Pa. Cons. Stat. » 24 Pa. Cons. Stat. (EDUCATION) / Chapter 85
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

24 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8521 (2026)

 Management of fund and accounts.

✓ current as of May 2026
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SUBCHAPTER B

RETIREMENT FUND AND ACCOUNTS

 

Sec.

8521.  Management of fund and accounts.

8522.  Public School Employees' Retirement Fund.

8523.  Members' savings account.

8524.  State accumulation account.

8525.  Annuity reserve account.

8526.  Health insurance account.

8527.  Northern Ireland-related investments.

§ 8521.  Management of fund and accounts.

(a)  Control and management of fund.--The members of the board shall be the trustees of the fund. Regardless of any other provision of law governing the investments of funds under the control of an administrative board of the State government, the trustees shall have exclusive control and management of the said fund and full power to invest the same, in accordance with the provisions of this section, subject, however, to the exercise of that degree of judgment, skill and care under the circumstances then prevailing which persons of prudence, discretion and intelligence who are familiar with such matters exercise in the management of their own affairs not in regard to speculation, but in regard to the permanent disposition of the fund, considering the probable income to be derived therefrom as well as the probable safety of their capital. The trustees shall have the power to hold, purchase, sell, lend, assign, transfer, or dispose of any of the securities and investments in which any of the moneys in the fund shall have been invested as well as of the proceeds of said investments, including any directed commissions which have accrued to the benefit of the fund as a consequence of the investments, and of any moneys belonging to said fund, subject in every case to meeting the standard of prudence set forth in this subsection.

(b)  Crediting of interest.--The board annually shall allow statutory interest, excluding the individual investment accounts, to the credit of the members' savings account on the mean amount of the accumulated deductions of all members for whom interest is payable for the preceding year and valuation interest on the mean amount of the annuity reserve account for the preceding year to the credit of that account. The board annually shall allow valuation interest calculated on the mean amount for the preceding year of the balance in the State accumulation account excluding any earnings of the fund credited to the account during that year. In the event the total earnings for the year do not exceed 5 1/2% of the mean amount for the preceding year of the total assets of the fund less earnings credited to the fund during that year plus the administrative expenses of the board, the difference required to be appropriated from the General Fund shall be credited to the State accumulation account.

(c)  Custodian of fund.--The State Treasurer shall be the custodian of the fund.

(d)  Payments from fund.--All payments from the fund shall be made by the State Treasurer in accordance with requisitions signed by the secretary of the board, or his designee, and ratified by resolution of the board.

(e)  Fiduciary status of board.--The members of the board, employees of the board, and agents thereof shall stand in a fiduciary relationship to the members of the system regarding the investments and disbursements of any of the moneys of the fund and shall not profit either directly or indirectly with respect thereto. The board may, when possible and consistent with its fiduciary duties imposed by this subsection or other law, including its obligation to invest and manage the fund for the exclusive benefit of the members of the system, consider whether an investment in any project or business enhances and promotes the general welfare of this Commonwealth and its citizens, including, but not limited to, investments that increase and enhance the employment of Commonwealth residents, encourage the construction and retention of adequate housing and stimulate further investment and economic activity in this Commonwealth. The board shall, through the Governor, submit to the General Assembly annually, at the same time the board submits its budget covering administrative expenses, a report identifying the nature and amount of all existing investments made pursuant to this subsection.

(f)  Name for transacting business.--By the name of "The Public School Employees' Retirement System" or "The Public School Employes' Retirement System" all of the business of the system shall be transacted, its fund invested, all requisitions for money drawn and payments made, and all of its cash and securities and other property shall be held, except that, any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, the board may establish a nominee registration procedure for the purpose of registering securities in order to facilitate the purchase, sale, or other disposition of securities pursuant to the provisions of this part.

(g)  Deposits in banks and trust companies.--For the purpose of meeting disbursements for annuities and other payments in excess of the receipts, there shall be kept available by the State Treasurer an amount, not exceeding 10% of the total amount in the fund, on deposit in any bank, savings bank or savings and loan association in this Commonwealth organized under the laws thereof or under the laws of the United States or with any trust company or companies incorporated by any law of this Commonwealth, provided any of such banks, trust companies, savings banks or savings and loan associations shall furnish adequate security for said deposit. The sum deposited in any one bank or trust company shall not exceed 25% of the paid-up capital and surplus of said bank or trust company or, in the case of savings banks or savings and loan associations, shall not exceed 25% of the unappropriated surplus.

(h)  Venture capital, private placement and alternative investments.--The board in its prudent discretion may make any venture capital investment, private placement investment or other alternative investment of any kind, structure or manner which meets the standard of prudence set forth in subsection (a).

