |
| exchanged for or converted into cash, property, shares of stock, rights or securities of, or interests |
| in, another domestic corporation or other entity or may be cancelled. |
| (h) When a corporation has been converted to another entity or business form pursuant to |
| this section, the other entity or business form shall, for all purposes of the laws of the state of |
| Rhode Island, be deemed to be the same entity as the corporation. When any conversion shall |
| have become effective under this section, for all purposes of the laws of the state of Rhode Island, |
| all of the rights, privileges, and powers of the corporation that has converted, and all property, |
| real, personal, and mixed, and all debts due to such corporation, as well as all other things and |
| causes of action belonging to such corporation, shall remain vested in the other entity or business |
| form to which such corporation has converted and shall be the property of such other entity or |
| business form, and the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in such corporation |
| shall not revert to such corporation or be in any way impaired by reason of this chapter; but all |
| rights of creditors and all liens upon any property of such corporation shall be preserved |
| unimpaired, and all debts, liabilities, and duties of the corporation that has converted shall remain |
| attached to the other entity or business form to which such corporation has converted, and may be |
| enforced against it to the same extent as if said debts, liabilities, and duties had originally been |
| incurred or contracted by it in its capacity as such other entity or business form. The rights, |
| privileges, powers, and interest in property of the corporation that has converted, as well as the |
| debts, liabilities, and duties of such corporation, shall not be deemed, as a consequence of the |
| conversion, to have been transferred to the other entity or business form to which such |
| corporation has converted for any purposes of the laws of the state of Rhode Island. |
| (i) No vote of stockholders of a corporation shall be necessary to authorize a conversion |
| if no shares of the stock of such corporation shall have been issued prior to the adopting by the |
| board of directors of the resolution approving the conversion. |
| 7-1.2-1301. Voluntary dissolution by incorporators. |
| (a) A corporation which that has not commenced business and which that has not issued |
| any shares, may be voluntarily dissolved by its incorporators at any time in the following manner: |
| (1) Articles of dissolution are executed by a majority of the incorporators, and verified by |
| them, and state: |
| (i) The name of the corporation.; |
| (ii) The date of issuance of its certificate of incorporation.; |
| (iii) That none of its shares have been issued.; |
| (iv) That the corporation has not commenced business.; |
| (v) That the amount, if any, actually paid in on subscriptions for its shares, less any part |
| of the amount disbursed for necessary expenses, has been returned to those entitled to it.; |
| (vi) That no debts of the corporation remain unpaid.; and |
| (vii) That a majority of the incorporators elect that the corporation be dissolved. |
| (2) The original articles of dissolution are delivered to the secretary of state. If the |
| secretary of state finds that the articles of dissolution conform to law, the secretary of state shall, |
| when all fees and taxes have been paid, as evidenced by an appropriate certificate of good |
| standing issued by the Rhode Island division of taxation: |
| (i) Endorse on the original the word "Ffiled," and the month, day, and year of the filing.; |
| (ii) File the original in his or her office.; and |
| (iii) Issue a certificate of dissolution. |
| (3) If the corporation is dissolved prior to the effective date stated on the articles of |
| incorporation, no taxes shall be due. |
| (b) The certificate of dissolution is delivered to the incorporators or their representative. |
| Upon the issuance of the certificate of dissolution by the secretary of state, the existence of the |
| corporation ceases. |
| 7-1.2-1309. Filing of articles of dissolution. |
| (a) The articles of dissolution are delivered to the secretary of state. If the secretary of |
| state finds that the articles of dissolution conform to law, the secretary of state shall, when all fees |
| and taxes have been paid, as evidenced by an appropriate certificate of good standing issued by |
| the Rhode Island division of taxation: |
| (1) Endorse on the original the word "Ffiled," and the month, day, and year of the filing.; |
| (2) File the original in his or her office.; and |
| (3) Issue a certificate of dissolution. |
| (b) The certificate of dissolution is delivered to the representative of the dissolved |
| corporation. Upon the issuance of the certificate of dissolution the existence of the corporation |
| ceases, except for the purpose of suits, other proceedings, and appropriate corporate action by |
