Code Section Group

ARTICLE 1. General Provisions [7500 - 7514.7]

7500.

Any city with a population of 1,000,000 or more, and any agency thereof, which has established any pension and retirement plan which requires officers and employees of one sex to pay greater contributions than those of another sex who are the same age shall revise the plan so that the contributions are the same commencing with contributions for service on and after January 1, 1975. This section shall not be construed as requiring or authorizing an increase in the contributions of any members of a pension and retirement plan.

This section shall not be applicable to the Public Employees’ Retirement System.

(Added by Stats. 1974, Ch. 1478.)

7500.5.

(a) This section shall only apply to the City of San Diego.

(b) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) “Federal system” means the old age, survivors, disability, and health insurance provisions of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 301 et seq.).

(2) “Local public employer” means the City of San Diego.

(c) A local public employer shall provide coverage under the federal system to all employees who are not covered under a defined benefit plan.

(d) The requirements of this section shall not apply with regard to replacing or changing an employer’s defined contribution plan that was in place on July 1, 2012, unless the defined contribution plan will replace or change the employer’s existing defined benefit plan.

(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 853, Sec. 1. (AB 1248) Effective January 1, 2013.)

7501.

It is the intent and purpose of the Legislature, in enacting this chapter, to safeguard the solvency of all public retirement systems and funds. The Legislature finds and declares that public agencies maintaining retirement systems can benefit from periodic and independent analysis of their financial condition. It is the purpose of Sections 7502, 7503, and 7504 to enable the State Controller to gather information to compare and evaluate the financial condition of such systems and to make such comparisons and evaluations.

(Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 821, Sec. 1.)

7502.

The Controller shall review the annual financial report of each state and local public retirement system submitted pursuant to Section 7504 giving particular consideration to the adequacy of funding of each system. The Controller shall also review the triennial valuation of each public retirement system submitted pursuant to Section 7504 and shall give particular consideration to the assumption concerning the inflation element in salary and wage increases, mortality, service retirement rates, withdrawal rates, disability retirement rates, and rate of return on total assets.

The Controller shall establish an advisory committee that shall include actuaries who have attained the designation of Associate or Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and state and local public retirement system administrators to assist in carrying out the duties imposed by this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 415, Sec. 2. (AB 2375) Effective January 1, 2017.)

7503.

All state and local public retirement systems shall prepare an annual report in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

(Amended by Stats. 1978, Ch. 388.)

7504.

(a) All state and local public retirement systems shall, not less than triennially, secure the services of an actuary. For the purposes of this section, “actuary” means an actuary who satisfies the qualification standards for actuaries issuing statements of actuarial opinion in the United States with regard to pensions or other postemployment benefits and who has demonstrated experience in public retirement systems. The actuary shall perform a valuation of the system utilizing actuarial assumptions and techniques established by the agency that are, in the aggregate, reasonably related to the experience and the actuary’s best estimate of anticipated experience under the system. Any differences between the actuarial assumptions and techniques used by the actuary that differ significantly from those established by the agency shall be disclosed in the actuary’s report and the effect of the differences on the actuary’s statement of costs and obligations shall be shown.

(b) All state and local public retirement systems shall secure the services of a qualified person to perform an attest audit of the system’s financial statements. A qualified person means any of the following:

(1) A person who is licensed to practice as a certified public accountant in this state by the California Board of Accountancy.

(2) A person who is registered and entitled to practice as a public accountant in this state by the California Board of Accountancy.

(3) A county auditor in any county subject to the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 (Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 31450) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 3).

(4) A county auditor in any county having a pension trust and retirement plan established pursuant to Section 53216.

(c) All state and local public retirement systems shall submit audited financial statements to the Controller at the earliest practicable opportunity within six months of the close of each fiscal year. However, the Controller may delay the filing date for reports due in the first year until the time as report forms have been developed that, in his or her judgment, will satisfy the requirements of this section. The financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the form and manner prescribed by the Controller. The penalty prescribed in Section 53895 shall be invoked for failure to comply with this section. Upon a satisfactory showing of good cause, the Controller may waive the penalty for late filing provided by this subdivision.

(d) The Controller shall compile and publish a report annually on the financial condition of all state and local public retirement systems containing, but not limited to, the data required in Section 7502. The report shall be published within 12 months of the receipt of the information, and in no case later than 18 months after the end of the fiscal year upon which the information in the report is based.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 415, Sec. 3. (AB 2375) Effective January 1, 2017.)

7505.

Every state and local public retirement system shall permit any person entitled to the receipt of benefits to designate that payment of such benefits shall be transmitted to a bank, savings and loan association, or credit union for deposit in the person’s account, and the transmittal of such payment pursuant to this section shall discharge the public agency’s obligations in respect to such payment.

(Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 454.)

7506.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person entitled to the receipt of benefits from any state retirement system may authorize the payment of the benefits to be directly deposited by electronic fund transfer into the person’s account at the financial institution of his or her choice under a program for direct deposit by electronic transfer established by the Controller pursuant to Section 7506.5. The direct deposit shall discharge the state agency’s obligation in respect to that payment.

(Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1317, Sec. 1.)

7506.5.

The Controller shall make an agreement with one or more financial institutions participating in the Automated Clearing House pursuant to the local rules, and shall establish a program, for the direct deposit by electronic fund transfer of the benefits, after any withholding required by law and authorized deductions, of any person entitled to the receipt of benefits from any state retirement system who authorizes the direct deposit thereof by electronic fund transfer into the person’s account at the financial institution of his or her choice.

(Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 1344, Sec. 1. Operative January 1, 1987, by Sec. 3 of Ch. 1344.)

7507.

(a) For the purpose of this section:

(1) “Actuary” means an actuary as defined in Section 7504.

(2) “Future annual costs” includes, but is not limited to, annual dollar changes, or the total dollar changes involved when available, as well as normal cost and any change in accrued liability.

(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Legislature and local legislative bodies, including community college district governing boards, when considering changes in retirement benefits or other postemployment benefits, shall secure the services of an actuary to provide a statement of the actuarial impact upon future annual costs, including normal cost and any additional accrued liability, before authorizing changes in public retirement plan benefits or other postemployment benefits.

(2) The requirements of this subdivision do not apply to:

(A)  An annual increase in a premium that does not exceed 3 percent under a contract of insurance.

(B) A change in postemployment benefits, other than pension benefits, mandated by the state or federal government or made by an insurance carrier in connection with the renewal of a contract of insurance.

(c) (1) (A) With regard to local legislative bodies, including community college district governing boards, the future costs of changes in retirement benefits or other postemployment benefits, as determined by the actuary, shall be made public at a public meeting at least two weeks prior to the adoption of any changes in public retirement plan benefits or other postemployment benefits. If the future costs of the changes exceed one-half of 1 percent of the future annual costs, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), of the existing benefits for the legislative body, an actuary shall be present to provide information as needed at the public meeting at which the adoption of a benefit change shall be considered. The adoption of any benefit to which this section applies shall not be placed on a consent calendar.

(B) The requirements of this paragraph do not apply to:

(i) An annual increase in a premium that does not exceed 3 percent under a contract of insurance.

(ii) A change in postemployment benefits, other than pension benefits, mandated by the state or federal government or made by an insurance carrier in connection with the renewal of a contract of insurance.

(2) With regard to the Legislature, the future costs as determined by the actuary shall be made public at the policy and fiscal committee hearings to consider the adoption of any changes in public retirement plan benefits or other postemployment benefits. The adoption of any benefit to which this section applies shall not be placed on a consent calendar.

