BILL REQ. #:  H-2417.1 

READ FIRST TIME 03/07/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to alternative public works contracting procedures; and adding a new section to chapter 39.10 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 39.10 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) There is established an independent oversight committee to monitor and evaluate the use of traditional and alternative public works contracting procedures; and to evaluate the potential future use of other alternative contracting procedures. The committee will also provide a forum in which best practices and areas of concern regarding alternative public works contracting can be discussed.
     (2) The membership of the oversight committee shall include: Two members of the house of representatives, one from each major caucus, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; two members of the senate, one from each major caucus, appointed by the president of the senate; representatives from the appropriate segments of the construction, contracting, subcontracting, and design industries, appointed by the governor; representatives from appropriate labor organizations, appointed by the governor; representatives from public bodies authorized to use the alternative public works contracting procedures under this chapter, appointed by the governor; a representative from a local government authorized to use alternative public works contracting methods, appointed by the governor; a representative from the office of minority and women's business enterprises, appointed by the governor; and a representative from the office of financial management, appointed by the governor. The governor shall maintain a balance between representatives from public agencies and the private sector when appointing members to the committee, and shall consider the recommendations of the established organizations representing the construction, contracting, subcontracting, and design industries and organized labor in making the industry and labor appointments.
     (3) The committee shall meet at least quarterly, beginning after July 1, 2005. A chair or cochairs shall be selected from among the committee membership. Staff support for the committee shall be provided by the office of financial management.
     (4) A primary goal of the committee is to ensure that consistent, reliable, and standardized project information is gathered and used to analyze the impact of contracting policies on the outcome of major public works projects. The oversight committee shall, in consultation with the office of financial management, develop standardized statewide performance indicators and benchmarks for all major public works projects. These measures should, at a minimum, allow basic comparisons of project performance by type, scope, cost, schedule, quality, and contracting procedure. To avoid unnecessary duplication, use of these indicators and benchmarks should be incorporated into, or derived from, existing state and local agency reports to the greatest extent possible.
     (5) Public bodies using the alternative contracting procedures authorized under this chapter shall provide any requested information concerning implementation of projects under this chapter to the committee in a timely manner, excepting any trade secrets or proprietary information.
     (6) Beginning on December 10, 2005, and each year thereafter, the committee shall report to the appropriate standing committees on the use of alternative public works contracting methods.