PROVIDENCE, R.I. (June 18, 2008) – Non-profit corporations that have not yet filed their 2008 annual reports with Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis got a last-minute gift from the General Assembly when legislators approved a bill yesterday that allows non-profits to file them on-line for the first time. The legislature’s decision comes just in time to help non-profits comply with the looming June 30 deadline to report to the state.
Prior to the General Assembly’s decision, non-profits were required to either mail in the report or deliver it in person. While those options are still viable, giving non-profits the opportunity to file online was important to Secretary Mollis.
“The days when we operated in a 9-to-5 world are over. I am committed to using technology to make it easier to do business in Rhode Island. Filing on-line holds down costs and makes it possible to work at anytime from anywhere,” said Mollis.
State law requires non-profits to report the names and contact information of their officers and board of directors among other information in the month of June. More than 6,700 non-profit corporations that are registered to do business in Rhode Island are subject to the requirement.
The bill will become law unless Governor Carcieri vetoes it within seven days. The bill’s primary sponsors, Sen. Mary Ellen Goodwin and Rep. Arthur Corvese, are happy to have made doing business more convenient for the state’s non-profit corporations.
"This legislation makes it that much easier to conduct business in the state of Rhode Island. No longer will a non-profit business owner in Westerly, for example, have to drive into Providence between the hours of 9 and 5 in order to file routine paperwork with the Secretary of State. Now, they will be able to fulfill these requirements via computer, 24 hours a day," said Sen. Goodwin.
“As a small businessman, I know how important even small improvements to the law can be. We must take advantage of every opportunity to help Rhode Island businesses operate more efficiently in a regional and national economy, ” said Rep. Corvese.
Failure to file an annual report can result in the revocation of a nonprofit’s Certificate of Incorporation or Certificate of Authority. In addition, state law assesses a $25 penalty for late filing.
“This new legislature is just another step in making it easier to do business in Rhode Island. I commend the Assembly for joining me and supporting this initiative,” said Mollis.
The Secretary of State’s office works with every company registered to do business in Rhode Island. The office oversees recording commercial liens, protecting corporate trademarks and providing advice to small and start-up businesses.
Secretary of State Mollis is committed to making it easier for Rhode Islanders to vote, helping businesses grow and making government more open and accessible. For more information about filing an annual report, visit www.sec.state.ri.us/corps or call (401) 222-3040.