Section 135.143. Investment authority for state interim funds

(A) The treasurer of state may invest or execute transactions for any part or all of the interim funds of the state in the following classifications of obligations:

(1) United States treasury bills, notes, bonds, or any other obligations or securities issued by the United States treasury or any other obligation guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States;

(2) Bonds, notes, debentures, or any other obligations or securities issued by any federal government agency or instrumentality;

(3)

(a) Bonds, notes, and other obligations of the state of Ohio, including, but not limited to, any obligations issued by the treasurer of state , the Ohio public facilities commission, the Ohio building authority, the Ohio housing finance agency, the Ohio water development authority, and the Ohio turnpike infrastructure commission;

(b) Bonds, notes, and other obligations of any state or political subdivision thereof rated in the three highest categories by at least one nationally recognized standard rating service and purchased through a registered securities broker or dealer, provided the treasurer of state is not the sole purchaser of the bonds, notes, or other obligations at original issuance.

(4)

(a) Written repurchase agreements with any eligible Ohio financial institution that is a member of the federal reserve system or federal home loan bank, or any registered United States government securities dealer, under the terms of which agreement the treasurer of state purchases and the eligible financial institution or dealer agrees unconditionally to repurchase any of the securities that are listed in division (A)(1), (2), or (6) of this section . The market value of securities subject to these transactions must exceed the principal value of the repurchase agreement by an amount specified by the treasurer of state, and the securities must be delivered into the custody of the treasurer of state or the qualified trustee or agent designated by the treasurer of state. The agreement shall contain the requirement that for each transaction pursuant to the agreement, the participating institution or dealer shall provide all of the following information:

(i) The par value of the securities;

(ii) The type, rate, and maturity date of the securities;

(iii) A numerical identifier generally accepted in the securities industry that designates the securities.

(b) The treasurer of state also may sell any securities, listed in division (A)(1), (2), or (6) of this section, regardless of maturity or time of redemption of the securities, under the same terms and conditions for repurchase, provided that the securities have been fully paid for and are owned by the treasurer of state at the time of the sale.

(5) Securities lending agreements with any eligible financial institution that is a member of the federal reserve system or federal home loan bank or any recognized United States government securities dealer, under the terms of which agreements the treasurer of state lends securities and the eligible financial institution or dealer agrees to simultaneously exchange similar securities or cash, equal value for equal value.

Securities and cash received as collateral for a securities lending agreement are not interim funds of the state. The investment of cash collateral received pursuant to a securities lending agreement may be invested only in such instruments specified by the treasurer of state in accordance with a written investment policy.

(6) Various forms of commercial paper issued by any entity that is organized under the laws of the United States or a state, which notes are rated in the two highest categories by two nationally recognized standard rating services, provided that the total amount invested under this section in any commercial paper at any time shall not exceed forty per cent of the state's total average portfolio, as determined and calculated by the treasurer of state;

(7) Bankers acceptances, maturing in two hundred seventy days or less, provided that the total amount invested in bankers acceptances at any time shall not exceed ten per cent of the state's total average portfolio, as determined and calculated by the treasurer of state;

(8) Certificates of deposit in eligible institutions applying for interim moneys as provided in section 135.08 of the Revised Code, including linked deposits as provided in sections 135.61 to 135.67 of the Revised Code, agricultural linked deposits as provided in sections 135.71 to 135.76 of the Revised Code, and housing linked deposits as provided in sections 135.81 to 135.87 of the Revised Code;

(9) The state treasurer's investment pool authorized under section 135.45 of the Revised Code;

(10) Debt interests, other than commercial paper described in division (A)(6) of this section, rated in the three highest categories by two nationally recognized standard rating services and issued by entities that are organized under the laws of the United States or a state, or issued by foreign nations diplomatically recognized by the United States government, or any instrument based on, derived from, or related to such interests, provided that:

(a) The investments in debt interests other than commercial paper shall not exceed in the aggregate twenty-five per cent of the state's portfolio .

(b) The investments in debt interests issued by foreign nations shall not exceed in the aggregate one per cent of the state's portfolio .

The treasurer of state shall invest under division (A)(10) of this section in a debt interest issued by a foreign nation only if the debt interest is backed by the full faith and credit of that foreign nation, and provided that all interest and principal shall be denominated and payable in United States funds.

