Credit Union Governance Modernization Act of 2021

To amend the Federal Credit Union Act to modernize certain processes regarding expulsion of credit union members for cause, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Credit Union Governance Modernization Act of 2021 2. Expulsion of Federal credit union members for cause Section 118(a) of the Federal Credit Union Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1764(a) (a) Expulsion for cause (1) In general Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a member may be expelled for cause pursuant to a policy adopted by a majority vote of a quorum of the directors of the Federal credit union and provided in written or electronic form to all members of the Federal credit union. (2) Procedures (A) Notification of pending expulsion If a member will, subject to the policy adopted under paragraph (1), be subject to expulsion, the member shall be notified in advance of the expulsion, along with the reason for such expulsion. Such notice shall be provided in written form or, if the member has elected to receive electronic communications from the Federal credit union, may be provided electronically. (B) Right to a hearing (i) In general A member shall have 15 days from the date of receipt of a notification under subparagraph (A) to request a hearing from the board of directors of the Federal credit union. (ii) Expulsion if no hearing If a member does not request a hearing during the 15-day period described under clause (i), the member shall be expelled after the end of the 15-day period. (C) Hearing; vote on expulsion If a member requests a hearing during the 15-day period described under subparagraph (B)(i)— (i) the board of directors of the Federal credit union shall provide the member with a hearing; and (ii) after such hearing, the board of directors of the Federal credit union shall hold a vote on expelling the member in a timely manner. (D) Notice of expulsion If a member is expelled under subparagraph (B)(ii) or (C)(ii), the member shall be provided with written or electronic notice of the expulsion. (3) Reinstatement (A) In general A member expelled under this subsection— (i) shall be given an opportunity to request reinstatement of membership; and (ii) may be reinstated by a two-thirds vote of the members of the Federal credit union present at a meeting. (B) Rule of construction Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to require that an expelled member be allowed to attend the meeting described in subparagraph (A)(ii) in person. (4) Cause defined In this subsection, the term cause (A) a material loss to the Federal credit union; (B) a violation of the membership agreement of the Federal credit union; (C) a substantial disruption to the operations of a Federal credit union; and (D) fraud, attempted fraud, other illegal behavior, or dangerous or abusive behavior, as defined by the policy described in paragraph (1), such as physical or verbal abuse of Federal credit union members or staff. .

Summary: Credit Union Governance Modernization Act of 2021 This bill revises the procedure for expelling members from a federal credit union. Specifically, a member may be expelled for cause pursuant to a policy adopted by a majority vote of a quorum of the directors of a credit union. Currently, a member may be expelled by a two-thirds vote of the credit union membership present at a special meeting. The member may request a hearing from the board of directors. After the hearing, the board shall hold a vote on expelling the member. The expelled member may request reinstatement through a two-thirds vote of the members present at a meeting. Member conduct that may be cause for expulsion includes a material loss to the credit union, a violation of the credit union membership agreement, a substantial disruption to the operations of a credit union, fraud or attempted fraud, and other illegal or inappropriate behavior.