{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-231.31_1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-231.31_1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-231.31_1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-231.31_1.html"}],"law_id":82313,"edition_id":1,"section_id":82313,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.31:1","catch_line":"Donation of certain patronage capital to the cooperative","history":"1999, cc. 939, 940.","full_text":"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when there is held by any cooperative any retired patronage capital to the credit of (i) a deceased person who has no spouse or next of kin identified in the records of the cooperative or (ii) a member or former member who has terminated service and who does not have a current address on file with the cooperative, then the bylaws or member agreements of the cooperative may provide that such credits shall be deemed to have been transferred as a gift to the cooperative and shall thereafter be the property of the cooperative; however, after July 1, 1999, such credits may be deemed gifts to the cooperative only if the cooperative publishes notice of such credit in its regular member publication and a publication of general circulation, and such credit is not claimed by such member, former member or next of kin within 120 days of such publication or such longer period as set out in the bylaws or member agreements of the cooperative. If there is no such provision in the cooperative’s bylaws or member agreement, or if there is no publication, then any unclaimed credit shall be treated in accordance with the Virginia Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act (\u00a7 55.1-2500 et seq.). This section shall apply only to cooperatives organized under or governed by this article for the purpose of providing regulated electric utilities service on a mutual, not-for-profit basis, with a board democratically elected by its member consumers.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":294981,"text":"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when there is held by any cooperative any retired patronage capital to the credit of (i) a deceased person who has no spouse or next of kin identified in the records of the cooperative or (ii) a member or former member who has terminated service and who does not have a current address on file with the cooperative, then the bylaws or member agreements of the cooperative may provide that such credits shall be deemed to have been transferred as a gift to the cooperative and shall thereafter be the property of the cooperative; however, after July 1, 1999, such credits may be deemed gifts to the cooperative only if the cooperative publishes notice of such credit in its regular member publication and a publication of general circulation, and such credit is not claimed by such member, former member or next of kin within 120 days of such publication or such longer period as set out in the bylaws or member agreements of the cooperative. If there is no such provision in the cooperative’s bylaws or member agreement, or if there is no publication, then any unclaimed credit shall be treated in accordance with the Virginia Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act (\u00a7 55.1-2500 et seq.). This section shall apply only to cooperatives organized under or governed by this article for the purpose of providing regulated electric utilities service on a mutual, not-for-profit basis, with a board democratically elected by its member consumers.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13548,"edition_id":1,"name":"Utility Consumer Services Cooperatives Act","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13182,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:11","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:11","permalink":{"id":251325,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13548,"identifier":"1","token":"56\/9.1\/1","url":"\/56\/9.1\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13182,"edition_id":1,"name":"Utility Consumer Services Cooperatives and Utility Aggregation Cooperatives","identifier":"9.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12881,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:24","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:24","permalink":{"id":251323,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13182,"identifier":"9.1","token":"56\/9.1","url":"\/56\/9.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12881,"edition_id":1,"name":"Public Service Companies","identifier":"56","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":248473,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12881,"identifier":"56","token":"56","url":"\/56\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":77567,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.15","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/56-231.15\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.15","metadata":false},{"id":69452,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.16","catch_line":"Organization; purpose","url":"\/56-231.16\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.16","metadata":false},{"id":84775,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.17","catch_line":"Articles of incorporation","url":"\/56-231.17\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.17","metadata":false},{"id":62056,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.18","catch_line":"Name of other corporations not to include term \"electric cooperative\" or \"utility consumer services cooperative.\"","url":"\/56-231.18\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.18","metadata":false},{"id":56649,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.19","catch_line":"Filing articles of incorporation; effect thereof; other provisions of law applicable","url":"\/56-231.19\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.19","metadata":false},{"id":56722,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.20","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-231.20\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.20","metadata":false},{"id":63207,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.21","catch_line":"Dissolution and termination of cooperatives","url":"\/56-231.21\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.21","metadata":false},{"id":83080,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.22","catch_line":"Charter amendments","url":"\/56-231.22\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.22","metadata":false},{"id":72128,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.23","catch_line":"General powers granted","url":"\/56-231.23\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.23","metadata":false},{"id":81307,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.24","catch_line":"Power to dispose of property","url":"\/56-231.24\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.24","metadata":false},{"id":73620,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.25","catch_line":"Power to issue obligations","url":"\/56-231.25\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.25","metadata":false},{"id":82512,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.26","catch_line":"Covenants in connection with obligations","url":"\/56-231.26\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.26","metadata":false},{"id":56541,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.27","catch_line":"Power to purchase its own