A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to enhance the accountability and transparency of the state retirement systems' investment programs by providing for audited financial statements, performance reviews, expanded and modernized reporting, a sunset on the confidentiality of proprietary information, resource flexibility for the investment management division, and other measures.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  Article 6 of Chapter 147 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 147‑69.9.  Third‑party audit of Retirement Systems' investment programs.
(a)	In addition to all other audits and reports required by law, the State Treasurer shall prepare and issue, as of the end of each fiscal year, a set of financial statements regarding the investment programs for the Retirement Systems enumerated in G.S. 147‑69.2(b)(8). These financial statements shall be audited by a commercial, independent third‑party audit firm selected and engaged by the State Auditor based upon selection criteria developed by the State Auditor in consultation with the State Treasurer. The audit firm's report and the financial statements shall be provided to the General Assembly within six months after the close of the reporting period.
(b)	Supplementary information accompanying the financial statements required by subsection (a) of this section shall include a discussion of the Retirement Systems' risk and returns compared to benchmarks, total management fees and incentives paid, and comparisons to peer cost benchmarks.
(c)	Any associated costs of the audit required by this section shall be subject to the provisions of G.S. 147‑69.3(f) and do not require appropriations to either the State Auditor or the State Treasurer in the Current Operations Appropriations Act."
SECTION 1.(b)  This section becomes effective for audits and reports relating to the 2014‑2015 fiscal year. For the 2014‑2015 fiscal year, the requirements stated by subsection (a) of this section shall be met by an independent review of the Retirement Systems' pro forma financial statements. For the 2015‑2016 fiscal year and thereafter, the audit requirement stated by this section shall take the form of an independent opinion concerning the Retirement Systems' initial financial statements. In order to allow for an opinion to be offered for the 2015‑2016 fiscal year, the State Auditor shall select an audit firm no later than January 1, 2015, and, by June 30, 2015, the Treasurer shall separately account for any Retirement Systems' investment portfolios that are commingled with the Treasurer's other investment programs.
SECTION 2.  Article 6 of Chapter 147 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 147‑69.10.  Performance review of Treasurer's investment programs.
At least once every four years, the State Treasurer shall engage a commercial, independent expert firm pursuant to G.S. 147‑69.3(g) to evaluate the governance, operations, and investment practices of the State Treasurer in order to develop recommendations for improvement. The report of the expert firm shall be provided to the General Assembly when complete."
SECTION 3.(a)  Article 6 of Chapter 147 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 147‑69.11.  Reporting of Retirement Systems' investments.
(a)	Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section:
(1)	External investment manager. – The State Treasurer's counterparty or its affiliate given authority or discretion to make investment decisions concerning the investments that are not managed internally by the State Treasurer's staff.
(2)	Incentive fees. – Any incentive compensation to an investment manager or investment vehicle that the Retirement Systems incur directly or experience indirectly as a reduction in distributions.
(3)	Investment vehicle. – A limited partnership, limited liability company, trust, or other legal entity through which the State Treasurer invests.
(4)	Management fees. – Compensation other than incentive fees paid to the investment manager or investment vehicle to compensate it for its management of funds that the Retirement Systems incur directly or experience indirectly as a reduction in distributions.
(b)	In addition to all other reports required by law, the State Treasurer shall prepare and make public a report on the fees and performance of external investment managers engaged for the Retirement Systems enumerated in G.S. 147‑69.2(b)(8) as of the end of each fiscal year. A copy of each report shall be submitted within nine months following the end of the fiscal year to the State Auditor, the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, the Chairs of the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee and Senate Appropriations Committee, the Chairs of the House of Representatives and Senate Finance Committees, and the Fiscal Research Division.
(c)	The State Treasurer's report shall include all of the following that are applicable, reported separately for each investment:
(1)	The name, commitment amount, statutory classification, inception year, and, as applicable, either a statement that the investment is managed internally by the staff of the State Treasurer or the names of the external investment manager and the investment vehicle for that investment.
(2)	The value of the State Treasurer's investment as of the fiscal year end.
(3)	For each investment made pursuant to subdivisions (1) through (6) of G.S. 147‑69.2(b) or sub‑subdivisions a. and c. of G.S. 147‑69.2(b)(8), the periodic net annualized time‑weighted rate of return for that fiscal year and, since inception, reported net of fees.
(4)	For each investment other than those described in subdivision (3) of this subsection, the net annualized internal rate of return and investment multiple for that fiscal year and, since inception, reported net of fees.
(5)	For each investment other than those described in subdivision (3) of this subsection, the total cash contributions or other investments made and the total distribution received with respect to that investment for that fiscal year and since inception.
(6)	The dollar amount of the management fees and incentive fees incurred by the State Treasurer and paid to the external investment manager.
(7)	For any fund‑of‑fund investment vehicles, the aggregate management fees and incentive fees for the underlying investment managers or investment vehicles used by the external investment manager.
(8)	If any placement agent fees relating to the investment were directly or indirectly borne by the Retirement Systems, a list of the amount and type of those fees.
Portfolios of investments managed internally by the staff of the State Treasurer shall be reported on a portfolio‑by‑portfolio basis."
