BILL REQ. #:  S-1454.1 

Read first time 02/19/13.   Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

     AN ACT Relating to creating a pilot program for the collection of payroll records on public works projects; and adding a new section to chapter 39.12 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 39.12 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds that the current process for collection and disclosure of certified payroll records on public works projects is an inefficient use of public resources and results in unreasonable delays for interested parties seeking the records. The legislature therefore intends to create a pilot program for the collection of payroll records on public works projects.
     (2) The department of labor and industries must contract out for a labor compliance software program that allows contractors and subcontractors on public works projects to electronically submit complete and current payroll records to awarding agencies. At a minimum, the labor compliance software program must collect information necessary to ensure compliance with prevailing wage requirements, including names and identifying information of workers, daily hours worked per pay period, the prevailing wage classification applicable to the worker, and the wages earned by the worker in the pay period. The department of labor and industries may consult with the department of enterprise services and with the capital projects advisory review board when selecting the labor compliance software program.
     (3) The awarding agency for any public works project subject to this section must require the contractor and each and every subcontractor on the project to submit current and complete payroll information using the labor compliance software program before any payment or disbursement of public funds. Following the final acceptance of a public works project, funds retained pursuant to RCW 60.28.011 may not be released to the contractor until the awarding agency has complete and accurate payroll records for every contractor and subcontractor who performed work on the project.
     (4) Participation in the pilot program is mandatory for public works projects advertised for bid on or after January 1, 2014, and before January 1, 2019, as follows:
     (a) For four-year institutions of higher education, public works projects estimated to cost one million dollars or more;
     (b) For public school districts, public works projects estimated to cost one million dollars or more;
     (c) For King county, public works projects estimated to cost one million dollars or more.
     (5) Participation in the pilot program is optional for all other public works projects. An awarding agency may participate in the pilot program on a project-by-project basis, and must disclose pilot program participation in the bid solicitation.