Texas Government Code 845.301 – Investment of Assets
(a) The assets of the retirement system shall be invested and reinvested without distinction as to their source in accordance with § 67, Article XVI, Texas Constitution. For purposes of the investment authority of the board of trustees under § 67, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, “securities” means any investment instrument within the meaning of the term as defined by § 4001.068, 15 U.S.C. § 77b(a)(1), or 15 U.S.C. § 78c(a)(10). An interest in a limited partnership or investment contract is considered a security without regard to the number of investors or the control, access to information, or rights granted to or retained by the retirement system. Any instrument or contract intended to manage transaction, currency exchange, or interest rate risk in purchasing, selling, or holding securities, or that derives all or substantially all of its value from the value or performance of one or more securities, including an index or group of securities, is considered to be a security. Investment decisions are subject to the standard provided in the Texas Trust Code by § 117.004(b), Property Code.
(a-1) Notwithstanding any provision of Chapter 551 or any other law, the board of trustees may discuss an investment or potential investment with one or more employees of the retirement system or with a third party to the extent permitted to the board of trustees of the Texas growth fund under § 551.075.
Terms Used In Texas Government Code 845.301
- Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
- Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
- Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. Source: OCC
- Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
- Property: means real and personal property. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Written: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures. See Texas Government Code 311.005
(b) The board of trustees shall exercise control of the investment operations by employing an investment officer, who shall supervise the investment operations for the board of trustees. The investment officer shall prepare and submit to the board for review, amendment, and adoption an itemized budget showing the amount required to pay the investment expenses of the retirement system for the following fiscal year.
(c) The board of trustees, acting on the recommendations of the investment officer, may contract with private professional investment managers to assist in investing the assets of the retirement system. The board of trustees also has the authority set forth in § 802.204 to appoint investment managers for the retirement system, with the effect described by § 802.203(c).
(d) The board of trustees shall employ one or more performance measurement services to evaluate and analyze the investment results of those assets of the retirement system for which reliable and appropriate measurement methodology and procedures exist. Each service shall compare investment results with the written investment objectives developed by the board of trustees and shall also compare the investment of assets being evaluated and analyzed with the investment of other public funds.
(e) The assets of the retirement system may be held in the name of agents, nominees, depository trust companies, or other entities designated by the board of trustees. The records and all relevant reports or accounts of the retirement system must show the ownership interests of the retirement system in these assets and the facts regarding the system’s holdings.
(f) The board of trustees shall establish written investment objectives concerning the investment of assets of the retirement system.