Reprinted

April 13, 2001





ENGROSSED

SENATE BILL No. 489

_____


DIGEST OF SB 489 (Updated April 12, 2001 10:22 AM - DI 94)


Citations Affected: IC 20-12; IC 23-1; IC 23-4; IC 23-15; IC 23-16; IC 23-17; IC 23-18; IC 26-1.

Synopsis: Business entity and public university matters. Allows more than one member of the board of trustees of Indiana University elected by the alumni to reside in the same county. Establishes certain filing fees for business entity name filings. Revises procedures related to filing for business entity names. Changes certain fees. Allows a corporation's bylaws to be amended to permit staggered terms for a corporation's board of directors without first amending the articles of incorporation. Provides for merger of a parent corporation with a subsidiary corporation, 100% of which is owned by the parent, without shareholder approval if certain other conditions are met. Provides reduced fees or eliminates fees for certain items filed electronically. Allows a filing with the secretary of state to contain multiple assumed business names. Requires the secretary of state to forward to the department of financial institutions a new filing or an amendment changing the business entity name if the filing or amendment contains
(Continued next page)

Effective: July 1, 2001; January 1, 2002.





Harrison
(HOUSE SPONSORS _ CROOKS, RIPLEY)




    January 22, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Commerce and Consumer Affairs.
    February 15, 2001, reported favorably _ Do Pass.
    February 19, 2001, read second time, ordered engrossed.
    February 20, 2001, engrossed.
    February 22, 2001, read third time, passed. Yeas 48, nays 0.

HOUSE ACTION

    February 26, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Insurance, Corporations and Small Business.
    April 5, 2001, amended, reported _ Do Pass.
    April 11, 2001, read second time, amended, ordered engrossed.
    April 12, 2001, engrossed. Read third time, recommitted to Committee of One, amended; passed. Yeas 89, nays 0.





Digest Continued

the term "bank" in the name of the business entity. Provides for administrative dissolution of a business entity with a name that contains "bank" if the department of financial institutions determines that the business entity violates the law regulating banks. Allows electronic signatures on certain electronic filings. Establishes a filing fee for articles of merger. Allows for a renewable reservation of a nonprofit corporation name.


Reprinted

April 13, 2001

First Regular Session 112th General Assembly (2001)


PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts between statutes enacted by the 2000 General Assembly.


ENGROSSED

SENATE BILL No. 489



    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning business and other associations.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

    SECTION 1. IC 20-12-23-2 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2002]: Sec. 2. The board of trustees of the state university shall be nine (9) in number. of whom Not more than two (2) excluding the student trustee appointed pursuant to IC 20-12-24-3.5, of the trustees appointed under IC 20-12-24-3 shall reside in the same county. and They and their successors shall be a body politic, with the style of "The Trustees of Indiana University"; in that name to sue and be sued; to elect one (1) of their number president; to elect a treasurer, secretary, and such other officers as they may deem necessary, to prescribe the duties and fix the compensation of such officers; to possess all the real and personal property of such university for its benefit; to take and hold, in their corporate name any real or personal property for the benefit of such institution; to expend the income of the university for its benefit; to declare vacant the seat of any trustee who shall absent himself from two (2) successive meetings of the board, or be guilty of any gross immorality or breach of the bylaws of the institution; to elect a president, such professors and

other officers for such university as shall be necessary, and prescribe their duties and salaries; to employ other persons as necessary; to establish programs of fringe benefits and retirement benefits for the university's officers, faculty, and other employees that may be supplemental to or in lieu of state retirement programs established by statute for public employees; to prescribe the course of study and discipline and price of tuition in such university; and to make all bylaws necessary to carry into effect the powers hereby conferred.
    SECTION 2. IC 23-1-18-1 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 1. (a) A document must satisfy the requirements of this section, and of any other section that adds to or varies these requirements, to be entitled to filing by the secretary of state.
    (b) This article must require or permit filing the document in the office of the secretary of state.
    (c) The document must contain the information required by this article. It may contain other information as well.
    (d) The document must be typewritten or printed, legible, and otherwise suitable for processing.
    (e) The document must be in the English language. A corporate name need not be in English if written in English letters or Arabic or Roman numerals, and the certificate of existence required of foreign corporations need not be in English if accompanied by a reasonably authenticated English translation.
    (f) The document must be executed:
        (1) by the chairman of the board of directors of the domestic or foreign corporation or by any of its officers;
        (2) if directors have not been selected or the corporation has not been formed, by an incorporator; or
        (3) if the corporation is in the hands of a receiver, trustee, or other court appointed fiduciary, by that fiduciary.
    (g) Except as provided in subsection (k), the person executing the document shall sign it and state beneath or opposite the signature the person's name and the capacity in which the person signs. A signature on a document authorized to be filed under this article may be a facsimile. The document may but is not required to contain:
        (1) the corporate seal;
        (2) an attestation by the secretary or an assistant secretary; and
        (3) an acknowledgement, verification, or proof.
    (h) If the secretary of state has prescribed a mandatory form for the document under section 2 of this chapter, the document must be in or on the prescribed form.


    (i) The document must be delivered to the office of the secretary of state for filing as described in section 1.1 of this chapter and the correct filing fee must be paid in the manner and form required by the secretary of state.
    (j) The secretary of state may accept payment of the correct filing fee by credit card, debit card, charge card, or similar method. However, if the filing fee is paid by credit card, debit card, charge card, or similar method, the liability is not finally discharged until the secretary of state receives payment or credit from the institution responsible for making the payment or credit. The secretary of state may contract with a bank or credit card vendor for acceptance of bank or credit cards. However, if there is a vendor transaction charge or discount fee, whether billed to the secretary of state or charged directly to the secretary of state's account, the secretary of state or the credit card vendor may collect from the person using the bank or credit card a fee that may not exceed the highest transaction charge or discount fee charged to the secretary of state by the bank or credit card vendor during the most recent collection period. This fee may be collected regardless of any agreement between the bank and a credit card vendor or regardless of any internal policy of the credit card vendor that may prohibit this type of fee. The fee is a permitted additional charge under IC 24-4.5-3-202.
    (k) A signature on a document that is transmitted and filed electronically is sufficient if the person transmitting and filing the document:
        (1) has the intent to file the document as evidenced by a symbol executed or adopted by a party with present intention to authenticate the filing; and
        (2) enters the filing party's name on the electronic form in a signature box or other place indicated by the secretary of state.

