A society has a representative form of government when:
A. it has a supreme governing body constituted as:
(1) an assembly composed of delegates elected directly by the members or at intermediate assemblies or conventions of members or their representatives, together with other delegates as may be prescribed in the society's laws. A society may provide for election of delegates by mail. The elected delegates shall constitute a majority in number and shall not have less than two-thirds of the votes and not less than the number of votes required to amend the society's laws. The assembly shall be elected and shall meet at least once every four years and shall elect a board of directors to conduct the business of the society between meetings of the assembly. Vacancies on the board of directors between elections may be filled in the manner prescribed by the society's laws; or
(2) a board composed of persons elected by the members, either directly or by their representatives in intermediate assemblies, and any other persons prescribed in the society's laws. A society may provide for election of the board by mail. Each term of a board member shall not exceed four years. Vacancies on the board between elections shall be filled in the manner prescribed by the society's laws. Those persons elected to the board shall constitute a majority in number and not less than the number of votes required to amend the society's laws. A person filling the unexpired term of an elected board member shall be considered to be an elected member. The board shall meet at least quarterly to conduct the business of the society;
B. the officers of the society are elected either by the supreme governing body or by the board of directors;
C. only benefit members are eligible for election to the supreme governing body, the board of directors or any intermediate assembly; and
D. each voting member shall have one vote and no vote shall be cast by proxy.
History: 1978 Comp., § 59A-44-3, enacted by Laws 1989, ch. 388, § 3.
Repeals and reenactments. — Laws 1989, ch. 388, § 3, repealed 59A-44-3 NMSA 1978, as enacted by Laws 1984, ch. 127, § 788, relating to the definition of representative form of government, and enacted a new section, effective January 1, 1990.
Structure New Mexico Statutes
Article 44 - Fraternal Benefit Societies
Section 59A-44-1 - Fraternal benefit societies.
Section 59A-44-2 - Lodge system.
Section 59A-44-3 - Representative form of government.
Section 59A-44-4 - Definitions.
Section 59A-44-5 - Purposes and powers.
Section 59A-44-6 - Qualifications for membership.
Section 59A-44-7 - Location of office; meetings; communications to members; grievance procedures.
Section 59A-44-8 - No personal liability.
Section 59A-44-10 - Organization.
Section 59A-44-11 - Amendments to laws.
Section 59A-44-12 - Institutions.
Section 59A-44-13 - Reinsurance.
Section 59A-44-14 - Consolidations and mergers.
Section 59A-44-15 - Conversion of society into a mutual life insurance company.
Section 59A-44-17 - Beneficiaries.
Section 59A-44-18 - Benefits not attachable.
Section 59A-44-19 - The benefit contract.
Section 59A-44-21 - Investments.
Section 59A-44-23 - Exemptions.
Section 59A-44-25 - Valuation.
Section 59A-44-27 - Certificates of authority.
Section 59A-44-28 - Examination of societies; no adverse publications.
Section 59A-44-29 - Foreign or alien society.
Section 59A-44-30 - Injunction; liquidation; receivership of domestic society.
Section 59A-44-31 - Suspension, revocation or refusal of license of foreign or alien society.
Section 59A-44-32 - Injunction.
Section 59A-44-33 - Licensing of agents.
Section 59A-44-34 - Unfair methods of competition and unfair and deceptive acts and practices.
Section 59A-44-35 - Service of process.
Section 59A-44-36 - Fee schedule.
Section 59A-44-37 - Carrie Tingley crippled children's hospital fund.
Section 59A-44-39 - Penalties.
Section 59A-44-40 - Exemption of certain societies.
Section 59A-44-41 - Applicability of Insurance Code.
Section 59A-44-42 - Severability.