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S00903 Summary:

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S00903 Text:

 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                           903
 
                               2015-2016 Regular Sessions
 
                    IN SENATE
 
                                     January 7, 2015
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  Sen.  AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations,  Authorities
          and Commissions
 
        AN ACT to amend the religious corporations law, in relation to providing
          a  means  of  incorporation  for  organized groups affiliated with the
          Hindu, Sikh and Islamic faiths
 
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1. The fourth undesignated paragraph of section 2 of the reli-
     2  gious  corporations  law, as amended by chapter 674 of the laws of 1947,
     3  is amended to read as follows:
     4    The term "clergyman" and the term "minister" include a duly authorized
     5  pastor, rector, priest, rabbi, pandit, swami, guru, granthi, imam, moul-
     6  vi, maulana and a person having authority from, or in  accordance  with,
     7  the  rules  and  regulations of the governing ecclesiastical body of the
     8  denomination or order, if any, to which the church belongs, or otherwise
     9  from the church or synagogue to preside over and  direct  the  spiritual
    10  affairs of the church or synagogue.
    11    § 2. The religious corporations law is amended by adding a new article
    12  22 to read as follows:
    13                                  ARTICLE 22
    14                      ORGANIZATIONS OF THE HINDU FAITH
    15  Section 460. Application.
    16          461. Application for incorporation.
    17          462. Qualification of voters.
    18          463. Notice of meeting for incorporation.
    19          464. Meeting for incorporation.
    20          465. Church governance.
    21          466. Certificate of incorporation.
    22          467. Reincorporation of present incorporated churches.
    23          468. Time, place and notice of corporate meetings.
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD01928-01-5
        S. 903                              2
 
     1          469. Corporate meetings.
     2    §  460.  Application.  1.  This  article applies to any unincorporated
     3  church affiliated with the Hindu faith, and to any  heretofore  incorpo-
     4  rated  church  or  body,  so  affiliated, which desires to reincorporate
     5  pursuant to this article.  Independent churches may incorporate or rein-
     6  corporate under this article in the manner  provided  in  sections  four
     7  hundred  sixty-one and four hundred sixty-seven of this article, and all
     8  the provisions of this article shall  apply  to  such  churches  as  the
     9  context requires.
    10    2.  Nothing hereinafter provided shall prevent or prohibit any hereto-
    11  fore incorporated church or body, affiliated with the Hindu  faith  from
    12  maintaining  and  continuing  the relationship which such church or body
    13  enjoyed at the time of the effective date of this  article  should  such
    14  church or body determine not to reincorporate pursuant to this article.
    15    § 461. Application for incorporation. Any unincorporated church or any
    16  heretofore incorporated church wishing to incorporate under this article
    17  shall  execute,  acknowledge  and file a certificate of incorporation as
    18  hereinafter provided.
    19    § 462. Qualification of voters. The following parties  and  no  others
    20  shall  be  qualified  voters  for  all  purposes under this article: all
    21  persons eighteen years of age or over who are members in good and  regu-
    22  lar  standing  of the church or body by admission into membership there-
    23  with, in accordance with the  standards  for  membership  in  the  local
    24  church as determined by the local church itself.
    25    §  463.  Notice  of meeting for incorporation. Notice of a meeting for
    26  the purpose of incorporating an unincorporated church shall be given  as
    27  follows:
    28    1.  The notice shall be in writing and shall state, in substance, that
    29  a meeting of such unincorporated church will be held at its usual  place
    30  of  worship at a specified day and hour for the purpose of incorporating
    31  such church and electing three or  more  trustees,  but  not  to  exceed
    32  fifteen.
    33    2.  The notice must be signed by at least six qualified voters. A copy
    34  of such notice shall be publicly read at each  of  the  two  consecutive
    35  main worship services, of such unincorporated church preceding the meet-
    36  ing  to  incorporate, by the minister of such church, or if none, by the
    37  church member who has been designated by the membership or other author-
    38  ized body of the church to conduct the worship  service  that  day  (the
    39  "officiating  minister");  and  at least fifteen days before the meeting
    40  for incorporation, a copy of such notice shall be posted at the place of
    41  worship.
    42    § 464. Meeting for incorporation. 1. At the meeting for  incorporation
    43  held  in pursuance of such notice, only qualified voters shall be eligi-
    44  ble to vote.
    45    2. The presence of one-third of the qualified voters or six  qualified
    46  voters,  whichever  number is higher, shall be necessary to constitute a
    47  quorum of such meeting. The action of the meeting  upon  any  matter  or
    48  question shall be decided by a majority of the qualified voters present.
    49    3.  The  minister of the church, or if none, the officiating minister,
    50  shall act as presiding  officer  of  the  meeting  to  incorporate.  The
    51  presiding officer shall call the meeting to order and shall be the judge
    52  of the qualification of voters.
    53    4.  Such  meeting  shall  decide by ballot whether the church shall be
    54  incorporated, the name of the proposed corporation,  the  names  of  the
    55  initial trustees, and the date, not more than fifteen months thereafter,
    56  on which the first annual election or affirmation of the trustees there-
        S. 903                              3
 
