Pennsylvania § 5903 - Bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings.

§ 5903. Bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings.

(a) General rule.--Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws, whenever a nonprofit corporation is insolvent or in financial difficulty, the board of directors may, by resolution and without the consent of the members, authorize and designate the officers of the corporation to execute a deed of assignment for the benefit of creditors, or file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, or file an answer consenting to the appointment of a receiver upon a complaint in the nature of an equity action filed by creditors or members, or, if insolvent, file an answer to an involuntary petition in bankruptcy admitting the insolvency of the corporation and its willingness to be adjudged a debtor on that ground.

(b) Bankruptcy proceedings.--If authorized pursuant to subsection (a), a nonprofit corporation may participate in proceedings under and in the manner provided by Title 11 of the United States Code (relating to bankruptcy) notwithstanding any contrary provision of its articles or bylaws or this subpart, other than sections 103 (relating to subordination of title to regulatory laws) and 5107 (relating to subordination of subpart to canon law). The corporation shall have full power and authority to put into effect and carry out a plan of reorganization or arrangement and the decrees and orders of the court, or judge or referee relative thereto, and may take any proceeding and do any act provided in the plan or arrangement or directed by such decrees and orders, without further action by its directors or members. Such power and authority may be exercised, and such proceedings and acts may be taken, as may be directed by such decrees or orders, by the trustees or receivers of the corporation appointed in the bankruptcy proceedings, or a majority thereof, or, if none be appointed and acting, by designated officers of the corporation, or by a master or other representative appointed by the court or judge or referee, with the effect as if exercised and taken by unanimous action of the directors and members of the corporation. Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, the corporation may:

(1) alter, amend or repeal its bylaws;

(2) constitute or reconstitute and classify or reclassify its board of directors and name, constitute or appoint directors and officers in place of or in addition to all or some of the directors or officers then in office;

(3) amend its articles of incorporation, including without limitation for the purpose of altering, amending or repealing any provision of the articles or bylaws notwithstanding any provision therein that the articles or bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed only under certain conditions or only upon receiving the approval of a specified number or percentage of votes of members or of a class of members;

(4) be dissolved, transfer all or part of its assets, merge, consolidate, divide or convert to a business corporation, as permitted by this chapter;

(5) authorize and fix the terms, manner and conditions of the issuance of obligations; or

(6) lease its property and franchises to any person.

(c) Cross reference.--See the definition of "officer" in section 5103 (relating to definitions).

(June 22, 2001, P.L.418, No.34, eff. 60 days)

2001 Amendment. Act 34 amended subsecs. (a) and (b) intro. par.