California Assembly Bill 361, Creating Benefit Corporations
October 10, 2011 California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 361 of 2011 and related legislation, Senate Bill 201 of 2011 on October 10, 2011. The legislation created two new business structures: benefit corporations and flexible purpose corporations. Companies registered as benefit corporations must make business decisions that take into account adverse effects on the environment, their local community, employees, and suppliers. A flexible purpose corporation permits a company to focus on a specific mission that benefits society in addition to generating profits for shareholders. Both types of companies must file an annual, audited report with the California Secretary of . . .