     1  of  after  such  meeting shall be held.   The trustees shall hold office
     2  until their successors are elected or affirmed.
     3    5.  At the meeting for incorporation, a constitution and by-laws shall
     4  be adopted setting forth a form of church governance that is  consistent
     5  with section four hundred sixty-five of this article.
     6    §  465. Church governance. 1. A church incorporated under this section
     7  shall provide in its certificate of incorporation or by-laws  for  trus-
     8  tees  to be elected or appointed at large, or by virtue of their office.
     9  There shall be a minimum of three trustees. To the  extent  practicable,
    10  terms  of  office  shall  be for three years and staggered. Terms may be
    11  consecutive.
    12    2. Provision shall also be made in its certificate of incorporation or
    13  by-laws for officers of the corporation to be elected  or  appointed  at
    14  large  or  by  virtue of their office. The president and secretary shall
    15  not be the same person. To the extent practicable, terms of office shall
    16  be for three years and staggered.  Terms may be consecutive.
    17    3. Provision shall also be made in its certificate of incorporation or
    18  by-laws for spiritual oversight of the church by an eldership board or a
    19  senior pandit, swami, guru or some combination of the  above.  Terms  of
    20  office may be definite or indefinite as the by-laws may specify.
    21    4. Provision shall also be made in its certificate of incorporation or
    22  by-laws for periodic affirmation of appointive positions by a designated
    23  body or board.
    24    § 466. Certificate of incorporation. 1. If at the meeting for incorpo-
    25  ration  it shall be decided that such unincorporated church shall become
    26  incorporated, the presiding officer of the meeting and two others  shall
    27  execute  and  acknowledge a certificate of incorporation, in which shall
    28  be stated the name or title by which such body shall  be  known  in  the
    29  law;  the  purpose  of  its organization; the names and addresses of the
    30  initial trustees, the county, town or city in which its principal  place
    31  of  worship  is  or  is intended to be located; and a statement that the
    32  church is in affiliation with the Hindu faith.
    33    2. On filing such certificate in the office of the county clerk of the
    34  county in which the principal office or place of worship of  the  corpo-
    35  ration  is  or  is intended to be located, such church shall be a corpo-
    36  ration by the name stated in the certificate of incorporation.
    37    § 467. Reincorporation of present incorporated churches. 1. Any church
    38  heretofore incorporated may, subject to restrictions and limitations  of
    39  existing  laws,  reincorporate  under the provisions of this article, by
    40  filing in the county clerk's office in the county in which its principal
    41  place of worship is located, a certificate, signed and  acknowledged  by
    42  all the trustees of said church in office at the time of such reincorpo-
    43  ration,  setting  forth  that  the said church by a majority vote of the
    44  members present at a duly called meeting of the  membership,  as  deter-
    45  mined  by the by-laws of the existing corporation, desires to reincorpo-
    46  rate under the provisions of this article. Such  certificate  shall  set
    47  forth  those  items  specified in section four hundred sixty-six of this
    48  article.
    49    2. The reincorporated corporation shall be deemed  a  continuation  of
    50  the  previously organized corporation, but thereafter it shall have only
    51  such rights and powers and be subject only to such  obligations  as  any
    52  corporation  created  under  this  article,  provided, however, that all
    53  property rights and liabilities of the previously organized  corporation
    54  shall  be  vested  in and assumed by the reincorporated corporation. The
    55  corporate by-laws and officers of the reincorporated  corporation  shall
    56  be  the  same  as those of its predecessor until changed pursuant to the
        S. 903                              4
 
