H.B. 78

This document includes House Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Thu, Jan 19, 2006 at 10:05 AM by ddonat. --> 1

INVESTMENT OF LAND GRANT TRUST
2 FUNDS
3 2006 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: David Clark
6 Senate Sponsor: Thomas V. Hatch
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill exempts land grant trust funds from the specific investment limitations of the
11 Money Management Act and directs the State Treasurer to invest them.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 . exempts land grant trust funds from investment limitations in the Money
15 Management Act;
16 . directs the state treasurer to invest trust fund monies using the "prudent investor"
17 rule and standards established by this bill;
18 . defines the criteria to be used to evaluate whether or not the state treasurer has
19 complied with the "prudent investor" rule;
20 . establishes an Investment Advisory Committee, defines its membership, operation,
21 and duties; H. [ and ]
21a . repeals existing law concerning investments of land grant trust funds; and .H
22 . makes technical corrections.
23 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
24 None
25 Other Special Clauses:
26 None
27 Utah Code Sections Affected:

28 AMENDS:
29 51-7-2, as last amended by Chapters 71 and 178, Laws of Utah 2005
30 51-7-11, as last amended by Chapter 178, Laws of Utah 2005
31 51-7-14, as last amended by Chapter 163, Laws of Utah 2003
32 ENACTS:
33 51-7a-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
34 51-7a-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
35 51-7a-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
36 51-7a-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
37 51-7a-301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
38 51-7a-302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
38a H. REPEALS:
38b 51-7-12, as last amended by Chapter 109, Laws of Utah 2004 .H
39
40 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
41 Section 1. Section 51-7-2 is amended to read:
42 51-7-2. Exemptions from chapter.
43 The following funds are exempt from this chapter:
44 (1) funds invested in accordance with the participating employees' designation or
45 direction pursuant to a public employees' deferred compensation plan established and operated
46 in compliance with Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code of [1954] 1986, as amended;
47 (2) funds of the Workers' Compensation Fund;
48 (3) funds of the Utah State Retirement Board;
49 (4) funds of the Utah Housing Corporation; [and]
50 (5) endowment funds of higher education institutions[.]; and
51 (6) permanent and other land grant trust funds established pursuant to the Utah
52 Enabling Act and the Utah Constitution.
53 Section 2. Section 51-7-11 is amended to read:
54 51-7-11. Authorized deposits or investments of public funds.
55 (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(b), a public treasurer may conduct
56 investment transactions only through qualified depositories, certified dealers, or directly with
57 issuers of the investment securities.
58 (b) A public treasurer may, in furtherance of his duties, designate a certified investment

59 adviser to make trades on behalf of the public treasurer.
60 (2) The remaining term to maturity of the investment may not exceed the period of
61 availability of the funds to be invested.
62 (3) Except as provided in Subsection (4), all public funds may be deposited or invested
63 only in the following assets that meet the criteria of Section 51-7-17 :
64 (a) negotiable or nonnegotiable deposits of qualified depositories;
65 (b) qualifying or nonqualifying repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase
66 agreements with qualified depositories using collateral consisting of:
67 (i) Government National Mortgage Association mortgage pools;
68 (ii) Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation mortgage pools;
69 (iii) Federal National Mortgage Corporation mortgage pools;
70 (iv) Small Business Administration loan pools;
71 (v) Federal Agriculture Mortgage Corporation pools; or
72 (vi) other investments authorized by this section;
73 (c) qualifying repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements with certified
74 dealers, permitted depositories, or qualified depositories using collateral consisting of:
75 (i) Government National Mortgage Association mortgage pools;
76 (ii) Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation mortgage pools;
77 (iii) Federal National Mortgage Corporation mortgage pools;
78 (iv) Small Business Administration loan pools; or
79 (v) other investments authorized by this section;
80 (d) commercial paper that is classified as "first tier" by two nationally recognized
81 statistical rating organizations, one of which must be Moody's Investors Service or Standard
82 and Poor's, which has a remaining term to maturity of 270 days or less;
83 (e) bankers' acceptances that:
84 (i) are eligible for discount at a Federal Reserve bank; and
85 (ii) have a remaining term to maturity of 270 days or less;
86 (f) fixed rate negotiable deposits issued by a permitted depository that have a
87 remaining term to maturity of 365 days or less;
88 (g) obligations of the United States Treasury, including United States Treasury bills,
89 United States Treasury notes, and United States Treasury bonds;

