NY Ret & SS L § 178-A (2021)
2021 New York Laws RSS - Retirement and Social Security Article 4-A - Investments of Public Pension Funds 178-A - Custody and Nominee Registration of Stock and Securities.

§  178-a. Custody and nominee registration of stock and securities. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including the provisions  of the  administrative  code of the city of New York and the education law, the public officer or officers designated by law as the custodian  of  a fund  are authorized, in accordance with the provisions of this section, to turn over the physical custody and safekeeping of any stock or  other securities,  in registered or bearer form, owned by such fund to (a) any state bank or trust company located in this state, or (b)  any  national bank located in this state, or (c) any private banker duly authorized by the  superintendent  of  financial  services  of this state to engage in business here. All such  private  bankers  shall,  as  private  bankers, maintain  a  permanent  capital  of not less than one million dollars in this state. Transfers of stocks or securities  must  receive  the  prior consent of the trustees of such fund, under such terms and conditions as they may specify. The custodian of such fund may direct such bank, trust company  or  private  banker  to  register  and  hold  any such stock or securities in its custody, in the name of its nominee. The custodian  of such  fund may also authorize such bank, trust company or private banker to deposit, or arrange for the deposit, of such stock or securities in a clearing corporation  (as  defined  in  article  eight  of  the  uniform commercial  code).  In addition, the custodian of such fund may deposit, or authorize such bank, trust company or private banker, to deposit,  or arrange  for  the  deposit  of  any of such securities the principal and interest of which the  United  States,  or  any  department,  agency  or instrumentality  thereof  has  agreed to pay, or has guaranteed payment, with a federal reserve bank to be credited to an account as to which the ownership of, and other interests in, such securities may be transferred by entries on the books of such federal reserve  bank  without  physical delivery  of  any securities. The records of such bank, trust company or private banker shall show, at all times, the ownership of such stock and securities, and they shall, when held in the possession  of  such  bank, trust company or private banker be, at all times, kept separate from the assets  of  such  bank,  trust  company or private banker. When any such stock or securities are so registered in the name  of  a  nominee,  such bank, trust company or private banker shall be absolutely liable for any loss  occasioned  by the acts of such nominee with respect to such stock or securities.   2. (a) The custodian of such fund may also authorize such bank,  trust company or private banker to appoint one or more foreign entities as its agent  to hold and register foreign securities. Such foreign entity must be either:  (i) a banking institution or trust company holding  securities  itself or  in  a  securities  depository  or  clearing  agency  which acts as a securities depository; or  (ii) a securities depository  or  clearing  agency  which  acts  as  a securities depository.  (b)  For purposes of the appointment of a foreign entity as agent, the term "banking institution or trust company" shall mean an  entity  which is:  (i)   regulated   by   the   relevant  regulatory  authority  in  that jurisdiction and has shareholders equity of not less  than  one  hundred million dollars; or  (ii)  a  branch  of, or a majority-owned direct or indirect subsidiary of, a domestic bank, trust company or  private  banker  eligible  to  be authorized to have custody of securities under this section.  (c)  For purposes of the appointment of a foreign entity as agent, the term  "securities  depository  or  clearing  agency  which  acts  as   a securities depository" shall mean an entity which:  (i) is regulated by the relevant national regulatory authority in that jurisdiction;  (ii) is operated pursuant to the charter and by-laws of any company or association  organized  as  a  securities  depository or clearing agency which operates a system  for  the  central  handling  of  securities  or equivalent book entries; or  (iii)  may be used as a securities depository or clearing agency which acts as a securities depository by an investment company (as defined  by an act of congress entitled the "Investment Company Act of 1940").  (d)  Registration of foreign securities may be in the name of any such foreign entity or its nominee, provided that the books  and  records  of the  domestic  bank,  trust  company  or  private  banker which made the appointment of  the  foreign  entity  shall  show,  at  all  times,  the beneficial ownership of the fund.  (e) A domestic bank, trust company or private banker which has custody of  foreign  securities  of such fund shall be absolutely liable for any loss with respect to such securities which is occasioned  by  its  acts, the acts of its agent, the acts of its nominee or its agent's nominee or the  acts  of  any  foreign  entity  appointed by it or any such foreign entity's agent or nominee.