SB 194 — AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 38, TITLE 12 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE CREATION, REGULATION, OPERATION AND DISSOLUTION OF DOMESTIC STATUTORY TRUSTS.

Summary

This bill makes the following changes to Delaware Statutory Trust Act (the “Act”) to keep it current and to maintain its national preeminence. The following is a section-by-section review of the proposed amendments of the Act. Section 1. This section amends § 3801(a) of the Act to further the State of Delaware’s initiative to implement policies enhancing the State’s position as a leader in the adoption of distributive electronic network and database technologies (including what is commonly referred to as “blockchain” or “distributed ledger technology”) by providing that the registration of a beneficial interest in a statutory trust may be evidenced electronically, including by means of an electronic database or network, including distributed electronic networks or databases. Section 2. This section amends § 3802(b) of the Act to correct a typo. Section 3. This section amends § 3803(c) of the Act to clarify that protection from personal liability extends to any person to whom a trustee has delegated its rights, powers or duties to manage and control the business and affairs of the statutory trust pursuant to § 3806(i) of the Act, and to include the trustees in the list of persons who are excluded from the confines of § 3803(c) of the Act, in each case except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument. Section 4. This section amends § 3804(a) of the Act to make a clarifying change to the wording of such section. Section 5. This section amends § 3806(b)(7) of the Act to remove the default duty of the trustee to choose and supervise the officers, managers, employees or other persons of such agents and independent contractors of the statutory trust, or delegates of the trustee appointed, elected or engaged to manage the business and affairs of the trust, such default duty being replaced by new § 3806(m). Section 6. This section amends § 3806(f)(2) of the Act to further the State of Delaware’s initiative to implement policies enhancing the State’s position as a leader in the adoption of distributive electronic network and database technologies (including what is commonly referred to as “blockchain” or “distributed ledger technology”) by providing that a vote or a proxy of the beneficial owners may be provided by electronic transmission, including by use of electronic networks or databases, including distributed electronic networks or databases. Section 7. This section amends § 3806(g)(2) of the Act to further the State of Delaware’s initiative to implement policies enhancing the State’s position as a leader in the adoption of distributive electronic network and database technologies (including what is commonly referred to as “blockchain” or “distributed ledger technology”) by providing that the vote of the trustees may be provided by electronic transmission, including by use of electronic networks or databases, including distributed electronic networks or databases. Section 8. This section amends § 3806(i) of the Act to clarify that a trustee may delegate its duties to manage and control the business and affairs of the statutory trust. Section 9. This section amends § 3806(k) of the Act to clarify that a person to which a trustee has delegated its rights, powers or duties to manage the business and affairs of the statutory trust under § 3806(i) shall be provided protections for good faith reliance on certain records, information opinions, reports or statements obtained in the performance of its delegated duties. Section 10. This section amends § 3806 of the Act to provide for the circumstances in which a trustee’s duties and liabilities will be limited for the actions of an officer, employee, manager or other person acting pursuant to § 3806(b)(7) or a delegate acting pursuant to § 3806(i) of the Act. This section further provides for the default standard of care required of any person acting pursuant to § 3806(b)(7) and § 3806(i) of the Act. Section 11. This section amends § 3808(c) of the Act to recognize that an affirmative vote or written consent are not the sole methods of approval by the beneficial owners. Section 12. This section amends § 3808(g) of the Act to clarify that § 3808(g) only applies to series formed in accordance with § 3804(a). Section 13. This section amends § 3810(d) of the Act to remove the undefined term “entity” and replace it with “Person,” a term defined in § 3801(f) of the Act. Section 14. This section amends § 3812(f) of the Act to remove the undefined term “entity” and replace it with “Person,” a term defined in § 3801(f) of the Act. Section 15. This section amends § 3814(a) of the Act to further restrict the use of names of statutory trusts to those that can be distinguished from registered series of limited liability companies. Section 16. This section amends § 3815(b) of the Act to remove the undefined term “entity” and replace it with “Person,” a term defined in § 3801(f) of the Act. Section 17. This section amends § 3815(e) of the Act to remove the undefined term “entity” and replace it with “Person,” a term defined in § 3801(f) of the Act. Section 18. This section amends § 3815(g) of the Act to remove the undefined term “entity” and replace it with “Person,” a term defined in § 3801(f) of the Act. Section 19. This section amends § 3819(d) of the Act to further the State of Delaware’s initiative to implement policies enhancing the State’s position as a leader in the adoption of distributive electronic network and database technologies (including what is commonly referred to as “blockchain” or “distributed ledger technology”) by providing that the records of a statutory trust may be maintained by means of any information storage device, method or an electronic database or network, including distributed electronic networks or databases. Section 20. This section amends § 3820(f) of the Act to remove the undefined term “entity” and replace it with “Person,” a term defined in § 3801(f) of the Act. Section 21. This section amends § 3821(d) of the Act to clarify that the rights or securities of, or interests in a statutory trust which is to be converted may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights or securities of, or interests in, another statutory trust. Section 22. This section amends § 3821(h) of the Act to remove the undefined term “entity” and replace it with “Person,” a term defined in § 3801(f) of the Act. Section 23. This section amends § 3822(i) of the Act to remove the undefined term “entity” and replace it with “Person,” a term defined in § 3801(f) of the Act. Section 24. This section amends § 3822(j) of the Act to remove the undefined term “entity” and replace it with “Person,” a term defined in § 3801(f) of the Act. Section 25. This section amends § 3823(e) of the Act to remove the undefined term “entity” and replace it with “Person,” a term defined in § 3801(f) of the Act. Section 26. This section amends § 3823(f) of the Act to remove the undefined term “entity” and replace it with “Person,” a term defined in § 3801(f) of the Act. Section 27. This section amends § 3823(g) of the Act to remove the undefined term “entity” and replace it with “Person,” a term defined in § 3801(f) of the Act. Section 28. This section provides that the proposed amendments of the Act shall become effective August 1, 2018.

Bill Text

• Bill Text View text Current pdf

Action History

1. July 23, 2018

   Signed by Governor

2. June 30, 2018

   Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES

3. June 20, 2018

   Reported Out of Committee (Economic Development/Banking/Insurance/Commerce) in House with 10 On Its Merits

4. May 30, 2018

   Assigned to Economic Development/Banking/Insurance/Commerce Committee in House

5. May 10, 2018

   Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT

6. May 09, 2018

   Reported Out of Committee (Banking, Business & Insurance) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits

7. May 03, 2018

   Introduced and Assigned to Banking, Business & Insurance Committee in Senate

Sponsors

• Stephanie L. Hansen · Cosponsor
• Bryan Townsend · Cosponsor
• Brian Pettyjohn · Cosponsor
• Sean M. Lynn · Cosponsor
• Jeffrey N. Spiegelman · Cosponsor
• Kevin S Hensley · Cosponsor
• Trey Paradee · Cosponsor
• Helene M. Keeley · Cosponsor
• Anthony Delcollo · Cosponsor
• Melanie George Smith · Primary
• Bryon H. Short · Primary
• Brian J. Bushweller · Primary

Votes

Subjects