90 (h) obligations other than mortgage pools and other mortgage derivative products
91 issued by, or fully guaranteed as to principal and interest by, the following agencies or
92 instrumentalities of the United States in which a market is made by a primary reporting
93 government securities dealer:
94 (i) Federal Farm Credit banks;
95 (ii) Federal Home Loan banks;
96 (iii) Federal National Mortgage Association;
97 (iv) Student Loan Marketing Association;
98 (v) Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation;
99 (vi) Federal Agriculture Mortgage Corporation; and
100 (vii) Tennessee Valley Authority;
101 (i) fixed rate corporate obligations that:
102 (i) are rated "A" or higher or the equivalent of "A" or higher by two nationally
103 recognized statistical rating organizations, one of which must be by Moody's Investors Service
104 or Standard and Poor's;
105 (ii) are publicly traded; and
106 (iii) have a remaining term to final maturity of 365 days or less or is subject to a hard
107 put at par value or better, within 365 days;
108 (j) tax anticipation notes and general obligation bonds of the state or of any county,
109 incorporated city or town, school district, or other political subdivision of this state, including
110 bonds offered on a when-issued basis without regard to the limitation in Subsection (7);
111 (k) bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness of any county, incorporated city or
112 town, school district, or other political subdivision of the state that are payable from
113 assessments or from revenues or earnings specifically pledged for payment of the principal and
114 interest on these obligations, including bonds offered on a when-issued basis without regard to
115 the limitation in Subsection (7);
116 (l) shares or certificates in a money market mutual fund as defined in Section 51-7-3 ;
117 (m) variable rate negotiable deposits that:
118 (i) are issued by a qualified depository or a permitted depository;
119 (ii) are repriced at least semiannually; and
120 (iii) have a remaining term to final maturity not to exceed two years;

121 (n) variable rate securities that:
122 (i) (A) are rated "A" or higher or the equivalent of "A" or higher by two nationally
123 recognized statistical rating organizations, one of which must be by Moody's Investors Service
124 or Standard and Poor's;
125 (B) are publicly traded;
126 (C) are repriced at least semiannually; and
127 (D) have a remaining term to final maturity not to exceed two years or are subject to a
128 hard put at par value or better, within 365 days; and
129 (ii) are not mortgages, mortgage-backed securities, mortgage derivative products, or
130 any security making unscheduled periodic principal payments other than optional redemptions.
131 (4) The following public funds are exempt from the requirements of Subsection (3):
132 [(a) funds of the permanent land grant trust funds established pursuant to the Utah
133 Enabling Act and the Utah Constitution;]
134 [(b)] (a) the Employers' Reinsurance Fund created in Section 34A-2-702 ; and
135 [(c)] (b) the Uninsured Employers' Fund created in Section 34A-2-704 .
136 (5) If any of the deposits authorized by Subsection (3)(a) are negotiable or
137 nonnegotiable large time deposits issued in amounts of $100,000 or more, the interest shall be
138 calculated on the basis of the actual number of days divided by 360 days.
139 (6) A public treasurer may maintain fully insured deposits in demand accounts in a
140 federally insured nonqualified depository only if a qualified depository is not reasonably
141 convenient to the entity's geographic location.
142 (7) The public treasurer shall ensure that all purchases and sales of securities are settled
143 within 15 days of the trade date.
144 Section 3. Section 51-7-14 is amended to read:
145 51-7-14. Prudent man rule for management of investments -- Sale of security or
146 investment for less than cost.
147 (1) [Selection of] Persons selecting investments [as] authorized by Sections 51-7-11 H. [ ,
148 51-7-12 , ] .H and 51-7-13 shall [be made with the]:
149 (a) exercise [of] that degree of judgment and care, under the circumstances [then]
150 prevailing at the time the investment is selected, that persons of prudence, discretion, and
151 intelligence exercise in the management of their own affairs[,];

152 (b) select investments not for speculation but for investment[, considering];
153 (c) consider:
154 (i) the probable safety of [their] the capital[, as well as];
155 (ii) the probable benefits to be derived [and];
156 (iii) the probable duration for which that investment may be made[, considering];
157 (iv) the investment objectives specified in Section 51-7-17 [,]; and [considering]
158 (v) the investment portfolio as a whole.
159 (2) A public treasurer may sell or otherwise dispose of, at less than cost, any security or
160 investment in which public funds under his jurisdiction have been invested if [such] that sale or
161 other disposition tends to maximize the benefits that may be derived from [such] the changed
162 investment.
163 Section 4. Section 51-7a-101 is enacted to read:
164 CHAPTER 7a. INVESTMENT OF LAND GRANT TRUST FUND MONIES
165 Part 1. General Provisions
166 51-7a-101. Title.
167 This chapter is known as the "Investment of Land Grant Trust Fund Monies."
168 Section 5. Section 51-7a-102 is enacted to read:
169 51-7a-102. Definitions.
170 As used in this chapter, "land grant trust funds" means the permanent and other land
171 grant trust funds established under the Utah Enabling Act and the Utah Constitution.
172 Section 6. Section 51-7a-201 is enacted to read:
173 Part 2. Investment of Land Grant Trust Fund Monies
174 51-7a-201. Investment of land grant trust funds.
175 (1) The state treasurer shall:
176 (a) invest land grant trust funds with the primary goal of providing for the stability,
177 income, and growth of the principal;
178 (b) in making investment decisions, consider:
179 (i) general economic conditions;
180 (ii) the possible effect of inflation or deflation;
181 (iii) the role that each investment or course of action plays within the overall trust
182 portfolio;