     1  said by-laws, provided they conform to the provisions  of  section  four
     2  hundred sixty-five of this article.
     3    §  468.  Time,  place and notice of corporate meetings. 1. The by-laws
     4  shall make provisions for an annual corporate  meeting  and  for  giving
     5  appropriate  notice  to each voting member of the date and place of each
     6  such meeting.
     7    2. Notices of any special meeting shall state the purpose or  purposes
     8  for  which  the meeting is called and no business shall be transacted at
     9  such special meeting except that contained in such notice.
    10    § 469. Corporate meetings. 1. Each church shall determine the require-
    11  ments for a quorum in their by-laws that shall not exceed fifty  percent
    12  of the members.
    13    2.  The  action  of  the  meeting upon any matter or question shall be
    14  decided in a manner provided by the by-laws.
    15    3. The presiding officer of any meeting shall be  the  senior  pandit,
    16  swami  or  guru  of  the church or if none, as shall be set forth in the
    17  by-laws of the church.
    18    § 3. The religious corporations law is amended by adding a new article
    19  23 to read as follows:
    20                                  ARTICLE 23
    21                       ORGANIZATIONS OF THE SIKH FAITH
    22  Section 470. Application.
    23          471. Application for incorporation.
    24          472. Qualification of voters.
    25          473. Notice of meeting for incorporation.
    26          474. Meeting for incorporation.
    27          475. Church governance.
    28          476. Certificate of incorporation.
    29          477. Reincorporation of present incorporated churches.
    30          478. Time, place and notice of corporate meetings.
    31          479. Corporate meetings.
    32    § 470. Application. 1. This  article  applies  to  any  unincorporated
    33  church  affiliated  with  the Sikh faith, and to any heretofore incorpo-
    34  rated church or body, so  affiliated,  which  desires  to  reincorporate
    35  pursuant  to this article. Independent churches may incorporate or rein-
    36  corporate under this article in the manner  provided  in  sections  four
    37  hundred  seventy-one and four hundred seventy-seven of this article, and
    38  all the provisions of this article shall apply to such churches  as  the
    39  context requires.
    40    2.  Nothing hereinafter provided shall prevent or prohibit any hereto-
    41  fore incorporated church or body, affiliated with the  Sikh  faith  from
    42  maintaining  and  continuing  the relationship which such church or body
    43  enjoyed at the time of the effective date of this  article  should  such
    44  church or body determine not to reincorporate pursuant to this article.
    45    § 471. Application for incorporation. Any unincorporated church or any
    46  heretofore incorporated church wishing to incorporate under this article
    47  shall  execute,  acknowledge  and file a certificate of incorporation as
    48  hereinafter provided.
    49    § 472. Qualification of voters. The following parties  and  no  others
    50  shall  be  qualified  voters  for  all  purposes under this article: all
    51  persons eighteen years of age or over who are members in good and  regu-
    52  lar  standing  of the church or body by admission into membership there-
    53  with, in accordance with the  standards  for  membership  in  the  local
    54  church as determined by the local church itself.
        S. 903                              5
 
