Use of PPEA for Facility Replacement & Operations (language only)

Item 310 #1h

Language
Page 275, line 50, after "setting.", insert:
"It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act (PPEA) of 2002 be used wherever possible to facilitate cost effective and expeditious replacement of the four facilities  that  are
identified in this item.  Further, it is the intent of the General Assembly, based on the success in developing public-private partnerships to deliver acute care services as part of the comprehensive mental health care  system, that one of the four facilities be operated by a private entity, if one submits a proposal that meets the requirements of
the PPEA of 2002, in order to provide operational efficiencies to the mental health care delivery system, unless the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services can demonstrate that continued state operation of the facility is at least as cost effective and provides at least an equivalent or higher level quality care than operation by a private entity."

Explanation
(This amendment adds language in the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services to indicate the intent of the General Assembly that the Department use the PPEA of 2002 as the framework for constructing one of the four facilities targeted for replacement, Eastern State Hospital, Western State Hospital, Southeastern Virginia Training Center, and Central Virginia Training Center. Language also requires that at least one of the four facilities be operated by a private entity, unless the Department can demonstrate that continued state operation of the facility is at least as cost effective and provides at least an equivalent or higher level of quality care.)