183 (iv) the expected total return from income and the appreciation of capital;
184 (v) other resources of the beneficiaries; and
185 (vi) needs for liquidity, regularity of income, and preservation or appreciation of
186 capital; and
187 (c) diversify the investments of the trust funds, unless the state treasurer reasonably
188 determines that the purposes of the trust funds are better served without diversifying.
189 (2) Nothing in this section requires a specific outcome in investing.
190 (3) The state treasurer may deduct any administrative costs incurred in managing trust
191 fund assets from earnings before distributing them.
192 (4) (a) The state treasurer may employ professional asset managers to assist in the
193 investment of assets of the trust funds.
194 (b) The treasurer may only provide compensation to asset managers from earnings
195 generated by the funds' investments.
196 Section 7. Section 51-7a-202 is enacted to read:
197 51-7a-202. State Treasurer to follow "prudent investor" rule -- Standard of care.
198 (1) The state treasurer shall invest and manage the trust fund assets as a prudent
199 investor would, by:
200 (a) considering the purposes, terms, distribution requirements, and other circumstances
201 of the trust funds; and
202 (b) exercising reasonable care, skill, and caution in order to meet the standard of care
203 of a prudent investor,
204 (2) In determining whether or not the state treasurer has met the standard of care of a
205 prudent investor, the judge or finder of fact shall:
206 (a) consider the state treasurer's actions in light of the facts and circumstances existing
207 at the time of the investment decision or action, and not by hindsight; and
208 (b) evaluate the state treasurer's investment and management decisions respecting
209 individual assets:
210 (i) not in isolation, but in the context of a trust fund portfolio as a whole; and
211 (ii) as a part of an overall investment strategy that has risk and return objectives
212 reasonably suited to the trust funds.
213 Section 8. Section 51-7a-301 is enacted to read:

214 Part 3. Investment Advisory Committee
215 51-7a-301. Investment advisory committee -- Creation.
216 (1) (a) There is created an investment advisory committee of seven members appointed
217 as follows:
218 (i) one member appointed by the president of the University of Utah;
219 (ii) one member appointed by the president of Utah State University;
220 (iii) two members appointed by the state superintendent of public instruction;
221 (iv) one member appointed by the president of the Utah Education Association;
222 (v) one member appointed by the president of the Utah Parent Teachers Association;
223 and
224 (vi) one member appointed by the Board of Trustees of the School and Institutional
225 Trust Lands Administration.
226 (b) In making appointments, the appointing authority shall appoint candidates with
227 experience in securities, investments, or banking, or other experience that would aid the
228 committee in fulfilling its responsibilities.
229 (2) (a) (i) Except as required by Subsection (2)(a)(ii), as terms of current committee
230 members expire, the appointing authority shall appoint each new member or reappointed
231 member to a four-year term.
232 (ii) The appointing authority shall, at the time of appointment or reappointment, adjust
233 the length of terms to ensure that the terms of committee members are staggered so that
234 approximately half of the committee is appointed every two years.
235 (b) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the replacement shall be
236 appointed for the unexpired term.
237 (3) The investment advisory committee shall meet at least quarterly.
238 (4) The investment advisory committee shall elect a chair and vice chair.
239 (5) (a) A committee member shall disclose any conflict of interest to the board.
240 (b) If the conflict involves a direct, personal financial interest in either the subject
241 under consideration or an entity or asset that could be substantially affected by the outcome of
242 committee advice, the member may not vote on the matter.
243 (6) (a) (i) Members who are not government employees shall receive no compensation
244 or benefits for their services, but may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the

245 performance of the member's official duties at the rates established by the Division of Finance
246 under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
247 (ii) Members may decline to receive per diem and expenses for their service.
248 (b) (i) State government officer and employee members who do not receive salary, per
249 diem, or expenses from their agency for their service may receive per diem and expenses
250 incurred in the performance of their official duties from the committee at the rates established
251 by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
252 (ii) A state government member who is a member because of his state government
253 position may not receive per diem or expenses for his service.
254 (iii) State government officer and employee members may decline to receive per diem
255 and expenses for their service.
256 (c) (i) Local government members who do not receive salary, per diem, or expenses
257 from the entity that they represent for their service may receive per diem and expenses incurred
258 in the performance of their official duties at the rates established by the Division of Finance
259 under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
260 (ii) Local government members may decline to receive per diem and expenses for their
261 service.
262 Section 9. Section 51-7a-302 is enacted to read:
263 51-7a-302. Investment advisory committee -- Duties.
264 (1) The investment advisory committee shall:
265 (a) review investment reports prepared by the state treasurer's office; and
266 (b) monitor portfolio composition and investment performance.
267 (2) The committee may prepare and present a report concerning the stability, income
268 and growth of the funds, if any, to:
269 (a) the state treasurer;
270 (b) affected beneficiary representatives; and
271 (c) other interested parties.
271a H. Section 3. Repealer.
271b This bill repeals:
271c Section 51-7-12, Deposit or investment of permanent land grant trust funds-- Authorized
271d deposits and investments -- Asset manager -- Investment Advisory Committee. .H

Legislative Review Note
as of 12-9-05 2:42 PM

Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel