161.430 Investment of funds.
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other disposition of the investments and moneys of the retirement system. The
board shall, by administrative regulation, establish investment policies and
procedures to carry out their responsibilities. The board shall employ experienced
competent investment counselors to advise it on all matters pertaining to
investment, except the board may employ qualified investment personnel to advise
it on investment matters not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the book value of the
system's assets. All individuals associated with the investment and management of
retirement system assets, whether contracted investment advisors or staff
employees, shall adhere to "The Code of Ethics" and "The Standards of Professional
Conduct" promulgated by the Association for Investment Management and
Research. Effective July 1, 1991, no investment counselor shall manage more than
forty percent (40%) of the funds of the retirement system. The board may appoint an
investment committee consisting of the executive secretary and two (2) trustees to
act for the board in all matters of investment, subject to the approval of the board of
trustees. The board of trustees, in keeping with their responsibilities as trustees and
wherever consistent with their fiduciary responsibilities, shall give priority to the
investment of funds in obligations calculated to improve the industrial development
and enhance the economic welfare of the Commonwealth. Toward this end, the
board shall develop procedures for informing the business community of the
potential for in-state investments by the retirement fund, accepting and evaluating
applications for the in-state investment of funds, and working with members of the
business community in executing in-state investments which are consistent with the
board's fiduciary responsibilities. The board shall include in the criteria it uses to
evaluate in-state investments their potential for creating new employment
opportunities and adding to the total job pool in Kentucky. The board may
cooperate with the board of trustees of Kentucky Retirement Systems in developing
its program and procedures, and shall report to the Legislative Research
Commission annually on its progress in placing in-state investments. The first
report shall be submitted by October 1, 1991, and subsequent reports shall be
submitted by October 1 of each year thereafter. The report shall include the number
of applications for in-state investment received, the nature of the investments
proposed, the amount requested, the amount invested, and the percentage of
applications which resulted in investments. (2) The board members and investment counselor shall discharge their duties with respect to the assets of the system solely in the interests of the active contributing
members and annuitants and:
(a) For the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to members and annuitants and defraying reasonable expenses of administering the system; (b) With the care, skill, prudence, and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with these matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and
with like aims; (c) By diversifying the investments of the plan so as to minimize the risk of large losses, unless under the circumstances it is clearly prudent not to do so; and (d) In accordance with the laws, administrative regulations, and other instruments governing the system. (3) (a) In choosing and contracting for professional investment management services the board must do so prudently and in the interest of the members and
annuitants. Any contract that the board makes with an investment counselor
shall set forth policies and guidelines of the board with reference to standard
rating services and specific criteria for determining the quality of investments.
Expenses directly related to investment management services shall be
financed from the guarantee fund in amounts approved by the board. (b) An investment counselor appointed under this section shall acknowledge in writing his fiduciary responsibilities to the fund. To be eligible for
appointment, an investment counselor must be:
1. Registered under the Federal Investment Advisors Act of 1940; or 2. A bank as defined by that Act; or 3. An insurance company qualified to perform investment services under
the laws of more than one (1) state. (4) No investment or disbursement of funds shall be made unless authorized by the board of trustees, except that the board, in order to ensure timely market
transactions, shall establish investment guidelines, by administrative regulation, and
may permit its staff and investment counselors employed pursuant to this section to
execute purchases and sales of investment instruments within those guidelines
without prior board approval. (5) In discharging his or her administrative duties under this section, a trustee shall strive to administer the retirement system in an efficient and cost-effective manner
for the taxpayers of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Effective: June 27, 2008
History: Amended 2008 (1st Extra. Sess.) Ky. Acts ch. 1, sec. 32, effective June 27, 2008. -- Amended 2004 Ky. Acts ch. 121, sec. 5, effective July 1, 2004. -- Amended
2002 Ky. Acts ch. 275, sec. 9, effective July 1, 2002. -- Amended 1994 Ky. Acts
ch. 369, sec. 5, effective July 1, 1994.