Recent draft legislation introduces a new type of a state (municipal) educational institution to be known as an autonomous institution, and a new type of state (municipal) non-profit organization to go with it, to be known as a state (municipal) autonomous non-profit organization. The article describes the specific features of this new type of organization, considers the theoretical and practical aspects of their introduction. This innovation has also given rise to various objections and concerns, which are commented upon in the article.