BILL INNOVATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS’ COMPLETION OF PROJECTS APPROVED BY SENATE

BILL INNOVATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS’ COMPLETION OF PROJECTS APPROVED BY SENATE

FRANKFORT, KY (March 2, 2023) - The Senate approved Senator Max Wise’s, R-Campbellsville, Senate Bill 169 on Thursday. If enacted, the bill would open the possibility for Public Private Partnerships (P3s) for Kentucky’s 171 public school districts.

P3s allow Kentucky government agencies to work with private sector partners on projects. Senate Bill 169 would authorize local boards of education to engage in P3s to complete work more quickly and efficiently, especially construction projects. Schools would enjoy the same opportunities cities and counties currently do.

“I am excited about this innovative way to provide schools with another, maybe even less expensive, means of getting additional space for classrooms, labs, auditoriums and gyms,” said Wise. “Senate Bill 169 will also provide our local school boards access to federal grant funds already available to city and county governments.”

The Kentucky General Assembly first implemented a framework for P3s in 2016 after Republicans secured control of the Kentucky House of Representatives for the first time in nearly a century.  House Bill 309 (16 RS) passed the Senate 29-9, with Wise among those in support.

Another provision of Senate Bill 169 makes necessary amendments to state law, adding "local school district" to the definition of a "local government” in statutes relevant to the delivery method of awarding contracts for capital construction projects—Kentucky Local Government Public-Private Partnership Board (KRS 65.028).

“I am excited about how this bill can bring additional financial flexibilities as school board members consider how they will utilize revenues, whether it’s for the capital projects this bill helps with or important considerations like teacher raises,” Wise said. 

Senate Bill 169 now qualifies for consideration by the state House of Representatives.

Click here to access Senate Bill 169. Visit legislature.ky.gov to find more details on Senator Max Wise and to follow the status of other legislation being considered during the ongoing 2023 Legislative Session.

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Senator Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, represents the 16th Senate District, including Adair, Allen, Metcalfe, Monroe, and Taylor Counties and eastern Warren County. He is Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee chair. Wise also serves as a Senate Education Committee member and is a member of the newly formed Families and Children Committee and Health Services Committee. Additionally, he is an Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee member.

Please visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate116.jpg for a high-resolution .jpeg of Wise.

Please visit Legislature.ky.gov for more information on Senate Majority Caucus members and the ongoing 2023 30-day Legislative Session, such as committee schedules and membership.

Live legislative coverage is available at ket.org/legislature and via the Legislative Research Commission YouTube channel. Access archived footage of 2022 Interim legislative meetings and 2023 Regular Session legislative activity at ket.org/legislature/archives.

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