    SECTION 3. IC 23-1-18-3 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 3. (a) The secretary of state shall collect the following fees when the documents described in this subsection are delivered to the secretary of state for filing:
    Document    Fee
    (1)    Articles of incorporation    $90
    (2)    Application for use of
        indistinguishable name    $20
    (3)    Application for reserved name    $20
    (4)     Application for renewal of reservation    $20
    (5)
    Notice of transfer of reserved name    $20
    (5) (6) Application for registered
        name    $30
    (6) (7)    Application for renewal of
        registered name    $30
    (7) (8)    Corporation's statement of change
        of registered agent or registered
        office or both    No Fee
    (8) (9)    Agent's statement of change of
        registered office for each
        affected corporation    No Fee
    (9) (10)    Agent's statement of
        resignation    No Fee
    (10) (11)    Amendment of articles of
        incorporation    $30
    (11) (12)    Restatement of articles of
        incorporation    $30
        With amendment of articles    $30
    (12) (13)    Articles of merger or share
        exchange    $90
    (13) (14)    Articles of dissolution    $30
    (14) (15)    Articles of revocation of
        dissolution    $30
    (15) (16)    Certificate of administrative
        dissolution    No Fee
    (16) (17)    Application for reinstatement
        following administrative
        dissolution    $30
    (17) (18)    Certificate of reinstatement    No Fee
    (18) (19) Certificate of judicial dissolution    No Fee
    (19) (20)    Application for certificate of
        authority    $90
    (20) (21)    Application for amended certificate
        of authority    $30
    (21) (22)    Application for certificate of
        withdrawal    $30
    (22) (23)    Certificate of revocation of
        authority to transact business    No Fee
    (23) (24)    Biennial report filed in writing,
        including by facsimile    
$30
     (25)    Biennial report filed by
        electronic medium    $20

    (24) (26) Articles of correction    $30
    (25) (27) Application for certificate of
        existence or authorization    $15
    (26) (28)    Any other document required or
        permitted to be filed by this
        article, including an application
        for any other certificates or
        certification certificate (except
        for any such other certificates
        that the secretary of state may
        determine to issue without
        additional fee in connection with
        particular filings) and a request
        for other facts of record under
        section 9(b)(6) of this chapter    $30
    (b) The fee set forth in subsection (a)(23) (a)(24) for filing a biennial report is:
         (1) fifteen dollars ($15) per year, for a filing in writing, including facsimile; and
        (2) ten dollars ($10) per year, for a filing by electronic medium;

to be paid biennially.
    (c) The secretary of state shall collect a fee of ten dollars ($10) each time process is served on the secretary of state under this article. If the party to a proceeding causing service of process prevails in the proceeding, then that party is entitled to recover this fee as costs from the nonprevailing party.
    (d) The secretary of state shall collect the following fees for copying and certifying the copy of any filed document relating to a domestic or foreign corporation:
        (1) Per page for copying
$ 1

        (2) For a certification stamp
$15

    SECTION 4. IC 23-1-23-2 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 2. (a) A person may reserve the exclusive right to the use of a corporate name, including a fictitious name for a foreign corporation whose corporate name is not available, by delivering an application to the secretary of state for filing. The application must set forth the name and address of the applicant and the name proposed to be reserved. If the secretary of state finds that the corporate name applied for is available, the secretary of state shall reserve the name for the applicant's exclusive use for renewable one hundred twenty (120) day periods.
    (b) The owner of a reserved corporate name may transfer the reservation to another person by delivering to the secretary of state a

signed notice of the transfer that states the name and address of the transferee.
    SECTION 5. IC 23-1-23-3 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 3. (a) A foreign corporation may register its corporate name, or its corporate name with any addition required by IC 23-1-49-6, if the name is distinguishable upon the records of the secretary of state as provided in section 1 of this chapter.
    (b) A foreign corporation registers its corporate name, or its corporate name with any addition required by IC 23-1-49-6, by delivering to the secretary of state for filing an application
        (1) setting forth:
        (A) (1) its corporate name, or its corporate name with any addition required by IC 23-1-49-6; and
        (B) (2) the state or country and date of its incorporation. and
        (C) a brief description of the nature of the business in which it is engaged; and
        (2) accompanied by a certificate of existence (or a document of similar import) from the state or country of incorporation.
    (c) The name is registered for the applicant's exclusive use upon the effective date of the application.
    (d) A foreign corporation whose registration is effective may renew it for successive years by delivering to the secretary of state for filing a renewal application, which complies with the requirements of subsection (b), between October 1 and December 31 of the preceding year. The filing of the renewal application renews the registration for the following calendar year.
    (e) A foreign corporation whose registration is effective may thereafter qualify as a foreign corporation under that name or consent in writing to the use of that name by a corporation thereafter incorporated under this article or by another foreign corporation thereafter authorized to transact business in Indiana. The registration terminates when the domestic corporation is incorporated or the foreign corporation qualifies or consents to the qualification of another foreign corporation under the registered name.
    SECTION 6. IC 23-1-33-6 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 6. (a) The articles of incorporation or if the articles of incorporation so authorize, the bylaws may provide for staggering their terms by dividing the total number of directors into either:
        (1) two (2) groups, with each group containing one-half (1/2) of the total, as near as may be; or


        (2) if there are more than two (2) directors, three (3) groups, with each group containing one-third (1/3) of the total, as near as may be.
    (b) In the event that terms are staggered under subsection (a), the terms of directors in the first group expire at the first annual shareholders' meeting after their election, the terms of the second group expire at the second annual shareholders' meeting after their election, and the terms of the third group, if any, expire at the third annual shareholders' meeting after their election. At each annual shareholders' meeting held thereafter, directors shall be chosen for a term of two (2) years or three (3) years, as the case may be, to succeed those whose terms expire.
    SECTION 7. IC 23-1-40-4.1 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 4.1. (a) A parent corporation that, indirectly through ownership of one (1) or more other corporations, owns one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding shares of each class of a subsidiary corporation may merge the parent corporation and the subsidiary corporation to create a holding corporation (which, before the effective date of the merger, is a subsidiary of the parent) for the parent corporation without approval of the shareholders of the parent corporation or the subsidiary corporation if:
        (1) as a result of the merger, the parent corporation or the successor of the parent corporation becomes or remains a direct or an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the holding corporation;
        (2) each shareholder of the parent corporation whose shares were outstanding immediately before the effective date of the merger will hold the same proportionate number of shares of the holding company, relative to the number of shares held by all shareholders, immediately after the effective date, including identical:
            (A) designations;
            (B) preferences;
            (C) limitations; and
            (D) relative rights;
        (3) the articles of incorporation of the holding corporation immediately after the effective date of the merger are identical to the articles of incorporation of the parent corporation that are in effect immediately before the effective date of the merger, except amendments to the articles of

