(1) Removal of directors of a membership corporation is subject to the following provisions:

(a) The members may remove, with or without cause, one or more directors who have been elected by the members, unless the articles or bylaws provide that directors may be removed only for cause. The articles or bylaws may specify what constitutes cause for removal.

(b) The board of a membership corporation may not remove a director who has been elected by the members except as provided in subsection (5) of this section or in the articles or bylaws.

(c) The directors may remove, with or without cause, one or more directors who have been elected by the directors, unless the articles or bylaws provide that directors may be removed only for cause. The articles or bylaws may specify what constitutes cause for removal.

(d) Except as provided in the articles or bylaws, if a director is elected by a voting group of members, or by a chapter or other organizational unit, or by a region or other geographic grouping, then only the members of that voting group or chapter, unit, region, or grouping may participate in the vote to remove the director.

(e) The notice of a meeting of members at which removal of a director is to be considered shall state that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is removal of the director.

(2) The board may remove a director of a nonmembership corporation who was elected by the directors:

(a) With or without cause, unless the articles or bylaws provide that directors may be removed only for cause. The articles or bylaws may specify what constitutes cause for removal;

(b) A nonprofit corporation shall give notice of any meeting of directors at which removal of a director is to be considered in accordance with the articles or bylaws governing notice for special meetings, but in no event less than forty-eight hours before the meeting. Such notice shall state that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is removal of a director;

(c) As provided in subsection (5) of this section.

(3) A director who is designated by name in the articles or bylaws may be removed by an amendment to the articles or bylaws deleting or changing the designation.

(4) Except as provided in the articles or bylaws, a director who is appointed by persons other than the members or the directors may be removed with or without cause only by those persons.

(5) Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this section or the articles or bylaws, the board of a membership corporation or nonmembership corporation may remove a director:

(a) Who has been appointed a guardian under RCW 11.130.185 or 11.130.265;

(b) Who has been appointed a conservator under RCW 11.130.360;

(c) Who is subject to a written certification by his or her attending physician that in the physician's opinion the director is substantially unable to manage his or her financial resources or resist fraud or undue influence;

(d) Who has been convicted of a felony;

(e) Who has been found by a final order of any court of competent jurisdiction to have breached a duty as a director under RCW 24.03A.495;

(f) Who has missed the number of board meetings specified in the articles or bylaws, if the articles or bylaws at the beginning of the director's current term provided that a director may be removed for missing the specified number of board meetings; or

(g) Who does not satisfy any of the qualifications for directors set forth in the articles or bylaws at the beginning of the director's current term, if the decision that the director fails to satisfy a qualification is made by the vote of a majority of the directors who meet all of the required qualifications.

(6) Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this section or the articles or bylaws, the board of a charitable corporation that is a membership corporation or a nonmembership corporation may remove a director if the director's continued service would cause the charitable corporation to be prohibited from soliciting charitable funds under RCW 19.09.100(13).

Effective date—2021 c 176: See note following RCW 24.03A.005.