172-B - Reports by registered charitable organizations; registration to be cancelled for failure to file.
§ 172-b. Reports by registered charitable organizations; registration to be cancelled for failure to file. 1. Every charitable organization registered or required to be registered pursuant to section one hundred seventy-two of this article which shall receive in any fiscal year gross revenue and support in excess of two hundred fifty thousand dollars and every charitable organization whose fund-raising functions are not carried on solely by persons who are unpaid for such services shall file with the attorney general an annual written financial report, on forms prescribed by the attorney general, on or before the fifteenth day of the fifth calendar month after the close of such fiscal year. The annual financial report shall be accompanied by an annual financial statement which includes an independent certified public accountant's audit report containing an opinion that the financial statements are presented fairly in all material respects and in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, including compliance with all pronouncements of the financial accounting standards board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants that establish accounting principles relevant to not-for-profit organizations. Such financial report shall include a statement of any changes in the information required to be contained in the registration form filed on behalf of such organization. The financial report shall be signed by the president or other authorized officer and the chief fiscal officer of the organization who shall certify under penalties for perjury that the statements therein are true and correct to the best of their knowledge, and shall be accompanied by an opinion signed by an independent public accountant that the financial statement and balance sheet therein present fairly the financial operations and position of the organization. A fee of twenty-five dollars payable to the attorney general shall accompany such financial report at the time of filing, provided however, that any such organization that is registered with the attorney general pursuant to article eight of the estates, powers and trusts law is required to file only one annual financial report which meets the filing requirements of this article and section 8-1.4 of the estates, powers and trusts law. 2. Every charitable organization registered or required to be registered pursuant to section one hundred seventy-two of this article which shall receive in gross revenue and support in any fiscal year at least one hundred thousand dollars but not more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars shall file an annual financial report. The annual financial report shall be accompanied by an annual financial statement which includes an independent certified public accountant's review report in accordance with "statements on standards for accounting and review services" issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The annual financial statement shall be prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, including compliance with all pronouncements of the financial accounting standards board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants that establish accounting principles relevant to not-for-profit organizations. Such financial report shall be filed with the attorney general, upon forms prescribed by the attorney general on an annual basis on or before the fifteenth day of the fifth calendar month after the close of such fiscal year, which shall include a financial report covering such fiscal year in accordance with such requirements as the attorney general may prescribe. Such financial report shall include a statement of any changes in the information required to be contained in the registration form filed on behalf of such organization. The financial report shall be signed by the president or other authorized officer and the chief fiscal officer of the organization who shall certify under penalties for perjury that the statements therein are trueand correct to the best of their knowledge. A fee of ten dollars payable to the attorney general shall accompany such financial report at the time of filing, provided, however, that any such organization that is registered with the attorney general pursuant to article eight of the estates, powers and trusts law is required to file only one annual financial report which meets the filing requirements of this article and section 8-1.4 of the estates, powers and trusts law. 2-a. Every charitable organization registered or required to be registered pursuant to section one hundred seventy-two of this article which shall receive in any fiscal year of such organization gross revenue and support not in excess of one hundred thousand dollars shall file with the attorney general an unaudited financial report on forms prescribed by the attorney general, on or before the fifteenth day of the fifth calendar month after the close of such fiscal year. Such financial report shall include a statement of any changes in the information required to be contained in the registration form filed on behalf of such organization. The financial report shall be signed by the president or other authorized officer and the chief fiscal officer of the organization who shall certify under penalties for perjury that the statements therein are true and correct to the best of their knowledge. A fee of ten dollars payable to the attorney general shall accompany such financial report at the time of filing. Provided, however, that any such organization that is registered with the attorney general pursuant to article eight of the estates, powers and trusts law is required to file only one annual financial report which meets the filing requirements of this article and section 8-1.4 of the estates, powers and trusts law. 3. For any fiscal year of any organization registered pursuant to section one hundred seventy-two of this article in which such organization would have been exempt from registration pursuant to section one hundred seventy-two of this article if it had not been so registered, or in which it did not solicit or receive contributions, such organization shall file, instead of the financial reports required by subdivision one, two or two-a of this section, a report, signed under penalties for perjury by the president or other authorized officer and the chief fiscal officer, in the form prescribed by the attorney general stating the nature of the exemption and the facts upon which it is based or that such organization did not solicit or receive contributions in such fiscal year. The report shall include a statement of any changes in the information required to be contained in the registration form filed on behalf of such organization and may include a notice, signed under penalties for perjury by the president or other authorized officer, on a form prescribed by the attorney general, that such organization's registration is being withdrawn. 4. (a) Upon prior written authorization by the attorney general any charitable organization registered pursuant to section one hundred seventy-two of this article, which is the parent organization of one or more affiliates thereof, and such affiliates, may comply with the reporting requirements of subdivision one, two, two-a or three of this section, by filing a combined written annual financial report upon forms prescribed by the attorney general. (b) As used in this subdivision the term "affiliate" shall include any chapter, branch, auxiliary, or other subordinate unit of any registered charitable organization, howsoever designated, whose policies, fund raising activities, and expenditures are supervised or controlled by such parent organization. (c) There shall be appended to each combined annual financial report a schedule, containing such information as may be prescribed by theattorney general, reflecting the activities of each affiliate, which shall contain a statement signed under penalties for perjury, by the president or other authorized officer certifying that the information contained therein is true. (d) The failure of a parent organization to file a combined annual financial written report shall not excuse either the parent organization or its affiliates from complying with the provisions of subdivision one, two, two-a or three of this section. (e) A combined annual financial report filed pursuant to this subdivision shall be accompanied by a fee, paid to the attorney general, of twenty-five dollars plus ten dollars for each organization included in such annual financial report, but the aggregate fee shall not exceed five hundred dollars. 5. The attorney general shall cancel the registration of any organization which fails to comply with subdivision one, two, two-a or three of this section within the time therein prescribed, or fails to furnish such additional information as is requested by the attorney general within the required time; except that the time may be extended by the attorney general for a period not to exceed one hundred eighty days. Notice of such cancellation shall be mailed to the registrant at least twenty days before the effective date thereof. 6. Every charitable organization registered or required to register pursuant to section one hundred seventy-two of this article shall keep and maintain records, books and reports for at least three years after the end of the period of registration to which they relate which shall at all times be available for inspection, by the attorney general, or any duly authorized representatives at the principal office of such organization. 7. The attorney general may accept a copy of a current financial report previously filed by a charitable organization with any other governmental agency in compliance with the provisions of this article provided that the report filed with such other governmental agency shall be substantially similar in content to the financial report required by this section. 8. Any financial report filed by any charitable organization required to be registered but which has not previously registered pursuant to this article or article eight of the estates, powers and trusts law must be accompanied by all registration material required to be filed by this article.