Board of Contributors: Legislation Would Set Standard For State Partnerships

Attorneys Karen Walker and Richard Perez write that legislation providing clear statutory authority for public–private partnerships and uniform procurement procedures is necessary to attract private investment in Florida’s infrastructure.

Florida — like most states — is in need of billions of dollars of repairs to existing infrastructure and development of new infrastructure. This includes not only transportation facilities, but power generating facilities, water and wastewater facilities, medical facilities and schools. Legislation working its way through the Florida Legislature would help facilitate the use of public-private partnerships, or PPPs, by Florida local governments, universities, school boards and regional public entities to meet their infrastructure needs through private investment in projects serving a public purpose. The legislation, Senate Bill 84 and House Bill 85, would establish uniform standards for soliciting and procuring PPPs and would authorize local and regional governmental entities and universities to consider unsolicited proposals for PPP projects. The Senate bill passed out of the appropriations committee on April 23. The House Bill is on the special order calendar for consideration on April 24.