S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9717
I N S E N A T E
April 2, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities
and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the business corporation law, in relation to requiring
certain venture capital companies to report diversity information
about its funding determinations
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "diversity
in investment act".
§ 2. The business corporation law is amended by adding a new section
113 to read as follows:
§ 113. DIVERSITY IN INVESTMENT PRACTICES BY VENTURE CAPITAL COMPANIES.
(A) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT CLEARLY HAS A
DIFFERENT MEANING:
(1) "VENTURE CAPITAL COMPANY" MEANS AN ENTITY THAT MEETS AT LEAST ONE
OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
(I) IS A VENTURE CAPITAL FUND;
(II) IS A VENTURE CAPITAL OPERATING COMPANY; OR
(III) ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION DURING THE ANNUAL PERIOD COMMENCING
WITH THE DATE OF ITS INITIAL CAPITALIZATION, AND ON AT LEAST ONE OCCA-
SION DURING EACH ANNUAL PERIOD THEREAFTER, AT LEAST FIFTY PERCENT OF ITS
ASSETS (OTHER THAN SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS PENDING LONG-TERM COMMITMENT
OR DISTRIBUTION TO INVESTORS), VALUED AT COST, ARE VENTURE CAPITAL
INVESTMENTS OR DERIVATIVE INVESTMENTS.
(2) "VENTURE CAPITAL FUND" MEANS AN ENTITY AS DEFINED IN RULE 203(L)-1
ADOPTED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION UNDER THE INVESTMENT
ADVISERS ACT OF 1940.
(3) "VENTURE CAPITAL OPERATING COMPANY" MEANS AN ENTITY AS DEFINED IN
RULE 2510.3-101(D) ADOPTED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
UNDER THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974.
(4) "VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT" MEANS AN ACQUISITION OF SECURITIES IN
AN OPERATING COMPANY AS TO WHICH THE INVESTMENT ADVISER, THE ENTITY
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01362-02-5
S. 9717 2
ADVISED BY THE INVESTMENT ADVISER, OR AN AFFILIATED PERSON OF EITHER HAS
OR OBTAINS MANAGEMENT RIGHTS.
(5) "MANAGEMENT RIGHTS" MEANS THE RIGHT, OBTAINED CONTRACTUALLY OR
THROUGH OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES, EITHER THROUGH ONE PERSON ALONE OR IN
CONJUNCTION WITH ONE OR MORE PERSONS ACTING TOGETHER OR THROUGH AN
AFFILIATED PERSON, TO SUBSTANTIALLY PARTICIPATE IN, TO SUBSTANTIALLY
INFLUENCE THE CONDUCT OF, OR TO PROVIDE OR TO OFFER TO PROVIDE SIGNIF-
ICANT GUIDANCE AND COUNSEL CONCERNING, THE MANAGEMENT, OPERATIONS OR
BUSINESS OBJECTIVES OF THE OPERATING COMPANY IN WHICH THE VENTURE CAPI-
TAL INVESTMENT IS MADE.
(6) "DERIVATIVE INVESTMENT" MEANS AN ACQUISITION OF SECURITIES BY A
VENTURE CAPITAL COMPANY IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF ITS BUSINESS IN
EXCHANGE FOR AN EXISTING VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT EITHER: UPON THE
EXERCISE OR CONVERSION OF THE EXISTING VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT; OR IN
CONNECTION WITH A PUBLIC OFFERING OF SECURITIES OR THE MERGER OR REOR-
GANIZATION OF THE OPERATING COMPANY TO WHICH THE EXISTING VENTURE CAPI-
TAL INVESTMENT RELATES.
(7) "COVERED ENTITY" MEANS A VENTURE CAPITAL COMPANY THAT MEETS BOTH
OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
(I) THE VENTURE CAPITAL COMPANY MEETS EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING CRITE-
RIA:
(A) THE VENTURE CAPITAL COMPANY PRIMARILY ENGAGES IN THE BUSINESS OF
INVESTING IN, OR PROVIDING FINANCING TO, STARTUP, EARLY-STAGE, OR EMERG-
ING GROWTH COMPANIES.
(B) THE VENTURE CAPITAL COMPANY MANAGES ASSETS ON BEHALF OF THIRD-PAR-
TY INVESTORS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, INVESTMENTS MADE ON BEHALF
OF A STATE OR LOCAL RETIREMENT OR PENSION SYSTEM.
