216. Charters. Under such name, with such number of trustees or other managers, and with such powers, privileges and duties, and subject to such limitations and restrictions in all respects as the regents may prescribe in conformity to law, they may, by an instrument under their seal and recorded in their office, incorporate any university, college, academy, library, museum, or other institution or association for the promotion of science, literature, art, history or other department of knowledge, or of education in any way, associations of teachers, students, graduates of educational institutions, and other associations whose approved purposes are, in whole or in part, of educational or cultural value deemed worthy of recognition and encouragement by the university. No school; college; university or other entity providing post secondary education; library; or museum or historical society shall be incorporated under the business corporation law, the not-for-profit corporation law, or any other general law without the consent of the commissioner or, in the case of a college or university, without the written authorization of the Regents. Any other entity incorporated for educational purposes may be formed under the business corporation law or the not-for-profit corporation law without the consent of the commissioner, provided that such institution or association submits a certified copy of the certificate of incorporation to the commissioner within thirty days after the corporation receives confirmation from the department of state that the certificate has been accepted for filing.
No individual, association, partnership, company or corporation not authorized by special charter from the legislature of this state or by charter from the regents to operate a museum, or arboretum shall knowingly use, advertise or transact business under the names "museum," or "arboretum," or any name, title or descriptive material indicating or tending to imply that said individual, association, partnership, company or corporation conducts, carries on, or is such a business when it is not, or that it is authorized to operate as such, unless the right to do so has been granted by the regents or the commissioner in writing. Any violation of this paragraph shall be a misdemeanor. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an individual, association, partnership, company or corporation doing business under any of such names on the effective date of this paragraph may come into compliance with this paragraph by obtaining consent of the regents or the commissioner within one year of such effective date.
Last modified: February 3, 2019