(820 ILCS 80/45)

Sec. 45. Investment options.

(a) The Board shall establish as an investment option a life-cycle fund with a target date based upon the age of the enrollee. This shall be the default investment option for enrollees who fail to elect an investment option unless and until the Board designates by rule a new investment option as the default as described in subsection (c) of this Section.

(b) The Board may also establish any or all of the following additional investment options:

(1) a conservative fund;

(2) a growth fund;

(3) a secure return fund whose primary objective is the preservation of the safety of principal and the provision of a stable and low-risk rate of return; if the Board elects to establish a secure return fund, the Board may procure any insurance, annuity, or other product to insure the value of individuals' accounts and guarantee a rate of return; the cost of such funding mechanism shall be paid out of the Fund; under no circumstances shall the Board, Program, Fund, the State, or any participating employer assume any liability for investment or actuarial risk;

(4) an annuity fund.

The Board shall determine whether to establish any of the additional investment options based upon an analysis of its cost, risk profile, benefit level, feasibility, and ease of implementation.

(c) If the Board elects to establish a secure return fund, the Board shall then determine whether such option shall replace the life-cycle fund as the default investment option for enrollees who do not elect an investment option. In making such determination, the Board shall consider the cost, risk profile, benefit level, and ease of enrollment in the secure return fund. The Board may at any time thereafter revisit this question and, based upon an analysis of these criteria, establish either the secure return fund or the life-cycle fund as the default for enrollees who do not elect an investment option.

(Source: P.A. 101-353, eff. 8-9-19.)