California Law (Last Updated: March 4, 2014) |
Financial Code - FIN |
Division 5. CREDIT UNIONS |
Chapter 5. Members |
Section 14820.
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(a) Any member of a credit union may authorize another person or persons to act by proxy with respect to such membership, subject to subdivision (e). Any proxy purported to be executed in accordance with Section 14821 shall be presumptively valid.
(b) No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy, except that the maximum term of any proxy shall be three years from the date of execution. Every proxy continues in full force and effect until revoked by the person executing it prior to the vote pursuant thereto, except as otherwise provided in this section. Such revocation may be effected by a writing delivered to the corporation stating that the proxy is revoked or by a subsequent proxy executed by the person executing the prior proxy and presented to the meeting, or as to any meeting by attendance at such meeting and voting in person by the person executing the proxy. The dates contained on the forms of proxy presumptively determine the order of execution, regardless of the postmark dates on the envelopes in which they are mailed.
(c) A proxy is not revoked by the death or incapacity of the maker or the termination of a membership as a result thereof unless, before the vote is counted, written notice of such death or incapacity is received by the corporation.
(d) Notwithstanding subdivisions (b) and (c), whenever any credit union which is subject to the provisions of this division is insolvent or its capital is impaired, or, when the commissioner determines that a credit union is in danger of insolvency or an impairment of its capital and the board of the directors of the credit union presents a reorganization plan to the commissioner and such plan is approved, the board of directors may, subject to the provisions of this division, solicit irrevocable proxies for a proxyholder who qualifies pursuant to this section. Unless otherwise provided in the articles or bylaws, the proxy of a member which states that it is irrevocable is irrevocable for the period specified therein when it is held by any of the following or a nominee of any of the following:
(1) A person who has purchased or who has agreed to purchase the membership.
(2) A creditor or creditors of the credit union who extended or continued credit or contracted to perform services to the corporation in consideration of the proxy if the proxy states that it was given in consideration of the extension or continuation of credit or services and the name of the person extending or continuing the credit or performing the service.
(3) A person who has contracted to perform services as an employee of the credit union, if the proxy is required by the contract of employment and if the proxy states that it was given in consideration of such contract of employment, the name of the employee, and the period of employment for which the employee has contracted.
Notwithstanding the period of irrevocability specified, the proxy becomes revocable when the agreement to purchase is terminated, the debt of the credit union or the member is paid, or the period of employment provided for in the contract of employment or the contract to perform services has terminated. In addition to paragraphs (1) through (3), a proxy of a member may be made irrevocable notwithstanding subdivision (c) if it is given to secure the performance of a duty or to protect a title, either legal or equitable, until the happening of events which by its terms, discharge the obligations secured by it.
(e) Subdivision (a) notwithstanding:
(1) No amendment of the articles or bylaws repealing, restricting, creating or expanding proxy rights may be adopted without approval by the members.
(2) No amendment of the articles or bylaws restricting or limiting the use of proxies may affect the validity of a previously issued irrevocable proxy during the term of its irrevocability, so long as it complied with applicable provisions, if any, of the articles or bylaws at the time of issuance, and is otherwise valid under this section.
(f) Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, any revocable proxy covering matters requiring a vote of the members pursuant to Section 7222, Section 7224, Section 7233, Section 7812, paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 7911, Section 8012, subdivision (a) of Section 8015, Section 8610, or subdivision (a) of Section 8719 of the Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation Law, Part 3 (commencing with Section 7110) of Division 2 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code, or subdivision (e) is not valid as to such matters unless it sets forth the general nature of the matter to be voted on.