July 2016 Committee on School Finance Permanent School Fund
THURSDAY
July 21, 2016
9 a.m.
COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL FINANCE/PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND - Room 1-104
Members: Patricia Hardy, Chair; Lawrence A. Allen, Jr., Vice Chair; David Bradley; Ken Mercer; Thomas Ratliff. A quorum of the State Board of Education may attend the committee meeting and discuss items on the committee agenda. A quorum of the Committee of Investment Advisors to the Permanent School Fund may attend the committee meeting and discuss items on the committee agenda.
Public Testimony - Individual testimony will be taken at the time the related item comes up for committee discussion or action. The procedures for registering and taking public testimony at State Board of Education committee meetings and general board meetings are provided online.
1. Per Capita Apportionment Rate for the 2015-2016 School Year
The board is responsible for setting a per capita apportionment rate for each school year based on an estimate of the amount available for expenditures from the Available School Fund. The board adopted a preliminary 2015-2016 per capita apportionment rate of $176.437 in September 2015. Agency staff members will propose a recommended revised rate for the 2015-2016 school year at the July meeting of the Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund. Statutory authority for this action is the Texas Education Code (TEC), §42.004 and §43.001(b).
COMMITTEE - ACTION
SBOE - CONSENT
2. Proposed Amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 129, Student Attendance, Subchapter B, Student Attendance Accounting, §129.21, Requirements for Student Attendance Accounting for State Funding Purposes
(Second Reading and Final Adoption)
This item presents for second reading and final adoption a proposed amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 129, Student Attendance, Subchapter B, Student Attendance Accounting, §129.21, Requirements for Student Attendance Accounting for State Funding Purposes. The amendment would modify the requirements for taking attendance for board-approved off-campus activities to allow paraprofessionals to take attendance. No changes are recommended since approved for first reading. Statutory authority for this action is the Texas Education Code (TEC), §42.004 and §12.106.
COMMITTEE - ACTION
SBOE - ACTION
3. Review of Permanent School Fund Securities Transactions and the Investment Portfolio
Investment staff will report on the transactions executed during the months of March, April and May 2016 in the investment portfolio of the Texas Permanent School Fund.
COMMITTEE - DISCUSSION
SBOE - NO ACTION
This item provides an opportunity for the committee and board to consider approval of the purchases and sales of investments executed in the portfolio of the Permanent School Fund for the months of March, April and May 2016. Statutory authority for this action is the Texas Constitution, Article VII, §5(f).
COMMITTEE - ACTION
SBOE - CONSENT
5. First Quarter 2016 Permanent School Fund Performance Report
The performance measurement consultant to the Permanent School Fund, BNY Mellon Asset Servicing, will report on the investment performance during the first calendar quarter 2016 and cumulative investment performance of the various portfolios of the Fund. This item will allow the committee to discuss in depth various issues related to portfolio management such as risk characteristics of portfolios and portfolio attributes.
COMMITTEE - DISCUSSION
SBOE - NO ACTION
6. Overview of the Permanent School Fund Real Estate Policy
This item provides an opportunity for the committee and board to review the real estate policy. The committee may take action based on this information. Statutory authority for this action is the Texas Constitution, Article VII, §5(f).
COMMITTEE - ACTION
SBOE - CONSENT
7. Decision on Real Estate Investments
This item provides an opportunity for the committee and board to review and consider possible real estate investments.
COMMITTEE - ACTION
SBOE - CONSENT
8. Decision on Absolute Return Investment Managers
This item provides an opportunity for the committee and board to consider contract extensions with Blackstone Alternative Asset Management, L.P. and Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P. Statutory authority for this action is the Texas Constitution, Article VII, §5(f).
COMMITTEE - ACTION
SBOE - CONSENT
9. Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 33, Statement of Investment Objectives, Policies, and Guidelines of the Texas Permanent School Fund, Subchapter A, State Board of Education Rules
(Second Reading and Final Adoption)
This item presents for second reading and final adoption proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 33, Statement of Investment Objectives, Policies, and Guidelines of the Texas Permanent School Fund, Subchapter A, State Board of Education Rules, to better reflect the Permanent School Fund (PSF) asset allocation and to consolidate some provisions to avoid repetition. Statutory authority for this action is the Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(31) and (33), 43.0031-43.0034, and 43.004; Texas Government Code, §2263.004; and the Texas Constitution, Article VII, Section 5(a)(2), (d), and (f).
COMMITTEE - ACTION
SBOE - ACTION
10. Report of the Permanent School Fund Executive Administrator and Chief Investment Officer
The Permanent School Fund executive administrator will report to the committee on matters relating to the management of the Permanent School Fund. The report will present information on historical and current status of Fund holdings, current and proposed investment policies and procedures, and historical and current Fund performance and compliance. The administrator will update the board on the bond guarantee program, the status of requests for proposal or for qualifications and current contracts for services and other administrative activities undertaken on behalf of the board. The administrator may provide an update on the PSF distribution or on the effect of legislation impacting the PSF. The administrator will provide an analysis of current and future investment market conditions, focusing upon the impact on the holdings of the Permanent School Fund.
COMMITTEE - DISCUSSION
SBOE - NO ACTION