reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
13 ME Rev Stat § 1823 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 13: CORPORATIONS|Part 2: CORPORATIONS WITHOUT CAPITAL|Chapter 85: COOPERATIVES|Subchapter 2: AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND BARGAINING|Article 2: ORGANIZATION AND POWERS|13 §1823. Articles of incorporation

 §1823. Articles of incorporation The articles of incorporation must set forth:   [PL 2009, c. 56, §10 (AMD).]1.  Name.  The name of the association which may or may not include the word "cooperative";   2.  Purposes.  Its purposes;   3.  Duration.  Its duration;   4.  Location of office.  The mailing address and physical address, if different, of its registered office in this State;   [PL 2009, c. 56, §11 (AMD).] 5.  Name and address of incorporators; number of shares.  The name and mailing address and physical address, if different, of the incorporators, and if organized with capital stock, a statement of the number of shares subscribed by each, which may not be less than one, and the class of shares for which each subscribes;   [PL 2009, c. 56, §12 (AMD).] 6.  Names and addresses of first directors.  The names and mailing addresses and physical addresses, if different, of the first directors;   [PL 2009, c. 56, §13 (AMD).] 7.  With or without capital stock; if with, par value shares.  Whether organized with or without capital stock; and if organized with capital stock the total authorized number of par value shares and the par value of each share, and if any of its shares have no par value, the authorized number of such shares; and if more than one class of stock is authorized, a description of the classes of shares, the number of shares in each class, the relative rights, preferences and restrictions granted to or imposed upon the shares of each class and the dividends to which each class shall be entitled;   8.  If without, rights and interests of members.  If organized without capital stock, whether the property rights and interests of each member are equal or unequal; if unequal, the rule by which such rights and interests shall be determined; and   9.  Other provisions.  The articles may contain any other provisions, consistent with law for regulating the association's business or the conduct of its affairs, the establishment of voting districts, the election of delegates to represent such districts and the members residing therein, for voting by proxy, and issuance, retirement and transfer of memberships and stock.   SECTION HISTORY PL 2009, c. 56, §§10-13 (AMD).
13 ME Rev Stat § 1824 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 13: CORPORATIONS|Part 2: CORPORATIONS WITHOUT CAPITAL|Chapter 85: COOPERATIVES|Subchapter 2: AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND BARGAINING|Article 2: ORGANIZATION AND POWERS|13 §1824. Filing and recording articles of incorporation

 §1824. Filing and recording articles of incorporation Before commencing business, the incorporators of every corporation organized under this subchapter shall prepare, sign, date and deliver for filing with the Secretary of State articles of incorporation, in a format approved by the Secretary of State, setting forth the information required under section 1823. The filing fee for a corporation formed under this subchapter is the same as for a corporation organized under Title 13-C. If articles of incorporation delivered for filing to the Secretary of State pursuant to this section satisfy the requirements of this subchapter, the Secretary of State shall file the articles of incorporation. The date of filing is the date of receipt by the Secretary of State. After filing the articles of incorporation under this subchapter, the Secretary of State shall deliver to the corporation or its representative a copy of the document with an acknowledgement of the date of filing.   [PL 2009, c. 56, §14 (AMD).]SECTION HISTORY PL 1977, c. 522, §8 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 231, §5 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 56, §14 (AMD).
13 ME Rev Stat § 1825 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 13: CORPORATIONS|Part 2: CORPORATIONS WITHOUT CAPITAL|Chapter 85: COOPERATIVES|Subchapter 2: AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND BARGAINING|Article 2: ORGANIZATION AND POWERS|13 §1825. Amendment of articles

 §1825. Amendment of articles 1.  Procedure.  An association may amend its articles of incorporation by the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members voting thereon at any regular meeting, or at a special meeting called for the purpose, or if the association permits its members to vote on the basis of patronage, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members representing 2/3 of the membership patronage voting thereon. A written or printed notice of the proposed amendment and of the time and place of holding such meetings shall be delivered to each member, or mailed to his last known address as shown by the books of the association, at least 30 days prior to any such meetings. No amendment affecting the preferential rights of any outstanding stock shall be adopted until the written consent of the holders of 2/3 of the outstanding preference shares has been obtained.   2.  Certificate recorded.  After an amendment has been adopted, the president or vice-president and the treasurer or secretary or assistant secretary shall prepare, sign, date and deliver for filing to the Secretary of State articles of amendment, in a format approved by the Secretary of State, setting forth the amendment adopted by the corporation as proposed in subsection 1. The filing fee for an amendment filed under this section is the same as for a corporation filing articles of amendment under Title 13-C. If articles of amendment delivered for filing to the Secretary of State pursuant to this section satisfy the requirements of this section, the Secretary of State shall file the articles of amendment. The date of filing is the date of receipt by the Secretary of State. After filing the articles of amendment under this section, the Secretary of State shall deliver to the corporation or its representative a copy of the document with an acknowledgement of the date of filing.   [PL 2007, c. 231, §6 (AMD).] SECTION HISTORY PL 1977, c. 522, §9 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 231, §6 (AMD).
13 ME Rev Stat § 1826 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 13: CORPORATIONS|Part 2: CORPORATIONS WITHOUT CAPITAL|Chapter 85: COOPERATIVES|Subchapter 2: AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND BARGAINING|Article 2: ORGANIZATION AND POWERS|13 §1826. Bylaws