(d) Upon the adoption of any benefit change to which this section applies, the person with the responsibilities of a chief executive officer in an entity providing the benefit, however that person is denominated, shall acknowledge in writing that he or she understands the current and future cost of the benefit as determined by the actuary. For the adoption of benefit changes by the state, this person shall be the Director of Human Resources.

(e) The requirements of this section do not apply to a school district or a county office of education, which shall instead comply with requirements regarding public notice of, and future cost determination for, benefit changes that have been enacted to regulate these entities. These requirements include, but are not limited to, those enacted by Chapter 1213 of the Statutes of 1991 and by Chapter 52 of the Statutes of 2004.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 415, Sec. 4. (AB 2375) Effective January 1, 2017.)

7507.2.

(a) There is hereby enacted the California Actuarial Advisory Panel. The panel shall provide impartial and independent information on pensions, other postemployment benefits, and best practices to public agencies and shall meet quarterly.

(b) The responsibilities of the California Actuarial Advisory Panel shall include, but are not limited to:

(1) Defining the range of actuarial model policies and best practices for public retirement plan benefits, including pensions and other postemployment benefits.

(2) Developing pricing and disclosure standards for California public sector benefit improvements.

(3) Developing quality control standards for California public sector actuaries.

(4) Gathering model funding policies and practices.

(5) Replying to policy questions from public retirement systems in California.

(6) Providing comment upon request by public agencies.

(c) The California Actuarial Advisory Panel shall consist of eight members. Each member shall be an actuary who has attained the designation of Associate or Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and who has demonstrated experience with public sector clients. Members shall be appointed by the entities listed below, and each member shall serve a three-year term, provided that, in the initial appointments only, the panelists named by the University of California, the Senate, and one of the panelists named by the Governor shall serve two-year terms. The Governor shall appoint two panelists, and one panelist shall be appointed by each of the following:

(1) The Teachers’ Retirement Board.

(2) The Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System.

(3) The State Association of County Retirement Systems.

(4) The Board of Regents of the University of California.

(5) The Speaker of the Assembly.

(6) The Senate Committee on Rules.

(d) The California Actuarial Advisory Panel shall be located in the Controller’s office, which shall provide support staff to the panel.

(e) The opinions of the California Actuarial Advisory Panel are nonbinding and advisory only. The opinions of the panel shall not, in any case, be used as the basis for litigation.

(f) A member of the California Actuarial Advisory Panel shall receive reimbursement for expenses that shall be paid by the authority that appointed the member.

(g) The California Actuarial Advisory Panel shall report to the Legislature on or before February 1 of each year.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 415, Sec. 5. (AB 2375) Effective January 1, 2017.)

7507.5.

It is the intent of the Legislature that the Regents of the University of California provide written notice to the Legislature of any proposed changes to retirement plan benefits, employer or employee contribution rates, or actuarial assumptions affecting the University of California Retirement System, at least 60 days prior to the effective date thereof. The written notice shall be provided to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the fiscal subcommittees and shall consist of:

(a) A description and explanation of each specific proposed change to the benefit structure, contribution rates, or actuarial assumptions.

(b) The actuarial impact upon future annual costs of each proposed change.

(Added by Stats. 1984, Ch. 268, Sec. 16.95. Effective June 29, 1984.)

7508.

A retired member of a state retirement system, other than the University of California Retirement System, the Judges’ Retirement System, the Judges’ Retirement System II, and the State Teachers’ Retirement System, may, notwithstanding Section 9359.12, serve on a public board or commission and be entitled to receive for that service, per diem compensation for every day or portion thereof of actual attendance at meetings of the board or commission or any committee thereof, and necessary traveling expenses incurred in connection with the performance of his or her official duties, without loss or interruption of benefits provided by the system, so long as the service does not exceed a total of 50 meeting days.

This section shall not apply to service as a member of a board or commission the annual salary for which is prescribed by Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 11550) of Division 3 of Title 2.

(Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 879, Sec. 1. Effective September 27, 1994. Operative November 9, 1994, by Sec. 16 of Ch. 879.)

7508.5.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 20098 or 31528 of this code, or Section 22212.5 of the Education Code, an individual who was a member of the retirement board of a public pension or retirement system, as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, or an administrator, executive officer, investment officer, or general counsel of that board, shall not, for a period of two years after leaving that position, for compensation, act as agent or attorney for, or otherwise represent, any other person except the public entity maintaining that pension or retirement system, by making any formal or informal appearance before, or any oral or written communication to, the pension or retirement system, or any officer or employee thereof, if the appearance or communication is made for the purpose of influencing administrative or legislative action, or any action or proceeding involving the issuance, amendment, awarding, or revocation of a permit, license, grant, contract, or sale or purchase of goods or property.

(Added by Stats. 2009, Ch. 301, Sec. 2. (AB 1584) Effective October 11, 2009.)

7509.

(a) The restrictions upon rates of interest contained in Section 1 of Article XV of the California Constitution shall not apply to any loans made by, or forbearances of, any state or local public retirement system, including, but not limited to, any public retirement system authorized and regulated by the State Teachers’ Retirement Law, the Public Employees’ Retirement Law, the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937, any public retirement system administered by the Teachers Retirement Board or Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System, or any public retirement system acting pursuant to the laws of this state or the laws of any local agency.

(b) For the purposes of this section, “local agency” means county, city, city and county, district, school district, or any public or municipal corporation, political subdivision, or other public agency of the state, or any instrumentality of one or more of these agencies.

(c) This section creates and authorizes any state or local retirement system as an exempt class of persons pursuant to Section 1 of Article XV of the California Constitution.

(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 236. Effective January 1, 2007.)

7510.

(a) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a public retirement system, which has invested assets in real property and improvements thereon for business or residential purposes for the production of income, shall pay annually to the city or county, in whose jurisdiction the real property is located and has been removed from the secured roll, a fee for general governmental services equal to the difference between the amount that would have accrued as real property secured taxes and the amount of possessory interest unsecured taxes paid for that property. The governing bodies of local entities may adopt ordinances and regulations authorizing retirement systems to invest assets in real property subject to the foregoing requirements.

(2) This subdivision shall not apply to any retirement system which is established by a local governmental entity if that entity is presently authorized by statute or ordinance to invest retirement assets in real property.

(3) This subdivision shall not apply to property owned by any state public retirement system.

(b) (1) Whenever a state public retirement system, which has invested assets in real property and improvements thereon for business or residential purposes for the production of income, leases the property, the lease shall provide, pursuant to Section 107.6 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, that the lessee’s possessory interest may be subject to property taxation and that the party in whom the possessory interest is vested may be subject to the payment of property taxes levied on that interest. The lease shall be valued in accordance with Section 21 of Title 18 of the California Code of Regulations, as that section was in effect on January 1, 2015, for the valuation of taxable possessory interests.

(2) Except as provided in this subdivision, the property shall be assessed and its taxes computed and collected in the same manner as privately owned property. The lessee’s possessory interest shall be placed on the unsecured roll and the tax on the possessory interest shall be subject to the collection procedures for unsecured property taxes.

(3) An investment by a state public retirement system in a legal entity that invests assets in real property and improvements thereon shall not constitute an investment by the state public retirement system of assets in real property and improvements thereon. For purposes of this paragraph, “legal entity” includes, but is not limited to, partnership, joint venture, corporation, trust, or association. When a state public retirement system invests in a legal entity, the state public retirement system shall be deemed to be a person for the purpose of determining a change in ownership under Section 64 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, fees charged pursuant to this section and collected prior to July 1, 1992, shall be deemed valid and not refundable under any circumstance. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, fees, interest and penalties, if any, asserted to be due pursuant to this section that were not charged or collected prior to July 1, 1992, shall be deemed invalid and not collectable under any circumstance.

