Post by Admin on Feb 18, 2015 6:44:12 GMT -5
As of 2014
CORPORATIONS NOT FOR PROFIT
617.01011 Short title.
617.0102 Reservation of power to amend or repeal.
617.01201 Filing requirements.
617.0121 Forms.
617.0122 Fees for filing documents and issuing certificates.
617.0123 Effective date of document.
617.0124 Correcting filed document.
617.0125 Filing duties of Department of State.
617.0126 Appeal from Department of State’s refusal to file document.
617.0127 Evidentiary effect of copy of filed document.
617.0128 Certificate of status.
617.01301 Powers of Department of State.
617.01011 Short title.—This act may be cited as the “Florida Not For Profit Corporation Act.”
History.—s. 1, ch. 90-179.
617.0102 Reservation of power to amend or repeal.—The Legislature has the power to amend or repeal all or part of this act at any time, and all domestic and foreign corporations subject to this act sH all be governed by the amendment or repeal.
History.—s. 2, ch. 90-179.
617.01201 Filing requirements.—
(1) A document must satisfy the requirements of this section and of any other section that adds to or varies these requirements to be entitled to filing by the Department of State.
(2) This act must require or permit filing the document in the office of the Department of State.
(3) The document must contain the information required by this act. It may contain other information as well.
(4) The document must be typewritten or printed and must be legible. If electronically transmitted, the document must be in a format that may be retrieved or reproduced in typewritten or printed form.
(5) The document must be in the English language. A corporate name need not be in English if written in English letters or Arabic or Roman numerals, and the certificate of authority required of foreign corporations need not be in English if accompanied by a reasonably authenticated English translation.
(6) The document must be executed:
(a) By a director of a domestic or foreign corporation, or by its president or by another of its officers;
(b) If directors or officers have not been selected or the corporation has not been formed, by an incorporator; or
(c) If the corporation is in the hands of a receiver, trustee, or other court-appointed fiduciary, by the fiduciary.
(7) The person executing the document sH all sign it and state beneath or opposite his or her signature his or her name and the capacity in which he or she signs. The document may, but need not, contain:
(a) The corporate seal,
(b) An attestation by the secretary or an assistant secretary,
(c) An acknowledgment, verification, or proof.
(8) If the Department of State has prescribed a mandatory form for the document under s. 617.0121, the document must be in or on the prescribed form.
(9) The document must be delivered to the department for filing. Delivery may be made by electronic transmission if and to the extent allowed by the department. If the document is filed in typewritten or printed form and not transmitted electronically, the department may require that one exact or conformed copy be delivered with the document, except as provided in s. 617.1508. The document must be accompanied by the correct filing fee and any other tax or penalty required by law.
History.—s. 3, ch. 90-179; s. 44, ch. 93-281; s. 76, ch. 97-102; s. 7, ch. 2009-205.
617.0121 Forms.—
(1) The Department of State may prescribe and furnish on request forms for:
(a) An application for certificate of status,
(b) A foreign corporation’s application for certificate of authority to conduct its affairs in the state,
(c) A foreign corporation’s application for certificate of withdrawal, and
(d) The annual report, for which the department may prescribe the use of the uniform business report, pursuant to s. 606.06.
If the Department of State so requires, the use of these forms sH all be mandatory.
(2) The Department of State may prescribe and furnish on request forms for other documents required or permitted to be filed by this act, but their use sH all not be mandatory.
History.—s. 4, ch. 90-179; s. 8, ch. 99-218.
617.0122 Fees for filing documents and issuing certificates.—The Department of State sH all collect the following fees on documents delivered to the department for filing:
(1) Articles of incorporation: $35.
(2) Application for registered name: $87.50.
(3) Application for renewal of registered name: $87.50.
(4) Corporation’s statement of change of registered agent or registered office or both if not included on the annual report: $35.
(5) Designation of and acceptance by registered agent: $35.
(6) Agent’s statement of resignation from active corporation: $87.50.
(7) Agent’s statement of resignation from inactive corporation: $35.
(8) Amendment of articles of incorporation: $35.
(9) Restatement of articles of incorporation with amendment of articles: $35.
(10) Articles of merger for each party thereto: $35.