obligations","url":"\/56-231.27\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.27","metadata":false},{"id":54513,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.28","catch_line":"Board of directors of cooperatives","url":"\/56-231.28\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.28","metadata":false},{"id":55041,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.29","catch_line":"Powers of board of directors","url":"\/56-231.29\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.29","metadata":false},{"id":62265,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.30","catch_line":"Rights and liabilities of members","url":"\/56-231.30\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.30","metadata":false},{"id":63250,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.31","catch_line":"Payment of certain patronage capital to spouse or next of kin of deceased person","url":"\/56-231.31\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.31","metadata":false},{"id":82313,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.31:1","catch_line":"Donation of certain patronage capital to the cooperative","url":"\/56-231.31_1\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.31_1","metadata":false},{"id":59045,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.32","catch_line":"Service to members","url":"\/56-231.32\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.32","metadata":false},{"id":75936,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.33","catch_line":"Adequate service; rates","url":"\/56-231.33\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.33","metadata":false},{"id":66118,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.34","catch_line":"Regulation by Commission","url":"\/56-231.34\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.34","metadata":false},{"id":71119,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.34:1","catch_line":"Separation of regulated and unregulated businesses","url":"\/56-231.34_1\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.34_1","metadata":false},{"id":82749,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.34:2","catch_line":"Right of action; violation of rules or regulations","url":"\/56-231.34_2\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.34_2","metadata":false},{"id":69534,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.35","catch_line":"Charter fees, etc","url":"\/56-231.35\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.35","metadata":false},{"id":58392,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.36","catch_line":"Construction of article; conflicting laws","url":"\/56-231.36\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.36","metadata":false},{"id":85836,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.37","catch_line":"How article cited","url":"\/56-231.37\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.37","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":63250,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.31","catch_line":"Payment of certain patronage capital to spouse or next of kin of deceased person","url":"\/56-231.31\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.31","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":59045,"structure_id":13548,"section_number":"56-231.32","catch_line":"Service to members","url":"\/56-231.32\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.32","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-231.31:1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1999. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 939<\/a> and 940<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":58539,"section_number":"55.1-2500","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-2500\/"}],"permalink":{"id":251395,"object_type":"law","relational_id":82313,"identifier":"56-231.31:1","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.31_1","url":"\/56-231.31_1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-231.31_1\/","token":"56\/9.1\/1\/56-231.31_1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Donation of certain patronage capital to the cooperative","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-231.31:1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Notwithstanding any other provision of law<\/span>, when there is held by any cooperative<\/span> any retired patronage capital<\/span> to the credit of (i) a deceased person<\/span> who has no spouse or next of kin identified in the records of the cooperative<\/span> or (ii) a member<\/span> or former member<\/span> who has terminated service and who does not have a current address on file with the cooperative<\/span>, then the bylaws or member<\/span> agreements of the cooperative<\/span> may provide that such credits shall be deemed to have been transferred as a gift to the cooperative<\/span> and shall thereafter be the property of the cooperative<\/span>; however, after July 1, 1999, such credits may be deemed gifts to the cooperative<\/span> only if the cooperative<\/span> publishes notice of such credit in its regular member<\/span> publication and a publication of general circulation, and such credit is not claimed by such member<\/span>, former member<\/span> or next of kin within 120 days of such publication or such longer period as set out in the bylaws or member<\/span> agreements of the cooperative<\/span>. If there is no such provision in the cooperative<\/span>’s bylaws or member<\/span> agreement, or if there is no publication, then any unclaimed credit shall be treated in accordance with the Virginia Disposition<\/span> of Unclaimed Property Act (\u00a7 55.1-2500<\/a> et seq.). This section shall apply only to cooperatives<\/span> organized under or governed by this article for the purpose of providing regulated electric utilities service on a mutual, not-for-profit basis, with a board<\/span> democratically elected by its member<\/span> consumers.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDONATION OF CERTAIN PATRONAGE CAPITAL TO THE COOPERATIVE (\u00a7 56-231.31:1)\n\nNotwithstanding any other provision of law, when there is held by any\ncooperative any retired patronage capital to the credit of (i) a deceased person\nwho has no spouse or next of kin identified in the records of the cooperative or\n(ii) a member or former member who has terminated service and who does not have\na current address on file with the cooperative, then the bylaws or member\nagreements of the cooperative may provide that such credits shall be deemed to\nhave been transferred as a gift to the cooperative and shall thereafter be the\nproperty of the cooperative; however, after July 1, 1999, such credits may be\ndeemed gifts to the cooperative only if the cooperative publishes notice of such\ncredit in its regular member publication and a publication of general\ncirculation, and such credit is not claimed by such member, former member or\nnext of kin within 120 days of such publication or such longer period as set out\nin the bylaws or member agreements of the cooperative. If there is no such\nprovision in the cooperative’s bylaws or member agreement, or if there is\nno publication, then any unclaimed credit shall be treated in accordance with\nthe Virginia Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act (\u00a7 55.1-2500 et seq.). This\nsection shall apply only to cooperatives organized under or governed by this\narticle for the purpose of providing regulated electric utilities service on a\nmutual, not-for-profit basis, with a board democratically elected by its member\nconsumers.\n\nHISTORY: 1999, cc. 939, 940.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}