38-848

38-848. Board of trustees; powers and duties;
independent trust fund; administrator; agents and employees

A. The board of trustees shall consist of seven members and shall have the rights,
powers and duties that are set forth in this section. The term of office of members shall
be five years to expire on the third Monday in January of the appropriate year. Members
are eligible to receive compensation in an amount of fifty dollars a day, but not to
exceed one thousand dollars in any one fiscal year, and are eligible for reimbursement of
expenses pursuant to chapter 4, article 2 of this title. The board consists of the
following members appointed by the governor pursuant to section 38-211:

1. Two elected members from a local board to represent the employees.

2. One member to represent this state as an employer of public safety
personnel. This member shall have the qualifications prescribed in subsection R of this
section.

3. One member to represent the cities as employers of public safety personnel.

4. An elected county or state official or a judge of the superior court, court of
appeals or supreme court.

5. Two public members. These members shall have the qualifications prescribed in
subsection R of this section.

B. All monies in the fund shall be deposited and held in a public safety personnel
retirement system depository. Monies in the fund shall be disbursed from the depository
separate and apart from all monies or funds of this state and the agencies,
instrumentalities and subdivisions of this state, except that the board may commingle the
assets of the fund and the assets of all other plans entrusted to its management in one
or more group trusts, subject to the crediting of receipts and earnings and charging of
payments to the appropriate employer, system or plan. The monies shall be secured by the
depository in which they are deposited and held to the same extent and in the same manner
as required by the general depository law of this state. For purposes of making the
decision to invest in securities owned by the fund or any plan administered by the board,
the fund and assets of the plans are subject to the sole management of the board for the
purpose of this article except that, on the board's election to invest in a particular
security or make a particular investment, the assets comprising the security or
investment may be chosen and managed by third parties approved by the board. The board
may invest in portfolios of securities chosen and managed by a third party. The board's
decision to invest in securities such as mutual funds, commingled investment funds,
exchange traded funds, private equity or venture capital limited partnerships, real
estate limited partnerships or limited liability companies and real estate investment
trusts whose assets are chosen and managed by third parties does not constitute an
improper delegation of the board's investment authority.

C. All contributions under this system and other retirement plans that the board
administers shall be forwarded to the board and shall be held, invested and reinvested by
the board as provided in this article. All property and monies of the fund and other
retirement plans that the board administers, including income from investments and from
all other sources, shall be retained for the exclusive benefit of members, as provided in
the system and other retirement plans that the board administers, and shall be used to
pay benefits to members or their beneficiaries or to pay expenses of operation and
administration of the system and fund and other retirement plans that the board
administers.

D. The board shall have the full power in its sole discretion to invest and
reinvest, alter and change the monies accumulated under the system and other retirement
plans that the board administers as provided in this article. In addition to its power
to make investments managed by others, the board may delegate the authority the board
deems necessary and prudent to investment management pursuant to section 38-848.03, as
well as to the administrator, employed by the board pursuant to subsection K, paragraph 6
of this section, and any assistant administrators to invest the monies of the system and
other retirement plans that the board administers if the administrator, investment
management and any assistant administrators follow the investment policies that are
promulgated by the board. The board may commingle securities and monies of the fund, the
elected officials' retirement plan, the corrections officer retirement plan and other
plans or monies entrusted to its care, subject to the crediting of receipts and earnings
and charging of payments to the account of the appropriate employer, system or plan. In
making every investment, the board shall exercise the judgment and care under the
circumstances then prevailing which persons of ordinary prudence, discretion and
intelligence exercise in the management of their own affairs, not in regard to
speculation but in regard to the permanent disposition of their funds, considering the
probable income from their funds as well as the probable safety of their capital,
provided:

1. That not more than eighty per cent of the combined assets of the system or other
plans that the board manages shall be invested at any given time in corporate stocks,
based on cost value of such stocks irrespective of capital appreciation.

2. That no more than five per cent of the combined assets of the system or other
plans that the board manages shall be invested in corporate stock issued by any one
corporation, other than corporate stock issued by corporations chartered by the United
States government or corporate stock issued by a bank or insurance company.

3. That not more than five per cent of the voting stock of any one corporation
shall be owned by the system and other plans that the board administers, except that this
limitation does not apply to membership interests in limited liability companies.

4. That corporate stocks and exchange traded funds eligible for purchase shall be
restricted to stocks and exchange traded funds that, except for bank stocks, insurance
stocks and membership interests in limited liability companies, are either:

(a) Listed or approved on issuance for listing on an exchange registered under the
securities exchange act of 1934, as amended (15 United States Code sections 78a through
78ll).

(b) Designated or approved on notice of issuance for designation on the national
market system of a national securities association registered under the securities
exchange act of 1934, as amended (15 United States Code sections 78a through 78ll).

(c) Listed or approved on issuance for listing on an exchange registered under the
laws of this state or any other state.

(d) Listed or approved on issuance for listing on an exchange of a foreign country
with which the United States is maintaining diplomatic relations at the time of purchase,
except that no more than twenty per cent of the combined assets of the system and other
plans that the board manages shall be invested in foreign securities, based on the cost
value of the stocks irrespective of capital appreciation.

