S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5795
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 20, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. HYNDMAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
 
 AN ACT to amend the not-for-profit corporation law, in relation  to  the
   indemnification  of directors, officers and key persons; and to repeal
   sections 721, 722 and 723 of the not-for-profit corporation law relat-
   ing thereto

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Sections 721, 722 and 723 of the not-for-profit corporation
 law are REPEALED.
   §  2.  The  not-for-profit  corporation law is amended by adding a new
 section 721 to read as follows:
 § 721. AUTHORIZATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS  OR  KEY
          PERSONS; INSURANCE.
   (A)  A  CORPORATION  MAY INDEMNIFY ANY DIRECTOR, OFFICER OR KEY PERSON
 AGAINST EXPENSES, INCLUDING JUDGMENTS, FINES, EXCISE TAXES, AMOUNTS PAID
 IN SETTLEMENT, ATTORNEYS' FEES, COURT COSTS AND  DISBURSEMENTS  ACTUALLY
 AND  NECESSARILY  INCURRED  AS  A RESULT OF ACTION OR PROCEEDING, OR ANY
 APPEAL THEREOF, ARISING OUT OF SERVICE AS A  DIRECTOR,  OFFICER  OR  KEY
 PERSON  (1) WHO WAS OR IS A PARTY OR IS THREATENED TO BE MADE A PARTY TO
 ANY THREATENED, PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED ACTION  OR  PROCEEDING,  OR  ANY
 APPEAL THEREOF, WHETHER CIVIL, CRIMINAL, ADMINISTRATIVE OR INVESTIGATIVE
 (INCLUDING AN ACTION BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION AND/OR BY ITS
 MEMBERS,  IF  ANY, OR IN THE RIGHT OF ANY OTHER CORPORATION OF ANY KIND,
 DOMESTIC OR FOREIGN AND/OR BY ITS MEMBERS, IF ANY), OR BY  ANY  PARTNER-
 SHIP,  JOINT  VENTURE, TRUST, EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR OTHER ENTERPRISE;
 AND (2) WHO HAS MET THE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT SET FORTH  IN  SECTION  717
 (DUTY  OF  DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS AND KEY PERSONS) AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
 ARTICLE AND WHO IS ENTITLED TO THE PROTECTION OF SECTION 720-A  OF  THIS
 ARTICLE  (LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, KEY PERSONS AND TRUSTEES) TO
 THE EXTENT APPLICABLE, AND (3) WITH RESPECT TO ANY  CRIMINAL  ACTION  OR
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06016-01-5
              

 A. 5795                             2
 
 PROCEEDING,  WHO  HAD REASONABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THEIR CONDUCT WAS
 LAWFUL. A DIRECTOR, OFFICER OR KEY PERSON WHO MAY BE  INDEMNIFIED  UNDER
 THIS  SECTION  SHALL INCLUDE A PERSON (I) WHOSE TESTATOR OR INTESTATE IS
 OR WAS A DIRECTOR, OFFICER OR KEY PERSON OF THE CORPORATION, OR (II) WHO
 IS OR WAS SERVING IN ANY CAPACITY AT THE REQUEST OF THE CORPORATION AS A
 DIRECTOR,  OFFICER  OR  KEY  PERSON OF ANOTHER CORPORATION, PARTNERSHIP,
 JOINT VENTURE, TRUST, ESTATE, EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR OTHER ENTERPRISE.
   (B) THE TERMINATION OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING, INCLUDING  AN  ACTION
 BY  OR  IN  THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION AND/OR BY ITS MEMBERS, BY JUDG-
 MENT, ORDER, SETTLEMENT, ADJUDGING LIABILITY TO THE DIRECTOR, OFFICER OR
 KEY PERSON, CONVICTION OR UPON A PLEA OF NOLO CONTENDERE OR  ITS  EQUIV-
 ALENT  SHALL NOT NECESSARILY CREATE A PRESUMPTION THAT THE (1) DIRECTOR,
 OFFICER OR KEY PERSON DID NOT ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH  THE  STANDARDS  OF
 CARE SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SECTION, AND (2) WITH RESPECT TO
 ANY  CRIMINAL  ACTION  OR  PROCEEDING,  DID NOT HAVE REASONABLE CAUSE TO
 BELIEVE THAT THE DIRECTOR'S,  OFFICER'S  OR  KEY  PERSON'S  CONDUCT  WAS
 UNLAWFUL.