incorporation of the holding corporation described in IC 23-1-38-2;
        (4) the directors of the parent corporation immediately before the effective date of the merger become the directors of the holding corporation immediately after the effective date of the merger; and
        (5) the shareholders of the parent corporation do not recognize a gain or a loss for federal income tax purposes in connection with the merger, as determined by the board of directors of the parent corporation.
    (b) The board of directors of a parent corporation that merges with a subsidiary corporation under subsection (a) shall adopt a plan of merger that sets forth:
        (1) the names of the parent corporation, the subsidiary corporation, and the holding corporation; and
        (2) the manner and basis of converting the shares of the parent corporation into shares of the holding corporation of which the parent will be a subsidiary after the effective date of the merger.
    (c) The following apply to a merger under subsection (a):
        (1) To the extent that the restrictions of IC 23-1-42 apply to the parent corporation and shareholders of the parent corporation on the effective date of the merger, the same restrictions apply to the holding corporation and shareholders of the holding corporation immediately after the effective date of the merger, as if the holding corporation were the parent corporation.
        (2) Any control shares (as defined in IC 23-1-42-1) of the parent corporation on the effective date of the merger become control shares of the holding corporation immediately after the effective date of the merger.
        (3) To the extent that restrictions under IC 23-1-43 apply to the parent corporation and shareholders of the parent corporation on the effective date of the merger, the same restrictions apply to the holding corporation and shareholders of the holding corporation after the effective date of the merger, as if the holding corporation were the parent corporation.
        (4) All shares of the holding corporation that are acquired in the merger are, for purposes of IC 23-1-43, considered to have been acquired at the time the shares of stock of the parent corporation from which the shares were converted in the

merger were acquired.
        (5) A shareholder who was not an interested shareholder (as defined in IC 23-1-43-10) of the parent corporation immediately before the effective date of the merger does not become an interested shareholder of the holding corporation solely because of the merger.
        (6) At the election of the board of directors of the parent corporation, after the effective date of the merger the shares of each class of stock of the holding corporation into which shares of the parent corporation are converted in the merger will be represented by the certificates that represented shares of the parent corporation.

    SECTION 8. IC 23-4-1-45 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 45. (a) To qualify as a limited liability partnership, a partnership under this chapter must do the following:
        (1) File a registration with the secretary of state in a form determined by the secretary of state that satisfies the following:
            (A) Is signed by one (1) or more partners authorized to sign the registration. A signature on a document under this clause that is transmitted and filed electronically is sufficient if the person transmitting and filing the document:
                (i) has the intent to file the document as evidenced by a symbol executed or adopted by a party with present intention to authenticate the filing; and
                (ii) enters the filing party's name on the electronic form in a signature box or other place indicated by the secretary of state.

            (B) States the name of the limited liability partnership, which must:
                (i) contain the words "Limited Liability Partnership" or the abbreviation "L.L.P." or "LLP" as the last words or letters of the name; and
                (ii) be distinguishable upon the records of the secretary of state from the name of a limited liability partnership registered to transact business in Indiana.
            (C) States the address of the partnership's principal office.
            (D) States the name of the partnership's registered agent and the address of the partnership's registered office for service of process as required to be maintained by section 50 of this chapter.


            (E) Contains a brief statement of the business in which the partnership engages.
            (F) States any other matters that the partnership determines to include.
            (G) States that the filing of the registration is evidence of the partnership's intention to act as a limited liability partnership.
        (2) File a ninety dollar ($90) registration fee with the registration.
    (b) The secretary of state shall grant limited liability partnership status to any partnership that submits a completed registration with the required fee.
    (c) Registration is effective and a partnership becomes a limited liability partnership on the date a registration is filed with the secretary of state or at any later date or time specified in the registration. The registration remains effective until it is voluntarily withdrawn by filing with the secretary of state a written withdrawal notice under section 45.2 of this chapter.
    (d) The status of a partnership as a limited liability partnership and the liability of a partner of a limited liability partnership is not adversely affected by errors or subsequent changes in the information stated in a registration under subsection (a).
    (e) A registration on file with the secretary of state is notice that the partnership is a limited liability partnership and is notice of all other facts set forth in the registration.
    SECTION 9. IC 23-4-1-45.3 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 45.3. (a) The A person may reserve the exclusive right to the use a name of a limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership may be reserved by the following:
        (1) A person intending to organize a limited liability partnership under this article and to adopt that name.
        (2) A limited liability partnership or any foreign limited liability partnership registered in Indiana that, in either case, intends to change its name to that name.
        (3) A foreign limited liability partnership intending to register in Indiana and use that name in Indiana.
        (4) A person intending to organize a foreign limited liability partnership and intending to have it registered in Indiana and use that name in Indiana.
    (b) An applicant may reserve a specified name by filing with of a name, including a fictitious name for a foreign limited liability partnership whose name is not available, by delivering an application to the secretary of state an for filing. The application

executed by must set forth the name and address of the applicant specifying the and the name proposed to be reserved. and the name and the address of the applicant, along with a twenty dollar ($20) fee. If the secretary of state finds that the name is available, for use by the applicant, the secretary of state shall reserve the name for the exclusive use of the applicant for a period of renewable one hundred twenty (120) days. After reserving a name, the same applicant may reserve the same name for successive periods of one hundred twenty (120) days. day periods.
    (c) (b) The exclusive right to use owner of a reserved name may be transferred transfer the reservation to another person by filing in the office of delivering to the secretary of state a signed notice of the transfer executed by the applicant who reserved the name to be transferred and that states the name and address of the transferee.
    SECTION 10. IC 23-4-1-45.4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 45.4. (a) A foreign limited liability partnership may register its name, or its name with any addition required by section 45 of this chapter, if the name is distinguishable upon the records of the secretary of state as provided in section 45 of this chapter.
    (b) A foreign limited liability partnership registers its name, or its name with any addition required by section 45 of this chapter, by delivering to the secretary of state for filing an application setting forth:
        (1) its name, or its name with any addition required by section 45 of this chapter; and
        (2) the state or country and date of its formation.
    (c) The name is registered for the applicant's exclusive use upon the effective date of the application.
    (d) A foreign limited liability partnership whose registration is effective may renew the registration for successive years by delivering to the secretary of state for filing a renewal application that complies with subsection (b). The renewal application must be filed between October 1 and December 31 of the preceding year. The filing of the renewal application renews the registration for the following calendar year.
    (e) A foreign limited liability partnership whose registration is effective may thereafter qualify as a foreign limited liability partnership under that name or consent in writing to the use of that name by a limited liability partnership thereafter formed under this article or by another foreign limited liability

partnership thereafter authorized to transact business in Indiana. The registration terminates when the domestic limited liability partnership is formed or the foreign limited liability partnership qualifies or consents to the qualification of another foreign limited liability partnership under the registered name.
    SECTION 11. IC 23-4-1-45.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 45.5. The secretary of state shall collect the following fees when the documents described in this chapter are delivered to the secretary of state for filing:
        (1) Application for reservation of name