(5) This subdivision shall apply to the assessment, computation, and collection of taxes for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 1992, and each fiscal year thereafter. For the 1992–93 and 1993–94 fiscal years, in the case where a lessee’s possessory interest existed for less than the full fiscal year for which the tax was levied, the amount of tax shall be prorated in accordance with the number of months for which the lessee’s interest existed.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 454, Sec. 1. (SB 803) Effective January 1, 2016.)

7510.5.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Board” means the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System or the Teachers’ Retirement Board.

(2) “Climate-related financial risk” means risk that may include material financial risk posed to the fund by the effects of the changing climate, such as intense storms, rising sea levels, higher global temperatures, economic damages from carbon emissions, and other financial and transition risks due to public policies to address climate change, shifting consumer attitudes, changing economics of traditional carbon-intense industries.

(3) “Fund” means the Public Employees’ Retirement Fund described in Section 20062 or the Teachers’ Retirement Fund described in Section 22167 of the Education Code.

(b) To the extent the board identifies climate-related financial risk as a material risk to the fund, that risk shall be analyzed.

(c) By January 1, 2020, and every three years thereafter, the board shall publicly report on its analysis of the climate-related financial risk of its public market portfolio, including the alignment of the fund with the Paris climate agreement and California climate policy goals and the exposure of the fund to long-term risks.

(d) The board shall include in the reports pursuant to subdivision (c) the methods and results of the board’s engagement related to climate-related financial risk with publicly traded companies that are the most carbon intense, such as utilities, oil, and gas producers, within the fund. This component of the reports shall include both of the following:

(1) A summary of climate-related financial risk-related engagement activities undertaken.

(2) A description of additional action taken, or planned to be taken, by the board to address climate-related financial risk, including a list of proxy votes and shareholder proposals initiated by the board.

(e) Nothing in this section shall require the board to take action as described in this section unless the board determines in good faith that the action described in this section is consistent with the fiduciary responsibilities of the board as described in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.

(f)  This section shall remain in effect only until January 31, 2035, and as of that date is repealed.

(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 731, Sec. 2. (SB 964) Effective January 1, 2019. Repealed as of January 31, 2035, by its own provisions.)

7511.

Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary:

(a) A public retirement system may purchase insurance for its fiduciaries or for itself to cover liability or losses occurring by reason of the act or omission of a fiduciary, if the insurance permits recourse by the insurer against the fiduciary in the case of a breach of a fiduciary obligation by the fiduciary.

(b) A fiduciary may purchase insurance to cover liability under this section from and for his or her own account.

(c) An employer or an employee organization may purchase insurance to cover potential liability of one or more persons who serve in a fiduciary capacity with regard to an employee benefit plan.

(Added by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1503, Sec. 4.)

7512.

Each state and local public pension or retirement system shall, on and after the 90th day following the completion of the annual audit of the system, mail or otherwise provide to any member who makes a request therefor and pays, if required, a fee, a concise annual report on the investments and earnings of the system and other related matters. The report shall be published in a low-cost format.

Each local public pension or retirement system may impose a fee for each copy of the report in an amount sufficient to pay all costs incurred in the preparation and dissemination of the report.

(Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 281, Sec. 1.)

7513.

(a) In the case of a state or local retirement system or plan that is subject to Section 401(a)(31) of the Internal Revenue Code, if, under the terms of the system or plan, a person becomes entitled to a distribution that constitutes an “eligible rollover distribution” within the meaning of Section 401(a)(31)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code, the person may elect, under terms and conditions to be established by the administrator of the system or plan, to have the distribution or a portion thereof paid directly to a plan that constitutes an “eligible retirement plan” within the meaning of Section 401(a)(31)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code, as specified by the person. Upon the exercise of the election by a person with respect to a distribution or portion thereof, the distribution by the system or plan of the amount so designated, once distributable under the terms of the system or plan, shall be made in the form of a direct rollover to the eligible retirement plan so specified.

(b) The purpose and intent of this section is to enable the state and local retirement systems and plans that are subject to Section 401(a)(31) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to comply with the requirements of that section regarding the provision of an election for direct rollover of certain plan distributions.

(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 1047, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1993.)

7513.5.

(a) On or before the first day of March of each year, the Teachers’ Retirement Board and the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System, respectively, shall investigate and report to the Legislature on the extent to which United States and international corporations operating in Northern Ireland, in which the assets of the State Teachers’ Retirement System and the Public Employees’ Retirement System are invested, adhere, in compliance with the law applicable in Northern Ireland, to the principles of nondiscrimination in employment and freedom of workplace opportunity.

(b) The Teachers’ Retirement Board and the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System, respectively, shall compile a list of domestic and international corporations that, directly or through a subsidiary, do business in Northern Ireland, and in whose stocks or obligations it has invested, and determine whether each corporation on the list has, during the preceding year, taken substantial action, in compliance with the law applicable in Northern Ireland, designed to lead toward the achievement of the following goals:

(1) Increased representation of individuals from underrepresented religious groups in the work force, including managerial, supervisory, administrative, clerical, and technical jobs.

(2) Adequate security for the protection of minority employees both at the workplace and while traveling to and from work.

(3) Banning of provocative religious or political emblems from the workplace.

(4) Public advertisement of all job openings and the use of special recruitment efforts to attract applicants from underrepresented religious groups.

(5) Establishment of layoff, recall, and termination procedures which do not, in practice, favor particular religious groupings.

(6) Abolition of job reservations, apprenticeship restrictions, and differential employment criteria, which discriminate on the basis of religion or ethnic origin.

(7) The development of training programs that will prepare substantial numbers of current minority employees for skilled jobs, including the expansion of existing programs and the creation of new programs to train, upgrade, and improve the skills of minority employees.

(8) The establishment of procedures to assess, identify, and actively recruit minority employees with potential for further advancement.

(9) The appointment of senior management staff members to oversee affirmative action efforts and the setting up of timetables to carry out affirmative action principles.

(c) Whenever feasible and consistent with their fiduciary responsibility, the Teachers’ Retirement Board and the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System, respectively, shall support shareholder resolutions designed to encourage domestic and international corporations in which the Teachers’ Retirement Board and the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System, respectively, has invested to pursue, in compliance with the law applicable in Northern Ireland, a policy of affirmative action in Northern Ireland in accordance with the goals listed in subdivision (b).

(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 341, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2000.)

7513.6.

(a) As used in this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) “Active business operations” means a company engaged in business operations that provide revenue to the government of Sudan or a company engaged in oil-related activities.

(2) “Board” means the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System or the Teachers’ Retirement Board of the State Teachers’ Retirement System, as applicable.

(3) “Business operations” means maintaining, selling, or leasing equipment, facilities, personnel, or any other apparatus of business or commerce in Sudan, including the ownership or possession of real or personal property located in Sudan.

(4) “Company” means a sole proprietorship, organization, association, corporation, partnership, venture, or other entity, its subsidiary or affiliate that exists for profitmaking purposes or to otherwise secure economic advantage. “Company” also means a company owned or controlled, either directly or indirectly, by the government of Sudan, that is established or organized under the laws of or has its principal place of business in the Republic of the Sudan.

(5) “Government of Sudan” means the government of Sudan or its instrumentalities.

(6) “Invest” or “investment” means the purchase, ownership, or control of stock of a company, association, or corporation, the capital stock of a mutual water company or corporation, bonds issued by the government or a political subdivision of Sudan, corporate bonds or other debt instruments issued by a company, or the commitment of funds or other assets to a company, including a loan or extension of credit to that company.

