Coalition announces public-private partnership legislation filing in House and Senate

The Kentucky Chamber applauded Rep. Leslie Combs and Sen. Max Wise for their hard work in crafting public-private partnership (P3) legislation to advance private sector ingenuity and job growth to public projects and services, calling it a win-win for Kentucky businesses and taxpayers.

Rep. Combs and Sen. Wise filed House and Senate P3 bills for state agencies and transportation. P3 legislation seeks to provide an explicit framework for the use public-private partnerships as an alternative method of procurement, construction, or financing of capital projects and services by state government.

The bills announced by the lawmakers Wednesday are the result of work with a broad base of coalition members and legislators on both sides of the aisle to ensure this legislation offers a transparent mechanism for projects and services at the state and local level. The bills differs from P3 legislation previous sessions in that it allows for unsolicited bids, includes new local government language and ensures a concise and transparent process.

At a press conference announcing the legislation Wednesday, the coalition of associations, local chambers and businesses from across the state brought together by the Kentucky Chamber encouraged the General Assembly to pass public-private partnership (P3) legislation to create a transparent process under Kentucky’s procurement code through which the state and local governments in Kentucky can use a P3 to provide services, facilities and transportation infrastructure to the public.

“Throughout the Commonwealth we have crumbling transportation infrastructure, antiquated state parks, and services that aren’t being provided to our citizens due to dwindling state dollars,” said Kentucky Chamber President and CEO Dave Adkisson. “Thankfully, lawmakers have an opportunity during this legislative session to help our tax dollars go further and put Kentuckians to work.”

The coalition said the legislation offers the greatest level of taxpayer protections and transparency by requiring decisions on P3 projects to be made in the daylight. The legislation was crafted to help Kentucky-based businesses and our workforce and is focused on accomplishing public needs in our state while putting our citizens back to work.

Wise touted the bipartisan work done on the legislation and said he believes there is no better time to pass P3 legislation.

Combs also stated that the time has come to pass P3, stating that it is a new day in Frankfort and a new day for her as she announced Tuesday she will not seek re-election in 2016.

Thirty-nine other states have passed public-private partnership legislation. The coalition says by passing a P3 law, the legislature will send a strong signal to Kentucky’s business community, local governments, contractors and workforce that Kentucky is serious about forging ahead with needed infrastructure and services in an innovative fashion and most importantly putting Kentuckians to work.

Watch testimony from the press conference in the video below:

P3 Coalition Members include:

• Association of General Contractors
• Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
• Kentucky Association of Counties
• Kentucky County Judge/Executive Association
• Kentucky League of Cities
• Greater Louisville, Inc.
• Commerce Lexington
• American Council of Engineering Companies
• Mayfield Graves County Chamber of Commerce
• Hardin County Chamber of Commerce
• Kyndle (Kentucky Network for Development Leadership and Engagement)
• Mercer Chamber of Commerce
• Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
• Kentuckians for Better Transportation
• Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors
• Kentucky Association of Manufacturers
• Big Ass Solutions
• W. Rogers Company
• Bridgelink
• Kentucky Society of Architects (AIA Kentucky)