(11) Articles of dissolution: $35.
(12) Articles of revocation of dissolution: $35.
(13) Application for reinstatement following administrative dissolution: $175.
(14) Application for certificate of authority to transact business in this state by a foreign corporation: $35.
(15) Application for amended certificate of authority: $35.
(16) Application for certificate of withdrawal by a foreign corporation: $35.
(17) Annual report: $61.25.
(18) Articles of correction: $35.
(19) Application for certificate of status: $8.75.
(20) Certified copy of document: $52.50.
(21) Serving as agent for substitute service of process: $87.50.
(22) Certificate of conversion of a limited agricultural association to a domestic corporation: $35.
(23) Any other document required or permitted to be filed by this chapter: $35.
Any citizen support organization that is required by rule of the Department of Environmental Protection to be formed as a nonprofit organization and is under contract with the department is exempt from any fees required for incorporation as a nonprofit organization, and the Secretary of State may not assess any such fees if the citizen support organization is certified by the Department of Environmental Protection to the Secretary of State as being under contract with the Department of Environmental Protection.
History.—s. 5, ch. 90-179; s. 45, ch. 93-281; ss. 25, 27, ch. 94-314; s. 469, ch. 94-356; s. 13, ch. 97-94; s. 15, ch. 98-101; s. 8, ch. 2009-205; s. 2, ch. 2012-71.
617.0123 Effective date of document.—
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and in s. 617.0124(3), a document accepted for filing is effective at the time of filing on the date it is filed, as evidenced by the Department of State’s date and time endorsement on the original document.
(2) A document may specify a delayed effective date, and if it does the document sH all become effective on the date specified. Unless otherwise permitted by this act, a delayed effective date for a document may not be later than the 90th day after the date on which it is filed.
(3) If a document is determined by the Department of State to be incomplete and inappropriate for filing, the Department of State may return the document to the person or corporation filing it, together with a brief written explanation of the reason for the refusal to file, in accordance with s. 617.0125(3). If the applicant returns the document with corrections in accordance with the rules of the department within 60 days after it was mailed to the applicant by the department, and if at the time of return the applicant so requests in writing, the filing date of the document will be the filing date that would have been applied had the original document not been deficient, except as to persons who relied on the record before correction and were adversely affected thereby.
(4) Corporate existence may predate the filing date, pursuant to s. 617.0203(1).
History.—s. 6, ch. 90-179; s. 47, ch. 93-281.
617.0124 Correcting filed document.—
(1) A domestic or foreign corporation may correct a document filed by the department within 30 days after filing if:
(a) The document contains an incorrect statement;
(b) The document was defectively executed, attested, sealed, verified, or acknowledged; or
(c) The electronic transmission of the document was defective.
(2) A document is corrected:
(a) By preparing articles of correction that:
1. Describe the document, including its filing date;
2. Specify the incorrect statement and the reason it is incorrect or the manner in which the execution was defective; and
3. Correct the incorrect statement or defective execution; and
(b) By delivering the executed articles of correction to the department for filing.
(3) Articles of correction are effective on the effective date of the document they correct except as to persons relying on the uncorrected document and who are adversely affected by the correction. As to those persons, articles of correction are effective when filed.
History.—s. 7, ch. 90-179; s. 48, ch. 93-281; s. 9, ch. 2009-205.
617.0125 Filing duties of Department of State.—
(1) If a document delivered to the Department of State for filing satisfies the requirements of s. 617.01201, the Department of State sH all file it.
(2) The Department of State files a document by stamping or otherwise endorsing “filed,” together with the Secretary of State’s official title and the date and time of receipt. After filing a document, the Department of State sH all deliver the acknowledgment of filing or a certified copy to the domestic or foreign corporation or its representative.
(3) If the Department of State refuses to file a document, it sH all return it to the domestic or foreign corporation or its representative within 15 days after the document was received for filing, together with a brief, written explanation of the reason for refusal.
(4) The Department of State’s duty to file documents under this section is ministerial. The filing or refusing to file a document does not:
(a) Affect the validity or invalidity of the document in whole or part;
(b) Relate to the correctness or incorrectness of information contained in the document; or
(c) Create a presumption that the document is valid or invalid or that information contained in the document is correct or incorrect.