$20

        (2) Application for renewal of reservation
$20

        (3) Notice of transfer of reserved name
$20

        (4) Application of registered name
$30

        (5) Application for renewal of registered name
$30

    SECTION 12. IC 23-4-1-49 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 49. (1) (a) Before transacting business in this state, a foreign limited liability partnership shall do the following:
        (a) (1) Comply with any statutory or administrative registration or filing requirements governing the specific type of business in which the partnership is engaged.
        (b) (2) File a registration with the secretary of state in a form determined by the secretary of state that satisfies the following:
            (I) (A) Is signed at least by one (1) partner authorized to sign the registration. A signature of an authorized partner on a document under this clause that is transmitted and filed electronically is sufficient if the authorized partner transmitting and filing the document:
                (i) has the intent to file the document as evidenced by a symbol executed or adopted by a party with present intention to authenticate the filing; and
                (ii) enters the filing party's name on the electronic form in a signature box or other place indicated by the secretary of state.

            (II) (B) States the name of the limited liability partnership which must contain the words "Limited Liability Partnership" or the abbreviation "L.L.P." or "LLP" or other similar words or abbreviations as may be required or authorized by the laws of the jurisdiction where the partnership is registered as the last words or letters of the name.
            (III) (C) States the jurisdiction in which the partnership is

registered as a limited liability partnership.
            (IV) (D) States the address of the partnership's principal office.
            (V) (E) States the name of the partnership's registered agent and the address of the partnership's registered office for service of process as required to be maintained by section 50 of this chapter.
            (VI) (F) Contains a brief statement of the business in which the partnership engages.
            (VII) (G) States any other matters that the partnership determines to include.
            (VIII) (H) States that the filing of the registration is evidence of the partnership's intention to act as a limited liability partnership.
        (c) (3) File a ninety dollar ($90) registration fee with the registration.
    (2) (b) The secretary of state shall permit a foreign limited liability partnership that:
        (a) (1) submits a completed registration;
        (b) (2) submits the required ninety dollars ($90); and
        (c) (3) otherwise complies with this chapter;
to transact business in the state. A registration remains effective until the registration is voluntarily withdrawn under section 45.2 of this chapter.
    (3) (c) The internal affairs of foreign limited liability partnerships, including the liability of partners for debts, obligations, and liabilities of or chargeable to the partnership or a partner or partners, are subject to and governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the foreign limited liability partnership is registered.
    SECTION 13. IC 23-15-1-1 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 1. (a) Except as otherwise provided in section 2 of this chapter:
        (1) a person conducting or transacting business in Indiana under a name, designation, or title other than the real name of the person conducting or transacting such business;
        (2) a corporation conducting business in Indiana under a name, designation, or title other than the name of the corporation as shown by its articles of incorporation;
        (3) a foreign corporation conducting business in Indiana under a name, designation, or title other than the name of the foreign corporation as shown by its application for certificate of authority to transact business in Indiana;
        (4) a limited partnership conducting business in Indiana under a

name, designation, or title other than the name of the limited partnership as shown by its certificate of limited partnership;
        (5) a foreign limited partnership conducting business in Indiana under a name, designation, or title other than the name of the limited partnership as shown by its application for registration;
        (6) a limited liability company conducting business in Indiana under a name, designation, or title other than as shown by its articles of organization;
        (7) a foreign limited liability company conducting business in Indiana under a name, designation, or title other than the name of the limited liability company as shown by its application for registration;
        (8) a limited liability partnership conducting business in Indiana under a name, designation, or title other than the name of the limited liability partnership as shown by its application for registration; and
        (9) a foreign limited liability partnership conducting business in Indiana under a name, designation, or title other than the name of the limited liability partnership as shown by its application for registration;
shall file for record, in the office of the recorder of each county in which a place of business or an office of the person, limited partnership, foreign limited partnership, limited liability company, foreign limited liability company, corporation, or foreign corporation is situated, a certificate stating the assumed name or names to be used, and, in the case of a person, the full name and address of the person engaged in or transacting business, or, in the case of a corporation, foreign corporation, limited liability company, foreign limited liability company, limited partnership, or foreign limited partnership, the full name and the address of the corporation's, limited liability company's, or limited partnership's principal office in Indiana.
    (b) The recorder shall keep a record of the certificates filed under this section and shall keep an index of the certificates showing, in alphabetical order, the names of the persons, the names of the partnerships, the names of the limited liability companies, the corporate names of the corporations having such certificates on file in the recorder's office, and the assumed name or names which they intend to use in carrying on their businesses as shown by the certificates.
    (c) Before the dissolution of any business for which a certificate is on file with the recorder, the person, limited liability company, partnership, or corporation to which the certificate appertains shall file a notice of dissolution for record in the recorder's office.