(i)  Vehicles for authorized investments.--The board in its prudent discretion may make any investments which meet the standard of prudence set forth in subsection (a) by acquiring any type of interest in a business organization existing under the laws of any jurisdiction, provided that, in any such case, the liability of the Public School Employees' Retirement Fund shall be limited to the amount of its investment.

(j)  Legislative declaration concerning certain authorized investments.--The General Assembly finds and declares that authorized investments of the fund made by or on behalf of the board under this section whereby the board becomes a joint owner or stockholder in any company, corporation, association or other lawful business organization are outside the scope of the original intent of and therefore do not violate the prohibition set forth in section 8 of Article VIII of the Constitution of Pennsylvania.

(June 25, 1982, P.L.647, No.183, eff. 60 days; June 29, 1984, P.L.450, No.95, eff. imd.; Aug. 5, 1991, P.L.183, No.23, eff. imd.; Apr. 29, 1994, P.L.159, No.29, eff. imd.; Dec. 20, 1995, P.L.689, No.77, eff. imd.; May 17, 2001, P.L.26, No.9, eff. imd.; June 12, 2017, P.L.11, No.5, eff. imd.)

 

2017 Amendment.  Act 5 amended subsec. (b).

2001 Amendment.  Act 9 amended subsecs. (h), (i) and (j). See section 24 of Act 9 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to authorized investments.

1994 Amendment.  See section 14 of Act 29 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to authorized investments of the Public School Employees' Retirement Board as described in subsec. (i).

