The work group established to revise the model guidelines for the implementation of the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002 (the PPEA) invites the public to comment on its initial working draft of suggested revisions.

The PPEA grants a responsible public entity the authority to create public-private partnerships for the development of a wide range of projects for public use if the public entity determines there is a need for the project and that private involvement may provide the project to the public in a timely or cost-effective fashion. The respective governing body of the public entity must first adopt guidelines that it will follow to receive and evaluate any proposal submitted to the public entity under the provisions of the PPEA. The legislation establishing the PPEA provided for the Chairs of the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology and the House Committee on General Laws to facilitate the development of model guidelines for implementation of the PPEA. The initial model guidelines were completed on September 30, 2002, and substantially revised in 2005 and 2006.

Senate Bill 756, passed during the 2007 Regular Session of the General Assembly, also directed the Chairs of the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology and the House Committee on General Laws to facilitate the revision of model guidelines to include amendments made to the PPEA. The work group established pursuant to this provision has completed an initial working draft and now invites the public to provide comment on the draft. Comments and suggestions do not have to be limited to the provisions amended by Senate Bill 756 but may include suggestions for making the model guidelines more useful.

A copy of the draft and other documents related to the suggested revisions may be obtained from the following website: http://dls.state.va.us/ppea.htm. A copy may also be obtained by contacting Amigo Wade (awade@leg.state.va.us) at the Division of Legislative Services, General Assembly Building, 910 Capitol Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 786-3591 or FAX (804) 371-0169.

Written comments may be submitted to the attention of Amigo Wade and must be received by 4:30 p.m. on July 12, 2007.