(a)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any public pension fund or retirement system of this state or local agency of this state may contract with a savings and loan association doing business in this state under terms by which the association shall receive deposits of money from the fund or system for a term of 12 months or longer upon the association’s agreement to offer loans for the construction of new residential structures and related improvements, including apartment buildings or other multiple-unit structures, in an amount equal to the amount of the deposit, at a rate of interest equal to the rate of interest on the deposit plus 200 basis points. The savings and loan association may require additionally an origination fee not exceeding the amount required by the savings and loan association for comparable loans not subject to this section, but in no case exceeding 5 percent of the loan amount. This fee shall not be deemed to include any expenses of the association directly related to approving, processing, or recording loans made pursuant to this section. Reasonable charges to cover those expenses may be imposed in connection with the loans.
(b)
Nothing in this section shall authorize a pension fund or retirement system to make deposits at less than the otherwise applicable rate of interest nor prohibit the fund or system from depositing funds with other financial institutions or under other conditions.