Oklahoma commonly permits corporations, and nonprofits to conduct remote and virtual meetings. If an association is organized as a not-for-profit corporation, as is the case with most Oklahoma associations, it will be governed by the Oklahoma General Corporation Act. Remote meetings contingent on an association’s articles of incorporation, charter, or bylaws. Contact your association’s attorney to see what your community’s options are for virtual meetings based upon your governing documents.
Applicable Statute: General Corporation Act
4. Members of the board of directors of any corporation, or any committee designated by the board, may participate in a meeting of the board or committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear or otherwise communicate with each other. Participation in a meeting pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
A. The board of directors of any corporation may adopt emergency bylaws which, notwithstanding any different provision in the Oklahoma General Corporation Act, in the certificate of incorporation, or bylaws, shall be operative during any emergency resulting from an attack on the United States or on a locality in which the corporation conducts its business or customarily holds meetings of its board of directors or its shareholders, or during any nuclear or atomic disaster, or during the existence of any catastrophe, or other similar emergency condition, as a result of which a quorum of the board of directors or a standing committee thereof cannot readily be convened for action. The emergency bylaws may make any provision that may be practical and necessary for the circumstances of the emergency, including provisions that:
- A meeting of the board of directors or a committee thereof may be called by an officer or director in such manner and under such conditions as shall be prescribed in the emergency bylaws;
- The director or directors in attendance at the meeting, or any greater number fixed by the emergency bylaws, shall constitute a quorum; and
- The officers or other persons designated on a list approved by the board of directors before the emergency, all in such order of priority and subject to such conditions and for such period of time, not longer than reasonably necessary after the termination of the emergency, as may be provided in the emergency bylaws or in the resolution approving the list, shall, to the extent required to provide a quorum at any meeting of the board of directors, be deemed directors for such meeting.
B. The board of directors, either before or during any such emergency, may provide, and from time to time modify, lines of succession in the event that during such emergency any or all officers or agents of the corporation shall for any reason be rendered incapable of discharging their duties.
C. The board of directors, either before or during any such emergency, may, effective in the emergency, change the head office or designate several alternative head offices or regional offices, or authorize the officers to do so.
D. No officer, director or employee acting in accordance with any emergency bylaws shall be liable except for willful misconduct.
E. To the extent not inconsistent with any emergency bylaws so adopted, the bylaws of the corporation shall remain in effect during any emergency and upon its termination the emergency bylaws shall cease to be operative.
F. Unless otherwise provided in emergency bylaws, notice of any meeting of the board of directors during such an emergency may be given only to such of the directors as it may be feasible to reach at the time and by such means as may be feasible at the time, including publication or radio.
G. To the extent required to constitute a quorum at any meeting of the board of directors during such an emergency, the officers of the corporation who are present shall, unless otherwise provided in emergency bylaws, be deemed, in order of rank and within the same rank in order of seniority, directors for such meeting.
H. Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed exclusive of any other provisions for emergency powers consistent with other sections of this act which have been or may be adopted by corporations created pursuant to the provisions of this act.
Added by Laws 1986, c. 292, § 14, eff. Nov. 1, 1986. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 405, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2001.
Universal Citation: 18 OK Stat § 18-1014 (2014)