     1    §  473.  Notice  of meeting for incorporation. Notice of a meeting for
     2  the purpose of incorporating an unincorporated church shall be given  as
     3  follows:
     4    1.  The notice shall be in writing and shall state, in substance, that
     5  a meeting of such unincorporated church will be held at its usual  place
     6  of  worship at a specified day and hour for the purpose of incorporating
     7  such church and electing three or  more  trustees,  but  not  to  exceed
     8  fifteen.
     9    2.  The notice must be signed by at least six qualified voters. A copy
    10  of such notice shall be publicly read at each  of  the  two  consecutive
    11  main worship services, of such unincorporated church preceding the meet-
    12  ing  to  incorporate, by the minister of such church, or if none, by the
    13  church member who has been designated by the membership or other author-
    14  ized body of the church to conduct the worship  service  that  day  (the
    15  "officiating  minister");  and  at least fifteen days before the meeting
    16  for incorporation, a copy of such notice shall be posted at the place of
    17  worship.
    18    § 474. Meeting for incorporation. 1. At the meeting for  incorporation
    19  held  in pursuance of such notice, only qualified voters shall be eligi-
    20  ble to vote.
    21    2. The presence of one-third of the qualified voters or six  qualified
    22  voters,  whichever  number is higher, shall be necessary to constitute a
    23  quorum of such meeting. The action of the meeting  upon  any  matter  or
    24  question shall be decided by a majority of the qualified voters present.
    25    3.  The  minister of the church, or if none, the officiating minister,
    26  shall act as presiding  officer  of  the  meeting  to  incorporate.  The
    27  presiding officer shall call the meeting to order and shall be the judge
    28  of the qualification of voters.
    29    4.  Such  meeting  shall  decide by ballot whether the church shall be
    30  incorporated, the name of the proposed corporation,  the  names  of  the
    31  initial trustees, and the date, not more than fifteen months thereafter,
    32  on which the first annual election or affirmation of the trustees there-
    33  of  after  such  meeting shall be held.   The trustees shall hold office
    34  until their successors are elected or affirmed.
    35    5. At the meeting for incorporation, a constitution and by-laws  shall
    36  be  adopted setting forth a form of church governance that is consistent
    37  with section four hundred seventy-five of this article.
    38    § 475. Church governance. 1. A church incorporated under this  section
    39  shall  provide  in its certificate of incorporation or by-laws for trus-
    40  tees to be elected or appointed at large, or by virtue of their  office.
    41  There  shall  be a minimum of three trustees. To the extent practicable,
    42  terms of office shall be for three years and  staggered.  Terms  may  be
    43  consecutive.
    44    2. Provision shall also be made in its certificate of incorporation or
    45  by-laws  for  officers  of the corporation to be elected or appointed at
    46  large or by virtue of their office. The president  and  secretary  shall
    47  not be the same person. To the extent practicable, terms of office shall
    48  be for three years and staggered.  Terms may be consecutive.
    49    3. Provision shall also be made in its certificate of incorporation or
    50  by-laws for spiritual oversight of the church by an eldership board or a
    51  senior granthi or guru or some combination of the above. Terms of office
    52  may be definite or indefinite as the by-laws may specify.
    53    4. Provision shall also be made in its certificate of incorporation or
    54  by-laws for periodic affirmation of appointive positions by a designated
    55  body or board.
        S. 903                              6
 
     1    § 476. Certificate of incorporation. 1. If at the meeting for incorpo-
     2  ration  it shall be decided that such unincorporated church shall become
     3  incorporated, the presiding officer of the meeting and two others  shall
     4  execute  and  acknowledge a certificate of incorporation, in which shall
     5  be  stated  the  name  or title by which such body shall be known in the
     6  law; the purpose of its organization; the names  and  addresses  of  the
     7  initial  trustees, the county, town or city in which its principal place
     8  of worship is or is intended to be located; and  a  statement  that  the
     9  church is in affiliation with the Sikh faith.
    10    2. On filing such certificate in the office of the county clerk of the
    11  county  in  which the principal office or place of worship of the corpo-
    12  ration is or is intended to be located, such church shall  be  a  corpo-
    13  ration by the name stated in the certificate of incorporation.
    14    § 477. Reincorporation of present incorporated churches. 1. Any church
    15  heretofore  incorporated may, subject to restrictions and limitations of
    16  existing laws, reincorporate under the provisions of  this  article,  by
    17  filing in the county clerk's office in the county in which its principal
    18  place  of  worship is located, a certificate, signed and acknowledged by
    19  all the trustees of said church in office at the time of such reincorpo-
    20  ration, setting forth that the said church by a  majority  vote  of  the
    21  members  present  at  a duly called meeting of the membership, as deter-
    22  mined by the by-laws of the existing corporation, desires to  reincorpo-
    23  rate  under  the  provisions of this article. Such certificate shall set
    24  forth those items specified in section four hundred seventy-six of  this
    25  article.
    26    2.  The  reincorporated  corporation shall be deemed a continuation of
    27  the previously organized corporation, but thereafter it shall have  only
    28  such  rights  and  powers and be subject only to such obligations as any
    29  corporation created under this  article,  provided,  however,  that  all
    30  property  rights and liabilities of the previously organized corporation
    31  shall be vested in and assumed by the  reincorporated  corporation.  The
    32  corporate  by-laws  and officers of the reincorporated corporation shall
    33  be the same as those of its predecessor until changed  pursuant  to  the
    34  said  by-laws,  provided  they conform to the provisions of section four
    35  hundred seventy-five of this article.
    36    § 478. Time, place and notice of corporate meetings.  1.  The  by-laws
    37  shall  make  provision  for  an  annual corporate meeting and for giving
    38  appropriate notice to each voting member of the date and place  of  each
    39  such meeting.
    40    2.  Notices of any special meeting shall state the purpose or purposes
    41  for which the meeting is called and no business shall be  transacted  at
    42  such special meeting except that contained in such notice.
    43    § 479. Corporate meetings. 1. Each church shall determine the require-
    44  ments  for a quorum in their by-laws that shall not exceed fifty percent
    45  of the members.
    46    2. The action of the meeting upon any  matter  or  question  shall  be
    47  decided in a manner provided by the by-laws.
    48    3. The presiding officer of any meeting shall be the senior granthi or
    49  guru  of  the church or if none, as shall be set forth in the by-laws of
    50  the church.
    51    § 4. The religious corporations law is amended by adding a new article
    52  24 to read as follows:
    53                                  ARTICLE 24
    54                     ORGANIZATIONS OF THE ISLAMIC FAITH
    55  Section 480. Application.
    56          481. Application for incorporation.
        S. 903                              7
 