| shareholders, directors, and officers as provided in this chapter. |
| 7-1.2-1310. Revocation of articles of incorporation. |
| (a) The articles of incorporation of a corporation may be revoked by the secretary of state |
| upon the conditions prescribed in this section when it is established that: |
| (1) The corporation procured its articles of incorporation through fraud; or |
| (2) The corporation has continued to exceed or abuse the authority conferred upon it by |
| law; or |
| (3) The corporation has failed to file its annual report within the time required by this |
| chapter, or with respect to any corporation in good corporate standing on the records of the |
| secretary of state on or after July 1, 2019, has failed to pay any required fees to the secretary of |
| state when they have become due and payable, or the secretary of state has received notice from |
| the division of taxation, in accordance with §44-11-26.1, that the corporation has failed to pay |
| any corporate taxes fees, when they have become due and payable; or |
| (4) The corporation has failed for thirty (30) days to appoint and maintain a registered |
| agent in this state as required by this chapter; or |
| (5) The corporation has failed, after change of its registered office or registered agent, to |
| file in the office of the secretary of state a statement of the change as required by this chapter; or |
| (6) The corporation has failed to file in the office of the secretary of state any amendment |
| to its articles of incorporation or any articles of merger within the time prescribed by this chapter; |
| or |
| (7) A misrepresentation has been made of any material matter in any application, report, |
| affidavit, or other document submitted by the corporation pursuant to this chapter. |
| (b) No articles of incorporation of a corporation may be revoked by the secretary of state |
| unless: |
| (1) The secretary of state gives the corporation notice thereof not less than sixty (60) days |
| notice thereof prior to such revocation by regular mail addressed to the registered office of the |
| corporation in this state on file with the secretary of state's office, which notice shall specify the |
| basis for the revocation; provided, however, that if a prior mailing addressed to the registered |
| office of the corporation in this state currently on file with the secretary of state's office has been |
| returned to the secretary of state as undeliverable by the United States Postal Service for any |
| reason, or if the revocation notice is returned as undeliverable to the secretary of state's office by |
| the United States Postal Service for any reason, the secretary of state gives notice as follows: |
| (i) To the corporation at its principal office of record as shown in its most recent annual |
| report, and no further notice is required; or |
| (ii) In the case of a domestic corporation which that has not yet filed an annual report, |
| then to any one of the incorporators listed on the articles of incorporation, and no further notice is |
| required; and |
| (2) The corporation fails prior to revocation to file the annual report or pay the fees, or |
| file the required statement of change of registered agent or registered office, or file the articles of |
| amendment or articles of merger, or correct the misrepresentation. |
| 7-1.2-1413. Filing of application for withdrawal. |
| (a) An original application for withdrawal must be delivered to the secretary of state. If |
| the secretary of state finds that the application conforms to the provisions of this chapter, the |
| secretary of state shall, when all fees and taxes have been paid, as evidenced by an appropriate |
| certificate of good standing issued by the Rhode Island division of taxation: |
| (1) Endorse on the original the word "Ffiled," and the month, day, and year of the filing.; |
| (2) File the original in his or her office.; and |
| (3) Issue a certificate of withdrawal. |
| (b) The secretary of state shall deliver the certificate of withdrawal to the corporation or |
| its representative. Upon the issuance of the certificate of withdrawal, the authority of the |
| corporation to transact business in this state ceases. |
| 7-1.2-1414. Revocation of certificate of authority. |
| (a) The certificate of authority of a foreign corporation to transact business in this state |
| may be revoked by the secretary of state under the conditions prescribed in this section when: |
| (1) The corporation fails to file its annual report within the time required by this chapter, |
| or fails with respect to any corporation in good corporate standing on the records of the secretary |
| of state on or after July 1, 2019, has failed to pay any required fees to the secretary of state when |
| they have become due and payable, or the secretary of state has received notice from the division |
| of taxation, in accordance with §44-11-26.1, that the corporation has failed to pay any corporate |
| taxes fees, when they become due and payable; or |
| (2) The corporation fails to appoint and maintain a registered agent in this state as |
