HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                     HB 2102

Brief Description:  Revising prevailing wage surveys.

Sponsors:  Representatives Koster, McMorris, Mielke, Sherstad, Honeyford, and Dunn

                    Hearing:  March 3, 1997

BACKGROUND:

The prevailing wage law requires that employees on public works construction projects be paid the prevailing wage.  The Department of Labor and Industries administers the prevailing wage law.  The prevailing wage is the rate of hourly wage, usual benefits, and overtime paid in a locality to a majority of workers, laborers, or mechanics, in the same trade or occupation. All determinations of the  prevailing wage are made by the industrial statistician of the Department of Labor and Industries.

SUMMARY OF BILL:

The determination of the prevailing wage by the industrial statistician of the Department of Labor and Industries is changed. 

In determining the prevailing wage, the department is authorized to contract with an independent third party to annually conduct wage surveys and determine the prevailing wage. The surveys must measure an equal number of employers with unionized workers and those with non unionized workers.

All determinations of the prevailing wage are required to be published by the industrial statistician. 

RULES AUTHORITY:  The bill does not contain provisions addressing the rule-making powers of an agency.

FISCAL NOTE:  Requested March 2, 1997.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.