Cross References.  Section 8521 is referred to in section 8102 of this title.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1976–2022 · leading case: Pa Sch. Boards Ass'n, Inc. v. Com., Pub. Sch. Employees'Ret. Bd., 863 A.2d 432 (Pa. 2004).
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Pa Sch. Boards Ass'n, Inc. v. Com., Pub. Sch. Employees'Ret. Bd., 863 A.2d 432 (Pa. 2004). “See 24 Pa.C.S. § 8521(e) (“The members of the board, employees of the board, and agents thereof shall stand in a fiduciary relationship to the members of the system regarding the investments and disbursements of any of the moneys of the fund____”).”
Blake v. Kline, 612 F.2d 718 (3rd Cir. 1979). · cites it 2× “§ 8501(a) provides for an independent administrative board of eleven members including the Secretary of Education, State Treasurer, appointees of the Governor, and others.”
Dep't of the Auditor Gen. v. State Employees' Ret. Sys., 860 A.2d 206 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2004). “§ 5931(a) and 24 Pa. C.S. § 8521(a), as amended by the Act of April 29,1994, P.”
Hixon v. Durbin, 560 F. Supp. 654 (E.D. Pa. 1983). “The members of the Board are subject to 24 Pa.C.S. § 8521(e), which provides: “The members of the board, employees of the board, and agents thereof shall stand in a fiduciary relationship to the members of the system regarding the investments and disbursements of any of the…”
United Brokers Mortg. Co. v. Fid. Philadelphia Trust Co., 363 A.2d 817 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1976). “24 Pa. C.S. §8521 (b) provides for operating appropriations from the General Fund.”
Baillie v. Pub. Sch. Employees' Ret. Bd., 993 A.2d 944 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2010). “Otherwise, it cannot discharge its responsibility to administer the retirement system.”
Blake ex rel. Blake v. Kline, 462 F. Supp. 825 (E.D. Pa. 1978). · cites it 4× “Both boards hold their respective funds as trustees, with power to invest, and with “exclusive control and management” of the funds: 24 Pa.C.S. § 8521(a); 71 Pa.C.S. § 5931(a).”
Pennsylvania Sch. Boards Ass'n v. Pub. Sch. Employees' Ret. Sys., 751 A.2d 1237 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2000). · cites it 2× “” 24 Pa.C.S. § 8521(e). The Board asserts that PSBA is not a “member of the system,” 5 as contemplated by the statute, and is, therefore, not owed a fiduciary duty by the Board.”
C.E. Robertson v. PSERS & Greater Johnstown Career & Tech. Ctr., 162 A.3d 569 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2017). · cites it 2× “” 24 Pa.C.S. § 8521(e). PSERS is responsible for the “uniform administration” of the public school employees' retirement system.”
S. Ramos v. Allentown Educ. Ass'n (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2016). · cites it 4× “) Petitioners assert that, pursuant to 24 Pa. C.S. §8521, PSERS “owes a fiduciary duty to the members of the system and is obligated 17 to ‘invest and manage the fund for the exclusive benefit of the members of the system.”
L. Volpe v. PSERB (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2017). “If PSERS allowed an annuitant “to receive an annuity after returning to school service under circumstances that d[id] not constitute 14 an ‘emergency,’” then PSERS would breach its fiduciary duty.”
Catasauqua Area Sch. Dist. v. PA Dept. of Ed. (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2019). “24 Pa. C.S. § 8521 (stating that “the [PSERS] trustees shall have exclusive control and management of the [Retirement F]und” and that “[a]ll payments from the [Retirement F]und shall be made by the State Treasurer in accordance with requisitions signed by the secretary of the…”
Show all 14 citing cases →
— 24 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8521(a) — 3 cases
Dep't of the Auditor Gen. v. State Employees' Ret. Sys., 860 A.2d 206 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2004). “§ 5931(a) and 24 Pa. C.S. § 8521(a), as amended by the Act of April 29,1994, P.”
Blake ex rel. Blake v. Kline, 462 F. Supp. 825 (E.D. Pa. 1978). “Both boards hold their respective funds as trustees, with power to invest, and with “exclusive control and management” of the funds: 24 Pa.C.S. § 8521(a); 71 Pa.C.S. § 5931(a).”
The Hon. K.J. Muth v. PSERB (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2022).
— 24 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8521(b) — 1 case
Blake v. Kline, 612 F.2d 718 (3rd Cir. 1979). “§ 8501(a) provides for an independent administrative board of eleven members including the Secretary of Education, State Treasurer, appointees of the Governor, and others.”
— 24 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8521(c) — 2 cases
Blake v. Kline, 612 F.2d 718 (3rd Cir. 1979). “§ 8501(a) provides for an independent administrative board of eleven members including the Secretary of Education, State Treasurer, appointees of the Governor, and others.”
Blake ex rel. Blake v. Kline, 462 F. Supp. 825 (E.D. Pa. 1978). “Both boards hold their respective funds as trustees, with power to invest, and with “exclusive control and management” of the funds: 24 Pa.C.S. § 8521(a); 71 Pa.C.S. § 5931(a).”
— 24 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8521(d) — 1 case
Blake ex rel. Blake v. Kline, 462 F. Supp. 825 (E.D. Pa. 1978). “Both boards hold their respective funds as trustees, with power to invest, and with “exclusive control and management” of the funds: 24 Pa.C.S. § 8521(a); 71 Pa.C.S. § 5931(a).”
— 24 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8521(e) — 8 cases
Pa Sch. Boards Ass'n, Inc. v. Com., Pub. Sch. Employees'Ret. Bd., 863 A.2d 432 (Pa. 2004). “See 24 Pa.C.S. § 8521(e) (“The members of the board, employees of the board, and agents thereof shall stand in a fiduciary relationship to the members of the system regarding the investments and disbursements of any of the moneys of the fund____”).”
Hixon v. Durbin, 560 F. Supp. 654 (E.D. Pa. 1983). “The members of the Board are subject to 24 Pa.C.S. § 8521(e), which provides: “The members of the board, employees of the board, and agents thereof shall stand in a fiduciary relationship to the members of the system regarding the investments and disbursements of any of the…”
Baillie v. Pub. Sch. Employees' Ret. Bd., 993 A.2d 944 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2010). “Otherwise, it cannot discharge its responsibility to administer the retirement system.”
Pennsylvania Sch. Boards Ass'n v. Pub. Sch. Employees' Ret. Sys., 751 A.2d 1237 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2000). “” 24 Pa.C.S. § 8521(e). The Board asserts that PSBA is not a “member of the system,” 5 as contemplated by the statute, and is, therefore, not owed a fiduciary duty by the Board.”
C.E. Robertson v. PSERS & Greater Johnstown Career & Tech. Ctr., 162 A.3d 569 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2017). “” 24 Pa.C.S. § 8521(e). PSERS is responsible for the “uniform administration” of the public school employees' retirement system.”
— 24 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8521(f) — 2 cases
Blake ex rel. Blake v. Kline, 462 F. Supp. 825 (E.D. Pa. 1978). “Both boards hold their respective funds as trustees, with power to invest, and with “exclusive control and management” of the funds: 24 Pa.C.S. § 8521(a); 71 Pa.C.S. § 5931(a).”
S. Ramos v. Allentown Educ. Ass'n (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2016). “) Petitioners assert that, pursuant to 24 Pa. C.S. §8521, PSERS “owes a fiduciary duty to the members of the system and is obligated 17 to ‘invest and manage the fund for the exclusive benefit of the members of the system.”
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