    (d) The county recorder shall charge a fee in accordance with IC 36-2-7-10 for each certificate, notice of dissolution, and notice of discontinuance of use filed with the recorder's office and recorded under this chapter. The funds received shall be receipted as county funds the same as other money received by the recorders.
    (e) A corporation, limited liability company, or limited partnership subject to this chapter shall, in addition to filing the certificate provided for in subsection (a), file with the secretary of state a copy of each certificate.
    (f) A person, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation that has filed a certificate of assumed business name or names under subsection (a) or (e) may file a notice of discontinuance of use of assumed business name or names with the secretary of state and with the recorder's office in which the certificate was filed or transferred. The secretary of state and the recorder shall keep a record of notices filed under this subsection.
    (g) A corporation or limited partnership, domestic or foreign, that is subject to this chapter and that does not have a place of business or an office in Indiana, shall file the certificate required under subsection (a) in the office of the recorder of the county where the corporation's or limited partnership's registered office is located. The certificate must state the assumed name or names to be used, the name of the registered agent, and the address of the registered office. The corporation or limited partnership must comply with the requirements in subsection (e).
    (h) The secretary of state shall collect the following fees when a copy of a certificate is filed with the secretary of state under subsection (e):
        (1) A fee of thirty dollars ($30) from a corporation (other than a nonprofit corporation), limited liability company, or a limited partnership.
        (2) A fee of twenty-six dollars ($26) from a nonprofit corporation.
    SECTION 14. IC 23-15-8 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]:
    Chapter 8. Use of "Bank" in Business Entity Name
    Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "business entity" means:
        (1) a corporation;
        (2) a limited liability company;
        (3) an association;
        (4) a partnership in any form; or
        (5) any other similar form of business organization;
whether organized for profit or not for profit.
    Sec. 2. (a) If a new filing or an amendment changing the name of the business entity is received by the secretary of state and the new filing or the amendment contains "bank" in the business entity name, the filing must be forwarded to the department of financial institutions for review of the use of the term "bank".
    (b) A document under subsection (a) may only be filed by the secretary of state after the filing has been approved by the department of financial institutions.
    (c) The department of financial institutions shall review each filing forwarded to the department of financial institutions under section 2 of this chapter and provide notice of the results of the review to the secretary of state.
    Sec. 3. (a) If the department of financial institutions determines that a business entity has violated IC 28-1-20-4, the department of financial institutions shall notify the secretary of state of the violation.
    (b) The secretary of state shall commence a proceeding under this section to administratively dissolve a business entity if:
        (1) the name of the business entity contains the word "bank"; and
        (2) the department of financial institutions determines that the business entity violates IC 28-1-20-4.
    (c) If the secretary of state commences an administrative dissolution under subsection (b), the secretary of state shall serve the business entity with written notice of the determination under subsection (b)(2). The secretary of state shall, at the same time notice is sent to the business entity, provide a copy of the notice to the department of financial institutions.
    (d) If a business entity that receives a notice under subsection (c) does not:
        (1) correct the grounds for dissolution; or
        (2) demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the department of financial institutions that the grounds for dissolution do not exist;
at any time after sixty (60) days after service of the notice is perfected, the department of financial institutions shall notify the secretary of state in writing of the continuing violation. After receiving the written notice from the department of financial institutions, the secretary of state shall administratively dissolve the business entity by signing a certificate of dissolution that recites the grounds for dissolution and the effective date of the dissolution.

The secretary of state shall file the original certificate of dissolution and serve a copy of the certificate of dissolution on the business entity.
    (e) A business entity administratively dissolved under this section may carry on only those activities necessary to wind up and liquidate the business entity's affairs.
    Sec. 4. (a) The business entity may appeal the administrative dissolution to the circuit court or superior court of the county:
        (1) where the business entity's principal office is located; or
        (2) if the principal office is not located in Indiana, where the business entity's registered office is located;
not later than thirty (30) days after service of the notice of denial is perfected.
    (b) The court may do the following:
        (1) Order the secretary of state to reinstate the dissolved business entity.
        (2) Take other action the court considers appropriate.
    (c) The court's final decision may be appealed as in other civil proceedings.
    Sec. 5. Dissolution under this section is in addition to any penalties imposed upon the business entity by IC 28-1-20-4(j).

    SECTION 15. IC 23-15-9 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]:
    Chapter 9. Miscellaneous
    Sec. 1. The secretary of state shall, upon request from the department of workforce development, provide to the department of workforce development a list of:
        (1) corporations;
        (2) nonprofit corporations;
        (3) limited partnerships; and
        (4) limited liability companies;
that have been administratively, judicially, or voluntarily dissolved under IC 23.

    SECTION 16. IC 23-16-2-2 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 2. (a) The A person may reserve the exclusive right to the use of a name, may be reserved including a fictitious name by a foreign limited partnership whose name is not available, by
        (1) any person intending to organize a limited partnership under this article and to adopt that name;
        (2) any domestic limited partnership or any foreign limited

partnership registered in Indiana intending to adopt that name;
        (3) any foreign limited partnership intending to register in Indiana and adopt that name; and
        (4) any person intending to organize a foreign limited partnership and intending to have it registered in Indiana and adopt that name.
    (b) The reservation of a specified name shall be made by filing with delivering an application to the secretary of state an for filing. The application executed by the must set forth the name and address of the applicant specifying the and the name proposed to be reserved. and the name and address of the applicant. If the secretary of state finds that the name is available, for use by a domestic or foreign limited partnership, the secretary of state shall reserve the name for the exclusive use of the applicant for a period of renewable one hundred twenty (120) days. Once having so reserved a name, the same applicant may again reserve the same name for successive periods of one hundred twenty (120) days. day periods.
    (b)
The right to the exclusive use owner of a reserved name may be transferred transfer to any other another person by filing in the office of delivering to the secretary of state a signed notice of the transfer executed by the applicant for whom the name was reserved, and specifying the name to be transferred and that states the name and address of the transferee.
    SECTION 17. IC 23-16-2-2.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 2.5. (a) A foreign limited partnership may register its name, or its name with any addition required by section 1 of this chapter, if the name is distinguishable upon the records of the secretary of state as provided in section 1 of this chapter.
    (b) A foreign limited partnership registers its name, or its name with any addition required by section 1 of this chapter, by delivering to the secretary of state for filing an application setting forth:
        (1) its name, or its name with any addition required by section 1 of this chapter; and
        (2) the state or country and date of its formation.
    (c) The name is registered for the applicant's exclusive use upon the effective date of the application.
    (d) A foreign limited partnership whose registration is effective may renew the registration for successive years by delivering to the secretary of state for filing a renewal application that complies with subsection (b). The renewal application must be filed between

October 1 and December 31 of the preceding year. The filing of the renewal application renews the registration for the following calendar year.
    (e) A foreign limited partnership whose registration is effective may thereafter register as a foreign limited partnership under that name or consent in writing to the use of that name by a limited partnership thereafter formed under this article or by another foreign limited partnership thereafter authorized to transact business in Indiana. The registration terminates when the domestic limited partnership is formed or the foreign limited partnership registers or consents to the registration of another foreign limited partnership under the registered name.