 §1826. Bylaws The members of the association may adopt bylaws not inconsistent with law or the articles, and they may alter and amend the same from time to time. The bylaws must be adopted by a majority of the members voting thereon, or if the association permits its members to vote on the basis of patronage, then by a majority of members and a majority of the patronage voting thereon. The bylaws may provide for:   1.  Meetings; quorum.  The time, place and manner of calling and conducting meetings of the members, and the number of members that shall constitute a quorum;   2.  Manner of voting.  The manner of voting and the condition upon which members may vote at general and special meetings and by mail or by delegates elected by district groups or other associations, and the voting power of votes based on patronage;   3.  Provisions as to directors and officers.  Subject to any provision thereon in the articles and in this subchapter, the number, qualifications, compensation, duties and terms of office of directors and officers; the time of their election and the mode and manner of giving notice thereof;   4.  Meetings of directors and executive committee; quorum.  The time, place and manner for calling and holding meetings of the directors and executive committee, and the number that shall constitute a quorum;   5.  Rules.  Rules consistent with law and the articles for the management of the association, the establishment of voting districts, the making of contracts, the issuance, retirement and transfer of stock, and the relative rights, interests and preferences of members and shareholders; and   6.  Penalties.  Penalties for violation of the bylaws.
13 ME Rev Stat § 1827 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 13: CORPORATIONS|Part 2: CORPORATIONS WITHOUT CAPITAL|Chapter 85: COOPERATIVES|Subchapter 2: AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND BARGAINING|Article 2: ORGANIZATION AND POWERS|13 §1827. General and special meetings

 §1827. General and special meetings An association may provide in its bylaws for one or more regular meetings each year, which may be held within or without the State at the time and place designated in the bylaws. Special meetings of the members may be called by the board of directors, and it shall be their duty to call such meetings when 10% of the members file with the secretary a petition demanding a special meeting and specifying the business to be considered at such meeting. Notice of all meetings, except as otherwise provided by law, or the articles or bylaws, shall be mailed to each member at least 10 days prior to the meeting, and in case of special meetings the notice shall state the purposes for which it is called, but the bylaws may require that all notices, except of proposed amendments to the articles, shall be given by publication in a periodical published by or for the association, to which substantially all its members are subscribers, or in a newspaper or newspapers whose combined circulation is general in the territory in which the association operates.
13 ME Rev Stat § 1829 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 13: CORPORATIONS|Part 2: CORPORATIONS WITHOUT CAPITAL|Chapter 85: COOPERATIVES|Subchapter 2: AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND BARGAINING|Article 2: ORGANIZATION AND POWERS|13 §1829. Information and advice for members

 §1829. Information and advice for members 1.  Not in restraint of trade.  No association complying with the terms hereof shall be deemed to be a conspiracy, or a combination in restraint of trade or an illegal monopoly; or be deemed to have been formed for the purpose of lessening competition or fixing prices arbitrarily, nor shall the contracts between the association and its members, or any agreements authorized in this subchapter, be construed as an unlawful restraint of trade or as part of a conspiracy or combination to accomplish an improper or illegal purpose or act.   2.  Information.  An association may acquire, exchange, interpret and disseminate to its members, to other cooperative associations and otherwise, past, present and prospective crop, market, statistical, economic and other similar information relating to the business of the association, either directly or through an agent created or selected by it or by other associations acting in conjunction with it.   3.  Advice.  An association may advise its members in respect to the adjustment of their current and prospective production of agricultural commodities and its relation to the prospective volume of consumption, selling prices and existing or potential surplus, to the end that every market may be served from the most convenient productive areas under a program of orderly marketing that will assure adequate supplies without undue enhancement of prices or the accumulation of any undue surplus.
13 ME Rev Stat § 1871 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 13: CORPORATIONS|Part 2: CORPORATIONS WITHOUT CAPITAL|Chapter 85: COOPERATIVES|Subchapter 2: AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND BARGAINING|Article 3: OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS|13 §1871. Directors