(II) THE VENTURE CAPITAL COMPANY MEETS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
(A) THE VENTURE CAPITAL COMPANY IS HEADQUARTERED IN THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
(B) THE VENTURE CAPITAL COMPANY HAS A SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE OR OPERA-
TIONAL OFFICE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(C) THE VENTURE CAPITAL COMPANY MAKES VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS IN
BUSINESSES THAT ARE LOCATED IN, OR HAVE SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONS IN, THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.
(D) THE VENTURE CAPITAL COMPANY SOLICITS OR RECEIVES INVESTMENTS FROM
A PERSON WHO IS A RESIDENT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(8) "DIVERSE FOUNDING TEAM MEMBER" MEANS A FOUNDING TEAM MEMBER WHO
SELF-IDENTIFIES AS A WOMAN, NONBINARY, BLACK, AFRICAN AMERICAN, HISPAN-
IC, LATINO-LATINA, ASIAN, PACIFIC ISLANDER, NATIVE AMERICAN, NATIVE
HAWAIIAN, ALASKAN NATIVE, DISABLED, VETERAN OR DISABLED VETERAN, LESBI-
AN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, OR QUEER.
(9) "FOUNDING TEAM MEMBER" MEANS EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING:
(I) A PERSON WHO SATISFIES ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
(A) THE PERSON OWNED INITIAL SHARES OR SIMILAR OWNERSHIP INTERESTS OF
THE BUSINESS.
(B) THE PERSON CONTRIBUTED TO THE CONCEPT OF, RESEARCH FOR, DEVELOP-
MENT OF, OR WORK PERFORMED BY THE BUSINESS BEFORE INITIAL SHARES WERE
ISSUED.
(C) THE PERSON WAS NOT A PASSIVE INVESTOR IN THE BUSINESS.
(II) A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER,
PRESIDENT, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, OR MANAGER OF A BUSINESS, OR WHO HAS
BEEN DESIGNATED WITH A ROLE WITH A SIMILAR LEVEL OF AUTHORITY AS ANY OF
THOSE POSITIONS.
(10) "NON-COMPLIANCE" MEANS THAT A COVERED ENTITY:
(I) INTENTIONALLY FILED MISLEADING DIVERSITY DATA;
S. 9717 3
(II) MISTAKENLY FILED INCORRECT DATA AND FAILED TO CORRECT SUCH DATA
WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF RECEIVING NOTIFICATION FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
OFFICE OF SUCH INCORRECT DATA;
(III) FAILED TO FILE THE REPORT REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION AND
FAILED TO FILE SUCH REPORT WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF RECEIVING NOTIFICATION
FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE OF SUCH FAILURE TO FILE SUCH REPORT;
OR
(IV) FAILED TO KEEP ACCURATE RECORDS FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (E) OF THIS SECTION.
(11) "PRIMARILY FOUNDED BY DIVERSE FOUNDING TEAM MEMBERS" MEANS A
FOUNDING TEAM FOR WHICH MORE THAN ONE-HALF OF THE FOUNDING TEAM MEMBERS
RESPONDED TO THE SURVEY DESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH TWO OF PARAGRAPH (B)
OF THIS SECTION AND AT LEAST ONE-HALF OF THE FOUNDING TEAM MEMBERS ARE
DIVERSE FOUNDING TEAM MEMBERS.
(B) (1) COMMENCING ON MARCH FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-EIGHT AND ANNU-
ALLY THEREAFTER, A COVERED ENTITY SHALL REPORT ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION ABOUT ITS FUNDING DETERMINATIONS BY COMPLETING A FORM TO BE
CREATED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE, WITH SUCH FORM ASCERTAINING AT A
MINIMUM:
(I) AT AN AGGREGATED LEVEL, FOR THE FOUNDING TEAMS OF ALL OF THE BUSI-
NESSES IN WHICH THE COVERED ENTITY MADE A VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN
THE PRIOR CALENDAR YEAR TO THE EXTENT THE INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED
PURSUANT TO THE SURVEY DESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH TWO OF THIS PARAGRAPH:
(A) THE GENDER IDENTITY OF EACH MEMBER OF THE FOUNDING TEAM, INCLUDING
NONBINARY AND GENDER-FLUID IDENTITIES.
(B) THE RACE OF EACH MEMBER OF THE FOUNDING TEAM.
