(a)Control and management of fund.--The members of the board shall be the trustees of the fund. Regardless of any other provision of law governing the investments of funds under the control of an administrative board of the State government, the trustees shall have exclusive control and management of the said fund and full power to invest the same in accordance with the provisions of this section, subject, however, to the exercise of that degree of judgment, skill and care under the circumstances then prevailing which persons of prudence, discretion and intelligence, who are familiar with such matters, exercise in the management of their own affairs not in regard to speculation, but in regard to the permanent disposition of the funds, considering the probable income to be derived therefro
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(a) Control and management of fund.--The members of the board shall be the trustees of the fund. Regardless of any other provision of law governing the investments of funds under the control of an administrative board of the State government, the trustees shall have exclusive control and management of the said fund and full power to invest the same in accordance with the provisions of this section, subject, however, to the exercise of that degree of judgment, skill and care under the circumstances then prevailing which persons of prudence, discretion and intelligence, who are familiar with such matters, exercise in the management of their own affairs not in regard to speculation, but in regard to the permanent disposition of the funds, considering the probable income to be derived therefrom as well as the probable safety of their capital. The trustees shall have the power to hold, purchase, sell, lend, assign, transfer or dispose of any of the securities and investments in which any of the moneys in the fund shall have been invested as well as of the proceeds of said investments, including any directed commissions which have accrued to the benefit of the fund as a consequence of the investments, and of any moneys belonging to said fund, subject in every case to meeting the standard of prudence set forth in this subsection.
(b) Crediting of interest.--The board, annually, shall allow the required interest on the mean amount for the preceding year to the credit of each of the accounts other than the individual investment accounts. The amount so allowed shall be credited thereto by the board and transferred from the interest reserve account.
(c) Custodian of fund.--The State Treasurer shall be the custodian of the fund.
(d) Payments from fund.--All payments from the fund shall be made by the State Treasurer in accordance with requisitions signed by the secretary of the board, or his designee, and ratified by resolution of the board.
(e) Fiduciary status of board.--The members of the board, employees of the board and agents thereof shall stand in a fiduciary relationship to the members of the system regarding the investments and disbursements of any of the moneys of the fund and shall not profit either directly or indirectly with respect thereto. The board may, when possible and consistent with its fiduciary duties imposed by this subsection or other law, including its obligation to invest and manage the fund for the exclusive benefit of the members of the system, consider whether an investment in any project or business enhances and promotes the general welfare of this Commonwealth and its citizens, including, but not limited to, investments that increase and enhance the employment of Commonwealth residents, encourage the construction and retention of adequate housing and stimulate further investment and economic activity in this Commonwealth. The board shall, through the Governor, submit to the General Assembly annually, at the same time the board submits its budget covering administrative expenses, a report identifying the nature and amount of all existing investments made pursuant to this subsection.
(f) Name for transacting business.--By the name of "The State Employees' Retirement System" or "The State Employes' Retirement System" all of the business of the system shall be transacted, its fund invested, all requisitions for money drawn and payments made, and all of its cash and securities and other property shall be held, except that, any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, the board may establish a nominee registration procedure for the purpose of registering securities in order to facilitate the purchase, sale or other disposition of securities pursuant to the provisions of this law.
(g) Deposits in banks and trust companies.--For the purpose of meeting disbursements for annuities and other payments in excess of the receipts, there shall be kept available by the State Treasurer an amount, not exceeding 10% of the total amount in the fund, on deposit in any bank or banks in this Commonwealth organized under the laws thereof or under the laws of the United States or with any trust company or companies incorporated by any law of this Commonwealth, provided any of such banks or trust companies shall furnish adequate security for said deposit, and provided that the sum so deposited in any one bank or trust company shall not exceed 25% of the paid-up capital and surplus of said bank or trust company.
(h) Venture capital, private placement and alternative investments.--The board in its prudent discretion may make any venture capital investment, private placement investment or other alternative investment of any kind, structure or manner which meets the standard of prudence set forth in subsection (a).
(i) Vehicles for authorized investments.--The board in its prudent discretion may make any investments which meet the standard of prudence set forth in subsection (a) by acquiring any type of interest in a business organization existing under the laws of any jurisdiction, provided that, in any such case, the liability of the State Employees' Retirement Fund shall be limited to the amount of its investment.
(j) Legislative declaration concerning certain authorized investments.--The General Assembly finds and declares that authorized investments of the fund made by or on behalf of the board under this section whereby the board becomes a joint owner or stockholder in any company, corporation, association or other lawful business organization are outside the scope of the original intent of and therefore do not violate the prohibition set forth in section 8 of Article VIII of the Constitution of Pennsylvania.