   (C) NO INDEMNIFICATION SHALL BE MADE BY THE CORPORATION IF SUCH DIREC-
 TOR,  OFFICER  OR  KEY  PERSON  SHALL  HAVE  BEEN ADJUDGED TO BE LIABLE,
 INCLUDING LIABILITY TO THE CORPORATION, UNLESS AND ONLY  TO  THE  EXTENT
 THAT  THE  COURT,  IN WHICH SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING WAS BROUGHT, SHALL
 DETERMINE, UPON APPLICATION, THAT, DESPITE THE ADJUDICATION OF LIABILITY
 BUT IN VIEW OF ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE, SUCH DIRECTOR, OFFICER
 OR KEY PERSON IS FAIRLY AND REASONABLY ENTITLED TO INDEMNIFICATION  WITH
 RESPECT  TO  ALL  OR  ANY OF THE JUDGMENTS, FINES, EXCISE TAXES, AMOUNTS
 PAID IN SETTLEMENT, ATTORNEYS' FEES, COURT COSTS AND DISBURSEMENTS ACTU-
 ALLY AND NECESSARILY INCURRED, BECAUSE  THE  DIRECTOR,  OFFICER  OR  KEY
 PERSON HAD MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO MEET THE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT SET
 FORTH IN THIS ARTICLE.
   (D)  EXPENSES,  INCLUDING  ATTORNEYS'  FEES, COURT COSTS AND DISBURSE-
 MENTS, INCURRED BY A DIRECTOR, OFFICER OR KEY PERSON OF THE  CORPORATION
 OR  BY  PERSONS  SERVING AT THE REQUEST OF THE CORPORATION AS DIRECTORS,
 OFFICERS OR KEY  PERSONS  OF  ANOTHER  CORPORATION,  PARTNERSHIP,  JOINT
 VENTURE,  TRUST  OR  OTHER ENTERPRISE, IN DEFENDING ANY CIVIL, CRIMINAL,
 ADMINISTRATIVE OR INVESTIGATIVE ACTION OR  PROCEEDING,  ARISING  OUT  OF
 SUCH  SERVICE,  MAY  BE PAID, IF AUTHORIZED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH
 (E) OF THIS SECTION, IN ADVANCE OF THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF SUCH  ACTION
 OR  PROCEEDING,  UPON  RECEIPT  BY  THE CORPORATION OF AN UNDERTAKING IN
 ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 25 OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES BY OR  ON
 BEHALF  OF  SUCH DIRECTOR, OFFICER OR KEY PERSON TO REPAY SUCH AMOUNT IF
 THEY SHALL ULTIMATELY BE DETERMINED NOT TO BE ENTITLED TO BE INDEMNIFIED
 AS AUTHORIZED IN THIS SECTION.
