Brief Description: Providing additional funding to the prevailing wage program of the department of labor and industries by discontinuing the transfer of moneys from the public works administration account to the general fund-state account.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Kohl-Welles, Parlette, Keiser, Fraser, Honeyford and Kline; by request of Department of Labor & Industries).

Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development
Senate Committee on Ways & Means
House Committee on Commerce & Labor
House Committee on Appropriations

Background: Employers on public works projects must pay the prevailing wage, which is the hourly wage paid to the majority of workers, laborers, or mechanics in the same occupation in that locality. Employers starting public works projects must file intent forms stating they will pay employees the prevailing wage. When the project ends, employers must also file affidavits stating prevailing wages were paid.

The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) is responsible for establishing prevailing wage rates. L&I conducts surveys and uses the data received from the surveys to calculate the rates. L&I is also responsible for enforcing the prevailing wage statues, which includes investigations. Filing fees may be levied on the intent and affidavit forms; by statute L&I cannot raise fees above $25. These fees are deposited into the Public Works Administration account, along with fines imposed on violators of the prevailing wage statutes. By statute, 30 percent of the revenues in the account is transferred to the state general fund.

Summary: The statute requiring the transfer of 30 percent of the Public Works Administration account revenues to the state general fund is eliminated.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      47   1
House      96   1

Effective:   July 1, 2007