(5) If not otherwise provided by law and the provisions of this act, the Department of State sH all determine, by rule, the appropriate format for, number of copies of, manner of execution of, method of electronic transmission of, and amount of and method of payment of fees for, any document placed under its jurisdiction.
History.—s. 8, ch. 90-179.
617.0126 Appeal from Department of State’s refusal to file document.—If the Department of State refuses to file a document delivered to its office for filing, within 30 days after return of the document by the department by mail, as evidenced by the postmark, the domestic or foreign corporation may:
(1) Appeal the refusal pursuant to s. 120.68; or
(2) Appeal the refusal to the circuit court of the county where the corporation’s principal office (or, if none in this state, its registered office) is or will be located. The appeal is commenced by petitioning the court to compel filing the document and by attaching to the petition the document and the Department of State’s explanation of its refusal to file. The matter sH all promptly be tried de novo by the court without a jury. The court may summarily order the Department of State to file the document or take other action the court considers appropriate. The court’s final decision may be appealed as in other civil proceedings.
History.—s. 9, ch. 90-179.
617.0127 Evidentiary effect of copy of filed document.—A certificate attached to a copy of a document filed by the Department of State, bearing the signature of the Secretary of State (which may be in facsimile) and the seal of this state, is conclusive evidence that the original document is on file with the department.
History.—s. 10, ch. 90-179.
617.0128 Certificate of status.—
(1) Anyone may apply to the Department of State to furnish a certificate of status for a domestic corporation or a certificate of authorization for a foreign corporation.
(2) A certificate of status or authorization sets forth:
(a) The domestic corporation’s corporate name or the foreign corporation’s corporate name used in this state;
(b)1. That the domestic corporation is duly incorporated under the law of this state and the date of its incorporation, or
2. That the foreign corporation is authorized to conduct its affairs in this state;
(c) That all fees and penalties owed to the department have been paid, if:
1. Payment is reflected in the records of the department, and
2. Nonpayment affects the existence or authorization of the domestic or foreign corporation;
(d) That its most recent annual report required by s. 617.1622 has been delivered to the department; and
(e) That articles of dissolution have not been filed.
(3) Subject to any qualification stated in the certificate, a certificate of status or authorization issued by the department may be relied upon as conclusive evidence that the domestic or foreign corporation is in existence or is authorized to conduct its affairs in this state.
History.—s. 11, ch. 90-179; s. 3, ch. 95-211.
617.01301 Powers of Department of State.—
(1) The Department of State may propound to any corporation subject to the provisions of this act, and to any officer or director thereof, such interrogatories as may be reasonably necessary and proper to enable it to ascertain whether the corporation has complied with all applicable filing provisions of this act. Such interrogatories must be answered within 30 days after mailing or within such additional time as fixed by the department. Answers to interrogatories must be full and complete, in writing, and under oath. Interrogatories directed to an individual must be answered by him or her, and interrogatories directed to a corporation must be answered by the president, vice president, secretary, or assistant secretary.
(2) The Department of State is not required to file any document:
(a) To which interrogatories, as propounded pursuant to subsection (1) relate, until the interrogatories are answered in full;
(b) When interrogatories or other relevant evidence discloses that such document is not in conformity with the provisions of this act; or
(c) When the department has determined that the parties to such document have not paid all fees, taxes, and penalties due and owing this state.
(3) The Department of State may, based upon its findings hereunder or as provided in s. 213.053(13), bring an action in circuit court to collect any penalties, fees, or taxes determined to be due and owing the state and to compel any filing, qualification, or registration required by law. In connection with such proceeding the department may, without prior approval by the court, file a lis pendens against any property owned by the corporation and may further certify any findings to the Department of Legal Affairs for the initiation of any action permitted pursuant to s. 617.0503 which the Department of Legal Affairs may deem appropriate.
(4) The Department of State sH all have the power and authority reasonably necessary to enable it to administer this act efficiently, to perform the duties herein imposed upon it, and to adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this act conferring duties upon it.
History.—s. 13, ch. 90-179; s. 49, ch. 93-281; s. 78, ch. 97-102; s. 198, ch. 98-200; s. 7, ch. 2006-85.
