SHB 1125 - H AMD 0396 WITHDRAWN 5/18/99

By Representative Cooper

On page 84, after line 19, insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 616. (1) The definitions in this section apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(a) "Apprentice" means an apprentice enrolled in a state-approved apprenticeship training program.

(b) "Apprentice utilization requirement" means the requirement that no less than ten percent of the labor hours be performed by apprentices.

(c) "Labor hours" means the total hours of workers receiving an hourly wage who are directly employed on the site of the public works project. "Labor hours" shall include hours performed by workers employed by the contractor and all subcontractors working on the project. "Labor hours" shall exclude hours worked by foremen, superintendents, owners, and workers who are not subject to prevailing wage requirements.

(d) "State-approved apprenticeship training program" means an apprenticeship training program approved by the Washington state apprenticeship and training council.

(2) All state highway construction, alteration, repair or improvement contracts estimated to cost one million dollars or more funded fully or partially from moneys appropriated in this act shall require that no less than ten percent of the labor hours be performed by apprentices.

(3) The failure by a contractor to comply with the apprentice utilization requirements shall be deemed a breach of contract for which the state or the municipality shall be entitled to all remedies allowed by law and under the contract. Failure to comply with the apprentice utilization requirement may be considered evidence bearing on a contractor's qualification for award of future contracts."

Renumber remaining sections and correct internal references accordingly.

EFFECT: Requires that contractors working on public highway projects funded in the 1999-01 transportation budget ensure that at least ten percent of the labor hours on the project are performed by apprentices. Failure of a contractor to comply would constitute a breach of contract.