A new state law requires the Minnesota State Board of Investment to divest its holdings in companies that do business in Iran.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed the law on Saturday.

It requires the investment board to scrutinize its holdings for companies actively doing business in Iran and notify the businesses they are subject to divestment.

After a 90-day period, the law requires the board to start getting rid of its stock in those companies.

The law does not apply to humanitarian groups or companies authorized to do business in Iran by the federal government.

http://www.topix.net/forum/source/twincities-pioneer-press/TF0D1U8O2P90PIOQ1#c1

Diversture is a "slippery slope". More than a decade ago then MN attorney general "Skip Humphrey" persuaded the local cities and divest stocks related to tobacco. Those who agreed to this had extremely poor rate of returns and are now getting or asking for billion dollar bailouts from the taxpayers of Minnesota. PERA resisted and had far better investment returns.