   (E) ANY INDEMNIFICATION OR ADVANCEMENT UNDER THIS SECTION, EXCEPT  FOR
 ONE  ORDERED  BY  A  COURT, SHALL BE MADE ONLY IN THE SPECIFIC ACTION OR
 PROCEEDING UPON A DETERMINATION THAT INDEMNIFICATION OF THE  PRESENT  OR
 FORMER  DIRECTOR,  OFFICER  OR KEY PERSON IS PROPER IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES
 BECAUSE THE PERSON HAS MET OR IN THE CASE OF AN ADVANCE CAN  BE  REASON-
 ABLY  EXPECTED  TO  MEET THE APPLICABLE STANDARD OF CONDUCT SET FORTH IN
 PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SECTION:
   (1) BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE CORPORATION WHO ARE NOT
 PARTIES TO SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING, EVEN THOUGH LESS THAN A QUORUM;
   (2) BY A COMMITTEE OF SUCH DIRECTORS DESIGNATED BY  MAJORITY  VOTE  OF
 SUCH DIRECTORS, EVEN THOUGH LESS THAN A QUORUM;
   (3) IF THERE ARE NO SUCH DIRECTORS, OR IF SUCH DIRECTORS SO DIRECT, BY
 INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL IN A REASONED WRITTEN OPINION; OR
   (4) BY THE MEMBERS, IF ANY.
 A. 5795                             3
 
   (F)  A  RIGHT TO INDEMNIFICATION OR TO ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES ARISING
 UNDER A PROVISION OF THE CERTIFICATE OF  INCORPORATION,  A  BYLAW  OR  A
 RESOLUTION  OF  THE  BOARD OR OF A COMMITTEE THEREOF SHALL NOT BE ELIMI-
 NATED OR IMPAIRED BY AN AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO
 THE BYLAWS OR TO THE RESOLUTION AFTER THE OCCURRENCE OF THE ACT OR OMIS-
 SION  THAT  IS  THE  SUBJECT  OF  THE CIVIL, CRIMINAL, ADMINISTRATIVE OR
 INVESTIGATIVE ACTION OR PROCEEDING FOR WHICH INDEMNIFICATION OR ADVANCE-
 MENT OF EXPENSES IS SOUGHT, UNLESS THE PROVISION IN EFFECT AT  THE  TIME
 OF  SUCH  ACT  OR  OMISSION  EXPLICITLY  AUTHORIZES  SUCH ELIMINATION OR
 IMPAIRMENT AFTER SUCH ACTION OR OMISSION HAS OCCURRED.
   (G) A CORPORATION MAY PURCHASE AND MAINTAIN INSURANCE ON BEHALF OF ANY
 PERSON WHO IS OR WAS A DIRECTOR, OFFICER OR KEY  PERSON  OF  THE  CORPO-
 RATION,  OR  IS  OR  WAS  SERVING AT THE REQUEST OF THE CORPORATION AS A
 DIRECTOR, OFFICER OR KEY PERSON  OF  ANOTHER  CORPORATION,  PARTNERSHIP,
 JOINT  VENTURE,  TRUST,  ESTATE,  EMPLOYEE  BENEFIT OR OTHER ENTERPRISE,
 AGAINST ANY LIABILITY ASSERTED AGAINST SUCH PERSON AND INCURRED BY  SUCH
 PERSON  IN  ANY SUCH CAPACITY, OR ARISING OUT OF SUCH PERSON'S STATUS AS
 SUCH, WHETHER OR NOT THE CORPORATION WOULD HAVE THE POWER  TO  INDEMNIFY
 SUCH PERSON AGAINST SUCH LIABILITY UNDER THIS SECTION.
   (H)  FOR  PURPOSES  OF  THIS  SECTION, REFERENCES TO "THE CORPORATION"
 SHALL INCLUDE, IN ADDITION TO A CONSOLIDATED OR  SURVIVING  CORPORATION,
 ANY CONSTITUENT CORPORATION, INCLUDING ANY CONSTITUENT OF A CONSTITUENT,
 ABSORBED  IN  A CONSOLIDATION OR MERGER WHICH, IF ITS SEPARATE EXISTENCE
 HAD CONTINUED, WOULD HAVE HAD  POWER  AND  AUTHORITY  TO  INDEMNIFY  ITS
 DIRECTORS,  OFFICERS  OR  KEY  PERSONS  THAT  ANY PERSON WHO IS OR WAS A
 DIRECTOR, OFFICER OR KEY PERSON OF SUCH CONSTITUENT CORPORATION,  OR  IS
 OR  WAS  SERVING  AT  THE  REQUEST  OF SUCH CONSTITUENT CORPORATION AS A
 DIRECTOR, OFFICER OR KEY PERSON  OF  ANOTHER  CORPORATION,  PARTNERSHIP,
 JOINT VENTURE, TRUST, ESTATE, EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR OTHER ENTERPRISE,
 SHALL  STAND IN THE SAME POSITION UNDER THIS SECTION WITH RESPECT TO THE
 RESULTING OR SURVIVING  CORPORATION  AS  SUCH  PERSON  WOULD  HAVE  WITH
 RESPECT  TO  SUCH  CONSTITUENT CORPORATION IF ITS SEPARATE EXISTENCE HAD
 CONTINUED.
