As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the term:

     (1) "Corporation" or "domestic corporation" means a corporation not for profit subject to the provisions of this chapter, except a foreign corporation.

     (2) "Foreign corporation" means a corporation not for profit organized under laws other than the laws of this state.

     (3) "Not for profit corporation" or "nonprofit corporation" means a corporation no part of the income of which is distributable to its members, directors or officers.

     (4) "Articles of incorporation" and "articles" mean the original articles of incorporation and all amendments thereto, and includes articles of merger and restated articles.

     (5) "Bylaws" means the code or codes of rules adopted for the regulation or management of the affairs of the corporation irrespective of the name or names by which such rules are designated.

     (6) "Member" means an individual or entity having membership rights in a corporation in accordance with the provisions of its articles or [of] incorporation or bylaws.

     (7) "Board of directors" means the group of persons vested with the management of the affairs of the corporation irrespective of the name by which such group is designated in the articles or bylaws.

     (8) "Insolvent" means inability of a corporation to pay debts as they become due in the usual course of its affairs.

     (9) "Deliver" means: (a) Mailing; (b) transmission by facsimile equipment, for purposes of delivering a demand, consent, notice, or waiver to the corporation or one of its officers, directors, or members; (c) electronic transmission, in accordance with the officer's, director's, or member's consent, for purposes of delivering a demand, consent, notice, or waiver to the corporation or one of its officers, directors, or members under RCW 24.03.009; and (d) as prescribed by the secretary of state for purposes of submitting a record for filing with the secretary of state.

     (10) "Conforms to law" as used in connection with duties of the secretary of state in reviewing records for filing under this chapter, means the secretary of state has determined that the record complies as to form with the applicable requirements of this chapter.

     (11) "Effective date" means, in connection with a record filing made by the secretary of state, the date which is shown by affixing a "filed" stamp on the records. When a record is received for filing by the secretary of state in a form which complies with the requirements of this chapter and which would entitle the record to be filed immediately upon receipt, but the secretary of state's approval action occurs subsequent to the date of receipt, the secretary of state's filing date shall relate back to the date on which the secretary of state first received the record in acceptable form. An applicant may request a specific effective date no more than thirty days later than the receipt date which might otherwise be applied as the effective date.

     (12) "Electronic transmission" means an electronic communication (a) not directly involving the physical transfer of a record in a tangible medium and (b) that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by the sender and the recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in a tangible medium by a sender and recipient.

     (13) "Electronically transmitted" means the initiation of an electronic transmission.

     (14) "Execute," "executes," or "executed" means (a) signed, with respect to a written record or (b) electronically transmitted along with sufficient information to determine the sender's identity, with respect to an electronic transmission, or (c) filed in compliance with the standards for filing with the office of the secretary of state as prescribed by the secretary of state, with respect to a record to be filed with the secretary of state.

     (15) "Executed by an officer of the corporation," or words of similar import, means that any record executed by such person shall be and is executed by that person under penalties of perjury and in an official and authorized capacity on behalf of the corporation or person making the record submission with the secretary of state and, for the purpose of records filed electronically with the secretary of state, in compliance with the rules adopted by the secretary of state for electronic filing.

     (16) "An officer of the corporation" means, in connection with the execution of records submitted for filing with the secretary of state, the president, a vice president, the secretary, or the treasurer of the corporation.

     (17) "Public benefit not for profit corporation" or "public benefit nonprofit corporation" means a corporation no part of the income of which is distributable to its members, directors, or officers and that holds a current tax exempt status as provided under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3) or is specifically exempted from the requirement to apply for its tax exempt status under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3).

     (18) "Record" means information inscribed on a tangible medium or contained in an electronic transmission.

     (19) "Tangible medium" means a writing, copy of a writing, facsimile, or a physical reproduction, each on paper or on other tangible material.

     (20) "Writing" does not include an electronic transmission.

     (21) "Written" means embodied in a tangible medium.

[2004 c 265 § 1; 2002 c 74 § 4; 1989 c 291 § 3; 1986 c 240 § 1; 1982 c 35 § 72; 1967 c 235 § 2.]

NOTES:

     Captions not law -- 2002 c 74: See note following RCW 19.09.020.

     Finding -- Severability -- 1989 c 291: See notes following RCW 24.03.490.

     Intent -- Severability -- Effective dates -- Application -- 1982 c 35: See notes following RCW 43.07.160.