SECTION 3.(b)  Chapter 132 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 132‑1.14.  Public records for Treasurer's investment programs.
(a)	Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section:
(1)	External investment manager. – The State Treasurer's counterparty or its affiliate given authority or discretion to make investment decisions concerning Treasurer investments that are not managed internally by the State Treasurer's staff.
(2)	Incentive fees. – Any incentive compensation to an investment manager or investment vehicle that the Retirement Systems incur directly or experience indirectly as a reduction in distributions.
(3)	Investment vehicle. – A limited partnership, limited liability company, trust, or other legal entity through which the State Treasurer invests.
(4)	Management fees. – Compensation other than incentive fees paid to the investment manager or investment vehicle to compensate it for its management of funds that the Retirement Systems incur directly or experience indirectly as a reduction in distributions.
(5)	Person. – An individual, corporation, business trust, partnership, association, joint venture, or any other legal or commercial entity.
(6)	Treasurer investment. – An investment for one or more of the investment programs established, managed, or operated by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147‑69.3.
(b)	Notwithstanding G.S. 132‑1.2(1) and subsection (d) of this section, all of the following information is a public record for each Treasurer investment:
(1)	The name, commitment amount, statutory classification, inception year, and, if applicable, the names of the external investment manager and the investment vehicle for that investment.
(2)	The value of the State Treasurer's investment as of the fiscal year end.
(3)	For each investment made pursuant to subdivisions (1) through (6) of G.S. 147‑69.2(b) or sub‑subdivisions a. and c. of G.S. 147‑69.2(b)(8), the periodic net annualized time‑weighted rate of return for that fiscal year and, since inception, reported net of fees.
(4)	For each investment other than those described in subdivision (3) of this subsection, the net annualized internal rate of return and investment multiple for that fiscal year and, since inception, reported net of fees.
(5)	For each investment other than those described in subdivision (3) of this subsection, the total cash contributions or other investments made and the total distribution received with respect to that investment for that fiscal year and since inception.
(6)	The dollar amount of the management fees and incentive fees incurred by the State Treasurer to the external investment manager.
(7)	For any fund‑of‑fund investment vehicles, the aggregate management fees and incentive fees for the underlying investment managers or investment vehicles used by the external investment manager.
(8)	If any placement agent fees relating to the investment were directly or indirectly borne by the Retirement Systems, a list of the amount and type of those fees.
(c)	In order to prevent other investment traders from utilizing knowledge of potential or pending Treasurer investment trades for personal gain, all records relating to trades made directly by the staff of the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147‑69.2(b)(6b) or the second paragraph of G.S. 147‑69.2(b)(8) are not public record until 90 days after the transaction has closed.
(d)	The following information shall not be public record until five years after the termination of an investment vehicle in which the State Treasurer has made a Treasurer investment and then shall become public record on that date:
(1)	Information regarding the portfolio positions in which the investment vehicle invests.
(2)	Capital call and distribution notices to investors of the investment vehicle.
(3)	Information concerning other investors in the investment vehicle.
(4)	The investment's private placement memorandum and other offering and marketing material, if marked confidential.
(5)	The investment's contractual documents, to the extent stated in any clause that places a duty of confidentiality upon the State Treasurer.
(6)	Any other information that constitutes a "trade secret" as defined in G.S. 66‑152(3) and that was disclosed or furnished by an actual or potential external investment manager in connection with an actual or potential Treasurer investment."
SECTION 4.(a)  G.S. 147‑69.3(f) reads as rewritten:
"(f)	The cost of administration, management, and operation of investment programs established pursuant to this section shall be apportioned equitably among the programs in such manner as may be prescribed by the State Treasurer, such costs to be paid from each program. The cost of administration, management, and operation of investment programs established pursuant to this section shall be reported to the General Assembly by June 15 of each year, providing the actual costs incurred for the previous fiscal year, the estimated costs for the current fiscal year, and the estimated costs for the next fiscal year."
SECTION 4.(b)  G.S. 147‑69.3 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(g1)	The State Treasurer is authorized to appoint employees possessing specialized skills or knowledge necessary for the proper administration of investment programs created pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding the restrictions on the establishment of new employment positions contained in G.S. 143C‑6‑6(a), the State Treasurer may create those positions authorized under this subsection solely in the interest of the beneficiaries of the various investments authorized under G.S. 147‑69.1 and G.S. 147‑69.2, incurring only costs that are appropriate and reasonable."
SECTION 4.(c)  G.S. 147‑69.3(i2) reads as rewritten:
"(i2)	In order to promote achievement of long‑term investment objectives and to retain key public employees with investment functions, the State Treasurer is authorized to establish market‑oriented compensation plans, including salaries and performance‑related bonuses, for employees possessing specialized skills or knowledge necessary for the proper administration of investment programs, who shall be exempt from the classification and compensation rules established by the Office of State Human Resources. The design and administration of those compensation plans shall be based on compensation studies conducted by a nationally recognized firm specializing in public fund investment compensation. The compensation and other associated employee benefits shall be apportioned directly from the investment program. The Treasurer shall report the salaries and bonuses paid to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations annually."
