BC Societies Act Important Update
BC Registries and Online Services has sent an email to all active Societies in BC to inform them of some upcoming changes to the BC Societies Act. Most of the changes will not have a significant impact on Microboards, but you should be aware of the changes.
These changes will be coming into effect April or May 2023.
The main changes that Microboards need to be aware of are:
Microboard Directors:
- Your “Registry of Directors” (list of directors containing their names and contact information) must now include the dates that each director starts and ends their term as a director on the Microboard.
- Directors without a term of office (this is the period of time they will serve on the Microboard) will stop being a Director at the end of the Annual General Meeting after they became a Director unless your bylaws provide for a longer term. This means you will likely need to re-appoint your directors annually.
- A person who was incapable of managing their own affairs but has since been found otherwise can now be a Director.
- If you need to pass a Director’s resolution without a meeting, you must send a copy of the proposed resolution in advance to all Directors. Passing the resolution requires all the Directors to consent (or a lesser number of Directors if allowed by the bylaws).
- Directors can now ask that someone with a conflict of interest remain in the meeting to give information on the topic that has created the conflict.
Record Keepers:
- If a Microboard decides to dissolve, a Record Keeper must be appointed via an ordinary resolution.
- If a Microboard is dissolved by the Registrar, the Record Keeper will be the person who kept the records before dissolution.
- The Record Keeper must keep the Microboard’s records in full upon dissolution and have them available upon request.
- If records are requested, the Record Keeper may charge a fee to produce the records. The Record Keeper must send copies or arrange for copies to be picked up.
- Records must be kept in BC – this includes having electronic (computer) records available to see at a location in BC. These records must be complete and kept safe.
- The Record Keeper must allow those who are entitled to view records the ability to access them. It will be an offence to refuse records to anyone entitled access.
More Information:
To read the full document, click here.
To view a summary of all the changes, click here.