 §1871. Directors 1.  Membership; term.  The business of the association is managed by a board of not less than 3 directors. The directors must be members of the association or officers, general managers, directors or members of a member association, except that the members of the association may elect, pursuant to the bylaws of the association, to allow the election of nonmember directors of the association by the board of directors, as long as the number of nonmember directors does not exceed 25% of the total number of duly elected member directors. A director shall hold office for the term for which the director was named or elected and until the director's successor is elected and qualified.   [PL 2009, c. 5, §1 (AMD).] 2.  Names; successors.  The names of the first directors shall be stated in the articles. Their successors shall be elected by the members as prescribed by the articles or bylaws.   3.  Duties, etc. prescribed by articles or bylaws.  The number, qualifications, terms of office, manner of election, time and place of meeting and the powers and duties of the directors may, subject to this subchapter, be prescribed by the articles or bylaws.   4.  District directors.  The bylaws may provide, if not restricted by the articles, that the territory in which the association has members shall be divided into districts and that the directors shall be elected according to such districts, either directly or by district delegates elected by the members in that district. In such case, the bylaws shall specify or vest in the board of directors authority to determine the number of directors to be elected by each district and the manner and method of apportioning the directors and of districting and redistricting the territory covered by the association. The bylaws may provide that primary elections shall be held in each district to nominate the directors apportioned thereto and that the result of all such primary elections may be ratified by the next regular meeting of the association or may be considered as a final election.   5.  Executive committee.  The bylaws may provide for an executive committee to be elected by the board of directors from their number and may allot to such committee all the functions and powers of the board, subject to its general direction and control.   SECTION HISTORY PL 2009, c. 5, §1 (AMD).
13 ME Rev Stat § 1872 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 13: CORPORATIONS|Part 2: CORPORATIONS WITHOUT CAPITAL|Chapter 85: COOPERATIVES|Subchapter 2: AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND BARGAINING|Article 3: OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS|13 §1872. -- removal

 §1872. -- removal Any member may ask for the removal of a director by filing charges with the secretary or president of the association, together with a petition signed by 5% of the members requesting the removal of the director in question. The removal shall be voted upon at the next meeting of the members, and by 2/3 of the voting power voting thereon the association may remove the director. The director whose removal is requested shall be served with a copy of the charges not less than 10 days prior to the meeting and shall have an opportunity at the meeting to be heard in person and by counsel and to present evidence. The persons requesting the removal shall have the same opportunity. In case the bylaws provide for election of directors by districts, then the petition for removal of a director must be signed by 20% of the members residing in the district from which he was elected. The board must call a special meeting of the members residing in that district to consider the removal of the director, and by 2/3 of the voting power of the members of that district voting thereon the director in question may be removed from office.
13 ME Rev Stat § 1873 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 13: CORPORATIONS|Part 2: CORPORATIONS WITHOUT CAPITAL|Chapter 85: COOPERATIVES|Subchapter 2: AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND BARGAINING|Article 3: OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS|13 §1873. Officers

 §1873. Officers The board shall elect one or more officers as authorized in the bylaws. The bylaws of each cooperative must provide for one or more officers, including the qualifications for and the titles of those officers.   [PL 1999, c. 48, §1 (AMD).]SECTION HISTORY PL 1999, c. 48, §1 (AMD).
13 ME Rev Stat § 1874 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 13: CORPORATIONS|Part 2: CORPORATIONS WITHOUT CAPITAL|Chapter 85: COOPERATIVES|Subchapter 2: AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND BARGAINING|Article 3: OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS|13 §1874. -- removal

 §1874. -- removal Any member may bring charges of misconduct or incompetency against an officer by filing them with the secretary or president of the association, together with a petition signed by 10% of the members requesting the removal of the officer in question. The directors shall vote upon the removal of the officer at the first meeting of the board held after the hearing on the charges, and the officer may be removed by a majority vote, notwithstanding any contract the officer may have with the association, which shall terminate upon his removal, anything in the contract to the contrary notwithstanding. The officer against whom such charges are made shall be served with a copy of the charges not less than 10 days prior to the meeting, and shall have an opportunity at the meeting to be heard in person and by counsel, and to present evidence, and the persons making the charges shall have the same opportunity.
13 ME Rev Stat § 1875 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 13: CORPORATIONS|Part 2: CORPORATIONS WITHOUT CAPITAL|Chapter 85: COOPERATIVES|Subchapter 2: AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND BARGAINING|Article 3: OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS|13 §1875. Referendum

 §1875. Referendum The articles or bylaws may provide that upon demand of 2/5 of all the directors, any matter of policy that has been approved or passed by the board must be referred to the members for their approval before it becomes effective. No referendum shall be allowed unless it is demanded by the required number of directors at the meeting at which the matter of policy in question is adopted.
13 ME Rev Stat § 1911 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 13: CORPORATIONS|Part 2: CORPORATIONS WITHOUT CAPITAL|Chapter 85: COOPERATIVES|Subchapter 2: AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND BARGAINING|Article 4: MEMBERS AND SHARES|13 §1911. Members