   (I) THE INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES  PROVIDED  BY,  OR
 GRANTED  PURSUANT TO, THIS SECTION SHALL CONTINUE AS TO A PERSON WHO HAS
 CEASED TO BE A DIRECTOR, OFFICER OR KEY PERSON AND SHALL  INURE  TO  THE
 BENEFIT  OF THEIR HEIRS, EXECUTORS AND ADMINISTRATORS IF THAT PERSON WAS
 A DIRECTOR, OFFICER OR KEY PERSON AT THE TIME THE  CAUSE  OF  ACTION  OR
 CLAIM  AROSE  OR PROSECUTION WAS THREATENED OR INFORMATION OR INDICTMENT
 WAS FILED.
   (J) FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION, A CORPORATION SHALL BE DEEMED  TO
 HAVE  REQUESTED  A  PERSON  TO  SERVE AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WHERE THE
 PERFORMANCE BY SUCH PERSON OF  THEIR  DUTIES  TO  THE  CORPORATION  ALSO
 IMPOSES DUTIES ON, OR OTHERWISE INVOLVES SERVICES BY, SUCH PERSON TO THE
 PLAN OR PARTICIPANTS OR BENEFICIARIES OF THE PLAN; EXCISE TAXES ASSESSED
 ON  A PERSON WITH RESPECT TO AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN PURSUANT TO APPLI-
 CABLE LAW SHALL BE CONSIDERED FINES; AND ACTION TAKEN OR  OMITTED  BY  A
 PERSON  WITH  RESPECT  TO AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN IN THE PERFORMANCE OF
 SUCH PERSON'S DUTIES FOR A PURPOSE REASONABLY BELIEVED BY SUCH PERSON TO
 BE IN THE INTEREST OF THE PARTICIPANTS AND  BENEFICIARIES  OF  THE  PLAN
 SHALL  BE  DEEMED  TO  BE FOR A PURPOSE WHICH IS NOT OPPOSED TO THE BEST
 INTERESTS OF THE CORPORATION.
   § 3. Section 724 of the not-for-profit corporation law, as amended  by
 chapter 368 of the laws of 1987, paragraph (a) as amended by chapter 549
 of  the  laws  of 2013, is renumbered section 722 and amended to read as
 follows:
 A. 5795                             4
 
 § 722. Indemnification of directors [and], officers OR KEY PERSONS by  a
          court.
   (a) Notwithstanding the failure of a corporation to provide indemnifi-
 cation, and despite any contrary resolution of the board, OF A COMMITTEE
 THEREOF  or  of the members in the specific case under section [723] 721
 [(Payment of indemnification other than by court award)]  (AUTHORIZATION
 FOR  INDEMNIFICATION  OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS OR KEY PERSONS; INSURANCE),
 indemnification [shall] MAY be awarded by a court to the extent  author-
 ized  under section [722 (Authorization for indemnification of directors
 and officers), and paragraph (a) of section 723 (Payment of indemnifica-
 tion other than by court award)] 721 (AUTHORIZATION FOR  INDEMNIFICATION
 OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS OR KEY PERSONS; INSURANCE).  Application therefor
 shall  be  made  on  notice  to the attorney general and may be made, in
 every case, either:
   (1) In the civil action or  proceeding  in  which  the  expenses  were
 incurred or other amounts were paid, or
   (2)  To  the supreme court in a separate proceeding, in which case the
 application shall set forth the disposition of any previous  application
 made  to  any  court  for the same or similar relief and also reasonable
 cause for the failure to make application for such relief in the  action
 or  proceeding in which the expenses were incurred or other amounts were
 paid.
