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CHAPTER 12TECHNICAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE781—12.1(12) Definitions. The terms contained in Iowa Code section 12.62 are defined as follows:
"Assistance" is defined as the communication of technical information to those public entities requesting the information. The treasurer of state’s investment division will assist those public entities who request help by providing them with technical information regarding investment or deposits of public funds. Assistance will be provided to the requester in written form or by telephone. Assistance does not include the actual investment of a public entity’s funds by the treasurer of state’s investment division.
"Public entities" is defined as political subdivisions, the state board of regents, instrumentalities, and agencies of the state authorized to invest funds.
"Technical information" includes any information in the possession of the investment division of the treasurer of state’s office pertaining to: how a type of investment is normally structured and if a particular type of investment is permitted by the Iowa Code; how interest and yields are computed by the industry; how to make yield comparisons when different interest calculation methods are used for different securities; the market liquidity of particular classes of investment securities; general risk and return tradeoffs of particular security types; how investments rank in terms of safety, liquidity and return characteristics; procedures for depositing public funds in Iowa financial institutions; key provisions to include in investment policies and agreements to ensure the safety of public funds; and any other information in the possession of the treasurer of state’s investment division which pertains to investments or deposits of public funds. Technical information does not include legal advice or the making of investment decisions by the treasurer of state’s investment division for public entities, nor does it include information regarding requirements of the Iowa Code which do not pertain to the investment or deposit of public funds.
781—12.2(12) Availability of technical investment information. The treasurer of state will provide assistance and technical information to public entities in one or more of the following ways: 12.2(1) Written form. A public entity may request technical investment information and assistance by writing to: Treasurer of State, Attention: Investment Assistance, State Capitol, Des Moines, Iowa 50319. 12.2(2) By telephone. A public entity may request technical investment information and assistance by telephoning the state treasurer’s investment division at (515)281-5369 or (515)281-5084. The treasurer of state reserves the right to require a public entity to request technical investment information and assistance in written form. 12.2(3) Newsletter. The treasurer of state may provide technical investment information and assistance to public entities by producing a newsletter which contains answers to frequently asked questions or other information which the treasurer of state believes will be useful to them. Any newsletter will be mailed to those public entities which regularly receive the minimum interest rates on deposits notice from the treasurer of state’s office. The treasurer of state will also make any newsletter available to the various associations and leagues which provide services to public entities. 12.2(4) Workshops or seminars. The treasurer of state will provide investment personnel to speak at investment workshops or seminars for public treasurers when requested to do so. 12.2(5) Requests for legal advice or opinions. The treasurer of state will not provide legal advice to public entities. However, the treasurer of state may direct public entities to existing legal opinions or rulings which may be applicable to the question raised.These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code section 12.62.