Section 2-10-91. Issuance of stock or certificate; liability of member; maximum amount of stock member may own; voting; preferred stock; transfer of stock; purchase of own stock by association

   (a) When a member of an association established without capital stock has paid his membership fee in full, he shall receive a certificate of membership. No association shall issue stock to a member until it has been fully paid for. Promissory notes of the members may be accepted by the association as full or partial payment. The association shall hold the stock as security for the payment of the note, but such retention as security shall not affect the member's right to vote.

(b) Except for debts lawfully contracted between the member and the association, no member shall be liable for the debts of the association in an amount exceeding the sum remaining unpaid on his membership fee or his subscription to the capital stock, including any unpaid balance or any promissory notes given in payment thereof.

(c) No stockholder of a cooperative association shall own more than 20 percent of the common stock of the association; and an association, in its bylaws, may limit the amount of common stock which one member may own to any amount less than 20 percent of the common stock.

(d) No member or stockholder shall be entitled to more than one vote; provided, however, that this prohibition shall not apply to associations composed of producers of any forestry product or products.

(e) Any association organized with stock under this article may issue preferred stock with or without the right to vote. Such stock may be redeemable or retirable by the association on such terms and conditions as may be provided for by the articles of incorporation and printed on the face of the certificate.

(f) The association may, at any time, except when its debts exceed 50 percent of its assets, buy in or purchase its common stock at the book value thereof and pay for it in cash within one year thereafter. Book value shall be conclusively determined by the board of directors.

Ga. L. 1921, p. 139, § 12; Code 1933, § 65-206; Ga. L. 1943, p. 343, § 2.