   (b) The application shall be made in such manner and form  as  may  be
 required by the applicable rules of court or, in the absence thereof, by
 direction of a court to which it is made. Such application shall be upon
 notice  to  the  corporation.  The  court may also direct that notice be
 given at the expense of the corporation to the members  and  such  other
 persons as it may designate in such manner as it may require.
   (c)  Where indemnification is sought by judicial action, the court may
 allow a person such  reasonable  expenses,  including  attorneys'  fees,
 during  the  pendency  of  the litigation as are necessary in connection
 with [his] THEIR defense therein, if  the  court  shall  find  that  the
 defendant has by [his] THEIR pleadings or during the course of the liti-
 gation raised genuine issues of fact or law.
   §  4.  Section 725 of the not-for-profit corporation law is renumbered
 section 723.
   § 5. The section heading and subdivision (a) of  section  723  of  the
 not-for-profit corporation law, as amended by chapter 368 of the laws of
 1987  and  such  section  as  renumbered  by  section 4 of this act, are
 amended to read as follows:
   Other provisions affecting indemnification of directors  [and],  offi-
          cers AND KEY PERSONS.
   (a)  All  expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action or
 proceeding which are advanced by the corporation under  paragraph  [(c)]
 (D)  of  section  [723]  721  [(Payment of indemnification other than by
 court award)] (AUTHORIZATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS,  OFFICERS
 OR  KEY PERSONS; INSURANCE) or allowed by a court under paragraph (c) of
 section [724 (Indemnification of directors and officers by a court)] 722
 (INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS OR KEY PERSONS BY A COURT) shall
 be repaid in case the person receiving such advancement or allowance  is
 ultimately  found, under the procedure set forth in this article, not to
 be entitled to indemnification or, where indemnification is granted,  to
 the extent the expenses so advanced by the corporation or allowed by the
 court exceed the indemnification to which [he is] THEY ARE entitled.
   §  6.  Section 720-a of the not-for-profit corporation law, as amended
 by chapter 445 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read as follows:
 A. 5795                             5
 
 § 720-a. Liability of directors, officers, trustees and key persons.
   Except as provided in sections [seven hundred nineteen] 719 and [seven
 hundred twenty] 720 of this chapter, and except any action or proceeding
 brought  by  the attorney general or, in the case of a charitable trust,
 an action or proceeding against a trustee brought by  a  beneficiary  of
 such  trust, no person serving without SALARY OR OTHER compensation as a
 director, officer, key person or trustee of a corporation,  association,
 organization  or  trust  described  in section 501 (c) (3) of the United
 States internal revenue code shall be liable to any  person  other  than
 such  corporation,  association,  organization  or trust based solely on
 [his or her] THEIR conduct in the execution of such  office  unless  the
 conduct of such director, officer, key person or trustee with respect to
 the  person  asserting  liability  constituted  gross  negligence or was
 intended to cause the  resulting  harm  to  the  person  asserting  such
 liability.  For  purposes of this section, such a director, officer, key
 person or trustee shall not be considered compensated solely  by  reason
 of  payment  of [his or her] THEIR actual expenses incurred in attending
 meetings or otherwise in the execution of such office.
   § 7. The rights to indemnification that accrued prior to the effective
 date of this act shall be determined by the  not-for-profit  corporation
 law    as   then in effect,   unless the director, officer or key person
 elects to have those rights or obligations determined  by  the  not-for-
 profit corporation law as amended by this act.
   §  8. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.