Earlier this month, the Florida legislature passed House Bill 85, which establishes statewide authorization and procedures for public-private partnerships.  The law, which will be encoded as Section 287.05712, Florida Statutes, authorizes counties, municipalities, school boards, and other political subdivisions and entities to form public-private partnerships with the private sector to develop, operate, or maintain any facility or project that serves a public purpose.  Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, wastewater management facilities, transportation facilities, and educational facilities. 
Guidelines not Prerequisite for Entering into P3
The new law establishes a Public-Private Partnerships Guidelines Task Force, which is a 7-member group that will recommend guidelines, to be considered by the Legislature, for the review and selection process for P3s.  The Task Force will submit its recommendations by July 1, 2014, and will terminate at the end of 2014.  The new law makes clear that a government agency may adopt its own guidelines and the establishment of guidelines through the task force’s recommendation is not a prerequisite for entering into a P3.