CORPORATIONS NOT FOR PROFIT
617.01011 Short title.
617.0102 Reservation of power to amend or repeal.
617.01201 Filing requirements.
617.0121 Forms.
617.0122 Fees for filing documents and issuing certificates.
617.0123 Effective date of document.
617.0124 Correcting filed document.
617.0125 Filing duties of Department of State.
617.0126 Appeal from Department of State’s refusal to file document.
617.0127 Evidentiary effect of copy of filed document.
617.0128 Certificate of status.
617.01301 Powers of Department of State.
617.01011 Short title.—This act may be cited as the “Florida Not For Profit Corporation Act.”
History.—s. 1, ch. 90-179.
617.0102 Reservation of power to amend or repeal.—The Legislature has the power to amend or repeal all or part of this act at any time, and all domestic and foreign corporations subject to this act sH all be governed by the amendment or repeal.
History.—s. 2, ch. 90-179.
617.01201 Filing requirements.—
(1) A document must satisfy the requirements of this section and of any other section that adds to or varies these requirements to be entitled to filing by the Department of State.
(2) This act must require or permit filing the document in the office of the Department of State.
(3) The document must contain the information required by this act. It may contain other information as well.
(4) The document must be typewritten or printed and must be legible. If electronically transmitted, the document must be in a format that may be retrieved or reproduced in typewritten or printed form.
(5) The document must be in the English language. A corporate name need not be in English if written in English letters or Arabic or Roman numerals, and the certificate of authority required of foreign corporations need not be in English if accompanied by a reasonably authenticated English translation.
(6) The document must be executed:
(a) By a director of a domestic or foreign corporation, or by its president or by another of its officers;
(b) If directors or officers have not been selected or the corporation has not been formed, by an incorporator; or
(c) If the corporation is in the hands of a receiver, trustee, or other court-appointed fiduciary, by the fiduciary.
(7) The person executing the document sH all sign it and state beneath or opposite his or her signature his or her name and the capacity in which he or she signs. The document may, but need not, contain:
(a) The corporate seal,
(b) An attestation by the secretary or an assistant secretary,
(c) An acknowledgment, verification, or proof.
(8) If the Department of State has prescribed a mandatory form for the document under s. 617.0121, the document must be in or on the prescribed form.
(9) The document must be delivered to the department for filing. Delivery may be made by electronic transmission if and to the extent allowed by the department. If the document is filed in typewritten or printed form and not transmitted electronically, the department may require that one exact or conformed copy be delivered with the document, except as provided in s. 617.1508. The document must be accompanied by the correct filing fee and any other tax or penalty required by law.
History.—s. 3, ch. 90-179; s. 44, ch. 93-281; s. 76, ch. 97-102; s. 7, ch. 2009-205.
617.0121 Forms.—
(1) The Department of State may prescribe and furnish on request forms for:
(a) An application for certificate of status,
(b) A foreign corporation’s application for certificate of authority to conduct its affairs in the state,
(c) A foreign corporation’s application for certificate of withdrawal, and
(d) The annual report, for which the department may prescribe the use of the uniform business report, pursuant to s. 606.06.
If the Department of State so requires, the use of these forms sH all be mandatory.
(2) The Department of State may prescribe and furnish on request forms for other documents required or permitted to be filed by this act, but their use sH all not be mandatory.
History.—s. 4, ch. 90-179; s. 8, ch. 99-218.
617.0122 Fees for filing documents and issuing certificates.—The Department of State sH all collect the following fees on documents delivered to the department for filing:
(1) Articles of incorporation: $35.
(2) Application for registered name: $87.50.
(3) Application for renewal of registered name: $87.50.
(4) Corporation’s statement of change of registered agent or registered office or both if not included on the annual report: $35.
(5) Designation of and acceptance by registered agent: $35.
(6) Agent’s statement of resignation from active corporation: $87.50.
(7) Agent’s statement of resignation from inactive corporation: $35.
(8) Amendment of articles of incorporation: $35.
(9) Restatement of articles of incorporation with amendment of articles: $35.
(10) Articles of merger for each party thereto: $35.
(11) Articles of dissolution: $35.