    SECTION 18. IC 23-16-12-4 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 4. (a) The secretary of state shall collect the following fees when the documents described in this section are delivered by a domestic or foreign limited partnership or a foreign limited liability company to the secretary of state for filing:
    Document    Fee
    (1) Application for reservation of name    $20
    (2) Application for use of indistinguishable name    $20
    (3) Application for renewal of reservation    $20
    (4) Notice of transfer or cancellation
    of reservation reserved name    $20
    (5) Application of registered name    $30
    (6) Application for renewal of registered name    $30
    (7)
Certificate of change of registered agent's
    business address    No fee
    (6) (8) Certificate of resignation of agent    No fee
    (7) (9) Certificate of limited partnership    $90
    (8) (10) Certificate of amendment    $30
    (9) (11) Certificate of cancellation    $90
    (10) (12) Restated certificate of limited partnership
    or registration    $30
    (11) (13) Restated certificate of limited partnership
    or registration with amendments    $30
    (12) (14) Application for registration    $90
    (13) (15) Certificate of change of application    $30
    (14) (16) Certificate of cancellation of
    registration    $30
    (15) (17) Certificate of change of registered agent     No fee
    (16) (18) Application for certificate of existence or
    authorization    $15


    (17) (19) Any other document required or permitted to be
    filed under this article, including an application
    for any other certificates or certification
    certificate (except for any such other certificates
    that the secretary of state may determine to issue
    without additional fee in connection with particular
    filings)    $30
    (b) The secretary of state shall collect a fee of ten dollars ($10) each time process is served on the secretary of state under this article. If the party to a proceeding causing service of process prevails in the proceeding, then that party is entitled to recover this fee as costs from the nonprevailing party.
    (c) The secretary of state shall collect the following fees for copying and certifying the copy of any filed document relating to a domestic or foreign limited partnership:
        (1) Per page for copying
$ 1

        (2) For a certification stamp
$15

    SECTION 19. IC 23-16-12-5 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 5. (a) A document must satisfy the requirements of this article to be entitled to filing by the secretary of state.
    (b) The document must contain the information required by this article. It may contain other information as well.
    (c) The document must be typewritten or printed.
    (d) The document must be legible and otherwise suitable for filing.
    (e) The document must be in the English language. A limited partnership name need not be in English if written in English letters or Arabic or Roman numerals.
    (f) Every person executing the document shall sign it and state beneath or opposite the signature the person's name and the capacity in which the person signs. A signature on a document authorized to be filed under this article may be a facsimile. A signature on a document under this subsection that is transmitted and filed electronically is sufficient if the person transmitting and filing the document:
        (1) has the intent to file the document as evidenced by a symbol executed or adopted by a party with present intention to authenticate the filing; and
        (2) enters the filing party's name on the electronic form in a signature box or other place indicated by the secretary of state.

    (g) The document must be delivered to the office of the secretary of state as required by section 5.1 of this chapter, and the correct filing fee

must be paid in the manner and form required by the secretary of state.
    (h) The secretary of state may accept payment of the correct filing fee by credit card, debit card, charge card, or similar method. However, if the filing fee is paid by credit card, debit card, charge card, or similar method, the liability is not finally discharged until the secretary of state receives payment or credit from the institution responsible for making the payment or credit. The secretary of state may contract with a bank or credit card vendor for acceptance of bank or credit cards. However, if there is a vendor transaction charge or discount fee, whether billed to the secretary of state or charged directly to the secretary of state's account, the secretary of state or the credit card vendor may collect from the person using the bank or credit card a fee that may not exceed the highest transaction charge or discount fee charged to the secretary of state by the bank or credit card vendor during the most recent collection period. This fee may be collected regardless of any agreement between the bank and a credit card vendor or regardless of any internal policy of the credit card vendor that may prohibit this type of fee. The fee is a permitted additional charge under IC 24-4.5-3-202.
    SECTION 20. IC 23-17-5-2 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 2. (a) A person may reserve the exclusive use of a corporate name, including a fictitious name for a foreign corporation whose corporate name is not available, by delivering an application to the secretary of state for filing. The application must set forth the name and address of the applicant and the name proposed to be reserved. If the secretary of state finds that the corporate name applied for is available, the secretary of state shall reserve the name for the applicant's exclusive use for a nonrenewable one hundred twenty (120) day period.
    (b) The owner of a reserved corporate name may transfer the reservation to another person by delivering to the secretary of state a signed notice of the transfer that states the name and address of the transferee.
    SECTION 21. IC 23-17-5-3 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 3. (a) A foreign corporation may register the foreign corporation's:
        (1) corporate name; or
        (2) corporate name with any addition required under IC 23-17-26-6;
if the name is distinguishable upon the records of the secretary of state as provided in section 1 of this chapter.
    (b) A foreign corporation registers the foreign corporation's corporate name, with any addition required under IC 23-17-26-6, by

delivering to the secretary of state for filing an application that meets the following conditions
        (1) sets setting forth: the following:
        (A) (1) The foreign corporation's corporate its name, or its name with any addition required by IC 23-17-26-6; and
        (B) (2) the state or country and date of the foreign corporation's its incorporation.
        (C) A brief description of the nature of the activities in which the foreign corporation is engaged.
        (2) Is accompanied by a certificate of existence or a similar document from the state or country of incorporation.
    (c) The name is registered for the applicant's exclusive use upon the effective date of the application.
    (d) A foreign corporation whose registration is effective may renew the registration for successive years by delivering to the secretary of state for filing a renewal application that complies with the requirements of subsection (b) between October 1 and December 31 of the preceding year. The renewal application renews the registration for the following year.
    (e) A foreign corporation whose registration is effective may:
        (1) qualify as a foreign corporation under that name; or
        (2) consent in writing to the use of that name by:
            (A) a domestic corporation subsequently incorporated under this article; or
            (B) another foreign corporation subsequently authorized to transact business in Indiana.
The registration terminates when the domestic corporation is incorporated or the foreign corporation qualifies or consents to the qualification of another foreign corporation under the registered name.
    SECTION 22. IC 23-17-29-1 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 1. (a) To be entitled to be filed by the secretary of state under this article, a document must meet the following conditions:
        (1) Be filed in the office of the secretary of state.
        (2) Contain the information required by this article.
        (3) Be typewritten or printed.
        (4) Be legible.
        (5) Be in English. However, a corporate name need not be in English if written in English letters or Arabic or Roman numerals, and the certificate of existence required of foreign corporations need not be in English if accompanied by a reasonably authenticated English translation.