| required by this chapter; or |
| (3) The corporation fails, after changing its registered office or registered agent, to file in |
| the office of the secretary of state a statement of the change as required by this chapter; or |
| (4) The corporation fails to file in the office of the secretary of state any amendment to its |
| articles of incorporation or any articles of merger within the time prescribed by this chapter; or |
| (5) A misrepresentation has been made of any material matter in any application, report, |
| affidavit, or other document submitted by the corporation pursuant to this chapter. |
| (b) No certificate of authority of a foreign corporation may be revoked by the secretary of |
| state unless the secretary of state has given the corporation notice thereof not less than sixty (60) |
| days notice thereof prior to such revocation, by regular mail addressed to the registered agent of |
| the corporation in this state on file with the secretary of state's office, which notice shall specify |
| the basis for the revocation; provided, however, that if a prior mailing addressed to the registered |
| office of the corporation in this state currently on file with the secretary of state's office has been |
| returned to the secretary of state as undeliverable by the United States Postal Service for any |
| reason, or if the revocation notice is returned as undeliverable to the secretary of state's office by |
| the United States Postal Service for any reason, the secretary of state shall give notice as follows: |
| (1) To the corporation at its principal office of record as shown in its most recent annual |
| report, and no further notice is required; or |
| (2) In the case of a foreign corporation which that has not yet filed an annual report, then |
| to the corporation at its principal office shown in its application for certificate of authority, and no |
| further notice is required. |
| SECTION 2. Sections 7-16-5.2, 7-16-8 and 7-16-41 of the General Laws in Chapter 7-16 |
| entitled "The Rhode Island Limited Liability Company Act" are hereby amended to read as |
| follows: |
| 7-16-5.2. Approval of conversion of a limited-liability company. |
| (a) A domestic limited-liability company may convert to a corporation, a business trust, |
| or association, a real estate investment trust, a common law trust, a sole proprietorship, or any |
| other unincorporated business or entity including a partnership, (whether general or limited, |
| including a registered limited-liability partnership), or a foreign limited-liability company upon |
| the authorization of the conversion in accordance with this section. |
| (b) If the limited-liability company agreement specified the manner of authorizing a |
| conversion of the limited-liability company, the conversion shall be authorized as specified in the |
| limited-liability company agreement. If the limited-liability company agreement does not specify |
| the manner of authorizing a conversion of the limited-liability company and does not prohibit a |
| conversion of the limited-liability company, the conversion shall be authorized in the same |
| manner as is specified in the limited-liability company agreement for authorizing a merger or |
| consolidation that involves the limited-liability company as a constituent party to the merger or |
| consolidation. If the limited-liability company agreement does not specify the manner of |
| authorizing a conversion of the limited-liability company or a merger or consolidate |
| consolidation that involves the limited-liability company as a constituent party and does not |
| prohibit a conversion of the limited-liability company, the conversion shall be authorized by the |
| approval by the members or, if there is more than one class or group of members, then by each |
| class or group of members, in either case, by members who own more than fifty percent (50%) of |
| the then-current percentage or other interest in the profits of the domestic limited-liability |
| company owned by all of the members or by the members in each class or group, as appropriate. |
| (c) Unless otherwise agreed, the conversion of a domestic limited-liability company to |
| another entity or business form pursuant to this section shall not require such limited-liability |
| company to wind up its affairs under § 7-16-45 or pay its liabilities and distribute its assets under |
| § 7-16-46, and the conversion shall not constitute a dissolution of such limited-liability company. |
| When a limited-liability company has converted to another entity or business form pursuant to |
| this section, for all purposes of the laws of the state of Rhode Island, the other entity or business |
| form shall be deemed to be the same entity as the converting limited-liability company and |
| conversion shall constitute a continuation of the existence of the limited-liability company in the |
| form of such other entity or business form. |
| (d) In connection with a conversion of a domestic limited-liability company to another |
