(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board shall give first priority to investing not less than 25 percent of all funds of the plan that become available in a fiscal year for new investments, in any of the following:

(1) Obligations secured by a lien or charge solely on residential realty, including rental housing, located in the state and on the security of which, commercial banks are permitted to make loans pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 1220) of Chapter 10 of Division 1 of the Financial Code.

(2) Securities representing a beneficial interest in a pool of obligations secured by a lien or charge solely on residential realty located in the state.

(3) Certificates of deposit issued by savings and loan associations, if the savings and loan associations agree to make loans, or to fund tax-exempt notes or bonds issued by housing authorities, cities, or counties, on residential realty located in the state, including rental housing, in an amount equal to the amount of the deposit.

(b) Funds subject to investment pursuant to this section include all moneys received as employer and member contributions, investment income, and the proceeds from all net gains and losses from securities, reduced by the amount of benefit payments and withdrawals occurring during the fiscal year. In computing the amount of investment pursuant to this section, a dollar-for-dollar credit shall be given for residential realty investments described in this section that are contractually agreed to be made by a financial institution from which the board, in consideration thereof, purchases other such investments. In computing the amount of investment pursuant to this section, the board may elect to include the dollar amount of commitments to purchase mortgages from public revenue bond programs in the year the commitment is given. However, that election may not exceed one-fifth of the total guideline amount.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the acquisition of any instrument or security at less than the market rate.

(d) If the board determines during any fiscal year that compliance with this section will result in lower overall earnings for the retirement fund than obtainable from alternative investment opportunities that would provide equal or superior security, including guarantee of yield, the board may substitute those higher yielding investments, to the extent actually available for acquisition, for the investments otherwise specified by this section. Additionally, if, and to the extent that, adherence to the diversification guideline specified in this section would conflict with its fiduciary obligations in violation of Section 9 of Article I of the California Constitution or Section 10 of Article I of the United States Constitution, or would conflict with the standard for prudent investment of the fund as set forth in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the board may substitute alternative investments.

(e) The board, upon determining the final amount of funds available for investment in substitute alternative investments and the estimated amount of funds invested pursuant to subdivision (a), shall submit that information to the Governor and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. Thereafter, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee shall transmit the report of the State Auditor to the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Committee on Rules for transmittal to the affected policy committees.

(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 654, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2007.)