(7) “Military equipment” means weapons, arms, or military defense supplies.

(8) “Oil-related activities” means, but is not limited to, the export of oil, extracting or producing oil, exploration for oil, or the construction or maintenance of a pipeline, refinery, or other oil field infrastructure.

(9) “Public employee retirement funds” means the Public Employees’ Retirement Fund described in Section 20062 of this code, and the Teachers’ Retirement Fund described in Section 22167 of the Education Code.

(10) “Research firm” means a reputable, neutral third-party research firm.

(11) “Substantial action” means a boycott of the government of Sudan, curtailing business in Sudan until that time described in subdivision (m), selling company assets, equipment, or real and personal property located in Sudan, or undertaking significant humanitarian efforts in the eastern, southern, or western regions of Sudan.

(12) “Sudan” means the Republic of the Sudan, a territory under the administration or control of the Sudan, including but not limited to, the Darfur region, or an individual, company, or public agency located in Khartoum, northern Sudan, or the Nile River Valley that supports the Republic of the Sudan.

(b) The board shall not invest public employee retirement funds in a company with business operations in Sudan that meets all of the following criteria:

(1) The company is engaged in active business operations in Sudan. If that company is not engaged in oil-related activities, that company also lacks significant business operations in the eastern, southern, and western regions of Sudan.

(2) Either of the following apply:

(A) The company is engaged in oil-related activities or energy or power-related operations, or contracts with another company with business operations in the oil, energy, and power sectors of Sudan, and the company failed to take substantial action related to the government of Sudan because of the Darfur genocide.

(B) The company has demonstrated complicity in the Darfur genocide.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), the board shall not invest public employee retirement funds in a company that supplies military equipment within the borders of Sudan. If a company provides equipment within the borders of Sudan that may be readily used for military purposes, including, but not limited to, radar systems and military-grade transport vehicles, there shall also be a strong presumption against investing in that company unless that company implements safeguards to prevent the use of that equipment for military purposes.

(d) (1) The board shall, without regard to the provisions regarding competitive bidding, contract with a research firm or firms to determine those companies that have business operations in Sudan. Those research firms shall, in the aggregate, obtain data on a majority of companies with business operations in Sudan. On or before March 30, 2007, those research firms shall report any findings to the board and those research firms shall submit further findings to the board if there is a change of circumstances in Sudan.

(2) In addition to the reports described in paragraph (1), the board shall take all of the following actions no later than March 30, 2007:

(A) Review publicly available information regarding companies with business operations in Sudan.

(B) Contact other institutional investors that invest in companies with business operations in Sudan.

(C) Send written notice to a company with business operations in Sudan that the company may be subject to this section.

(e) (1) The board shall determine, by the next applicable board meeting and based on the information and reports described in subdivision (d), if a company meets the criteria described in subdivision (b) or (c). If the board plans to invest or has investments in a company that meets the criteria described in subdivision (b) or (c), that planned or existing investment shall be subject to subdivisions (g) and (h).

(2) Investments of the board in a company that does not meet the criteria described in subdivision (b) or (c) or does not have active business operations in Sudan are not subject to subdivision (h), provided that the company does not subsequently meet the criteria described in subdivision (b) or (c) or engage in active business operations. The board shall identify the reasons why that company does not satisfy the criteria described in subdivision (b) or (c) or does not engage in active business operations in the report to the Legislature described in subdivision (i).

(f) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (e), if the board’s investment in a company described in subdivision (b) or (c) is limited to investment via an externally and actively managed commingled fund, the board shall contact that fund manager in writing and request that the fund manager remove that company from the fund as described in subdivision (h). On or before June 30, 2007, if the fund or account manager creates a fund or account devoid of companies described in subdivision (b) or (c), the transfer of board investments from the prior fund or account to the fund or account devoid of companies with business operations in Sudan shall be deemed to satisfy subdivision (h).

(2) If the board’s investment in a company described in subdivision (b) or (c) is limited to an alternative fund or account, the alternative fund or account manager creates an actively managed commingled fund that excludes companies described in subdivision (b) or (c), and the new fund or account is deemed to be financially equivalent to the existing fund or account, the transfer of board investments from the existing fund or account to the new fund or account shall be deemed to satisfy subdivision (h). If the board determines that the new fund or account is not financially equivalent to the existing fund, the board shall include the reasons for that determination in the report described in subdivision (i).

(3) The board shall make a good faith effort to identify any private equity investments that involve companies described in subdivision (b) or (c) or are linked to the government of Sudan. If the board determines that a private equity investment clearly involves a company described in subdivision (b) or (c) or is linked to the government of Sudan, the board shall consider, at its discretion, if those private equity investments shall be subject to subdivision (h). If the board determines that a private equity investment clearly involves a company described in subdivision (b) or (c) or is linked to the government of Sudan and the board does not take action as described in subdivision (h), the board shall include the reasons for its decision in the report described in subdivision (i).

(g) Except as described in subdivision (f) or paragraph (2) of subdivision (e), the board, in the board’s capacity of shareholder or investor, shall notify any company described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) that the company is subject to subdivision (h) and permit that company to respond to the information and reports described in subdivision (d). The board shall request that the company take substantial action no later than 90 days from the date the board notified the company under this subdivision. If the board determines that a company has taken substantial action or has made sufficient progress towards substantial action before the expiration of that 90-day period, that company shall not be subject to subdivision (h). The board shall, at intervals not to exceed 90 days, continue to monitor and review the progress of the company until that company has taken substantial action in Sudan. A company that fails to complete substantial action or continue to make sufficient progress towards substantial action by the next time interval shall be subject to subdivision (h).

(h) If a company described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) fails to complete substantial action by the time described in subdivision (g), the board shall take the following actions:

(1) The board shall not make additional or new investments or renew existing investments in that company.

(2) The board shall liquidate the investments of the board in that company no later than 18 months after this subdivision applies to that company. The board shall liquidate those investments in a manner to address the need for companies to take substantial action in Sudan and consistent with the board’s fiduciary responsibilities as described in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.

(i) On or before January 1, 2008, and every year thereafter, the board shall file a report with the Legislature. The report shall describe the following:

(1) A list of investments the board has in companies with business operations in Sudan, including, but not limited to, the issuer, by name, of the stock, bonds, securities, and other evidence of indebtedness.

(2) A detailed summary of the business operations a company described in paragraph (1) has in Sudan and whether that company satisfies all of the criteria in subdivision (b) or (c).

(3) Whether the board has reduced its investments in a company that satisfies the criteria in subdivision (b) or (c).

(4) If the board has not completely reduced its investments in a company that satisfies the criteria in subdivision (b) or (c), when the board anticipates that the board will reduce all investments in that company or the reasons why a sale or transfer of investments is inconsistent with the fiduciary responsibilities of the board as described in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.

(5) Any information described in subdivision (e).

(6) A detailed summary of investments that were transferred to funds or accounts devoid of companies with business operations in Sudan as described in subdivision (f).

(j) If the board voluntarily sells or transfers all of its investments in a company with business operations in Sudan, this section shall not apply except that the board shall file a report with the Legislature related to that company as described in subdivision (i).

(k) Nothing in this section shall require the board to take action as described in this section unless the board determines, in good faith, that the action described in this section is consistent with the fiduciary responsibilities of the board as described in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.

(l) Subdivision (h) shall not apply to any of the following:

(1) Investments in a company that is primarily engaged in supplying goods or services intended to relieve human suffering in Sudan.

(2) Investments in a company that promotes health, education, journalistic, or religious activities in or welfare in the western, eastern, or southern regions of Sudan.

