23-2309.01. Defined contribution benefit; employee account; investment options; procedures; administration.

(1) Each member employed and participating in the retirement system prior to January 1, 2003, who has elected not to participate in the cash balance benefit, shall be allowed to allocate all contributions to his or her employee account to various investment options.

(a) Prior to January 1, 2021, the investment options shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(i) An investor select account which shall be invested under the direction of the state investment officer with an asset allocation and investment strategy substantially similar to the investment allocations made by the state investment officer for the defined benefit plans under the retirement systems described in subdivision (1)(a) of section 84-1503. Investments shall most likely include domestic and international equities, fixed income investments, and real estate, as well as potentially additional asset classes;

(ii) A stable return account which shall be invested by or under the direction of the state investment officer in a stable value strategy that provides capital preservation and consistent, steady returns;

(iii) An equities account which shall be invested by or under the direction of the state investment officer in equities;

(iv) A balanced account which shall be invested by or under the direction of the state investment officer in equities and fixed income instruments;

(v) An index fund account which shall be invested by or under the direction of the state investment officer in a portfolio of common stocks designed to closely duplicate the total return of the Standard and Poor's division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 500 Index;

(vi) A fixed income account which shall be invested by or under the direction of the state investment officer in fixed income instruments;

(vii) A money market account which shall be invested by or under the direction of the state investment officer in short-term fixed income securities; and

(viii) Beginning July 1, 2006, an age-based account which shall be invested under the direction of the state investment officer with an asset allocation and investment strategy that changes based upon the age of the member. The board shall develop an account mechanism that changes the investments as the employee nears retirement age. The asset allocation and asset classes utilized in the investments shall move from aggressive, to moderate, and then to conservative as retirement age approaches.

If a member fails to select an option or combination of options prior to January 1, 2021, all of his or her funds shall be placed in the option described in subdivision (a)(ii) of this subsection. Each member shall be given a detailed current description of each investment option prior to making or revising his or her allocation.

(b) On or after January 1, 2021, the investment options shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(i) An investor select account which shall be invested under the direction of the state investment officer with an asset allocation and investment strategy substantially similar to the investment allocations made by the state investment officer for the defined benefit plans under the retirement systems described in subdivision (1)(a) of section 84-1503. Investments shall most likely include domestic and international equities, fixed income investments, and real estate, as well as potentially additional asset classes;

(ii) A stable return account which shall be invested by or under the direction of the state investment officer in a stable value strategy that provides capital preservation and consistent, steady returns;

(iii) An equities account which shall be invested by or under the direction of the state investment officer in equities;

(iv) A fixed income account which shall be invested by or under the direction of the state investment officer in fixed income instruments; and

(v) A life-cycle fund which shall be invested under the direction of the state investment officer with an asset allocation and investment strategy that adjusts from a position of higher risk to one of lower risk as the member ages.

If the member fails to select an option or combination of options pursuant to this subdivision (b), all of his or her funds shall be placed in the option described in subdivision (b)(v) of this subsection. Each member shall be given a detailed current description of each investment option prior to making or revising his or her allocation.

(2) Members of the retirement system may allocate their contributions to the investment options in percentage increments as set by the board in any proportion, including full allocation to any one option. A member under subdivision (1)(a) of section 23-2321 or his or her beneficiary may transfer any portion of his or her funds among the options, except for restrictions on transfers to or from the stable return account pursuant to rule or regulation. The board may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for changes of a member's allocation of contributions to his or her accounts after his or her most recent allocation and for transfers from one investment account to another.

(3) The board shall develop a schedule for the allocation of administrative costs of maintaining the various investment options and shall assess the costs so that each member pays a reasonable fee as determined by the board.

(4) In order to carry out this section, the board may enter into administrative services agreements for accounting or record-keeping services. No agreement shall be entered into unless the board determines that it will result in administrative economy and will be in the best interests of the county and its participating employees.

(5) The state, the board, the state investment officer, the members of the Nebraska Investment Council, or the county shall not be liable for any investment results resulting from the member's exercise of control over the assets in the employee account.

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