1. (a) This article contains full and complete authority for agreements and leases with private entities to carry out the activities described in this article. Except as provided in this article, no procedure, proceeding, publication, notice, consent, approval, order, or act by the authority, the department, or any other state or local agency or official is required for the department to enter into a public-private agreement with a private entity under this article for a project to be constructed, maintained, repaired, or operated, and no law to the contrary affects, limits, or diminishes the authority for agreements and leases with private entities, except as provided by this article. However, this article may not be construed to:

   1. (1) limit the power of the authority, the department, or a private entity to enter an agreement; or

   2. (2) impose any procedural or substantive requirements on the authority, the department, or a private entity;

      concerning a project (as defined by IC 8-15.5-2-7 ) carried out under IC 8-15.5 .

2. (b) Notwithstanding any other law, and except as provided in subsection (d), before the department, the authority, or an operator may enter into public-private agreements that impose user fees on motor vehicles for use of:

   1. (1) Interstate Highway 69; or

   2. (2) nontolled highways, roadways, or other facilities in existence or under construction on July 1, 2011, including nontolled interstate highways, U.S. routes, and state routes;

      the general assembly must enact a statute authorizing that activity.

3. (c) Notwithstanding any other law, the department or the authority may enter into a public-private agreement concerning a project consisting of a passenger or freight railroad system described in IC 8-15.7-2-14 (a)(4). Such an agreement is subject to review and appropriation by the general assembly. However, this subsection does not prohibit the department from:

   1. (1) conducting preliminary studies that the department considers necessary to determine the feasibility of such a project; or
   2. (2) issuing a request for qualifications or a request for proposals, or both, under IC 8-15.7-4 for such a project.

4. (d) During the period beginning July 1, 2011, and ending June 30, 2031, the general assembly is not required to enact a statute authorizing the department, the authority, or an operator to issue a request for proposals for, or enter into, a public-private agreement that imposes user fees for the operation of motor vehicles for the following projects:

   1. (1) A project on which construction begins after June 30, 2011, not including any part of Interstate Highway 69 other than a part described in subdivision (4).
   2. (2) The addition of toll lanes, including high occupancy toll lanes, to a highway, roadway, or other facility in existence on July 1, 2011, if the number of nontolled lanes on the highway, roadway, or facility as of July 1, 2011, does not decrease due to the addition of the toll lanes.
   3. (3) The Illiana Expressway, a limited access facility connecting Interstate Highway 65 in northwestern Indiana with an interstate highway in Illinois.
   4. (4) A project that is located within a metropolitan planning area (as defined by 23 U.S.C. 134) and that connects the state of Indiana with the commonwealth of Kentucky.

5. (e) The following apply:

   1. (1) The authority shall be a party to any public-private agreement entered into pursuant to this article that requires payments to be made to an operator after the operator receives final payment for construction.
   2. (2) The authority may issue bonds or refunding bonds under IC 5-1.2-4 to provide funds for any amounts identified under this article but is not required to comply with IC 8-9.5-8-10 .

As added by P.L.47-2006, SEC.40. Amended by P.L.203-2007, SEC.5; P.L.85-2010, SEC.14; P.L.163-2011, SEC.10; P.L.119-2012, SEC.95; P.L.205-2013, SEC.165; P.L.94-2015, SEC.4; P.L.165-2021, SEC.131; P.L.12-2022, SEC.3.