        (6) Be executed:
            (A) by the presiding officer of the board of directors of a domestic or foreign corporation, the corporation's president, or by another of the corporation's officers;
            (B) if directors have not been selected or the corporation has not been formed, by an incorporator; or
            (C) if the corporation is in the hands of a receiver, trustee, or other court appointed fiduciary, by the fiduciary.
        (7) Be signed by the person executing the document and state beneath or opposite the person's signature name the capacity in which the person signs. A signature on a document authorized to be filed under this article may be a facsimile. A signature on a document under this subdivision that is transmitted and filed electronically is sufficient if the person transmitting and filing the document:
            (A) has the intent to file the document as evidenced by a symbol executed or adopted by a party with present intention to authenticate the filing; and
            (B) enters the filing party's name on the electronic form in a signature box or other place indicated by the secretary of state.

    (b) A document may contain the following:
        (1) A corporate seal.
        (2) An attestation by a secretary or an assistant secretary.
        (3) An acknowledgement, a verification, or a proof.
    (c) If the secretary of state has prescribed a mandatory form for a document under section 2 of this chapter, the document must be in or on the prescribed form.
    (d) A document must be delivered to the office of the secretary of state for filing as described in section 1.1 of this chapter and must be accompanied by the correct filing fee. The filing fee must be paid in the manner and form required by the secretary of state.
    (e) The secretary of state may accept payment of the correct filing fee by credit card, debit card, charge card, or similar method. However, if the filing fee is paid by credit card, debit card, charge card, or similar method, the liability is not finally discharged until the secretary of state receives payment or credit from the institution responsible for making the payment or credit. The secretary of state may contract with a bank or credit card vendor for acceptance of bank or credit cards. However, if there is a vendor transaction charge or discount fee, whether billed to the secretary of state or charged directly to the secretary of state's account, the secretary of state or the credit card vendor may collect

from the person using the bank or credit card a fee that may not exceed the highest transaction charge or discount fee charged to the secretary of state by the bank or credit card vendor during the most recent collection period. This fee may be collected regardless of any agreement between the bank and a credit card vendor or regardless of any internal policy of the credit card vendor that may prohibit this type of fee. The fee is a permitted additional charge under IC 24-4.5-3-202.
    SECTION 23. IC 23-17-29-3 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 3. (a) The secretary of state shall collect the following fees when the following documents are delivered for filing:
    DOCUMENT    FEE
        (1)    Articles of Incorporation    $30
        (2)    Application for use of
            indistinguishable name    $20
        (3)    Application for reserved name    $20
        (4)    Notice of transfer of reserved name    $20
        (5)     Application for renewal of reservation     $20
        (6)
Application for registered name    $30
        (6) (7) Application for renewal of
            registered name    $30
        (7) (8) Corporation's statement of change
            of registered agent or registered
            office or both    no fee
        (8) (9) Agent's statement of change of
            registered office for each
            affected corporation    no fee
        (9) (10) Agent's statement of resignation    no fee
        (10) (11) Amendment of articles of
            incorporation    $30
        (11) (12) Restatement of articles of
            incorporation with amendments    $30
        (12) (13) Articles of merger    $30
        (13) (14) Articles of dissolution    $30
        (14) (15) Articles of revocation of
            dissolution    $30
        (15) (16) Certificate of administrative
            dissolution    no fee
        (16) (17) Application for reinstatement
            following administrative
            dissolution    $30
        (17) (18) Certificate of reinstatement    no fee


        (18) (19) Certificate of judicial dissolution    no fee
        (19) (20) Application for certificate of
            authority    $30
        (20) (21) Application for amended certificate
            of authority    $30
        (21) (22) Application for certificate of
            withdrawal    $30
        (22) (23) Certificate of revocation of
            authority to transact business    no fee
        (23) (24) Annual report filed in writing,
            including a facsimile
    $10
        (24) Articles of correction. (25) Annual report filed by electronic medium    $ 5
        (25) (26) Certificate of existence    $15
        (26) (27) Any other document required or
            permitted to be filed by this
            article    $30
    (b) The secretary of state shall collect a fee of ten dollars ($10) upon being served with process under this article. The party to a proceeding causing service of process may recover the fee paid the secretary of state as costs if the party prevails in the proceeding.
    (c) The secretary of state shall collect the following fees for copying and certifying the copy of any filed document relating to a domestic or foreign corporation:
        (1) One dollar ($1) a page for copying.
        (2) Fifteen dollars ($15) for the certification stamp.
    SECTION 24. IC 23-18-2-9 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 9. (a) The A person may reserve the exclusive right to the use of a name, for a limited liability company may be reserved including a fictitious name by a foreign limited liability company whose name is not available, by the following:
        (1) A person intending to organize a domestic limited liability company under this article and to adopt that name.
        (2) A domestic limited liability company or any foreign limited liability company registered in Indiana that, in either case, intends to change its name to that name.
        (3) A foreign limited liability company intending to register in Indiana and use that name in Indiana.
        (4) A person intending to organize a foreign limited liability company and intending to have it registered in Indiana and use that name in Indiana.
    (b) An applicant may reserve a specified name by filing with delivering an application to the secretary of state. an The application executed by must set forth the name and address of the applicant specifying and the name to be reserved. and the name and the address of the applicant. If the secretary of state finds that the name is available, for use by the applicant, the secretary of state shall reserve the name for the exclusive use of the applicant for a period of renewable one hundred twenty (120) days. After reserving a name, the same applicant may reserve the same name for successive periods of one hundred twenty (120) days. day periods.
    (c) (b) The exclusive right to use owner of a reserved name may be transferred transfer the reservation to another person by filing in delivering to the office of the secretary of state a signed notice of the transfer executed by the applicant who reserved the name, specifying the name to be transferred and that states the name and address of the transferee.
    SECTION 25. IC 23-18-2-9.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 9.5. (a) A foreign limited liability company may register its name, or its name with any addition required by IC 23-18-2-8, if the name is distinguishable upon the records of the secretary of state as provided in section 8 of this chapter.
    (b) A foreign limited liability company registers its name, or its name with any addition required by IC 23-18-2-8, by delivering to the secretary of state for filing an application setting forth:
        (1) its name, or its name with any addition required by IC 23-18-2-8; and
        (2) the state or country and date of its formation.
    (c) The name is registered for the applicant's exclusive use upon the effective date of the application.
    (d) A foreign limited liability company whose registration is effective may renew the registration for successive years by delivering to the secretary of state for filing a renewal application that complies with subsection (b). The renewal application must be filed between October 1 and December 31 of the preceding year. The filing of the renewal application renews the registration for the following calendar year.
    (e) A foreign limited liability company whose registration is effective may thereafter qualify as a foreign limited liability company under that name or consent in writing to the use of that name by a limited liability company thereafter organized under