(3) Investments in a United States company that is authorized by the federal government to have business operations in Sudan.

(m) This section shall remain in effect only until one of the following occurs, and as of the date of that action, is repealed:

(1) The government of Sudan halts the genocide in Darfur for 12 months as determined by both the Department of State and the Congress of the United States.

(2) The United States revokes its current sanctions against Sudan.

(Added by Stats. 2006, Ch. 442, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2007. Repealed conditionally by its own provisions.)

7513.7.

(a) As used in this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) “Board” means the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System or the Teachers’ Retirement Board of the State Teachers’ Retirement System, as applicable.

(2) “Business operations” means maintaining, selling, or leasing equipment, facilities, personnel, or any other apparatus of business or commerce in Iran, including the ownership or possession of real or personal property located in Iran.

(3) “Company” means a sole proprietorship, organization, association, corporation, partnership, venture, or other entity, its subsidiary or affiliate that exists for profitmaking purposes or to otherwise secure economic advantage. “Company” also means a company owned or controlled, either directly or indirectly, by the government of Iran, that is established or organized under the laws of or has its principal place of business in Iran.

(4) “Energy sector of Iran” means activities to develop petroleum or natural gas resources or nuclear power in Iran.

(5) “Invest” or “investment” means the purchase, ownership, or control of stock of a company, association, or corporation, the capital stock of a mutual water company or corporation, bonds issued by the government or a political subdivision of Iran, corporate bonds or other debt instruments issued by a company, or the commitment of funds or other assets to a company, including a loan or extension of credit to that company.

(6) “Iran” means the government of Iran and any agency or instrumentality of Iran.

(7) “Public employee retirement funds” means the Public Employees’ Retirement Fund described in Section 20062 of this code, and the Teachers’ Retirement Fund described in Section 22167 of the Education Code.

(8) “Substantial action” means a boycott of the government of Iran, curtailing business in Iran until that time described in subdivision (m), or selling company assets, equipment, or real and personal property located in Iran.

(b) The board shall not invest public employee retirement funds in a company which has business operations in Iran as identified by the board through, as the board deems appropriate, publicly available information including, but not limited to, information provided by nonprofit and other organizations and government entities, that meets either of the following criteria:

(1) The company (A) is invested in or engaged in business operations with entities in the defense or nuclear sectors of Iran or (B) has an investment of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) or more in the energy sector of Iran, including in a company that provides oil or liquefied natural gas tankers, or products used to construct or maintain pipelines used to transport oil or liquefied natural gas, for the energy sector of Iran, and that company is subject to sanctions under Public Law 104-172, as renewed and amended in 2001 and 2006.

(2) The company has demonstrated complicity with an Iranian organization that has been labeled as a terrorist organization by the United States government.

(c) Annually, on or before June 30, the board shall review its investment portfolio and determine which companies are subject to divestment.

(d) After the determination described in subdivision (c), the board shall determine, by the next applicable board meeting, if a company meets the criteria described in subdivision (b). If the board plans to invest or has investments in a company that meets the criteria described in subdivision (b), that planned or existing investment shall be subject to subdivisions (g) and (h).

(e) Investments of the board in a company that does not meet the criteria described in subdivision (b) are not subject to subdivision (h) if the company does not subsequently meet the criteria described in subdivision (b). The board shall identify the reasons why that company does not satisfy the criteria described in subdivision (b) in the report to the Legislature described in subdivision (i).

(f) (1) Notwithstanding subdivisions (d) and (e), if the board’s investment in a company described in subdivision (b) is limited to investment via an externally and actively managed commingled fund, the board shall contact that fund manager in writing and request that the fund manager remove that company from the fund as described in subdivision (h). On or before June 30, if the fund or account manager creates a fund or account devoid of companies described in subdivision (b), the transfer of board investments from the prior fund or account to the fund or account devoid of companies with business operations in Iran shall be deemed to satisfy subdivision (h).

(2) If the board’s investment in a company described in subdivision (b) is limited to an alternative fund or account, the alternative fund or account manager creates an actively managed commingled fund that excludes companies described in subdivision (b), and the new fund or account is deemed to be financially equivalent to the existing fund or account, the transfer of board investments from the existing fund or account to the new fund or account shall be deemed to satisfy subdivision (h). If the board determines that the new fund or account is not financially equivalent to the existing fund, the board shall include the reasons for that determination in the report described in subdivision (i).

(3) The board shall make a good faith effort to identify any private equity investments that involve companies described in subdivision (b), or are linked to the government of Iran. If the board determines that a private equity investment clearly involves a company described in subdivision (b), or is linked to the government of Iran, the board shall consider, at its discretion, if those private equity investments shall be subject to subdivision (h). If the board determines that a private equity investment clearly involves a company described in subdivision (b), or is linked to the government of Iran and the board does not take action as described in subdivision (h), the board shall include the reasons for its decision in the report described in subdivision (i).

(g) Except as described in subdivisions (e) and (f), the board, in the board’s capacity of shareholder or investor, shall notify any company described in subdivision (d) that the company is subject to subdivision (h) and permit that company to respond to the board. The board shall request that the company take substantial action no later than 90 days from the date the board notified the company under this subdivision. If the board determines based on credible information available to the public that a company has taken substantial action or has made sufficient progress toward substantial action before the expiration of that 90-day period, that company shall not be subject to subdivision (h). The board shall, at intervals not to exceed 90 days, continue to monitor and review the progress of the company until that company has taken substantial action in Iran. Any determination made at each 90-day interval that a company has taken substantial action shall be supported by findings adopted by a rollcall vote of the board following a presentation and discussion of the findings in open session, during a properly noticed public hearing of the full board. All proposed findings of the board shall be made public 72 hours before they are considered by the board, and the board shall maintain a list of interested parties who shall be notified of proposed findings 72 hours before the board’s consideration. The findings and any public comments regarding the adopted findings and determinations made pursuant to this subdivision shall be included in the report to the Legislature required by subdivision (i). A company that fails to complete substantial action within one year from the date of the initial notice by the board shall be subject to subdivision (h).

(h) If a company described in subdivision (d) fails to complete substantial action by the time described in subdivision (g), the board shall take the following actions:

(1) The board shall not make additional or new investments or renew existing investments in that company.

(2) The board shall liquidate the investments of the board in that company no later than 18 months after this subdivision applies to that company. The board shall liquidate those investments in a manner to address the need for companies to take substantial action in Iran and consistent with the board’s fiduciary responsibilities as described in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.

(i) On or before January 1, 2009, and every year thereafter, the board shall file a report with the Legislature. The report shall describe the following:

(1) A list of investments the board has in companies with business operations that satisfy the criteria in subdivision (b), including, but not limited to, the issuer, by name, of the stock, bonds, securities, and other evidence of indebtedness.

(2) A detailed summary of the business operations a company described in paragraph (1) has in Iran.

(3) Whether the board has reduced its investments in a company that satisfies the criteria in subdivision (b).

(4) If the board has not completely reduced its investments in a company that satisfies the criteria in subdivision (b), when the board anticipates that the board will reduce all investments in that company or the findings adopted in support of a determination made pursuant to subdivision (k) pertaining to why a sale or transfer of investments is inconsistent with the fiduciary responsibilities of the board as described in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.

(5) Any information described in subdivisions (d) and (e).

(6) A detailed summary of investments that were transferred to funds or accounts devoid of companies with business operations in Iran as described in subdivision (f).

(7) An annual calculation of any costs or investment losses or other financial results incurred in compliance with the provisions of this section.