| entity or business form pursuant to this section, rights or securities of or interests in the domestic |
| limited-liability company that is to be converted may be exchanged for or converted into cash, |
| property, rights, or securities of or interests in the entity or business form into which the domestic |
| limited-liability company is being converted or, in addition to or in lieu thereof, may be |
| exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights, or securities of or interests in another |
| entity or business form or may be cancelled. |
| (e) If a limited-liability company shall convert in accordance with this section to another |
| entity or business form organized, formed, or created under the laws of a jurisdiction other than |
| the state of Rhode Island or to a Rhode Island unincorporated "other entity", a certificate of |
| conversion to non-Rhode Island entity shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state. The |
| certificate of conversion to non-Rhode Island entity shall state: |
| (1) The name of the limited-liability company and, if it has been changed, the name under |
| which its certificate of formation was originally filed; |
| (2) The date of filing of its original certificate of formation with the secretary of state; |
| (3) The jurisdiction in which the entity or business form, to which the limited-liability |
| company shall be converted, is organized, formed, or created, and the name and type of such |
| entity or business form; |
| (4) The future effective date or time (which shall be a date or time certain) of the |
| conversion if it is not to be effective upon the filing of the certificate of conversion to non-Rhode |
| Island entity; |
| (5) That the conversion has been approved in accordance with this section; |
| (6) The agreement of the limited-liability company that it may be served with process in |
| the state of Rhode Island in any action, suit, or proceeding for enforcement of any obligation to |
| the limited-liability company arising while it was a limited liability company of the state of |
| Rhode Island, and that it irrevocably appoints the secretary of state as its agent to accept service |
| of process in any such action, suit, or proceeding;. |
| (f) Upon the filing in the office of the secretary of state of the certificate of conversion to |
| non-Rhode Island entity or upon the future effective date or time of the certificate of conversion |
| to non-Rhode Island entity and upon payment of all fees due by the limited-liability company, as |
| evidenced by an appropriate certificate of good standing issued by the Rhode Island division of |
| taxation, the secretary of state shall certify that the limited-liability company has filed all |
| documents and paid all fees required by this chapter, and thereupon the limited-liability company |
| shall cease to exist as a limited-liability company of the state of Rhode Island. Such certificate of |
| the secretary of state shall be prima facie evidence of the conversion by such limited-liability |
| company out of the state of Rhode Island. |
| (g) The conversion of a limited-liability company out of the state of Rhode Island in |
| accordance with this section and the resulting cessation of its existence as a limited-liability |
| company of the state of Rhode Island pursuant to a certificate of conversion to non-Rhode Island |
| entity shall not be deemed to affect any obligations or liabilities of the limited-liability company |
| incurred prior to such conversion or the personal liability of any person incurred prior to such |
| conversion, nor shall it be deemed to affect the choice of laws applicable to the limited-liability |
| company with respect to matters arising prior to such conversion. |
| (h) When a limited-liability company has been converted to another entity or business |
| form pursuant to this section, the other entity or business form shall, for all purposes of the laws |
| of the state of Rhode Island, be deemed to be the same entity as the limited-liability company. |
| When any conversion shall have become effective under this section, for all purposes of the laws |
| of the state of Rhode Island, all of the rights, privileges, and powers of the limited-liability |
| company that has converted, and all property, real, personal, and mixed, and all such debts due to |
| such limited-liability company, as well as all other things and causes of action belonging to such |
| limited-liability company, shall remain vested in the other entity or business form to which such |
| limited-liability company has converted and shall be the property of such other entity or business |
| form, and the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in such limited-liability |
| company shall not revert to such limited-liability company or be in any way impaired by reason |
| of this chapter; but all rights of creditors and all liens upon any property of such limited-liability |
| company shall be preserved unimpaired, and all debts, liabilities, and duties of the limited- |