SECTION 4.(d)  G.S. 126‑5 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(c12)	Except as to G.S. 126‑13, 126‑14, 126‑14.1, and the provisions of Articles 6, 7, 14, 15, and 16 of this Chapter, the provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to employees of the Department of State Treasurer possessing specialized skills or knowledge necessary for the proper administration of investment programs and appointed pursuant to G.S. 147‑69.3(g1) or compensated pursuant to G.S. 147‑69.3(i2)."
SECTION 5.(a)  G.S. 147‑69.3 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(h1)	The State Treasurer shall adopt, publish, and regularly review investment policy statements for each investment program created pursuant to this section. The investment policy statements shall include, but are not limited to, descriptions of investment objectives, roles, and responsibilities, permitted types of investments, risk management and control activities, implementation guidelines, and evaluation criteria necessary to measure investment performance of the applicable funds."
SECTION 5.(b)  G.S. 147‑69.3(i) reads as rewritten:
"(i)	The State Treasurer shall report at least twice a year to the General Assembly, through the Finance Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, on the investment programs created under this section. The Treasurer shall present the reports to a joint meeting of the Finance Committees. The chairs of the Finance Committees may receive the reports and call the meetings. The Finance Committees may meet during the interim as necessary to hear the reports from the State Treasurer. The State Treasurer's report and presentation to the Finance Committees shall include all of the following:
(1)	A full and complete statement of all moneys invested by virtue of the provisions of G.S. 147‑69.1 and G.S. 147‑69.2.
(2)	The nature and character of the investments.
(3)	The revenues derived from the investments.
(4)	The costs of administering, managing, and operating the investment programs, including the recapture of any investment commissions.
(5)	A summary of the investment policies for the revenues invested.
(6)	Any other information that may be helpful in understanding the State Treasurer's investment policies and investment results.
(7)	Any other information requested by the Finance Committees."
SECTION 6.  G.S. 147‑69.3(j) reads as rewritten:
"(j)	Subject to the provisions of G.S. 147‑69.1(d), the State Treasurer may adopt any rules necessary to establish, operate, conduct, and carry out all activities related to the investment programs established pursuant to this section."
SECTION 7.(a)  G.S. 128‑29.1 is repealed.
SECTION 7.(b)  G.S. 147‑69.2(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	It shall be the duty of the State Treasurer to invest the cash of the funds enumerated in subsection (a) of this section in excess of the amount required to meet the current needs and demands on such funds. The State Treasurer may invest the funds as provided in this subsection. If an investment was authorized by this subsection at the time the investment was made or contractually committed to be made, then that investment shall continue to be authorized by this subsection, and none of the percentage or other limitation on investments set forth in this subsection shall be construed to require the State Treasurer to subsequently dispose of the investment or fail to honor any contractual commitments as a result of changes in market values, ratings, or other investment qualifications. For purposes of computing market values on which percentage limitations on investments in this subsection are based, all investments shall be valued as of the last date of the most recent fiscal quarter.
(1)	Investments authorized by G.S. 147‑69.1(c)(1)‑(7).
(2)	General obligations of other states of the United States.
(3)	General obligations of cities, counties and special districts in North Carolina.
(4)	Obligations of any company, other organization or legal entity incorporated or otherwise created or located within or outside the United States, including obligations that are convertible into equity securities, if the obligations bear one of the four highest ratings of at least one nationally recognized rating service when acquired.
(5)	Repealed by Session Laws 2001‑444, s. 2, effective October 1, 2001.
(6)	Asset‑backed securities (whether considered debt or equity) provided they bear ratings by nationally recognized rating services as provided in G.S. 147‑69.2(b)(4).
(6a)	In addition to the limitations and requirements with respect to the investments of the Retirement Systems set forth in this subsection, the State Treasurer shall select investments of the assets of the Retirement Systems such that investments made pursuant to subdivisions (b)(1) through (6) of this section shall at all times equal or exceed twenty percent (20%) of the market value of all invested assets of the Retirement Systems.
(6b)	Investments pursuant to subdivisions (b)(1) through (6) of this section may be made directly by the State Treasurer, through investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, individual, common, or collective trust funds of banks and trust companies, group trusts and limited partnerships, limited liability companies or other limited liability investment vehicles that invest primarily in investments authorized by subdivisions (1) through (6) of this subsection, or through contractual arrangements in which the investment manager has full and complete discretion and authority to invest assets specified in such arrangements in investments authorized by subdivisions (b)(1) through (6) of this section, provided for each indirect investment, the investment manager has assets under management of at least one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000).
…."
SECTION 8.  Section 1 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2014, and applies as provided in Section 1(b) of this act. Section 3 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2014, and the reporting requirements required by that section apply to the reports for the 2013‑2014 fiscal year. Section 5 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2014, for the Retirement Systems enumerated in G.S. 147‑69.2(b)(8) and becomes effective July 1, 2015, for the other investment programs created pursuant to G.S. 147‑69.3. The remainder of this act becomes effective July 1, 2014.