HB 95- Relating to Public-Private Partnerships
On Wednesday, November 4th, HB 95, relating to Public-Private Partnerships, by Rep. Greg Steube (R-Sarasota) unanimously passed through its third hearing in the House Appropriations Committee with 11 yeas and 0 nays.

The bill takes the recommendations from the Partnership for Public Facilities and Infrastructure Act Guidelines Task Force created by legislation in 2013, and incorporates many of the recommendations contained in the task force report into law. The bill aims to provide for more opportunities for the private sector to enter into contracts for construction services with state universities and local governments.

The bill expands the list of entities authorized to conduct Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) to include state universities, clarifies the P3 process, provides increased flexibility to the responsible public entity by permitting that entity to deviate from the provided procurement time frames, and authorizes the Department of Management Services to accept and maintain copies of agreements received from responsible public entities to share with municipalities/counties that may need assistance in the P3 process.

HB 95 will now head to the House State Affairs Committee for its last committee week hearing. AIF stood in support of this bill.

AIF strongly supports utilization of the private sector in helping to solve public construction needs. Government’s role is critical in securing and advancing our state’s infrastructure.

SB 402-Relating to Point-of-Sale Terminals
On Wednesday, November 4th, SB 402, relating to Point-of-Sale Terminals, by Senator Garrett Richter (R-Naples) was heard in the Senate Regulated Industries Committee and passed with 9 yeas and 2 nays.

This bill would allow limited use of “Point-of-sale Terminals” for the sale of lottery tickets or games. A “Point-of-sale Terminal” is a charge card reader, like those used at a retail counter, self-service fuel pump or self-service checkout line. The bill authorizes the Department of the Lottery, approved vendors, and approved retailers to use point-of-sale terminals to facilitate sales of lottery tickets or games, provided that the purchaser is verified to be 18 years of age or older and the terminal does not dispense lottery winnings.

A point-of-sale terminal does not reveal winning numbers and may not be used to redeem a winning ticket. Lottery ticket sales revenue generated from point-of-sale terminals must be used to enhance instructional technology resources for students and teachers in Florida.

The next stop for SB 402 will be in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government . AIF stood in support of this bill.

AIF supports innovative means to help fund Florida’s education system. In addition, enactment of this legislation would create more manufacturing jobs in the State.