this article or by another foreign limited liability company thereafter authorized to transact business in Indiana. The registration terminates when the domestic limited liability company is organized or the foreign limited liability company qualifies or consents to the qualification of another foreign limited liability company under the registered name.
    SECTION 26. IC 23-18-12-1 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 1. (a) A document required or permitted under this article may be filed with the secretary of state if the document meets the requirements under this article, including the following requirements:
        (1) The document must contain the information required by this article, however, it may also contain additional information.
        (2) The document must be typewritten or printed.
        (3) The document must be legible.
        (4) The document must be in the English language. A limited liability company's name need not be in English if written in English letters or Arabic or Roman numerals, and the certificate of existence required of foreign limited liability companies need not be in English if accompanied by a reasonably authenticated English translation.
        (5) The document must be executed:
            (A) by a member or an agent designated by the limited liability company if the articles of organization do not provide for a manager or managers;
            (B) by a manager or an agent designated by the limited liability company if the articles of organization do provide for a manager or managers; or
            (C) if the limited liability company is in the hands of a receiver, trustee, or other court appointed fiduciary, by that fiduciary.
        (6) The person executing the document must sign the document and state beneath or opposite the signature the person's name and the capacity in which the person signs. A signature on a document authorized to be filed under this article may be a facsimile. A signature on a document under this subdivision that is transmitted and filed electronically is sufficient if the person transmitting and filing the document:
            (A) has the intent to file the document as evidenced by a symbol executed or adopted by a party with present intention to authenticate the filing; and
            (B) enters the filing party's name on the electronic form in

a signature box or other place indicated by the secretary of state.
        (7) If the secretary of state has prescribed a mandatory form for the document under section 2 of this chapter, the document must be in or on the prescribed form.
        (8) The document must be delivered to the secretary of state for filing and must be accompanied by the correct filing fee. The filing fee must be paid in the manner and form required by the secretary of state.
    (b) The secretary of state may accept payment of the correct filing fee by credit card, debit card, charge card, or similar method. However, if the filing fee is paid by credit card, debit card, charge card, or similar method, the liability is not finally discharged until the secretary of state receives payment or credit from the institution responsible for making the payment or credit. The secretary of state may contract with a bank or credit card vendor for acceptance of bank or credit cards. However, if there is a vendor transaction charge or discount fee, whether billed to the secretary of state or charged directly to the secretary of state's account, the secretary of state or the credit card vendor may collect from the person using the bank or credit card a fee that may not exceed the highest transaction charge or discount fee charged to the secretary of state by the bank or credit card vendor during the most recent collection period. This fee may be collected regardless of any agreement between the bank and a credit card vendor or regardless of any internal policy of the credit card vendor that may prohibit this type of fee. The fee is a permitted additional charge under IC 24-4.5-3-202.
    SECTION 27. IC 23-18-12-3 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 3. (a) The secretary of state shall collect the following fees when the documents described in this section are delivered for filing:
    Document

Fee

        (1) Articles of organization
$90

        (2) Application for use of
        indistinguishable name
$20

        (3) Application for reservation of name
$20

        (4) Application for renewal of
        reservation
$20

        (5) Notice of transfer or cancellation
        of reservation
$20

        (6) Application of registered name
$30

        (7) Application for renewal of registered name
$30

        (8)
Certificate of change of registered
        agent's business address
No Fee

        (7) (9) Certificate of resignation of
        agent
No Fee

        (8) (10) Articles of amendment
$30

        (9) (11) Restatement of articles of
        organization
$30

        (10) (12) Articles of dissolution
$30

        (11) (13) Application for certificate of
        authority
$90

        (12) (14) Application for amended
        certificate of authority
$30

        (13) (15) Application for certificate of
        withdrawal
$30

        (14) (16) Application for reinstatement
        following administrative dissolution
$30

        (15) (17) Articles of correction
$30

        (16) (18) Certificate of change of
        registered agent
No Fee

        (17) (19) Application for certificate of
        existence or authorization
$15

        (18) (20) Biennial report filed in writing,
        including by facsimile
$30

         (21) Biennial report filed by electronic medium
$20

        (22) Articles of merger involving a
        domestic limited liability company
$90

        (19) (23) Any other document required or
        permitted to be filed under this article
$30

    (b) The fee set forth in subsection (a)(18) (a)(20)for filing a biennial report is fifteen dollars ($15) per year, to be paid biennially.
    (c) The secretary of state shall collect a fee of $10 each time process is served on the secretary of state under this article. If the party to a proceeding causing service of process prevails in the proceeding, that party is entitled to recover this fee as costs from the nonprevailing party.
    (d) The secretary of state shall collect the following fees for copying and certifying the copy of any filed documents relating to a domestic or foreign limited liability company:
        (1) One dollar ($1) per page for copying.
        (2) Fifteen dollars ($15) for certification stamp.
    SECTION 28. IC 26-1-9.1-525, AS ADDED BY P.L.57-2000, SECTION 45, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 525. (a) Except as otherwise provided in

subsection (e), the fee for filing and indexing a record under this part, other than an initial financing statement of the kind described in IC 26-1-9.1-502(c), is:
        (1) four dollars ($4) if the record is communicated in writing, including by facsimile, and consists of one (1) or two (2) pages;
        (2) eight dollars ($8) if the record is communicated in writing, including by facsimile, and consists of more than two (2) pages; and
        (3) four dollars ($4) no fee if the record is communicated by another medium authorized by filing-office rule. electronic filing.
    (b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (e), the fee for filing and indexing an initial financing statement of the kind described in IC 26-1-9.1-502(c) is: the amount specified in subsection (c), if applicable, plus:
        (1) eight dollars ($8) if the financing statement indicates that it is filed in connection with a public-finance transaction; and
        (2) eight dollars ($8) if the financing statement indicates that it is filed in connection with a manufactured-home transaction.
    (c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (e), if a record is communicated in writing, the fee for each name more than two (2) required to be indexed is one dollar ($1).
    (d) (c) The fee for responding to a request for information from the filing office, including for issuing a certificate showing whether there is on file any financing statement naming a particular debtor, is:
        (1) one dollar ($1) five dollars ($5) if the request is communicated in writing, including by facsimile; and
        (2) one dollar ($1) no fee if the request is communicated by another medium authorized by filing-office rule. electronically.
    (e) (d) This section does not require a fee with respect to a record of a mortgage which is effective as a financing statement filed as a fixture filing or as a financing statement covering as-extracted collateral or timber to be cut under IC 26-1-9.1-502(c). However, the recording and satisfaction fees that otherwise would be applicable to the record of the mortgage apply.