Bill Text - HB1421 (2024)

Relative to investment consulting services in the New Hampshire retirement system.


Revision: Dec. 6, 2023, 1:56 p.m.

HB 1421-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2024 SESSION

24-2412

10/02

 

HOUSE BILL 1421-FN

 

AN ACT relative to investment consulting services in the New Hampshire retirement system.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. S. Pearson, Rock. 13

 

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill requires the board of trustees of the retirement system to contract for 2 investment consulting firms and review their performance.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

24-2412

10/02

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four

 

AN ACT relative to investment consulting services in the New Hampshire retirement system.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Retirement System; Service Providers.  Amend RSA 100-A:15, II to read as follows:

II. The board of trustees shall:

(a) Have the authority to hire actuarial services. The compensation for actuarial services required by the board of trustees shall be a charge upon the funds of the New Hampshire retirement system.

(b) Have the full power and authority to delegate to any agent providing services to the New Hampshire retirement system, within or without the state, the power and discretion to make any necessary decisions and to take any action necessary to effect decisions with the same legal effect as if performed by the board of trustees. The payment for these services shall be a charge upon the funds of the New Hampshire retirement system.

(c) Have the authority to hire investment consultants. The compensation for investment consultant services shall be a charge upon the funds of the New Hampshire retirement system. Investment consultant services shall be implemented by contracting with 2 independent investment firms.  The board of trustees shall divide the responsibility for asset consulting approximately equally between the 2 firms.  The board shall undertake a performance evaluation at least every 4 years.  The firm that performs the best in such evaluation shall be retained and the other firm's services shall be terminated.  A replacement firm shall then be contracted by the board of trustees for a 4-year term.  The terms of contracts for the 2 firms shall be identical.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

LBA

24-2412

12/3/23

 

HB 1421-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to investment consulting services in the New Hampshire retirement system.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [ X ] County               [ X ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease)

 

FY 2024

FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue Fund(s)

None

Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Funding Source(s)

General Fund

Various Agency Funds

Appropriations

$0

$0

$0

$0

Funding Source(s)

None

Does this bill provide sufficient funding to cover estimated expenditures? [X] No

Does this bill authorize new positions to implement this bill? [X] N/A

 

Estimated Political Subdivision Impact - Increase / (Decrease)

 

FY 2024

FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

 Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

*The New Hampshire Retirement System states it is not able to separate the fiscal impact of this legislation between county and local government, therefore the fiscal impact is shown together as political subdivisions.

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires the board of trustees of the retirement system to contract for 2 investment consulting firms and review their performance and select the better performing firm.

 

The New Hampshire Retirement System states hiring an extra consultant would increase expenditures by an estimated $650,000 per fiscal year, with a negligible effect on the New Hampshire Retirement System unfunded actuarial accrued liability (UAAL) and funded ratio. However, adopting the advice of two consultants managing portfolio responsibilities might lead to smaller initial investment commitments per project.  This could potentially increase investment management fees and limit investment opportunities.  

 

It is assumed the fiscal impact would not occur until FY 2025.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

New Hampshire Retirement System