     1          482. Qualification of voters.
     2          483. Notice of meeting for incorporation.
     3          484. Meeting for incorporation.
     4          485. Church governance.
     5          486. Certificate of incorporation.
     6          487. Reincorporation of present incorporated churches.
     7          488. Time, place and notice of corporate meetings.
     8          489. Corporate meetings.
     9    §  480.  Application.  1.  This  article applies to any unincorporated
    10  church affiliated with the Islamic faith, and to any heretofore incorpo-
    11  rated church or body, so  affiliated,  which  desires  to  reincorporate
    12  pursuant to this article.  Independent churches may incorporate or rein-
    13  corporate  under  this  article  in the manner provided in sections four
    14  hundred eighty-one and four hundred eighty-seven of  this  article,  and
    15  all  the  provisions of this article shall apply to such churches as the
    16  context requires.
    17    2. Nothing hereinafter provided shall prevent or prohibit any  hereto-
    18  fore incorporated church or body, affiliated with the Islamic faith from
    19  maintaining  and  continuing  the relationship which such church or body
    20  enjoyed at the time of the effective date of this  article  should  such
    21  church or body determine not to reincorporate pursuant to this article.
    22    § 481. Application for incorporation. Any unincorporated church or any
    23  heretofore incorporated church wishing to incorporate under this article
    24  shall  execute,  acknowledge  and file a certificate of incorporation as
    25  hereinafter provided.
    26    § 482. Qualification of voters. The following parties  and  no  others
    27  shall  be  qualified  voters  for  all  purposes under this article: all
    28  persons eighteen years of age or over who are members in good and  regu-
    29  lar  standing  of the church or body by admission into membership there-
    30  with, in accordance with the  standards  for  membership  in  the  local
    31  church as determined by the local church itself.
    32    §  483.  Notice  of meeting for incorporation. Notice of a meeting for
    33  the purpose of incorporating an unincorporated church shall be given  as
    34  follows:
    35    1.  The notice shall be in writing and shall state, in substance, that
    36  a meeting of such unincorporated church will be held at its usual  place
    37  of  worship at a specified day and hour for the purpose of incorporating
    38  such church and electing three or  more  trustees,  but  not  to  exceed
    39  fifteen.
    40    2.  The notice must be signed by at least six qualified voters. A copy
    41  of such notice shall be publicly read at each  of  the  two  consecutive
    42  main worship services, of such unincorporated church preceding the meet-
    43  ing  to  incorporate, by the minister of such church, or if none, by the
    44  church member who has been designated by the membership or other author-
    45  ized body of the church to conduct the worship  service  that  day  (the
    46  "officiating  minister");  and  at least fifteen days before the meeting
    47  for incorporation, a copy of such notice shall be posted at the place of
    48  worship.
    49    § 484. Meeting for incorporation. 1. At the meeting for  incorporation
    50  held  in pursuance of such notice, only qualified voters shall be eligi-
    51  ble to vote.
    52    2. The presence of one-third of the qualified voters or six  qualified
    53  voters,  whichever  number is higher, shall be necessary to constitute a
    54  quorum of such meeting. The action of the meeting  upon  any  matter  or
    55  question shall be decided by a majority of the qualified voters present.
        S. 903                              8
 
