§5554.4. DeSoto Parish; payment of group insurance premiums; retired sheriffs and deputy sheriffs; creation of fund

A. There is hereby created the DeSoto Parish Retired Employees Insurance Fund, hereinafter referred to as the "DREIF", to fund the payment by the sheriff's office of DeSoto Parish of the premium costs for eligible retired sheriffs and retired deputy sheriffs pursuant to R.S. 13:5554(G) and (X).

B. The following monies shall be deposited into the DREIF until the total amount of the monies including principal and earnings in the DREIF equals the sum of four million dollars:

(1) One percent of the monies received in the DeSoto Parish sheriff's general fund each year.

(2) Any other monies that the sheriff of DeSoto Parish may contribute to the DREIF.

(3)(a) Once the total amount of the monies including principal and earnings in the DREIF equals the sum of four million dollars, the deposited monies identified in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall be reduced to one-half of one percent.

(b) If the monies in the DREIF should fall below four million dollars, the deposited monies identified in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall revert to the original amount of one percent.

C. Upon recommendation of the board established in Subsection G of this Section, the sheriff of DeSoto Parish shall invest the monies in the DREIF as follows:

(1) Not less than twenty-five percent in equities.

(2) At least twenty-five percent in fixed income investments, provided that the average credit quality of the fixed income portion must be rated as investment grade.

D. The earnings realized on the monies invested pursuant to Subsection C of this Section shall be available for the sheriff to withdraw for the sole purpose of paying the insurance premium costs pursuant to R.S. 13:5554(G) and (X) for retired sheriffs and retired deputy sheriffs of DeSoto Parish or the legal representation costs for the DREIF Board, provided that no such earnings shall be withdrawn until the amount of principal and accumulated earnings in the DREIF is equal to the sum of four million dollars. In the event that the total amount of monies derived from deposits provided in Subsection B of this Section and investment earnings fall below the sum of four million dollars, no earnings shall be withdrawn, and any balance owed for the payment of insurance premium costs pursuant to R.S. 13:5554(G) and (X) or legal representation costs for the DREIF Board shall be paid in full from the sheriff's general fund.

E. The monies deposited pursuant to Subsection B of this Section and the accumulated earnings up to a total of four million dollars shall not be appropriated and shall be used only for making income-producing investments as provided in this Section.

F. Any financial audit conducted of the sheriff's office of DeSoto Parish shall specifically address compliance with the provisions of this Section.

G. To provide recommendations concerning the investment of funds as provided in Subsection C of this Section, the sheriff shall establish an investment advisory board consisting of three members as follows:

(1) The comptroller of the sheriff's department.

(2) Two retired sheriffs or retired deputy sheriffs of the department, appointed by the sheriff, who shall serve a term determined by the sheriff.

(3) The members of the board shall elect a chairperson at its first board meeting, which shall be held within thirty days after the appointment of board members.

Acts 2012, No. 252, §1.