(e) An exchange traded fund that is recommended by the chief investment officer of
the system, that is registered under the investment company act of 1940 (15 United States
Code sections 80a-1 through 80a-64) and that is both traded on a public exchange and
based on a publicly recognized index.

E. Notwithstanding any other law, the board shall not be required to invest in any
type of investment that is dictated or required by any entity of the federal government
and that is intended to fund economic development projects, public works or social
programs, but may consider such economically targeted investments pursuant to its
fiduciary responsibility. The board, on behalf of the system and all other plans or
trusts the fund manager administers, may invest in, lend monies to or guarantee the
repayment of monies by a limited liability company, limited partnership, joint venture,
partnership, limited liability partnership or trust in which the system and plans or
trusts have a financial interest, whether the entity is closely held or publicly traded
and that, in turn, may be engaged in any lawful activity, including venture capital,
private equity, the ownership, development, management, improvement or operation of real
property and any improvements or businesses on real property or the lending of monies.

F. Conference call meetings of the board that are held for investment purposes only
are not subject to chapter 3, article 3.1 of this title, except that the board shall
maintain minutes of these conference call meetings and make them available for public
inspection within twenty-four hours after the meeting. The board shall review the minutes
of each conference call meeting and shall ratify all legal actions taken during each
conference call meeting at the next scheduled meeting of the board.

G. The board shall not be held liable for the exercise of more than ordinary care
and prudence in the selection of investments and performance of its duties under the
system and shall not be limited to so-called "legal investments for trustees", but all
monies of the system and other plans that the board administers shall be invested subject
to all of the conditions, limitations and restrictions imposed by law.

H. Except as provided in subsection D of this section, the board may:

1. Invest and reinvest the principal and income of all assets that the board
manages without distinction between principal and income.

2. Sell, exchange, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of any investments made on
behalf of the system or other plans the board administers in the name of the system or
plans by private contract or at public auction.

3. Also:

(a) Vote on any stocks, bonds or other securities.

(b) Give general or special proxies or powers of attorney with or without power of
substitution.

(c) Exercise any conversion privileges, subscription rights or other options and
make any payments incidental to the exercise of the conversion privileges, subscription
rights or other options.

(d) Consent to or otherwise participate in corporate reorganizations or other
changes affecting corporate securities, delegate discretionary powers and pay any
assessments or charges in connection therewith.

(e) Generally exercise any of the powers of an owner with respect to stocks, bonds,
securities or other investments held in or owned by the system or other plans whose
assets the board administers.

4. Make, execute, acknowledge and deliver any other instruments that may be
necessary or appropriate to carry out the powers granted in this section.

5. Register any investment held by the system or other plans whose assets the board
administers in the name of the system or plan or in the name of a nominee or trust.

6. At the expense of the system or other plans that the board administers, enter
into an agreement with any bank or banks for the safekeeping and handling of securities
and other investments coming into the possession of the board. The agreement shall be
entered into under terms and conditions that secure the proper safeguarding, inventory,
withdrawal and handling of the securities and other investments. No access to and no
deposit or withdrawal of the securities from any place of deposit selected by the board
shall be permitted or made except as the terms of the agreement may provide.

7. Appear before local boards and the courts of this state and political
subdivisions of this state through counsel or appointed representative to protect the
fund or the assets of other plans that the board administers. The board is not
responsible for the actions or omissions of the local boards under this system but may
seek review or rehearing of actions or omissions of local boards. The board does not have
a duty to review actions of the local boards but may do so in its discretion in order to
protect the fund. No limitations period precludes the fund manager or administrator from
contesting, or requires the fund manager or administrator to implement or comply with, a
local board decision that violates the internal revenue code or that threatens to impair
the tax qualified status of the system or any plan administered by the fund manager or
administrator.

8. Empower the fund administrator to take actions on behalf of the board that are
necessary for the protection and administration of the fund or the assets of other plans
that the board administers pursuant to the guidelines of the board.

9. Do all acts, whether or not expressly authorized, that may be deemed necessary
or proper for the protection of the investments held in the fund or owned by other plans
or trusts that the board administers.

10. Settle threatened or actual litigation against any system or plan that the fund
manager administers.

I. Investment expenses and operation and administrative expenses of the board shall
be accounted for separately and allocated against investment income.

J. The board, as soon as possible within a period of six months following the close
of any fiscal year, shall transmit to the governor and the legislature a comprehensive
annual financial report on the operation of the system and other plans that the board
administers containing, among other things:

1. A balance sheet.

2. A statement of income and expenditures for the year.

3. A report on an actuarial valuation of its assets and liabilities.

4. A list of investments owned.

5. The total rate of return, yield on cost, and per cent of cost to market value of
the fund and the assets of other plans that the board administers.

6. Any other statistical and financial data that may be necessary for the proper
understanding of the financial condition of the system and other plans that the board
administers and the results of their operations. A synopsis of the annual report shall
be published for the information of members of the system, the elected officials'
retirement plan or the corrections officer retirement plan.