(c) When added to the investment in commercial paper, the investments in the debt interests of a single issuer shall not exceed in the aggregate five per cent of the state's portfolio.

(d) For purposes of division (A)(10) of this section, a debt interest is rated in the three highest categories by two nationally recognized standard rating services if either the debt interest itself or the issuer of the debt interest is rated, or is implicitly rated, in the three highest categories by two nationally recognized standard rating services.

(e) For purposes of division (A)(10) of this section, the "state's portfolio" means the state's total average portfolio, as determined and calculated by the treasurer of state.

(11) No-load money market mutual funds rated in the highest category by one nationally recognized standard rating service or consisting exclusively of obligations described in division (A)(1), (2), or (6) of this section and repurchase agreements secured by such obligations.

(12) Obligations of a political subdivision issued under Chapter 133. of the Revised Code and identified in an agreement described in division (G) of this section.

(B) Whenever, during a period of designation, the treasurer of state classifies public moneys as interim moneys, the treasurer of state shall notify the state board of deposit of such action. The notification shall be given within thirty days after such classification and, in the event the state board of deposit does not concur in such classification or in the investments or deposits made under this section, the board may order the treasurer of state to sell or liquidate any of the investments or deposits, and any such order shall specifically describe the investments or deposits and fix the date upon which they are to be sold or liquidated. Investments or deposits so ordered to be sold or liquidated shall be sold or liquidated for cash by the treasurer of state on the date fixed in such order at the then current market price. Neither the treasurer of state nor the members of the state board of deposit shall be held accountable for any loss occasioned by sales or liquidations of investments or deposits at prices lower than their cost. Any loss or expense incurred in making these sales or liquidations is payable as other expenses of the treasurer's office.

(C) If any securities or obligations invested in by the treasurer of state pursuant to this section are registrable either as to principal or interest, or both, such securities or obligations shall be registered in the name of the treasurer of state.

(D) The treasurer of state is responsible for the safekeeping of all securities or obligations under this section. Any such securities or obligations may be deposited for safekeeping as provided in section 113.05 of the Revised Code.

(E) Interest earned on any investments or deposits authorized by this section shall be collected by the treasurer of state and credited by the treasurer of state to the proper fund of the state.

(F) Whenever investments or deposits acquired under this section mature and become due and payable, the treasurer of state shall present them for payment according to their tenor, and shall collect the moneys payable thereon. The moneys so collected shall be treated as public moneys subject to sections 135.01 to 135.21 of the Revised Code.

(G) The treasurer of state and any political subdivision issuing obligations referred to in division (A)(12) of this section, which obligations mature within one year from the original date of issuance, may enter into an agreement providing for:

(1) The purchase of those obligations by the treasurer of state on terms and subject to conditions set forth in the agreement;

(2) The payment by the political subdivision to the treasurer of state of a reasonable fee as consideration for the agreement of the treasurer of state to purchase those obligations; provided, however, that the treasurer of state shall not be authorized to enter into any such agreement with a board of education of a school district that has an outstanding obligation with respect to a loan received under authority of section 3313.483 of the Revised Code.

(H) For purposes of division (G) of this section, a fee shall not be considered reasonable unless it is set to recover only the direct costs, a reasonable estimate of the indirect costs associated with the purchasing of obligations of a political subdivision under division (G) of this section and any reselling of the obligations or any interest in the obligations, including interests in a fund comprised of the obligations, and the administration thereof. No money from the general revenue fund shall be used to subsidize the purchase or resale of these obligations.

(I) All money collected by the treasurer of state from the fee imposed by division (G) of this section shall be deposited to the credit of the state political subdivision obligations fund, which is hereby created in the state treasury. Money credited to the fund shall be used solely to pay the treasurer of state's direct and indirect costs associated with purchasing and reselling obligations of a political subdivision under division (G) of this section.

(J) As used in this section, "political subdivision" means a county, township, municipal corporation, or school district.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 287, §1, eff. 9/4/2014.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.64, HB 225, §1, eff. 3/22/2012.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.47, SB 181, §1, eff. 9/13/2010.

Effective Date: 06-15-2004