 §1911. Members 1.  Producers of agricultural products.  An association may admit as members only bona fide producers of agricultural products, including tenants and landlords receiving a share of the crop, and cooperative associations of such producers. The incorporators named in the articles are thereby made members of the association, and they shall pay for their membership or stock the same amount and in the same manner as may be required in the case of other members.   2.  Limit of common stock.  The articles may limit the amount of common stock which a member may own.   3.  Vote; liability.  Under the terms and conditions prescribed in the bylaws, a member shall lose his vote if he ceases to belong to the class eligible to membership under this section, but he shall remain subject to any liability incurred by him while a member of the association.   4.  Personal liability.  No member shall be personally liable for any debt or liability of the association.   5.  One vote.  Unless the articles otherwise provide, no member shall have more than one vote.   6.  Member defined.  In agricultural associations organized under this subchapter the term "member" in associations without capital stock may, by the bylaws, include any agricultural producer, either corporate or individual, with whom the association shall do business, either directly or through a member cooperative association, amounting to at least $100 during any fiscal year, and may, by the bylaws, include employees.   7.  Requirements of statute met.  Whenever under this subchapter an association is permitted to take any action, provided such action is authorized by a vote of the members or the vote of a specified proportion of the voting power based on patronage, the requirements of the statute shall be deemed to have been met by an association which has established voting districts and provided for the election of delegates, if such action is authorized by a vote of the delegates representing such members or such voting power.
13 ME Rev Stat § 1912 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 13: CORPORATIONS|Part 2: CORPORATIONS WITHOUT CAPITAL|Chapter 85: COOPERATIVES|Subchapter 2: AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND BARGAINING|Article 4: MEMBERS AND SHARES|13 §1912. Certificates; transfers; dividends; preferred stock

 §1912. Certificates; transfers; dividends; preferred stock 1.  Certificate for membership or stock.  No certificate for membership or stock shall be issued until fully paid for, but bylaws may provide that a member may vote and hold office prior to payment in full for his membership or stock.   2.  Dividends.  Dividends in excess of 8% on the actual cash value of the consideration received by the association shall not be paid on common or preferred stock or membership capital, but dividends may be cumulative.   3.  Net income distributed.  Net income in excess of dividends and additions to reserves shall be distributed on the basis of patronage, and the books of the association shall show the interest of patrons in the reserves. The bylaws may provide that any distribution to a nonmember, eligible for membership, may be credited to such nonmember until the amount thereof equals the value of a membership certificate or a share of the association's common stock. The distribution credited to the account of a nonmember may be transferred to the reserve fund at the option of the board if, after 6 years, the amount is less than the value of the membership certificate or a share of common stock.   4.  Value of member's interest after withdrawal or termination.  The bylaws may fix a time within which a member shall receive from the association, after he has notified the association of his withdrawal, or after the adoption of a resolution by the board terminating his membership, the value in money of his membership interest in the association as appraised by the board of directors. If the board of directors approves the member's designation of a transferee of his membership interest, the association shall be under no obligation to pay him the value of his interest.   5.  Preferred stock.  An association may issue preferred stock to members and nonmembers. Preferred stock may be redeemed or retired by the association on such terms and conditions as may be provided in the articles and printed on the stock certificate. Preferred stockholders shall not be entitled to vote, but no change in their priority or preference rights shall be effective until the written consent of the holders of 2/3 of the preferred stock has been obtained. Payment for preferred stock may be made in cash, services or property on the basis of the fair value of the stock, services and property as determined by the board.
13 ME Rev Stat § 1953 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 13: CORPORATIONS|Part 2: CORPORATIONS WITHOUT CAPITAL|Chapter 85: COOPERATIVES|Subchapter 2: AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND BARGAINING|Article 6: MAINE AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND BARGAINING ACT OF 1973|13 §1953. Legislative findings and purpose

 §1953. Legislative findings and purpose Because agricultural products are produced by numerous individual farmers and independent agricultural contractors, the marketing and bargaining position of individual farmers and independent agricultural contractors will be adversely affected unless they are free to join together voluntarily in cooperative organizations as authorized by law. Furthermore, membership by a farmer or independent agricultural contractor in a cooperative organization can only be meaningful if a handler of agricultural products is required to bargain in good faith with an agricultural cooperative organization as the representative of the members of such organization who have had a previous course of dealing with such handler. The purpose of this Article is to provide standards for the qualification of agricultural cooperative organizations for bargaining purposes, to define the mutual obligation of handlers and agricultural cooperative organizations to bargain with respect to the production, sale and marketing of agricultural products and to provide for the enforcement of such obligation.   [PL 2019, c. 248, §2 (AMD).]SECTION HISTORY PL 1973, c. 621, §1 (NEW). PL 2019, c. 248, §2 (AMD).