2014 Michigan Compiled Laws
Chapter 450 - CORPORATIONS
Act 162 of 1982 NONPROFIT CORPORATION ACT (450.2101 - 450.3192)
162-1982-2 CHAPTER 2 (450.2201...450.2275)
Section 450.2261 Corporate powers; inconsistency between certain acts; fixed limitation or term; waiver of right to perpetual existence; nonprofit power corporation.

NONPROFIT CORPORATION ACT (EXCERPT)
Act 162 of 1982
450.2261 Corporate powers; inconsistency between certain acts; fixed limitation or term; waiver of right to perpetual existence; nonprofit power corporation.

Sec. 261.

(1) A corporation, subject to any limitation provided in this act, in any other statute of this state, in its articles of incorporation, or otherwise by law, has the power in furtherance of its corporate purposes to do any of the following:

(a) Have perpetual duration.

(b) Sue and be sued in all courts and participate in actions and proceedings judicial, administrative, arbitrative, or otherwise, in the same manner as a natural person.

(c) Have a corporate seal, and alter the seal, and use it by causing it or a facsimile to be affixed, impressed, or reproduced in any other manner.

(d) Adopt, amend, or repeal bylaws, including emergency bylaws, relating to the purposes of the corporation, the conduct of its affairs, its rights and powers, and the rights and powers of its shareholders, members, directors, or officers.

(e) Elect or appoint officers, employees, and other agents of the corporation, prescribe their duties, fix their compensation and the compensation of directors, and indemnify corporate directors, officers, employees, and agents.

(f) Purchase, receive, take by grant, gift, devise, bequest, or otherwise, lease, or otherwise acquire, own, hold, improve, employ, use, and otherwise deal in and with, real or personal property, or an interest in real or personal property, wherever situated, either absolutely or in trust and without limitation as to amount or value.

(g) Sell, convey, lease, exchange, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, or mortgage or pledge, or create a security interest in, any of its property, or an interest in the property, wherever situated.

(h) Purchase, take, receive, subscribe for, or otherwise acquire, own, hold, vote, employ, sell, lend, lease, exchange, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, mortgage, pledge, use, and otherwise deal in and with, bonds and other obligations, shares or other securities or interests or memberships issued by others, whether engaged in similar or different business, governmental, or other activities, including banking corporations or trust companies. A corporation organized or conducting affairs in this state under this act shall not guarantee or become surety upon a bond or other undertaking securing the deposit of public money.

(i) Make contracts, give guarantees, and incur liabilities, borrow money at such rates of interest as the corporation may determine, issue its notes, bonds, and other obligations, and secure any of its obligations by mortgage or pledge of any of its property or an interest in the property, wherever situated.

(j) Lend money, invest and reinvest its funds, and take and hold real and personal property as security for the payment of funds loaned or invested.

(k) Make donations for public welfare or for community fund, hospital, charitable, educational, scientific, civic, or similar purposes, and in time of war or other national emergency in aid of war or other national emergency.

(l) Pay pensions, establish and carry out pension, savings, thrift, and other retirement, incentive, and benefit plans, trusts and provisions for any of its directors, officers, and employees.

(m) Purchase, receive, take, otherwise acquire, own, hold, sell, lend, exchange, transfer, otherwise dispose of, pledge, use, and otherwise deal in and with its own shares, bonds, and other securities.

(n) Participate with others in any corporation, business corporation, partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, or other association of any kind, or participate with others in any transaction, undertaking, or agreement that the participating corporation would have power to conduct by itself, whether or not the participation involves sharing or delegation of control with or to others.

(o) Cease its corporate activities and dissolve.

(p) Conduct its affairs, carry on its operations, and have offices and exercise the powers granted by this act in any jurisdiction within or without the United States, and, in the case of a corporation the purpose or purposes of which require the transaction of business, the receipt and payment of money, the care and custody of property, and other incidental business matters, transact such business, receive, collect, and disburse such money, and engage in such other incidental business matters as are naturally or properly within the scope of its articles.

(q) Have and exercise all powers necessary or convenient to effect any purpose for which the corporation is formed.

(2) A corporation subject to the uniform prudent management of institutional funds act has all powers granted under both this act and that act. However, in the event of an inconsistency between the 2 acts, the uniform prudent management of institutional funds act controls.

(3) The corporate existence of all corporations incorporated before January 1, 1983, without capital stock, for religious, benevolent, social, or fraternal purposes, shall be considered to be in perpetuity. A limitation or term fixed in the articles or in the law under which the corporation originally incorporated is not effective unless the corporation affirmatively waived its right to perpetual existence after September 18, 1931, by fixing a definite term of existence by amendment to its articles.

(4) Any nonprofit power corporation that is authorized to furnish electric service may construct, maintain, and operate its lines along, over, across, or under any public places, streets, and highways, and across or under the waters in this state, with all necessary erections and fixtures. A nonprofit power corporation may exercise the power of eminent domain, in the manner provided by the uniform condemnation procedures act, 1980 PA 87, MCL 213.51 to 213.75. As a condition to the exercise of any of these powers, nonprofit corporations are subject to the jurisdiction of the Michigan public service commission pursuant to 1909 PA 106, MCL 460.551 to 460.559, 1919 PA 419, MCL 460.54 to 460.62, and 1939 PA 3, MCL 460.1 to 460.11.

History: 1982, Act 162, Eff. Jan. 1, 1983 ;-- Am. 2009, Act 88, Imd. Eff. Sept. 10, 2009