(j) If the board voluntarily sells or transfers all of its investments in a company with business operations in Iran, this section shall not apply except that the board shall file a report with the Legislature related to that company as described in subdivision (i).

(k) Nothing in this section shall require the board to take action as described in this section if the board determines, and adopts findings, in good faith and based on credible information available to the public, that the action described in this section would fail to satisfy the fiduciary responsibilities of the board as described in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution. Any adopted findings shall demonstrate how divestment disadvantages the fund and that any feasible investment alternatives would yield a lower rate of return with commensurate degrees of risk, or create a higher degree of risk with commensurate rates of return. Notwithstanding any other law, any determination that an action would fail to satisfy the fiduciary responsibilities of the board as described in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution shall require a recorded rollcall vote of the full board, following a presentation and discussion of findings in open session, during a properly noticed public hearing of the full board. All proposed findings of the board shall be made public 72 hours before they are considered by the board, and the board shall maintain a list of interested parties who shall be notified of proposed findings 72 hours before board consideration. The findings and any public comments regarding the adopted findings and determinations made pursuant to this subdivision shall be included in the report to the Legislature required by subdivision (i).

(l) This section shall cease to be operative if the President of the United States has made the certifications specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 8551 of Title 22 of the United States Code.

(m) This section shall be known and may be cited as the California Public Divest from Iran Act.

(n) The provisions of this section are severable. If any provision of this section or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 441, Sec. 2. (AB 1151) Effective January 1, 2012. Conditionally inoperative by its own provisions in subd. (l).)

7513.72.

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Board” means the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System or the Teachers’ Retirement Board of the State Teachers’ Retirement System, as applicable.

(2) “Company” means a sole proprietorship, organization, association, corporation, partnership, venture, or other entity, or its subsidiary or affiliate, that exists for profitmaking purposes or to otherwise secure economic advantage.

(3) “Dakota Access Pipeline” means the oil pipeline connecting the Bakken oil fields in northwest North Dakota to Illinois, traveling through South Dakota and Iowa, that runs north and upstream of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.

(4) “Investment” means the purchase, ownership, or control of publicly issued stock, corporate bonds, or other debt instruments issued by a company.

(5) “Public employee retirement funds” means the Public Employees’ Retirement Fund described in Section 20062 of this code and the Teachers’ Retirement Fund described in Section 22167 of the Education Code.

(b) On or before April 1, 2018, the board shall file a report with the Legislature, in compliance with Section 9795, and the Governor that shall include the following:

(1) A list of investments the board has in companies constructing, or funding the construction of, the Dakota Access Pipeline.

(2) A list of companies identified pursuant to paragraph (1) with which the board has constructively engaged, including:

(A) A detailed description of the board and its staff’s engagement activities with each company, including, but not limited to, the number of engagement interactions with each company.

(B) A detailed description of the results of the engagement, including, but not limited to, agreements reached between the board and the company.

(C) An evaluation as to the efficacy of the engagement, including, but not limited to, whether the engagement resulted in a change of action by the investing firm or company with which funds were invested.

(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that on or before April 1, 2018, the board review and consider factors related to tribal sovereignty and indigenous tribal rights as part of the board’s investment policies related to environmental, social, and governance issues.

(d) Nothing in this section shall require a board to take action as described in this section unless the board determines in good faith that the action described in this section is consistent with the fiduciary responsibilities of the board described in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.

(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 575, Sec. 2. (AB 20) Effective January 1, 2018.)

7513.74.

(a) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) “Board” means the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System or the Teachers’ Retirement Board of the State Teachers’ Retirement System, as applicable.

(2) “Government of Turkey” means the government of Turkey or its instrumentalities or political subdivisions.

(3) “Public employee retirement funds” means the Public Employees’ Retirement Fund described in Section 20062 and the Teachers’ Retirement Fund described in Section 22167 of the Education Code.

(4) “Turkey” means the Republic of Turkey.

(b) Upon passage of a federal law by both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and signed by the President of the United States, imposing sanctions on the government of Turkey for failure to officially acknowledge its responsibility for the Armenian Genocide, the board shall not make additional or new investments or renew existing investments of public employee retirement funds in any investment vehicle in the government of Turkey that meets either of the following criteria:

(1) The investment vehicle is issued by the government of Turkey.

(2) The investment vehicle is owned by the government of Turkey.

(c) The board shall liquidate investments as described in subdivision (b), within 18 months of the passage of a federal law, pursuant to subdivision (b), that imposes sanctions on the government of Turkey for failure to officially acknowledge its responsibility for the Armenian Genocide.

(d) Within one year of the passage of a federal law pursuant to subdivision (b) imposing sanctions on the government of Turkey for failure to officially acknowledge its responsibility for the Armenian Genocide, the board shall file a report with the Legislature, in compliance with Section 9795, and with the Governor, that shall include the following:

(1) A list of investment vehicles in the government of Turkey of which the board has liquidated its investments pursuant to subdivision (c).

(2) A list of investment vehicles in the government of Turkey of which the board has not liquidated its investments as a result of a determination made pursuant to subdivision (e) that a sale or transfer of investments is inconsistent with the fiduciary responsibilities of the board as described in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution and the board’s findings adopted in support of that determination.

(e) Nothing in this section shall require a board to take action as described in this section unless the board determines in good faith that the action described in this section is consistent with the fiduciary responsibilities of the board described in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.

(f) (1) Before an extension of the operation of this section, the board shall, using methods or processes as determined by the board, reevaluate the merit of continuing the prescribed divestment action, including, but not limited to, the financial effects of the divestment action on the fiduciary responsibilities of the board pursuant to Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.

(2) On or before January 1, 2035, the board shall submit a report to the Legislature with the information described in paragraph (1) on the merit of continuing the prescribed divestment action.

(3) A report submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.

(g) This section shall be repealed on the earlier of the following dates:

(1) Upon a determination by the board, the United States Department of State, the Congress of the United States, or other appropriate federal agency, that the government of Turkey has officially acknowledged its responsibility for the Armenian Genocide.

(2) January 1, 2035.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 159, Sec. 2. (SB 885) Effective January 1, 2024. Conditionally repealed on or before January 1, 2035, as prescribed by its own provisions.)

7513.75.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(1) The combustion of coal resources is the single largest contributor to global climate change in the United States.

(2) Climate change affects all parts of the California economy and environment, and the Legislature has adopted numerous laws to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to a changing climate.

(3) The purpose of this section is to require the Public Employees’ Retirement System and the State Teachers’ Retirement System, consistent with, and not in violation of, their fiduciary responsibilities, to divest their holding of thermal coal power as one part of the state’s broader efforts to decarbonize the California economy and to transition to clean, pollution free energy resources.

(b) As used in this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Board” means the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System or the Teachers’ Retirement Board of the State Teachers’ Retirement System, as applicable.

(2) “Company” means a sole proprietorship, organization, association, corporation, partnership, venture, or other entity, or its subsidiary or affiliate, that exists for profit-making purposes or to otherwise secure economic advantage.

(3) “Investment” means the purchase, ownership, or control of publicly issued stock, corporate bonds, or other debt instruments issued by a company.

(4) “Public employee retirement funds” means the Public Employees’ Retirement Fund described in Section 20062 of this code, and the Teachers’ Retirement Fund described in Section 22167 of the Education Code.

(5) “Thermal coal” means coal used to generate electricity, such as that which is burned to create steam to run turbines. Thermal coal does not mean metallurgical coal or coking coal used to produce steel.

(6) “Thermal coal company” means a publicly traded company that generates 50 percent or more of its revenue from the mining of thermal coal, as determined by the board.