K. The board shall:

1. Maintain the accounts of the system and other plans that the board administers
and issue statements to each employer annually and to each member who may request it.

2. Report the results of the actuarial valuations to the local boards and
employers.

3. Contract on a fee basis with an independent investment counsel to advise the
board in the investment management of the fund and assets of other plans that the board
administers and with an independent auditing firm to audit the board's accounting.

4. Permit the auditor general to make an annual audit and the results shall be
transmitted to the governor and the legislature.

5. Contract on a fee basis with an actuary who shall make actuarial valuations of
the system and other plans that the board administers, be the technical adviser of the
board on matters regarding the operation of the funds created by the provisions of the
system, the elected officials' retirement plan, the corrections officer retirement plan
and the fire fighter and peace officer cancer insurance policy program and perform other
duties required in connection therewith. The actuary must be a member of a nationally
recognized association or society of actuaries.

6. Employ, as administrator, a person, state department or other body to serve at
the pleasure of the board.

7. Establish procedures and guidelines for contracts with actuaries, auditors,
investment counsel and legal counsel and for safeguarding of securities.

L. The administrator, under the direction of the board, shall:

1. Administer this article.

2. Invest the funds of the system and other plans that the board administers as the
board deems necessary and prudent as provided in subsections D and H of this section and
subject to the investment policies and fund objectives promulgated by the board.

3. Establish and maintain an adequate system of accounts and records for the system
and other plans that the board administers, which shall be integrated with the accounts,
records and procedures of the employers so that the system and other plans that the board
administers operates most effectively and at minimum expense and that duplication of
records and accounts is avoided.

4. In accordance with the board's governance policy and personnel rules and
procedures and the budget adopted by the board, hire such employees and services the
administrator deems necessary and prescribe their duties, including the hiring of one or
more assistant administrators to manage the system's operations, investments and legal
affairs.

5. Be responsible for income, the collection of the income and the accuracy of all
expenditures.

6. Recommend to the board annual contracts for the system's actuary, auditor,
investment counsel, legal counsel and safeguarding of securities.

7. Perform additional duties and powers prescribed by the board and delegated to
the administrator.

M. The system is an independent trust fund and the board, the administrator, the
assistant administrators and all persons employed by them are not under the jurisdiction
of the department of administration or any other agency, department or instrumentality of
this state or subject to section 38-611 or title 41, chapter 4 or 6. The salaries of the
administrator, assistant administrators and other employees of the board are the sole
determination of the board. Contracts for goods and services approved by the board are
not subject to title 41, chapter 23. As an independent trust fund whose assets are
separate and apart from all other funds of this state, the system and the board are not
subject to the restrictions prescribed in section 35-154 or article IX, sections 5 and 8,
Constitution of Arizona.

N. The attorney general or an attorney approved by the attorney general and paid by
the fund shall be the attorney for the board and shall represent the board in any legal
proceeding or forum that the board deems appropriate. The board, administrator, assistant
administrators and employees of the board are not personally liable for any acts done in
their official capacity in good faith reliance on the written opinions of the board's
attorney.

O. At least once in each five-year period after the effective date, the actuary
shall make an actuarial investigation into the mortality, service and compensation
experience of the members and beneficiaries of the system and other plans that the board
administers and shall make a special valuation of the assets and liabilities of the
monies of the system and plans. Taking into account the results of the investigation and
special valuation, the board shall adopt for the system and other plans that the board
administers those mortality, service and other tables deemed necessary.

P. On the basis of the tables the board adopts, the actuary shall make a valuation
of the assets and liabilities of the funds of the system and other plans that the board
administers not less frequently than every year. By November 1 of each year the board
shall provide a preliminary report and by December 15 of each year provide a final report
to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the
senate on the contribution rate for the ensuing fiscal year.

Q. Neither the board nor any member or employee of the board shall directly or
indirectly, for himself or as an agent, in any manner use the monies or deposits of the
fund except to make current and necessary payments, nor shall the board or any member or
employee become an endorser or surety or in any manner an obligor for monies loaned by or
borrowed from the fund or the assets of any other plans that the board administers.

R. The members of the board who are appointed pursuant to subsection A, paragraphs
2 and 5 of this section shall have at least ten years' substantial experience as any one
or a combination of the following:

1. A portfolio manager acting in a fiduciary capacity.

2. A securities analyst.

3. An employee or principal of a trust institution, investment organization or
endowment fund acting either in a management or an investment related capacity.

4. A chartered financial analyst in good standing as determined by the association
for investment management and research.

5. A professor at the university level teaching economics or investment related
subjects.

6. An economist.

7. Any other professional engaged in the field of public or private finances.

S. Financial or commercial information that is provided to the board, employees of
the board and attorneys of the board in connection with investments in which the board
has invested or investments the board has considered for investment is confidential,
proprietary and not a public record if the information is information that would
customarily not be released to the public by the person or entity from whom the
information was obtained.