N.Y. Education Law § 202: Regents

§ 202. Regents. 1. The University of the State of New York shall be

governed and all its corporate powers exercised by a board of regents

the number of whose members shall at all times be four more than the

number of the then existing judicial districts of the state and shall

not be less than fifteen. The regents in office April first, nineteen

hundred seventy-four shall hold office, in the order of their election,

for such times that the term of one such regent will expire in each year

on the first day of April. Commencing April first, nineteen hundred

seventy-four, each regent shall be elected for a term of seven years,

each such term to expire on the first day of April. Commencing on April

first, nineteen hundred ninety-four, each regent shall be elected for a

term of five years, each such term to expire on the first day of April.

Each regent shall be elected by the legislature by concurrent resolution

in the preceding March, on or before the first Tuesday of such month.

If, however, the legislature fails to agree on such concurrent

resolution by the first Tuesday of such month, then the two houses shall

meet in joint session at noon on the second Tuesday of such month and

proceed to elect such regent by joint ballot.

2. All vacancies in such office, either for full or unexpired terms,

shall be so filled that there shall always be in the membership of the

board of regents at least one resident of each of the judicial

districts. A vacancy in the office of regent for other cause than

expiration of term of service shall be filled for the unexpired term by

an election at the session of the legislature immediately following such

vacancy in the manner prescribed in the preceding paragraph, unless the

legislature is in session when such vacancy occurs, in which case the

vacancy shall be filled by such legislature in the manner prescribed in

the preceding paragraph, except as hereinafter provided. However, if

such vacancy occurs after the second Tuesday in March and before a

resolution to adjourn sine die has been adopted by either house, then

the vacancy shall be filled by concurrent resolution, unless the

legislature fails to agree on such concurrent resolution within three

legislative days after its passage by one house, in which case the two

houses shall meet in joint session at noon on the next legislative day

and proceed to elect such regent by joint ballots; provided, however,

that if the vacancy occur after the adoption by either house of a

resolution to adjourn sine die, then the vacancy shall be filled at the

next session of the legislature in the manner prescribed in the

preceding paragraph.

3. There shall be no "ex-officio" members of the board of regents.

4. No person shall be at the same time a regent of the university and

a trustee, president, principal or any other officer of an institution

belonging to the university.

5. (a) Every regent, on and after December fifteenth and before the

following January fifteenth, in each year, shall file with the secretary

of the senate and with the clerk of the assembly a written statement of

(1) each financial interest, direct or indirect of himself or herself,

his or her spouse and his or her unemancipated children under the age of

eighteen years in any activity which is subject to the jurisdiction of

the education department or name of the entity in which the interest is

had and whether such interest is over or under five thousand dollars in

value.

(2) every office and directorship held by him or her in any

corporation, firm or enterprise which is subject to the jurisdiction of

the education department or which does business with an institution

which is subject to the jurisdiction of the education department,

including the name of such corporation, firm or enterprise.

(3) any other interest or relationship which he or she determines in

his or her discretion might reasonably be expected to be in the public

interest and should be disclosed.

(b) On or before January thirty-first in each year the secretary of

the senate and the clerk of the assembly shall jointly prepare a report

containing the statements required to be filed pursuant to paragraph (a)

of this subdivision. Copies of such report shall be open to public

inspection in the office of the secretary of the senate and the clerk of

the assembly. The senate and assembly may jointly adopt rules to

implement the provisions of this subdivision.