N.Y.
Not-for-Profit Corporation Law Section 715-A
Conflict of interest policy
(a)
Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, the board shall adopt, and oversee the implementation of, and compliance with, a conflict of interest policy to ensure that its directors, officers and key persons act in the corporation’s best interest and comply with applicable legal requirements, including but not limited to the requirements set forth in § 715 (Related party transactions)section seven hundred fifteen of this article.(b)
The conflict of interest policy shall include, at a minimum, the following provisions:(1)
a definition of the circumstances that constitute a conflict of interest;(2)
procedures for disclosing a conflict of interest or possible conflict of interest to the board or to a committee of the board, and procedures for the board or committee to determine whether a conflict exists;(3)
a requirement that the person with the conflict of interest not be present at or participate in board or committee deliberation or vote on the matter giving rise to such conflict, provided that nothing in this section shall prohibit the board or a committee from requesting that the person with the conflict of interest present information as background or answer questions at a committee or board meeting prior to the commencement of deliberations or voting relating thereto;(4)
a prohibition against any attempt by the person with the conflict to influence improperly the deliberation or voting on the matter giving rise to such conflict;(5)
a requirement that the existence and resolution of the conflict be documented in the corporation’s records, including in the minutes of any meeting at which the conflict was discussed or voted upon; and(6)
procedures for disclosing, addressing, and documenting related party transactions in accordance with § 715 (Related party transactions)section seven hundred fifteen of this article.(c)
The conflict of interest policy shall require that prior to the initial election of any director, and annually thereafter, such director shall complete, sign and submit to the secretary of the corporation or a designated compliance officer a written statement identifying, to the best of the director’s knowledge, any entity of which such director is an officer, director, trustee, member, owner (either as a sole proprietor or a partner), or employee and with which the corporation has a relationship, and any transaction in which the corporation is a participant and in which the director might have a conflicting interest. The policy shall require that each director annually resubmit such written statement. The secretary of the corporation or the designated compliance officer shall provide a copy of all completed statements to the chair of the audit committee or, if there is no audit committee, to the chair of the board.(d)
A corporation that has adopted and possesses a conflict of interest policy pursuant to federal, state or local laws that is substantially consistent with the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section shall be deemed in compliance with provisions of this section. In addition, any corporation that is a state authority or a local authority as defined in Public Authorities Law § 2 (Definitions)section two of the public authorities law, and that has complied substantially with section twenty-eight hundred twenty-four and subdivision three of section twenty-eight hundred twenty-five of such law, shall be deemed in compliance with this section.(e)
Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to require a corporation to adopt any specific conflict of interest policy not otherwise required by this section or any other law or rule, or to supersede or limit any requirement or duty governing conflicts of interest required by any other law or rule.
Source:
Section 715-A — Conflict of interest policy, https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/NPC/715-A (updated Jun. 2, 2017; accessed Apr. 20, 2024).
