CHAIRMAN PHIL MENDELSON ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC HEARING

Bill 20-595, “Public-Private Partnership Act of and
“Oversight of Implementation of the Pay for Success Contract Authorization Act of 2014”

Council Chairman Phil Mendelson announces a public hearing of the Committee of the Whole on Bill 20-595, the “Public-Private Partnership Act of 2013.”  The public hearing will be held Thursday, June 12, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. This notice has been revised in an abbreviated manner to include the addition of an oversight issue pursuant to Council Rule 421(c)(3).

The stated purpose of Bill 20-595 is to establish the District of Columbia Office of Public-Private Partnerships to facilitate the procurement and administration of public-private partnerships in the District of Columbia.  It would also establish personnel authority and budget mechanisms for the office, adopt rules and regulations with regard to public-private partnerships, and create a District of Columbia Infrastructure Fund.  Further, it would establish requirements for the procurement process for public-private partnerships which includes solicitation and response processes, provides for Council review of solicitations for public-private partnerships, and lays out additional details for the administration of public-private partnerships.

Subtitle N of the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Support Act of 2014 included authorization for so-called pay for success contracts.  This authorizes the mayor to enter into contract based on the concept of social impact bonds.  The Committee hopes to learn how the Executive intends to implement this program and additional information that may be useful to the Committee in recommending future changes to the program.  This issue was originally suggested in the Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget errata letter dated May 8, 2014.

Those who wish to testify are asked to telephone the Committee of the Whole, at (202) 724-8196, or e-mail Evan Cash, Committee Director, at ecash@dccouncil.us and provide their name, address, telephone number, and organizational affiliation, if any, by the close of business Tuesday, June 10, 2014.  Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit 15 copies of written testimony.  If submitted by the close of business on June 10, 2014, the testimony will be distributed to Councilmembers before the hearing.  Witnesses should limit their testimony to five minutes; less time will be allowed if there are a large number of witnesses.  Copies of Bill 20-595 can be obtained through the Legislative Services Division of the Secretary of the Council or on http://lims.dccouncil.us.

If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record.  Copies of written statements should be submitted to the Committee of the Whole, Council of the District of Columbia, Suite 410 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004.  The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 26, 2014.