(c) The board shall not make additional or new investments or renew existing investments of public employee retirement funds in a thermal coal company.

(d) The board shall liquidate investments in a thermal coal company on or before July 1, 2017. In making a determination to liquidate investments, the board shall constructively engage with a thermal coal company to establish whether the company is transitioning its business model to adapt to clean energy generation, such as through a decrease in its reliance on thermal coal as a revenue source.

(e) On or before January 1, 2018, the board shall file a report with the Legislature, in compliance with Section 9795, and the Governor, which shall include the following:

(1) A list of thermal coal companies of which the board has liquidated its investments pursuant to subdivision (d).

(2) A list of companies with which the board engaged pursuant to subdivision (d) that the board established were transitioning to clean energy generation, with supporting documentation to substantiate the board’s determination.

(3) A list of thermal coal companies of which the board has not liquidated its investments as a result of a determination made pursuant to subdivision (f) that a sale or transfer of investments is inconsistent with the fiduciary responsibilities of the board as described in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution and the board’s findings adopted in support of that determination.

(f) Nothing in this section shall require a board to take action as described in this section unless the board determines in good faith that the action described in this section is consistent with the fiduciary responsibilities of the board described in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.

(Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 605, Sec. 1. (SB 185) Effective January 1, 2016.)

7513.8.

As used in this section and Sections 7513.85, 7513.86, 7513.87, 7513.9, and 7513.95:

(a) “Board” means the retirement board of a public pension or retirement system, as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.

(b) “External manager” means either of the following:

(1) A person who is seeking to be, or is, retained by a board or an investment vehicle to manage a portfolio of securities or other assets for compensation.

(2) A person who manages an investment fund and who offers or sells, or has offered or sold, an ownership interest in the investment fund to a board or an investment vehicle.

(c) (1) “Investment fund” means a private equity fund, public equity fund, venture capital fund, hedge fund, fixed income fund, real estate fund, infrastructure fund, or similar pooled investment entity that is, or holds itself out as being, engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding, or trading securities or other assets.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an investment company that is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. Sec. 80a-1 et seq.) and that makes a public offering of its securities is not an investment fund.

(d) “Investment vehicle” means a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, association, or other entity, either domestic or foreign, managed by an external manager in which a board is the majority investor and that is organized in order to invest with, or retain the investment management services of, other external managers.

(e) “Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, or association, either domestic or foreign.

(f) (1) “Placement agent” means any person directly or indirectly hired, engaged, or retained by, or serving for the benefit of or on behalf of, an external manager or an investment fund managed by an external manager, and who acts or has acted for compensation as a finder, solicitor, marketer, consultant, broker, or other intermediary in connection with the offer or sale to a board or an investment vehicle either of the following:

(A) In the case of an external manager within the meaning of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), the investment management services of the external manager.

(B) In the case of an external manager within the meaning of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), an ownership interest in an investment fund managed by the external manager.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an individual who is an employee, officer, director, equityholder, partner, member, or trustee of an external manager and who spends one-third or more of his or her time, during a calendar year, managing the securities or assets owned, controlled, invested, or held by the external manager is not a placement agent.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 704, Sec. 1. (SB 398) Effective October 9, 2011.)

7513.85.

(a) The board shall develop and implement, on or before June 30, 2010, a policy requiring the disclosure of payments to placement agents in connection with system investments in or through external managers. The policy shall include, but not be limited to, the following requirements:

(1) Disclosure of the existence of relationships between external managers and placement agents.

(2) A resume for each officer, partner, or principal of the placement agent detailing the person’s education, professional designations, regulatory licenses, and investment and work experience.

(3) A description of any and all compensation of any kind provided, or agreed to be provided, to a placement agent.

(4) A description of the services to be performed by the placement agent.

(5) A statement whether the placement agent, or any of its affiliates, are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Financial Industry Regulatory Association, or any similar regulatory agent in a country other than the United States, and the details of that registration or explanation as to why no registration is required.

(6) A statement whether the placement agent, or any of its affiliates, is registered as a lobbyist with any state or national government.

(b) Any external manager or placement agent that violates the policy shall not solicit new investments from the system for five years after the violation was committed. However, this prohibition may be reduced by a majority vote of the board at a public session upon a showing of good cause.

(c) The system shall not enter into any agreement with an external manager that does not agree in writing to comply with the policy.

(d) Nothing in this section shall require the board to take action as described in this section unless the board determines, in good faith, that the action described in this section is consistent with the fiduciary responsibilities of the board as described in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.

(Added by Stats. 2009, Ch. 301, Sec. 4. (AB 1584) Effective October 11, 2009.)

7513.86.

Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 82047.3, a person shall not act as a placement agent in connection with any potential system investment made by a state public retirement system unless that person is registered as a lobbyist in accordance with Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 86100) of Title 9 and is in full compliance with the Political Reform Act of 1974 (Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000)) as that act applies to lobbyists.

(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 668, Sec. 2. (AB 1743) Effective January 1, 2011.)

7513.87.

(a) A person acting as a placement agent in connection with any potential system investment made by a local public retirement system shall file any applicable reports with a local government agency that requires lobbyists to register and file reports and shall comply with any applicable requirements imposed by a local government agency pursuant to Section 81013.

(b) This section does not apply to either of the following:

(1) An individual who is an employee, officer, director, equityholder, partner, member, or trustee of an external manager who spends one-third or more of his or her time, during a calendar year, managing the securities or assets owned, controlled, invested, or held by the external manager.

(2) An employee, officer, or director of an external manager, or of an affiliate of an external manager, if all of the following apply:

(A) The external manager is registered as an investment adviser or a broker-dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission or, if exempt from or not subject to registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any appropriate state securities regulator.

(B) The external manager is participating in a competitive bidding process, such as a request for proposals, or has been selected through that process and is providing services pursuant to a contract executed as a result of that competitive bidding process.

(C) The external manager, if selected through a competitive bidding process described in subparagraph (B), has agreed to a fiduciary standard of care, as defined by the standards of conduct applicable to the retirement board of a public pension or retirement system and set forth in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, when managing a portfolio of assets of a public retirement system in California.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 704, Sec. 2. (SB 398) Effective October 9, 2011.)

7513.9.

(a) Any placement agent, prior to acting as a placement agent in connection with any potential system investment, shall disclose to the board all campaign contributions made by the placement agent to any elected member of the board during the prior 24-month period. Additionally, any subsequent campaign contribution made by the placement agent to an elected member of the board during the time the placement agent is receiving compensation in connection with a system investment shall also be disclosed.

(b) Any placement agent, prior to acting as a placement agent in connection with any potential system investment, shall disclose to the board all gifts, as defined in Section 82028, given by the placement agent to any member of the board during the prior 24-month period. Additionally, any subsequent gift given by the placement agent to any member of the board during the time the placement agent is receiving compensation in connection with a system investment shall also be disclosed.

(Added by Stats. 2009, Ch. 301, Sec. 5. (AB 1584) Effective October 11, 2009.)

7513.95.

A member or employee of the board shall not, directly or indirectly, by himself or herself, or as an agent, partner, or employee of a person or entity other than the board, sell or provide any investment product that would be considered an asset of the fund to any public retirement system in California.

(Added by Stats. 2009, Ch. 301, Sec. 6. (AB 1584) Effective October 11, 2009.)

7513.97.

As used in Section 11 of Article VII of the Constitution, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) “Actuarial equivalent” means a benefit of equal value when computed upon the basis of the mortality tables adopted and the actuarial interest rate fixed by the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System.