| liability company that has converted shall remain attached to the other entity or business form to |
| which such limited-liability company has converted, and may be enforced against it to the same |
| extent as if said debts, liabilities, and duties had originally been incurred or contracted by it in its |
| capacity as such other entity or business form. The rights, privileges, powers, and interests in |
| property of the limited-liability company that has converted, as well as the debts, liabilities, and |
| duties of such limited-liability company, shall not be deemed, as a consequence of the |
| conversion, to have been transferred to the other entity or business form to which such limited- |
| liability company has converted for any purpose of the laws of the state of Rhode Island. |
| 7-16-8. Filing. |
| (a) The secretary of state may not accept for filing any document under this chapter that |
| does not conform with law. |
| (b) The secretary of state may not accept for filing any organizational document, |
| qualification, registration, change of resident agent report, service of process, notice, or other |
| document until all required filing and other fees have been paid to the secretary of state. |
| (c) The secretary of state may not accept for filing any article of dissolution, cancellation |
| of registration, or article of merger, unless the surviving entity is a domestic entity of record with |
| the office of the secretary of state, or the reinstatement of a limited liability company's certificate |
| of organization or registration until all required filing and other fees have been paid to the |
| secretary of state and all fees and taxes have been paid, as evidenced by an appropriate certificate |
| of good standing issued by the Rhode Island division of taxation. |
| (d) The secretary of state may not accept for filing the reinstatement of a limited-liability |
| company's certificate of organization or registration until all required filing and other fees have |
| been paid to the secretary of state and all fees and taxes have been paid, as evidenced by an |
| appropriate certificate of good standing issued by the division of taxation. |
| (d)(e) The secretary of state may not accept for filing a certificate of conversion to a non- |
| Rhode Island entity until all required filing and other fees have been paid to the secretary of state |
| and all fees and taxes have been paid, as evidenced by an appropriate certificate of good standing |
| issued by the Rhode Island division of taxation. |
| (e)(f) When the secretary of state accepts the articles of organization or a certificate of |
| registration or any other document filed under this chapter, the secretary of state shall: |
| (1) Endorse on the document the date and time of its acceptance for filing; |
| (2) Promptly file the document; and |
| (3) Issue a certificate or other evidence that establishes: |
| (i) That the document was accepted for filing by the secretary of state; and |
| (ii) The date and time of the acceptance for filing. |
| (f)(g) The document becomes effective upon the issuance of the certificate or other |
| evidence or at any later date that is set forth within the document, not more than thirty (30) days |
| after the filing of such document. |
| 7-16-41. Revocation of certificate of organization or certificate of registration. |
| (a) The certificate of organization or certificate of registration of a limited-liability |
| company may be revoked by the secretary of state on under the conditions prescribed in this |
| section when it is established that: |
| (1) The limited-liability company procured its articles of organization through fraud; |
| (2) The limited-liability company has continued to exceed or abuse the authority |
| conferred upon it by law; |
| (3) The limited liability company has failed to file its annual report within the time |
| required by this chapter, or with respect to any limited-liability company in good company |
| standing on the records of the secretary of state on or after July 1, 2019, has failed to pay any |
| required fees to the secretary of state when they have become due and payable, or the secretary of |
| state has received notice from the division of taxation, in accordance with §7-16-67.1, that the |
| limited-liability company has failed to pay any fees or taxes due this state, when they have |
| become due and payable; |
| (4) The limited-liability company has failed for thirty (30) days to appoint and maintain a |
| resident agent in this state as required by this chapter; |
| (5) The limited-liability company has failed, after change of its resident agent, to file in |
| the office of the secretary of state a statement of the change as required by this chapter; |
| (6) The limited-liability company has failed to file in the office of the secretary of state |
| any amendment to its articles of organization or certificate of registration or any articles of |
| dissolution, cancellation of registration, merger, or consolidation as prescribed by this chapter; or |
