Participants in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program shall be allowed to allocate their own contributions and the contributions of their employer into investment alternatives as determined by the Defined Contribution Retirement Program Board, including, but not limited, to mutual funds, subject to such rules and regulations as the Division of Pensions and Benefits may adopt, in accordance with all Internal Revenue Code rules and regulations. All moneys which are deferred and deducted in accordance with the provisions of sections 1 through 19 of P.L. 2007, c. 92(C.43:15C-1 through C.43:15C-15, C.43:3C-9, C.43:15A-7, C.43:15A-75 and C.43:15A-135) and the program shall remain assets of the State and shall be invested in accordance with the provisions of this act and the program. The obligation of the State to participating employees and contractors shall be contractual only and no preferred or special interest in the deferred moneys shall accrue to such employees or contractors, except that all assets and income of the program shall be held in trust for the exclusive benefit of participating employees and their beneficiaries.
N.J.S. § 43:15C-5