New York S 9047: Modernizes provisions of law relating to members, directors and officers to align with current practices, streamline procedures and eliminate unnecessary regulatory burdens

Bill Text

STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9047
IN SENATE
May 5, 2022
___________
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities
and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the not-for-profit corporation law, in relation to
modernizing such law to align with current practices, streamlining
procedures, and eliminating unnecessary regulatory burdens
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of section 614 of the not-for-profit corpo-
2 ration law, as amended by chapter 358 of the laws of 2015, is amended to
3 read as follows:
4 (a) Whenever, under this chapter, members are required or permitted to
5 take any action by vote, such action may be taken without a meeting upon
6 the consent of all of the members entitled to vote thereon, which
7 consent shall set forth the action so taken. Such consent may be written
8 or electronic. If written, the consent must be executed by the member or
9 the member's authorized officer, director, employee or agent by signing
10 such consent or causing his or her signature to be affixed to such
11 consent by any reasonable means including but not limited to facsimile
12 signature. If electronic, the transmission of the consent must be sent
13 by electronic mail and set forth, or beor other electronic means
14 submitted with, information from which it can reasonably be determined
15 that the transmission was authorized by the member. This paragraph shall
16 not be construed to alter or modify any provision in a certificate of
17 incorporation not inconsistent with this chapter under which the written
18 consent of less than all of the members is sufficient for corporate
19 action.
20 § 2. Paragraph (c) of section 705 of the not-for-profit corporation
21 law is amended to read as follows:
22 (c) [ ] A Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation
23 director elected or appointed to fill a vacancy or bylaws, a in an unex-
24 shall hold office until the [pired term next annual meeting at which the
25 ] election of directors is in the regular order of business end of the
26 term which the director was elected or appointed to fill, or for a term
EXPLANATION--Matter in (underscored) is new; matter in bracketsitalics
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15478-02-2

S. 9047 2
1 to be determined by the board which ends at an annual meeting, subject
2 to the limitations on terms of office in paragraph (b) of section seven
3 , and until his successor is elected orhundred three of this article
4 appointed and qualified.
5 § 3. Paragraph (b) of section 708 of the not-for-profit corporation
6 law, as amended by chapter 549 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read
7 as follows:
8 (b) Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or
9 the by-laws, any action required or permitted to be taken by the board
10 or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members
11 of the board or the committee consent to the adoption of a resolution
12 authorizing the action. Such consent may be written or electronic. If
13 written, the consent must be executed by the director by signing such
14 consent or causing his or her signature to be affixed to such consent by
15 any reasonable means including, but not limited to, facsimile signature.
16 If electronic, the transmission of the consent must be sent by electron-
17 ic mail and set forth, or be submitted with,or other electronic means
18 information from which it can reasonably be determined that the trans-
19 mission was authorized by the director. The resolution and the written
20 consents thereto by the members of the board or committee shall be filed
21 with the minutes of the proceedings of the board or committee.
22 § 4. Paragraph (d) of section 708 of the not-for-profit corporation
23 law, as amended by chapter 555 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read
24 as follows:
25 (d) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the vote of a major-
26 ity of the directors present at the time of the vote, if a quorum is
27 present at such time, shall be the act of the board. Directors who are
28 present at a meeting but not present at the time of a vote due to a
29 conflict of interest or related party transaction shall be determined to
30 be present at the time of the vote for purposes of [ ]this paragraph
31 .determining if a quorum is present at such time
32 § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.