(12) Articles of revocation of dissolution: $35.
(13) Application for reinstatement following administrative dissolution: $175.
(14) Application for certificate of authority to transact business in this state by a foreign corporation: $35.
(15) Application for amended certificate of authority: $35.
(16) Application for certificate of withdrawal by a foreign corporation: $35.
(17) Annual report: $61.25.
(18) Articles of correction: $35.
(19) Application for certificate of status: $8.75.
(20) Certified copy of document: $52.50.
(21) Serving as agent for substitute service of process: $87.50.
(22) Certificate of conversion of a limited agricultural association to a domestic corporation: $35.
(23) Any other document required or permitted to be filed by this chapter: $35.
Any citizen support organization that is required by rule of the Department of Environmental Protection to be formed as a nonprofit organization and is under contract with the department is exempt from any fees required for incorporation as a nonprofit organization, and the Secretary of State may not assess any such fees if the citizen support organization is certified by the Department of Environmental Protection to the Secretary of State as being under contract with the Department of Environmental Protection.
History.—s. 5, ch. 90-179; s. 45, ch. 93-281; ss. 25, 27, ch. 94-314; s. 469, ch. 94-356; s. 13, ch. 97-94; s. 15, ch. 98-101; s. 8, ch. 2009-205; s. 2, ch. 2012-71.
617.0123 Effective date of document.—
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and in s. 617.0124(3), a document accepted for filing is effective at the time of filing on the date it is filed, as evidenced by the Department of State’s date and time endorsement on the original document.
(2) A document may specify a delayed effective date, and if it does the document sH all become effective on the date specified. Unless otherwise permitted by this act, a delayed effective date for a document may not be later than the 90th day after the date on which it is filed.
(3) If a document is determined by the Department of State to be incomplete and inappropriate for filing, the Department of State may return the document to the person or corporation filing it, together with a brief written explanation of the reason for the refusal to file, in accordance with s. 617.0125(3). If the applicant returns the document with corrections in accordance with the rules of the department within 60 days after it was mailed to the applicant by the department, and if at the time of return the applicant so requests in writing, the filing date of the document will be the filing date that would have been applied had the original document not been deficient, except as to persons who relied on the record before correction and were adversely affected thereby.
(4) Corporate existence may predate the filing date, pursuant to s. 617.0203(1).
History.—s. 6, ch. 90-179; s. 47, ch. 93-281.
617.0124 Correcting filed document.—
(1) A domestic or foreign corporation may correct a document filed by the department within 30 days after filing if:
(a) The document contains an incorrect statement;
(b) The document was defectively executed, attested, sealed, verified, or acknowledged; or
(c) The electronic transmission of the document was defective.
(2) A document is corrected:
(a) By preparing articles of correction that:
1. Describe the document, including its filing date;
2. Specify the incorrect statement and the reason it is incorrect or the manner in which the execution was defective; and
3. Correct the incorrect statement or defective execution; and
(b) By delivering the executed articles of correction to the department for filing.
(3) Articles of correction are effective on the effective date of the document they correct except as to persons relying on the uncorrected document and who are adversely affected by the correction. As to those persons, articles of correction are effective when filed.
History.—s. 7, ch. 90-179; s. 48, ch. 93-281; s. 9, ch. 2009-205.
617.0125 Filing duties of Department of State.—
(1) If a document delivered to the Department of State for filing satisfies the requirements of s. 617.01201, the Department of State sH all file it.
(2) The Department of State files a document by stamping or otherwise endorsing “filed,” together with the Secretary of State’s official title and the date and time of receipt. After filing a document, the Department of State sH all deliver the acknowledgment of filing or a certified copy to the domestic or foreign corporation or its representative.
(3) If the Department of State refuses to file a document, it sH all return it to the domestic or foreign corporation or its representative within 15 days after the document was received for filing, together with a brief, written explanation of the reason for refusal.
(4) The Department of State’s duty to file documents under this section is ministerial. The filing or refusing to file a document does not:
(a) Affect the validity or invalidity of the document in whole or part;
(b) Relate to the correctness or incorrectness of information contained in the document; or
(c) Create a presumption that the document is valid or invalid or that information contained in the document is correct or incorrect.
