November 2017 Committee on School Finance Permanent School Fund
November 2017 Committee on School Finance Permanent School Fund
THURSDAY
November 9, 2017
9 a.m.
COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL FINANCE/PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND - Room 1-104
Members: David Bradley, chair; Tom Maynard, vice chair; Lawrence A. Allen, Jr.;
Patricia Hardy; Ken Mercer. 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. Approval of Costs to Administer the 2017-2018 State-Developed Assessments to Private School Students
Texas Education Code, §39.033, allows a private school to voluntarily assess its students with the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) and the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) assessments. The State Board of Education (SBOE) must approve the per-student cost to private schools, which may not exceed the cost of administering the same assessment to a student enrolled in a public school district. This item requests approval of these costs for the 2017-2018 school year. Statutory authority for this action is the TEC, §39.033.
COMMITTEE - ACTION
SBOE - CONSENT
This item presents for first reading and filing authorization a proposed amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 109, Budgeting, Accounting, and Auditing, Subchapter D, Uniform Bank Bid or Request for Proposal and Depository Contract, §109.52, Uniform Depository Bank Contract and Surety Bond Forms. The proposed amendment would update the depository contract adopted in rule to reflect changes made by Senate Bill (SB) 754, 85th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2017. Statutory authority for this action is the Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(34); 45.205(b), as amended by SB 754, 85th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2017; 45.206; and 45.208.
COMMITTEE - ACTION
SBOE - ACTION
This item presents for first reading and filing authorization 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 proposed amendment would update the rule to reflect changes made by Senate Bill (SB) 1152, 85th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2017. Statutory authority for this action is the Texas Education Code (TEC), §§12.106; 25.087, as amended by SB 1152, 85th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2017; and 42.004.
COMMITTEE - ACTION
SBOE - ACTION
Texas Government Code, §2001.039, establishes a four-year rule review cycle for all state agency rules, including State Board of Education (SBOE) rules. This item presents the review of 19 TAC Chapter 105, Foundation School Program, Subchapter A, Definitions, and Subchapter B, Use of State Funds. The rules being reviewed provide for the use of Foundation School Program (FSP) funds. The statutory authority for the rule review is the Texas Government Code, §2001.039. The statutory authority for 19 TAC Chapter 105, Subchapter A, is the Texas Education Code (TEC), §42.004. The statutory authority for 19 TAC Chapter 105, Subchapter B, §105.11, is the TEC, §§42.151(h), 42.152(c), 42.153(b), 42.154(c), and 42.156(b). The statutory authority for 19 TAC Chapter 105, Subchapter B, §105.12, is the TEC, §42.004.
COMMITTEE - DISCUSSION
SBOE - NO ACTION
5. Review of Permanent School Fund Securities Transactions and the Investment Portfolio
Investment staff will report on the transactions executed during the months of August and September 2017 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 August and September 2017. 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. Statutory authority for this action is the Texas Constitution, Article VII, §5(f).
COMMITTEE - ACTION
SBOE - CONSENT
This item presents for first reading and filing authorization 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, §33.65, Bond Guarantee Program for School Districts, and §33.67, Bond Guarantee Program for Charter Schools. The proposed amendments would adjust the bond guarantee multiplier, specify the charter district bond guarantee capacity authorized by Senate Bill (SB) 1480, and address Charter District Bond Guarantee Reserve Fund management. Statutory authority for this action is the Texas Education Code (TEC), §§45.053; 45.0532 and 45.0571, as amended by SB 1480, 85th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2017; 45.063; and the Texas Constitution, Article VII, Education, §5(d).
COMMITTEE - ACTION
SBOE - CONSENT
9. Management of Charter District Bond Guarantee Reserve Fund
The committee will hear a discussion on the management of the charter district bond guarantee reserve fund and will provide direction. Statutory authority for this action is the Texas Constitution, Article VII, §5(f).
COMMITTEE - ACTION
SBOE - CONSENT
This item provides an opportunity for the committee to discuss 19 TAC Chapter 33, Statement of Investment Objectives, Policies, and Guidelines of the Texas Permanent School Fund, Subchapter A, State Board of Education Rules, §33.5, Code of Ethics. Statutory authority 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, §5(a)(2), (d), and (f).
COMMITTEE - DISCUSSION
SBOE - NO ACTION
11. Review of SB 253 and HB 89 of the 85th Legislative Session
This item provides an opportunity for the committee and board to discuss the review of SB 253 and HB 89 of the 85th legislative session related to state contracts with and investments in certain companies in specific countries. Statutory authority for this action is the Texas Education Code (TEC), §45.0532.
COMMITTEE - ACTION
SBOE - CONSENT
12. Presentation on the Commodities Asset Class for the Permanent School Fund
This item provides an opportunity for the committee to receive a presentation on the commodities asset class and the management of the asset class. Statutory authority for this action is the Texas Constitution, Article VII, §5(f).
COMMITTEE - ACTION
SBOE - CONSENT
13. Presentation on the Risk Parity Asset Class for the Permanent School Fund
This item provides an opportunity for the committee to receive presentations on the risk parity asset class and services provided to the Permanent School Fund. Statutory authority is the Texas Constitution, Article VII, §5(f).
COMMITTEE - DISCUSSION
SBOE - NO ACTION
14. Discussion on Permanent School Fund Benchmarks
This item provides an opportunity for the committee to discuss the Permanent School Fund Benchmarks. Statutory authority is the Texas Constitution, Article VII, §5(f).
COMMITTEE - DISCUSSION
SBOE - NO ACTION
15. 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