(3) monitoring the agent’s performance and compliance with the scope and terms
of the delegation.
N-PCL § 554(a)(1)-(3).
Standard of Care for External Agent Performing Delegated Duties
In performing a delegated function, an external agent owes a duty to the institution to
exercise reasonable care, skill and caution to comply with the scope and terms of the delegation.
N-PCL § 554(b). The Act continues to require that any contract that delegates a management or
investment function to an external agent must provide that the contract may be terminated at any
time, without penalty, with up to 60 days prior notice. N-PCL § 554(e).
Release of Donor-Imposed Restrictions on Management, Investment, or Purpose of an
Institutional Fund (N-PCL § 555)
The Act modifies the standards for releasing donor-imposed restrictions on institutional
funds, including restrictions on the management and investment of funds, the expenditure of funds
(endowment restrictions), and the purposes for which a fund may be used. It also sets forth
procedures for seeking court release of restrictions, and a new procedure for releasing restrictions
on funds valued at less than $100,000 that have been in existence for more than 20 years.
As under prior law, an institution may obtain the donor’s written consent to release or
modify a restriction on management or investment. If the donor is available and withholds such
consent, or if the donor is not available, an institution may seek court approval to release or
modify a restriction regarding the management or investment of an institutional fund if the
restriction is impracticable or wasteful, impairs management or investment or if, because of
circumstances not anticipated by the donor, a modification or release would further the purposes
of the fund. To the extent practicable, any modification must be made in accordance with the
donor’s probable intention. N-PCL § 555(a), (b).
Similarly, an institution may obtain the donor’s written consent to release or modify a use
restriction. If the donor is available and withholds such consent, or if the donor is not available,
an institution may also seek court approval to release a donor’s restriction on the use of a fund if
the restriction becomes impossible, impracticable, unlawful or wasteful. N-PCL § 555(c).
A key difference from prior law is that under NYPMIFA an institution may seek court
release from a restriction if the donor does not consent to the release. Notice of the court
proceeding must be provided to the donor and to the Attorney General, both of whom will have an
opportunity to be heard. N-PCL § 555(b), (c). However, under the Act, the executors or heirs of a
deceased donor are not included in the definition of “donor” and thus are not entitled to notice.
In addition, the Act provides a new procedure whereby an institution may lift or modify a
donor-imposed restriction on the management, investment, or purpose of an institutional fund if
the fund is less than $100,000 in value and has been in existence for more than 20 years. If an
institution determines that such a restriction is unlawful, impracticable, impossible to achieve, or
wasteful, the institution may release or modify the restriction, in whole or part, without court
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