(C) THE ETHNICITY OF EACH MEMBER OF THE FOUNDING TEAM.
(D) THE DISABILITY STATUS OF EACH MEMBER OF THE FOUNDING TEAM.
(E) WHETHER ANY MEMBER OF THE FOUNDING TEAM IDENTIFIES AS LGBTQ+.
(F) WHETHER ANY MEMBER OF THE FOUNDING TEAM IS A VETERAN OR A DISABLED
VETERAN.
(G) WHETHER ANY MEMBER OF THE FOUNDING TEAM IS A RESIDENT OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK.
(H) WHETHER ANY MEMBER OF THE FOUNDING TEAM DECLINED TO PROVIDE ANY OF
THE INFORMATION DESCRIBED IN ITEMS (A) TO (D) OF THIS CLAUSE.
(II) (A) DURING THE PRIOR CALENDAR YEAR, THE NUMBER OF VENTURE CAPITAL
INVESTMENTS TO BUSINESSES PRIMARILY FOUNDED BY DIVERSE FOUNDING TEAM
MEMBERS, AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VENTURE CAPITAL INVEST-
MENTS THE COVERED ENTITY MADE, IN THE AGGREGATE AND BROKEN DOWN INTO THE
CATEGORIES DESCRIBED IN ITEMS (A) TO (D) OF CLAUSE (I) OF THIS SUBPARA-
GRAPH.
(B) THE INFORMATION PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL BE
ANONYMIZED.
(III) DURING THE PRIOR CALENDAR YEAR, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF VENTURE
CAPITAL INVESTMENTS TO BUSINESSES PRIMARILY FOUNDED BY DIVERSE FOUNDING
TEAM MEMBERS, AS A PERCENTAGE OF VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS MADE BY THE
COVERED ENTITY, IN THE AGGREGATE AND BROKEN DOWN INTO THE CATEGORIES
DESCRIBED IN SUBCLAUSES (A) TO (D) OF CLAUSE (I) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH.
(IV) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY IN VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS THE
COVERED ENTITY INVESTED IN EACH BUSINESS DURING THE PRIOR CALENDAR YEAR.
(V) THE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS OF EACH COMPANY IN WHICH THE
COVERED ENTITY MADE A VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT DURING THE PRIOR CALEN-
DAR YEAR.
(2) (I) A COVERED ENTITY SHALL OBTAIN THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY
SUBPARAGRAPH ONE OF THIS PARAGRAPH BY PROVIDING EACH FOUNDING TEAM
MEMBER OF A BUSINESS THAT HAS RECEIVED FUNDING FROM A VENTURE CAPITAL
S. 9717 4
COMPANY TO WHICH THE COVERED ENTITY HAS ACTED AS AN INVESTMENT ADVISER
WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A SURVEY FOR THE PURPOSE OF
COLLECTING THE INFORMATION.
(II) THE SURVEY SHALL INCLUDE A "DECLINE TO STATE" OPTION FOR EACH
QUESTION ON THE SURVEY.
(III) A COVERED ENTITY SHALL PROVIDE A WRITTEN DISCLOSURE TO EACH
FOUNDING TEAM MEMBER PRIOR TO, OR CONCURRENTLY WITH, THE SURVEY
DESCRIBED IN CLAUSE (I) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH THAT STATES ALL OF THE
FOLLOWING:
(A) THE FOUNDING TEAM MEMBER'S DECISION TO DISCLOSE THEIR DEMOGRAPHIC
INFORMATION IS VOLUNTARY.
(B) NO ADVERSE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AGAINST THE FOUNDING TEAM MEMBER
IF THEY DECLINE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SURVEY.
(IV) A COVERED ENTITY SHALL NOT PROVIDE THE SURVEY DESCRIBED IN
SUBPARAGRAPH ONE OF THIS PARAGRAPH AND THE DISCLOSURE DESCRIBED IN
CLAUSE (III) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH TO A FOUNDING TEAM MEMBER UNTIL AFTER
THE COVERED ENTITY HAS EXECUTED AN INVESTMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE BUSI-
NESS AND MADE THE FIRST TRANSFER OF FUNDS.
(V) A COVERED ENTITY SHALL NOT IN ANY WAY ENCOURAGE, INCENTIVIZE, OR
ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THE DECISION OF A FOUNDING TEAM MEMBER TO PARTIC-
IPATE IN THE SURVEY DESCRIBED IN CLAUSE (I) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH.
