The proposed statute would allow state and local agencies to exempt any contractor entering into a contract of more than $100,000.00 but less than $200,000.00 from obtaining a payment and performance bond if the contractor meets certain criteria.
Proposed House Bill 611 creates an exemption for contractors entering into public works contracts of between $100,000.00 and $200,00.00, if the contractor meets the following criteria:
The contractor provides documentation from the DBPR that he or she has maintained a minimum of 10 consecutive years of active business operations within the state of Florida.
The contractor has a minimum of 10 years of business experience in his or her industry
The contractor employes a sufficient number of staff who have the skill and knowlede to perform the work
The contractor is licensed and properly insured
The contractor is an owner of a small, local business entity as certified by any county, city, or political subdivision thereof, or other public authority or private entity
The full language of the proposed changes is available below, but it appears the exemption is subject to the discretion of the municipality even if the contractor meets all of the above-listed criteria, and it is unclear if the above-listed criteria apply to all public projects, or only county, city, or other municipal projects (as opposed to state projects).