     1    3.  The  minister of the church, or if none, the officiating minister,
     2  shall act as presiding  officer  of  the  meeting  to  incorporate.  The
     3  presiding officer shall call the meeting to order and shall be the judge
     4  of the qualification of voters.
     5    4.  Such  meeting  shall  decide by ballot whether the church shall be
     6  incorporated, the name of the proposed corporation,  the  names  of  the
     7  initial trustees, and the date, not more than fifteen months thereafter,
     8  on which the first annual election or affirmation of the trustees there-
     9  of  after  such  meeting shall be held.   The trustees shall hold office
    10  until their successors are elected or affirmed.
    11    5. At the meeting for incorporation, a constitution and by-laws  shall
    12  be  adopted setting forth a form of church governance that is consistent
    13  with section four hundred eighty-five of this article.
    14    § 485. Church governance. 1. A church incorporated under this  section
    15  shall  provide  in its certificate of incorporation or by-laws for trus-
    16  tees to be elected or appointed at large, or by virtue of their  office.
    17  There  shall  be a minimum of three trustees. To the extent practicable,
    18  terms of office shall be for three years and  staggered.  Terms  may  be
    19  consecutive.
    20    2. Provision shall also be made in its certificate of incorporation or
    21  by-laws  for  officers  of the corporation to be elected or appointed at
    22  large or by virtue of their office. The president  and  secretary  shall
    23  not be the same person. To the extent practicable, terms of office shall
    24  be for three years and staggered.  Terms may be consecutive.
    25    3. Provision shall also be made in its certificate of incorporation or
    26  by-laws for spiritual oversight of the church by an eldership board or a
    27  senior  imam, moulvi, maulana or some combination of the above. Terms of
    28  office may be definite or indefinite as the by-laws may specify.
    29    4. Provision shall also be made in its certificate of incorporation or
    30  by-laws for periodic affirmation of appointive positions by a designated
    31  body or board.
    32    § 486. Certificate of incorporation. 1. If at the meeting for incorpo-
    33  ration it shall be decided that such unincorporated church shall  become
    34  incorporated,  the presiding officer of the meeting and two others shall
    35  execute and acknowledge a certificate of incorporation, in  which  shall
    36  be  stated  the  name  or title by which such body shall be known in the
    37  law; the purpose of its organization; the names  and  addresses  of  the
    38  initial  trustees, the county, town or city in which its principal place
    39  of worship is or is intended to be located; and  a  statement  that  the
    40  church is in affiliation with the Islamic faith.
    41    2. On filing such certificate in the office of the county clerk of the
    42  county  in  which the principal office or place of worship of the corpo-
    43  ration is or is intended to be located, such church shall  be  a  corpo-
    44  ration by the name stated in the certificate of incorporation.
    45    § 487. Reincorporation of present incorporated churches. 1. Any church
    46  heretofore  incorporated may, subject to restrictions and limitations of
    47  existing laws, reincorporate under the provisions of  this  article,  by
    48  filing in the county clerk's office in the county in which its principal
    49  place  of  worship is located, a certificate, signed and acknowledged by
    50  all the trustees of said church in office at the time of such reincorpo-
    51  ration, setting forth that the said church by a  majority  vote  of  the
    52  members  present  at  a duly called meeting of the membership, as deter-
    53  mined by the by-laws of the existing corporation, desires to  reincorpo-
    54  rate  under  the  provisions of this article. Such certificate shall set
    55  forth those items specified in section four hundred eighty-six  of  this
    56  article.
        S. 903                              9
 
     1    2.  The  reincorporated  corporation shall be deemed a continuation of
     2  the previously organized corporation, but thereafter it shall have  only
     3  such  rights  and  powers and be subject only to such obligations as any
     4  corporation created under this  article,  provided,  however,  that  all
     5  property  rights and liabilities of the previously organized corporation
     6  shall be vested in and assumed by the  reincorporated  corporation.  The
     7  corporate  by-laws  and officers of the reincorporated corporation shall
     8  be the same as those of its predecessor until changed  pursuant  to  the
     9  said  by-laws,  provided  they conform to the provisions of section four
    10  hundred eighty-five of this article.
    11    § 488. Time, place and notice of corporate meetings.  1.  The  by-laws
    12  shall  make  provision  for  an  annual corporate meeting and for giving
    13  appropriate notice to each voting member of the date and place  of  each
    14  such meeting.
    15    2.  Notices of any special meeting shall state the purpose or purposes
    16  for which the meeting is called and no business shall be  transacted  at
    17  such special meeting except that contained in such notice.
    18    § 489. Corporate meetings. 1. Each church shall determine the require-
    19  ments  for a quorum in their by-laws that shall not exceed fifty percent
    20  of the members.
    21    2. The action of the meeting upon any  matter  or  question  shall  be
    22  decided in a manner provided by the by-laws.
    23    3.  The  presiding  officer  of  any meeting shall be the senior imam,
    24  moulvi or maulana of the church or if none, as shall be set forth in the
    25  by-laws of the church.
    26    § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.