(5) If not otherwise provided by law and the provisions of this act, the Department of State sH all determine, by rule, the appropriate format for, number of copies of, manner of execution of, method of electronic transmission of, and amount of and method of payment of fees for, any document placed under its jurisdiction.
History.—s. 8, ch. 90-179.
617.0126 Appeal from Department of State’s refusal to file document.—If the Department of State refuses to file a document delivered to its office for filing, within 30 days after return of the document by the department by mail, as evidenced by the postmark, the domestic or foreign corporation may:
(1) Appeal the refusal pursuant to s. 120.68; or
(2) Appeal the refusal to the circuit court of the county where the corporation’s principal office (or, if none in this state, its registered office) is or will be located. The appeal is commenced by petitioning the court to compel filing the document and by attaching to the petition the document and the Department of State’s explanation of its refusal to file. The matter sH all promptly be tried de novo by the court without a jury. The court may summarily order the Department of State to file the document or take other action the court considers appropriate. The court’s final decision may be appealed as in other civil proceedings.
History.—s. 9, ch. 90-179.
617.0127 Evidentiary effect of copy of filed document.—A certificate attached to a copy of a document filed by the Department of State, bearing the signature of the Secretary of State (which may be in facsimile) and the seal of this state, is conclusive evidence that the original document is on file with the department.
History.—s. 10, ch. 90-179.
617.0128 Certificate of status.—
(1) Anyone may apply to the Department of State to furnish a certificate of status for a domestic corporation or a certificate of authorization for a foreign corporation.
(2) A certificate of status or authorization sets forth:
(a) The domestic corporation’s corporate name or the foreign corporation’s corporate name used in this state;
(b)1. That the domestic corporation is duly incorporated under the law of this state and the date of its incorporation, or
2. That the foreign corporation is authorized to conduct its affairs in this state;
(c) That all fees and penalties owed to the department have been paid, if:
1. Payment is reflected in the records of the department, and
2. Nonpayment affects the existence or authorization of the domestic or foreign corporation;
(d) That its most recent annual report required by s. 617.1622 has been delivered to the department; and
(e) That articles of dissolution have not been filed.
(3) Subject to any qualification stated in the certificate, a certificate of status or authorization issued by the department may be relied upon as conclusive evidence that the domestic or foreign corporation is in existence or is authorized to conduct its affairs in this state.
History.—s. 11, ch. 90-179; s. 3, ch. 95-211.
617.01301 Powers of Department of State.—
(1) The Department of State may propound to any corporation subject to the provisions of this act, and to any officer or director thereof, such interrogatories as may be reasonably necessary and proper to enable it to ascertain whether the corporation has complied with all applicable filing provisions of this act. Such interrogatories must be answered within 30 days after mailing or within such additional time as fixed by the department. Answers to interrogatories must be full and complete, in writing, and under oath. Interrogatories directed to an individual must be answered by him or her, and interrogatories directed to a corporation must be answered by the president, vice president, secretary, or assistant secretary.
(2) The Department of State is not required to file any document:
(a) To which interrogatories, as propounded pursuant to subsection (1) relate, until the interrogatories are answered in full;
(b) When interrogatories or other relevant evidence discloses that such document is not in conformity with the provisions of this act; or
(c) When the department has determined that the parties to such document have not paid all fees, taxes, and penalties due and owing this state.
(3) The Department of State may, based upon its findings hereunder or as provided in s. 213.053(13), bring an action in circuit court to collect any penalties, fees, or taxes determined to be due and owing the state and to compel any filing, qualification, or registration required by law. In connection with such proceeding the department may, without prior approval by the court, file a lis pendens against any property owned by the corporation and may further certify any findings to the Department of Legal Affairs for the initiation of any action permitted pursuant to s. 617.0503 which the Department of Legal Affairs may deem appropriate.
(4) The Department of State sH all have the power and authority reasonably necessary to enable it to administer this act efficiently, to perform the duties herein imposed upon it, and to adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this act conferring duties upon it.
History.—s. 13, ch. 90-179; s. 49, ch. 93-281; s. 78, ch. 97-102; s. 198, ch. 98-200; s. 7, ch. 2006-85.