(b) “Beneficiary” means any person or corporation designated by a member, a retired member, or statute, or the estate of a member or retired member designated by the member or retired member, to receive a benefit under the retirement system, on account of the death of the member or retired member.

(c) “Salary” means the actual wages paid but shall not include any other benefits, such as, but not limited to, health and dental benefits, retirement benefits, vacation pay, and per diem.

(d) “Unmodified pension or retirement allowance” means the maximum pension or retirement allowance receivable, prior to any selection of an optional settlement and includes any cost-of-living adjustment and any other increase granted subsequent to retirement.

(Added by renumbering Section 7514 (as added by Stats. 1984, Ch. 220) by Stats. 2011, Ch. 296, Sec. 117. (AB 1023) Effective January 1, 2012.)

7514.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law except Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 16649.80) of Part 2 of Division 4 of Title 2, any state or local public retirement system may invest, subject to and consistent with the standard for prudent investment set forth in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, its assets in the bonds or other evidences of indebtedness unconditionally guaranteed by any foreign government that has met the payments of similar bonds or other evidences of indebtedness when due.

(b) A portion of the assets invested pursuant to this section may be used to purchase rated or unrated bonds, notes, or other instruments unconditionally guaranteed by Canada, Israel, Mexico, or South Africa.

(Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 46, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1995.)

7514.1.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law except Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 16649.80) of Part 2 of Division 4 of Title 2, any state or local public retirement system may invest, subject to and consistent with the standard for prudent investment set forth in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, and the state and any political subdivision of the state may, invest its assets in rated bonds, notes, or other obligations issued, assumed, or unconditionally guaranteed by the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and any other international financial institution that has met the payments of similar bonds, notes, or other obligations when due and in which the United States is a member.

(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 91, Sec. 45. Effective January 1, 1996.)

7514.2.

(a) As used in this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) “Board” means the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System, the Teachers’ Retirement Board, or the board of retirement or board of investments of a retirement system established pursuant to the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 (Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 31450) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 3).

(2) “Infrastructure” includes, but is not limited to, telecommunications, power, transportation, ports, petrochemical, and utilities.

(b) A board may, subject to and consistent with its fiduciary duties and the standard for prudent investment set forth in Section 20190 of this code, Section 22203 of the Education Code, and Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, prioritize investment in an in-state infrastructure project over a comparable out-of-state project.

(c) The Legislature encourages each board to prioritize investment in in-state infrastructure projects over alternative out-of-state infrastructure projects if the investments in the in-state projects are consistent with the board’s fiduciary duties to minimize the risk of loss and to maximize the rate of return.

(d) Nothing in this section shall require a board to take action that is inconsistent with its plenary authority and fiduciary responsibilities, as described in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 766, Sec. 1. (AB 205) Effective January 1, 2014.)

7514.3.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, state pension systems may, subject to and consistent with their fiduciary duties and the standard for prudent investment set forth in Section 20190 of this code and Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, establish credit enhancement programs to assist entities of state and local government and other issuers of municipal and public finance debt to secure more favorable financing terms through a variety of types of credit enhancement including, but not limited to, enhancement of the credit of bonds, notes, and other indebtedness. Any credit enhancement program shall comply with the requirements of Section 503 of the Internal Revenue Code.

(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 266, Sec. 1. Effective August 23, 2004.)

7514.5.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, whenever the rights of a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System, the State Teachers’ Retirement System, or a retirement system established under the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937, because of membership in another retirement system, are conditional upon employment within a specified period of time after termination of service in another retirement system, that specified period shall be the period of service in full-time elective office on and after November 6, 1990, if the member was a full-time elective officer on or after that date and becomes a member of any of those retirement systems within 120 days after termination of the full-time elective office.

(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 1074, Sec. 1. Effective September 30, 1998.)

7514.7.

(a) Every public investment fund shall require each alternative investment vehicle in which it invests to make the following disclosures at least annually:

(1) The fees and expenses that the public investment fund pays directly to the alternative investment vehicle, the fund manager, or related parties.

(2) The public investment fund’s pro rata share of fees and expenses not included in paragraph (1) that are paid from the alternative investment vehicle to the fund manager or related parties. The public investment fund may independently calculate this information based on information contractually required to be provided by the alternative investment vehicle to the public investment fund. If the public investment fund independently calculates this information, then the alternative investment vehicle shall not be required to provide the information identified in this paragraph.

(3) The public investment fund’s pro rata share of carried interest distributed to the fund manager or related parties.

(4) The public investment fund’s pro rata share of aggregate fees and expenses paid by all of the portfolio companies held within the alternative investment vehicle to the fund manager or related parties.

(5) Any additional information described in subdivision (c) of Section 7928.710.

(b) Every public investment fund shall disclose the information provided pursuant to subdivision (a) at least once annually in a report presented at a meeting open to the public. The public investment fund’s report required pursuant to this subdivision shall also include the gross and net rate of return of each alternative investment vehicle, since inception, in which the public investment fund participates. The public investment fund may report the gross and net rate of return and information required by subdivision (a) based on its own calculations or based on calculations provided by the alternative investment vehicle.

(c) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Alternative investment” means an investment in a private equity fund, venture fund, hedge fund, or absolute return fund.

(2) “Alternative investment vehicle” means the limited partnership, limited liability company, or similar legal structure through which a public investment fund invests in an alternative investment.

(3) “Fund manager” means the general partner, managing manager, adviser, or other person or entity with primary investment decisionmaking authority over an alternative investment vehicle and related parties of the fund manager.

(4) “Carried interest” means any share of profits from an alternative investment vehicle that is distributed to a fund manager, general partner, or related parties, including allocations of alternative investment vehicle profits received by a fund manager in consideration of having waived fees that it might otherwise have been entitled to receive.

(5) “Portfolio companies” means individual portfolio investments made by the alternative investment vehicle.

(6) “Gross rate of return” means the internal rate of return for the alternative investment vehicle prior to the reduction of fees and expenses described in subdivision (a).

(7) “Public investment fund” means any fund of any public pension or retirement system, including that of the University of California.

(8) “Operational person” means any operational partner, senior adviser, or other consultant or employee whose primary activity for a relevant entity is to provide operational or back office support to any portfolio company of any alternative investment vehicle, account, or fund managed by a related person.

(9) “Related person” means any current or former employee, manager, or partner of any related entity that is involved in the investment activities or accounting and valuation functions of the relevant entity or any of their respective family members.

(10) “Related party” means:

(A) Any related person.

(B) Any operational person.

(C) Any entity more than 10 percent of the ownership of which is held directly or indirectly, whether through other entities or trusts, by a related person or operational person regardless if the related person or operational person participates in the carried interest received by the general partner or the special limited partner.

(D) Any consulting, legal, or other service provider regularly engaged by portfolio companies of an alternative investment vehicle, account, or fund managed by a related person and that also provides advice or services to any related person or relevant entity.

(11) “Relevant entity” means the general partner, any separate carry vehicle, the investor adviser, any of the investment adviser’s parent or subsidiary entities, or any similar entity related to any other alternative investment vehicle, account, or fund advised or managed by any current or former related person.

(d) (1) This section applies to all new contracts the public investment fund enters into on or after January 1, 2017, and to all existing contracts pursuant to which the public investment fund makes a new capital commitment on or after January 1, 2017.

(2)  With respect to existing contracts not covered by paragraph (1), the public investment fund shall undertake reasonable efforts to obtain the information described in subdivision (a) and comply with the reporting requirements contained in subdivision (b) with respect to any information obtained after January 1, 2017.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 615, Sec. 148. (AB 474) Effective January 1, 2022. Operative January 1, 2023, pursuant to Section 463 of Stats. 2021, Ch. 615.)