The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution last week encouraging state retirement systems, including the $9 billion Oklahoma Teachers’ Retirement System and the $6.5 billion Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, both in Oklahoma City, to divest from companies with ties to Iran, Sudan, Syria and North Korea. The two funds had a total of $71 million in investments in those countries as of 2004, the most recent data available, according to the resolution.
Tom Beavers, executive secretary for the teachers’ fund, said it will likely begin an interim study on the issue this fall. Tom Spencer, executive director for the public employees fund, was not available for comment at press time.
(updated with correction)
