FL S0824

Transfers and renumbers public-private partnership statute from section 287.05712 to section 255.065, expanding eligible responsible public entities to include special districts and Florida College System institutions.

Requires private entities submitting unsolicited proposals to pay an initial application fee by cash or noncancelable instrument, with additional fees if evaluation costs exceed the initial fee; allows public entities to stop review if additional fees are not paid within 30 days.

Mandates that solicitations for qualifying projects include a design criteria package prepared by a licensed architect, engineer, or landscape architect specifying performance-based criteria, site legal description, space requirements, material standards, and design schedules.

Allows responsible public entities to alter statutory timeframes (21-120 days) for accepting competing proposals with majority vote approval; removes requirement for school board local governing body approval before entering comprehensive agreements.

Increases surety bond threshold from $500,000 to $5 million for publicly funded projects and allows bonds from surety companies with "A-" minimum rating by A.M. Best Company as alternative to surplus and capital requirements; removes restriction on financing agreements that could result in loss of public entity property ownership.