Introduction to Transitioning an Existing Society: Difference between revisions

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If you work at a non-profit society in British Columbia or sit on a board of directors, the new Societies Act affects your world as of November 28, 2016. Here are 10 changes in the new Act that you should know about:
{{Transitioning an Existing Society TOC}}
==1. There is greater access to a society’s records==
[[File:Transitioning an Existing Society cover image.jpg|thumb|275px|right|<span style="font-size:50%;">Image via www.istock.com</span>]]There's a new law that governs how non-profit societies in British Columbia are created and run. A new ''[http://canlii.ca/t/8v16 Societies Act]'' came into effect in BC on November 28, 2016. All societies in the province must "transition" under the new Act within a two-year period after the new law came into effect.
Under the new ''Societies Act'', members have greater access to a society’s records. The Act spells out the records a society must keep, including a register of members, minutes of members’ and directors’ meetings, accounting records, and financial statements.  


By default under the Act, members are entitled to inspect all records of the society (as are directors). For some records, member access can be restricted. For example, a society’s bylaws can restrict members’ access to accounting records.
Aimed at those who work at a non-profit society in British Columbia or sit on a board of directors, ''[[Transitioning an Existing Society: A How-to Guide for Non-profits in BC]]'' covers the steps in transitioning a society under the new Act.


The public is entitled to receive a copy of a society’s financial statements and auditor’s report if requested. A society can choose to grant access to the public to more of its records. The only record that is excluded from public accessibility is the society’s register of members.
The information in this guide '''applies in the province of British Columbia, Canada'''. It is produced for educational purposes and is not intended as legal advice. If you need advice about a specific legal problem, please contact a legal professional. Some sources of legal help are highlighted in the "[[Further Help with the New Societies Act|Further Help]]" section.


{| class="wikitable"
This guide was written by [[Drew Jackson]], a lawyer and librarian who writes about law for the public. It was reviewed for legal accuracy by [[Mary Childs]], [[Michael Blatchford]] and [[Steve Carey]], three British Columbia lawyers who advise non-profit societies.
|-
! Records a society must keep include these records (this list is not exhaustive) !! Director access !! Member access !! Public access
|-
| Register of members || Yes || Yes, though directors may restrict || No
|-
| Minutes of members’ meetings and copies of all ordinary and special resolutions || Yes || Yes || Bylaws may permit
|-
| Minutes of directors’ meetings and copies of all consent resolutions of directors || Yes || Yes, though bylaws may restrict (except relating to conflicts disclosures) || Bylaws may permit
|-
| Any disclosures by directors or senior managers of a conflict of interest || Yes || Yes || Bylaws may permit
|-
| Accounting records, including a record of each transaction materially affecting the society’s financial position || Yes || Yes, though bylaws may restrict || Bylaws may permit
|-
| Financial statements and any auditor’s report on the financial statements || Yes || Yes || Yes
|-
|}


==2. Remuneration paid to directors and certain employees and contractors must be disclosed==
{| style="border: 1px;"
|[[File:drewjackson.jpg|border|x125px|link=Drew Jackson]]<br /><div class="center">[[Drew Jackson]],<br />Writer</div>|| [[File:marychilds.png|border|x125px|link=Mary Childs]]<br /><div class="center">[[Mary Childs]],<br />Reviewer</div> || [[File:michaelblatchford.png|border|x125px|link=Michael Blatchford]]<br /><div class="center">[[Michael Blatchford]],<br />Reviewer</div> || [[File:stevecarey.png|border|x125px|link=Steve Carey]]<br /><div class="center">[[Steve Carey]],<br />Reviewer</div>
|}


Under the new Act, a society must disclose any remuneration paid to a director. Remuneration is money or other compensation paid for work or services performed. Amounts paid to a director for being a director and for acting in any other capacity must be disclosed separately. The disclosure must be made in a note to the annual financial statements, which are available to society members and to the public.
{{Transitioning an Existing Society Navbox}}


(In a change that takes effect in 2018, a society must not remunerate a director for being a director unless the bylaws expressly permit; see below.)
{{Creative Commons for Drew Jackson
 
|title = Transitioning an Existing Society: A How-to Guide for Non-profits in BC
As well, societies must disclose the remuneration of any employees or contractors making over $75,000. If a society has more than 10 employees or contractors making over that amount, they must disclose the top 10.
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To counterbalance privacy concerns, the names of the directors, employees and contractors need not be included in the financial statements. The disclosure can be done by position or contract; individual names don’t have to be disclosed. As well, a society can pool the information by disclosing the total number of employees and contractors making over $75,000 and the total amount of remuneration paid to them.
__NOGLOSSARY__

Latest revision as of 16:29, 9 December 2016

Transitioning an
Existing Society
This page is
from the publication
Transitioning an Existing Society:
A How-to Guide for Non-profits
in BC. See the full contents.
Contents
What the New Act Means
10 Key Changes in the New Act
Preparing for Transition
Reviewing Your Bylaws
Filing a Transition Application
Further Help ‎
From
Written by Drew Jackson
Feedback
We'd love your feedback!
v • d • e
Image via www.istock.com

There's a new law that governs how non-profit societies in British Columbia are created and run. A new Societies Act came into effect in BC on November 28, 2016. All societies in the province must "transition" under the new Act within a two-year period after the new law came into effect.

Aimed at those who work at a non-profit society in British Columbia or sit on a board of directors, Transitioning an Existing Society: A How-to Guide for Non-profits in BC covers the steps in transitioning a society under the new Act.

The information in this guide applies in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is produced for educational purposes and is not intended as legal advice. If you need advice about a specific legal problem, please contact a legal professional. Some sources of legal help are highlighted in the "Further Help" section.

This guide was written by Drew Jackson, a lawyer and librarian who writes about law for the public. It was reviewed for legal accuracy by Mary Childs, Michael Blatchford and Steve Carey, three British Columbia lawyers who advise non-profit societies.


Drew Jackson,
Writer
Mary Childs,
Reviewer
Michael Blatchford,
Reviewer
Steve Carey,
Reviewer
v • d • e
What the New Act Means
10 Changes in the New Act
You Should Know About
Preparing for Transition
Reviewing Your Bylaws
Filing a Transition Application
Further Help


Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Canada Licence Transitioning an Existing Society: A How-to Guide for Non-profits in BC © Drew Jackson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Canada Licence.
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