BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       


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                                 THIRD READING
                                        

          Bill No:  SB 2122
          Author:   Ortiz (D)
          Amended:  5/26/00
          Vote:     21

            
           SENATE PUBLIC EMP. & RET. COMMITTEE  :  5-0, 4/24/00
          AYES:  Ortiz, Haynes, Karnette, Lewis, Soto

           SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  :  Senate Rule 28.8
           

           SUBJECT  :    Joint Retirement System Investment Advisory  
          Panel

           SOURCE  :     State Controller

           
           DIGEST  :    This bill states that the Public Employees'  
          Retirement System and the State Teachers' Retirement System  
          are authorized and encouraged to cooperate and share  
          information that may assist them in developing and  
          implementing appropriate investment strategies, with the  
          advice of investment experts, as specified.  The bill  
          specifies that confidential information or documents  
          relating to investments in the possession of either system  
          would not lose their confidential status due to the fact  
          that the information or documents are shared with the other  
          system or with investment advisors.  Deletes obsolete  
          provisions


           ANALYSIS  :    Existing language in the State Constitution,  
          pursuant to Proposition 162 (adopted in 1992), provides  
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          that pension boards such as the PERS and STRS Boards of  
          Administration "?shall have plenary authority and fiduciary  
          responsibility for investment monies and administration?."  
          of the retirement systems (Section 17 of Article XVI).

          "Plenary" is defined by Funk and Wagnalls as, "Full in all  
          respects or requisites; entire; absolute; complete."

          It is the intent of this bill to authorize and encourage  
          the Public Employees' Retirement System and the State  
          Teachers' Retirement System to regularly cooperate and  
          share information that may assist both systems in  
          developing and implementing appropriate investment  
          strategies, with the advice of investment experts selected  
          by the systems who are willing to share their knowledge and  
          expertise.

          Notwithstanding any other provision of law, confidential  
          information or documents relating to investments in the  
          possession of the Public Employees' Retirement System or  
          the State Teachers' Retirement System shall not lose their  
          confidential status due to the fact that the information or  
          documents are shared with the other system or with  
          investment advisors selected by the systems to advise on  
          asset allocation, active verses passive management, or  
          other investment issues of mutual interest and concern.   
          Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize the  
          release or sharing of documents or information in violation  
          of federal law or the terms of a contract.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  Yes    
          Local:  No

           SUPPORT  :   (Verified  5/26/00)

          State Controller (source)
          American Federation of State, County and Municipal  
          Employees(AFSCME)

           ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT  :    According to the sponsor of the  
          bill, the intent in proposing this bill is to accomplish  
          the following:

          1.To improve the working relationship in the investment  







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            area between the PERS and STRS boards, and

          2.To provide both boards advice from key professionals in  
            the investment field in high level policy issues such as  
            asset allocation and investment policy.

          TSM:jk  5/26/00   Senate Floor Analyses 

                         SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE

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