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S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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7892
2007-2008 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 27, 2007
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Introduced by M. of A. BROOK-KRASNY, BING, V. LOPEZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Housing.
AN ACT to amend the private housing finance law, in relation to shareholder votes in mutual companies
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. Section 17 of the private housing finance law is amended by
2 adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3 3. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF ANY LAW, GENERAL OR SPECIAL, A
4 MUTUAL COMPANY MAY, WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSIONER OR THE SUPER-
5 VISING AGENCY, AS THE CASE MAY BE, REQUIRE A STANDARD FORM AND PROCEDURE
6 FOR THE CASTING OF PROXIES OR ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN ANY MATTER REQUIRING A
7 SHAREHOLDER VOTE.
8 S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
{ } is old law to be omitted.
LBD10470-01
A07892 Summary:
BILL NO A07892
SAME AS Same as S 3826
SPONSOR Brook-Krasny
COSPNSR Bing, Lopez V, Gordon D, Lafayette, Maisel, Rosenthal
MLTSPNSR Boyland, Brennan, Gottfried, Young
Amd S17, Priv Hous Fin L
Relates to shareholder votes in mutual companies.
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A07892 Actions:
BILL NO A07892
04/27/2007 referred to housing
06/05/2007 reported referred to rules
06/11/2007 reported
06/11/2007 rules report cal.114
06/11/2007 ordered to third reading rules cal.114
06/11/2007 passed assembly
06/11/2007 delivered to senate
06/11/2007 REFERRED TO RULES
06/18/2007 SUBSTITUTED FOR S3826
06/18/2007 3RD READING CAL.1713
06/18/2007 PASSED SENATE
06/18/2007 RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
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A07892 Votes:
BILL: A07892 DATE: 06/11/2007 MOTION: YEA/146 NAY/000
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A07892 Memo:
BILL NUMBER:A7892 REVISED 5/22/07
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the private housing finance law, in relation to shareholder votes in mutual companies
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The subject bill would amend the Private Housing Finance Law ("PHFL") by authorizing mutual companies, with the approval of the commissioner or the supervising agency, to require a ` standard form and procedure for the casting of proxies or absentee ballots in any matter requiring a shareholder vote.
JUSTIFICATION:
Business Corporation Law S 609(i) allows for a wide range of means by which a shareholder may grant proxy authority (e.g., executing a writing, by transmitting a telegram, etc.) "{w}ithout limiting the
manner in which a shareholder may authorize another person or persons to act for him as proxy." Due to this provision, mutual companies have not been able to adequately regulate the form and procedure for the casting of proxies in share holder votes.
This has proven very problematic for a number of reasons. First and foremost, annual elections for the boards of directors at mutual companies are often contentious, and charges of fraudulent
solicitation and use of proxies or absentee ballots are not uncommon. Such charges are exacerbated by the fact that mutual companies do not have the financial resources to perform signature verification of each proxy or absentee ballot. All of this controversy ultimately leads to lawsuits that further drain the financial resources of such housing companies through the imposition of substantial legal bills.
The proposed bill would allow mutual companies, with the approval of the commissioner or the supervising agency to require a standard form and procedure for the casting of proxies or absentee ballots in any matter requiring a shareholder vote. By requiring a standard form and
procedure for the casting of proxies or absentee ballots, these housing companies may better regulate the voting procedure and, consequently, make it more equitable and less prone to disputes.
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