Current through Acts 2023-2024, ch. 272
Section 613.56 - Committees of directors(1) APPOINTMENT. If the articles or bylaws of a corporation so provide, the board by resolution adopted by a majority of the full board may designate one or more committees, each consisting of 3 or more directors serving thereon at the pleasure of the board. The board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee to substitute for any absent member at any meeting of the committee. The designation of a committee and delegation of authority to it shall not relieve the board or any director of responsibility imposed by law.(2) DELEGATION; MAJOR COMMITTEES. When the board is not in session, a committee satisfying all of the requirements for the composition of a full board under s. 613.51 may exercise any of the powers of the board in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation, including action under ss. 611.60 and 611.61 as applied to service insurance corporations by s. 613.60, to the extent authorized in the resolution or in the articles or bylaws.(3) DELEGATION; ORDINARY COMMITTEES. When the board is not in session, a committee not satisfying the requirements of sub. (2) may exercise the powers of the board in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation to the extent authorized in the resolution or in the articles or bylaws, except action in respect to: (a) Compensation or indemnification of any person who is a director, principal officer or one of the 3 most highly paid employees, and any benefits or payments requiring member or policyholder approval;(b) Approval of any contract required to be approved by the board under ss. 611.60 and 611.61 as applied to service insurance corporations by s. 613.60, or of any other transaction in which a director has a material interest adverse to the corporation;(c) Amendment of the articles or bylaws;(d) Merger under s. 613.72, conversion under s. 613.75, voluntary dissolution under s. 613.74 or transfer of business or assets under s. 613.78;(e) Any other decision requiring member or policyholder approval;(f) Amendment or repeal of any action previously taken by the full board which by its terms is not subject to amendment or repeal by a committee;(g) Dividends or other distributions to members or policyholders, other than in the routine implementation of policy determinations of the full board;(h) Selection of principal officers; and(i) Filling of vacancies on the board or any committee created under sub. (1) except that the articles or bylaws may provide for temporary appointments to fill vacancies on the board or any committee, the appointments to last no longer than the end of the next board meeting.(4) SUBSEQUENT REVIEW. The full board or a major committee of the board authorized to do so under sub. (2) shall specifically review any transaction in which an officer has a material financial interest adverse to the corporation, at the next meeting following action by any ordinary committee.(5) QUORUM AND VOTING. Sections 181.0821 and 181.0824 apply to a committee of the board of a service insurance corporation, except that references to "board" shall be read as relating to "committee", references to "majority" in s. 181.0824(1) shall be read as referring to a majority of the members appointed to serve on the committee, and references to "majority" in s. 181.0824(2) shall be read as referring to a majority of the members appointed to serve on the committee who are present at the meeting.1975 c. 223, 421; 1979 c. 102; 1997 a. 79.