New York State Law

Civil Rights Law

Consolidated Laws of New York's CVR code

Article 5A - NY Civil Rights Law

MEMBERSHIP CORPORATIONS AND UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS

Section Description
53Copies of documents and statements to be filed.
54Resolutions concerning political matters.
55Anonymous communications prohibited.
56Offenses; penalties.
57Additional penalties.
  S 53.  Copies of documents and statements to be filed. Every existing
  membership corporation, and every  existing  unincorporated  association
  having  a  membership  of  twenty  or more persons, which corporation or
  association  requires  an  oath  as  a  prerequisite  or  condition   of
  membership,  other  than  a labor union, a fraternity or sorority having
  chapters composed  only  of  students  in  or  alumni  of  colleges  and
  universities  in  this and another state or states, or a chapter of such
  fraternity  or  sorority,  or  a  benevolent  order  mentioned  in   the
  benevolent  orders  law,  within  thirty  days  after this article takes
  effect, and every such corporation or association  hereafter  organized,
  within  ten  days  after  the  adoption  thereof,  shall  file  with the
  secretary of state a sworn copy of  its  constitution,  by-laws,  rules,
  regulations  and  oath  of  membership,  together  with  a roster of its
  membership and a list of its officers for the current year.  Every  such
  corporation  and  association  shall, in case its constitution, by-laws,
  rules, regulations or  oath  of  membership  or  any  part  thereof,  be
  revised,  changed,  or  amended,  within ten days after such revision or
  amendment file with the secretary of state a sworn copy of such revised,
  changed or amended constitution, by-law, rule,  regulation  or  oath  of
  membership.  Every  such  corporation or association shall within thirty
  days after a change  has  been  made  in  its  officers  file  with  the
  secretary  of  state  a  sworn statement showing such change. Every such
  corporation or association shall at intervals of six  months  file  with
  the secretary of state a sworn statement showing the names and addresses
  of  such additional members as have been received in such corporation or
  association during such interval.

  S 54.  Resolutions concerning political matters. Every such corporation
  or  association  shall, within ten days after the adoption thereof, file
  in the office of the secretary of state every resolution, or the minutes
  of  any  action  of  such  corporation  or  association,  providing  for
  concerted  action  of  its  members  or  of a part thereof to promote or
  defeat legislation, federal, state or municipal, or  to  support  or  to
  defeat any candidate for political office.

  S 55. Anonymous  communications prohibited. It shall be unlawful for
  any such corporation or association to send, deliver, mail  or  transmit
  to  any  person in this state who is not a member of such corporation or
  association any anonymous letter, document, leaflet or other written  or
  printed  matter,  and  all  such  letters,  documents, leaflets or other
  written or printed matter, intended for a person not a  member  of  such
  corporation  or  association,  shall  bear  on the same the name of such
  corporation or  association  and  the  names  of  the  officers  thereof
  together with the addresses of the latter.

  S 56. Offenses;  penalties. Any corporation or association violating
  any  provision  of  this  article  shall  be  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor
  punishable by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars nor more than
  ten  thousand  dollars.   Any officer of such corporation or association
  and every member of the board of directors, trustees  or  other  similar
  body,  who  violates  any  provision  of  this  article  or  permits  or
  acquiesces in the violation of any provision of this article by any such
  corporation shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person who  becomes  a
  member  of  any  such  corporation  or  association, or remains a member
  thereof,  or  attends  a  meeting  thereof,  with  knowledge  that  such
  corporation  or  association  has failed to comply with any provision of
  this article, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

  S 57. Additional penalties. In addition to the penalties provided by
  section fifty-six of this article, a violation of the provisions of this
  article  may  be  restrained  at  the  suit  of  the   people   by   the
  attorney-general.

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