| (7) A misrepresentation has been made of any material matter in any application, report, |
| affidavit, or other document submitted by the limited-liability company pursuant to this chapter. |
| (b) No certificate of organization or certificate of registration of a limited-liability |
| company shall be revoked by the secretary of state unless: |
| (1) The secretary of state shall have given the limited-liability company notice thereof not |
| less than sixty (60) days prior to such revocation notice thereof by regular mail addressed to the |
| resident agent in this state on file with the secretary of state's office, which notice shall specify |
| the basis for the revocation; provided, however, that if a prior mailing addressed to the address of |
| the resident agent of the limited-liability company in this state currently on file with the secretary |
| of state's office has been returned to the secretary of state as undeliverable by the United States |
| Postal Service for any reason, or if the revocation notice is returned as undeliverable to the |
| secretary of state's office by the United States Postal Service for any reason, the secretary of state |
| shall give notice as follows: |
| (i) To the limited-liability company, domestic or foreign, at its principal office of record |
| as shown in its most recent annual report, and no further notice shall be required; or |
| (ii) In the case of a limited-liability company which that has not yet filed an annual |
| report, then to the domestic limited-liability company at the principal office in the articles of |
| organization or to the authorized person listed on the articles of organization, or to the foreign |
| limited-liability company at the office required to be maintained by the limited-liability company |
| in its state of organization, and no further notice shall be required; and |
| (2) The limited-liability company fails prior to revocation to file the annual report, pay |
| the fees or taxes, file the required statement of change of resident agent, file the articles of |
| amendment or amendment to its registration or articles of dissolution, cancellation of registration, |
| merger, or consolidation, or correct the misrepresentation. |
| SECTION 3. Chapter 7-16 of the General Laws entitled "The Rhode Island Limited- |
| Liability Company Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
| 7-16-67.1. Revocation of articles or authority to transact business for nonpayment of |
| fee. |
| (a) The tax administrator may, after July 15 of each year, make up a list of all limited- |
| liability companies which that have failed to pay the fee defined in §7-16-67 for one year after |
| the fee became due and payable, and the failure is not the subject of a pending appeal. The tax |
| administrator shall certify to the correctness of the list. Upon receipt of the certified list, the |
| secretary of state may initiate revocation proceedings as defined in §7-16-41. |
| (b) With respect to any information provided by the division of taxation to the secretary |
| of state pursuant to this chapter, the secretary of state, together with the employees or agents |
| thereof, shall be subject to all state and federal tax confidentiality laws applying to the division of |
| taxation and the officers, agents, and employees thereof, and which restrict the acquisition, use, |
| storage, dissemination, or publication of confidential taxpayer data. |
| SECTION 4. Chapter 44-11 of the General Laws entitled "Business Corporation Tax" is |
| hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
| 44-11-26.1. Revocation of articles or authority to transact business for nonpayment |
| of tax. |
| (a) The tax administrator may, after July 15 of each year, make up a list of all |
| corporations which that have failed to pay the corporate tax defined in §44-11-2 for one year |
| after the tax became due and payable, and the failure is not the subject of a pending appeal. The |
| tax administrator shall certify to the correctness of the list. Upon receipt of the certified list, the |
| secretary of state may initiate revocation proceedings as defined in §§7-1.2-1310 and 7-1.2-1414. |
| (b) With respect to any information provided by the division of taxation to the secretary |
| of state pursuant to this chapter, the secretary of state, together with the employees or agents |
| thereof, shall be subject to all state and federal tax confidentiality laws applying to the division of |
| taxation and the officers, agents, and employees thereof, and which restrict the acquisition, use, |
| storage, dissemination, or publication of confidential taxpayer data. |
| SECTION 5. The amendments to §§7-1.2-1310, 7- 1.2-1414 and 7-16-41, Section 3 and |
| Section 4 of this act shall take effect on July 1, 2019. The amendments to §§7-1.2-1003, 7-1.2- |
| 1008, 7-1.2-1301, 7-1.2-1309, 7-1.2-1413, 7-16-5.2 and 7-16-8 shall take effect on July 1, 2020. |
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| LC002225/SUB A/2 |
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