Wisconsin Code § 611.55

Continuity of management in emergencies
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(1) PURPOSE. The legislature declares it to be desirable for the
general welfare and in particular for the welfare of insurance beneficiaries, policyholders, claimants and others that the business
of domestic insurance corporations be continued even in a na-

tional emergency. The specific purpose of this section is to facilitate the continued operation of such corporations if a national
emergency is caused by an attack on the United States or by a nuclear, atomic or other disaster which makes it impossible or impracticable for a corporation to conduct its business in strict accord with applicable provisions of law, its articles, bylaws or its
charter.
(2) EMERGENCY BYLAWS. The board of any corporation may
at any time adopt emergency bylaws, subject to repeal or change
by action of those having power to adopt regular bylaws, which
shall be operative during such a national emergency and which
may, notwithstanding any different provisions of the regular bylaws, or of the applicable statutes or of the corporation’s articles
or charter, make any provision that may be reasonably necessary
for operation during the emergency.
(3) EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATIONS. If the board of a corporation has not adopted emergency bylaws, the following provisions
shall become effective upon the occurrence of a national
emergency:
(a) Three directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the board.
(b) Any vacancy on the board may be filled by a majority of
the remaining directors, though less than a quorum, or by a sole
remaining director.
(c) If there are no surviving directors, but at least 3 officers of
the corporation survive, the 3 officers with the longest term of
service shall be the directors and shall possess all of the powers of
the previous board and such powers as are granted herein or by
subsequently enacted legislation. By majority vote such emergency board may elect other directors. If there are not at least 3
surviving officers, the commissioner shall appoint 3 persons as
directors who shall possess all of the powers of the previous
board and such powers as are granted herein or by subsequently
enacted legislation, and these persons by majority vote may elect
other directors.
(4) SUCCESSION LIST. At any time the board of a corporation
may, by resolution, provide that in the event of such a national
emergency and in the event of the death or incapacity of specified
officers of the corporation, such officers shall be succeeded by
the persons named or described in a succession list adopted by
the board. The list may be on the basis of named persons or position titles, shall establish the order of priority and may prescribe
the conditions under which the powers of the office shall be
exercised.
(5) HOME OFFICE. At any time the board of a corporation
may, by resolution, provide that in the event of such a national
emergency the home office or principal place of business shall be
at a location named or described in the resolution. The resolution
may provide for alternate locations and establish an order of
preference.

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