(3) A COVERED ENTITY REQUIRED TO CONDUCT THE SURVEY DESCRIBED IN
SUBPARAGRAPH TWO OF THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL DO BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING:
(I) COLLECT SURVEY RESPONSE DATA FROM THE FOUNDING TEAM MEMBERS IN A
MANNER THAT DOES NOT ASSOCIATE THE SURVEY RESPONSE DATA WITH AN INDIVID-
UAL FOUNDING TEAM MEMBER.
(II) REPORT THE SURVEY RESPONSE DATA PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH TWO OF
THIS PARAGRAPH IN A MANNER THAT DOES NOT ASSOCIATE THE SURVEY RESPONSE
DATA WITH AN INDIVIDUAL FOUNDING TEAM MEMBER.
(C) A COVERED ENTITY MAY SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION BY
PROVIDING A REPORT PREPARED BY A BUSINESS THAT CONTROLS EACH VENTURE
CAPITAL COMPANY TO WHICH THE COVERED ENTITY ACTED AS AN INVESTMENT
ADVISER AT ANY TIME DURING THE PRIOR CALENDAR YEAR IF THE REPORT
CONTAINS ALL OF THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SUBPARAGRAPH ONE OF PARA-
GRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION.
(D) A COVERED ENTITY SHALL MAKE THE REPORTS RECEIVED PURSUANT TO PARA-
GRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION READILY ACCESSIBLE, EASILY SEARCHABLE, AND
EASILY DOWNLOADABLE ON THE COVERED ENTITY'S INTERNET WEBSITE.
(E) COMMENCING ON JULY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-EIGHT, AND ON JULY
FIRST ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, A COVERED ENTITY SHALL SUBMIT A COMPLETED
VERSION OF THE FORM REFERENCED IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION TO THE
SECRETARY OF STATE. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHALL MAKE ALL REPORTS
SUBMITTED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION ELECTRONICALLY AVAILABLE TO THE
PUBLIC IN A SEARCHABLE FORMAT ON ITS WEBSITE.
(F) WHENEVER THERE SHALL BE A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION, AN APPLICA-
TION MAY BE MADE BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK TO A COURT OR JUSTICE HAVING JURISDICTION BY A
SPECIAL PROCEEDING TO ISSUE AN INJUNCTION, AND UPON NOTICE TO THE
DEFENDANT OF NOT LESS THAN FIVE DAYS, TO ENJOIN AND RESTRAIN THE CONTIN-
UANCE OF SUCH VIOLATIONS; AND IF IT SHALL APPEAR TO THE SATISFACTION OF
THE COURT OR JUSTICE THAT THE DEFENDANT HAS, IN FACT, VIOLATED THIS
ARTICLE, AN INJUNCTION MAY BE ISSUED BY SUCH COURT OR JUSTICE, ENJOINING
AND RESTRAINING ANY FURTHER VIOLATION, WITHOUT REQUIRING PROOF THAT ANY
PERSON HAS, IN FACT, BEEN INJURED OR DAMAGED THEREBY. IN ANY SUCH
PROCEEDING, THE COURT MAY MAKE ALLOWANCES TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AS
PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH SIX OF SUBDIVISION (A) OF SECTION EIGHTY-THREE
S. 9717 5
HUNDRED THREE OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES, AND DIRECT RESTITU-
TION. WHENEVER THE COURT SHALL DETERMINE THAT A VIOLATION OF THIS ARTI-
CLE HAS OCCURRED, THE COURT MAY IMPOSE A CIVIL PENALTY OF NOT MORE THAN
ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER DAY DURING SUCH TIME OF NON-COMPLIANCE FOR
FIRMS WITH UNDER ONE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS IN TOTAL ASSETS, NOT
MORE THAN THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER DAY FOR FIRMS WITH BETWEEN ONE
HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS AND ONE BILLION FIVE HUNDRED MILLION
DOLLARS IN ASSETS, AND NOT MORE THAN FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER DAY FOR
FIRMS WITH OVER ONE BILLION FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN ASSETS. IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH PROPOSED APPLICATION, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS
AUTHORIZED TO TAKE PROOF AND MAKE A DETERMINATION OF THE RELEVANT FACTS
AND TO ISSUE SUBPOENAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND
RULES.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
