SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5270

               As Passed Senate, March 16, 1999

Title:  An act relating to the publishing of provisions for minimum wage in contract documents.

Brief Description:  Clarifying the requirement to publish minimum wage rates in contract documents.

Sponsors:  Senators Prentice, Roach, Heavey, Costa and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor & Workforce Development:  2/11/99, 2/23/99 [DP, DNP].

Passed Senate, 3/16/99, 29-17.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Fairley, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Kline and Wojahn.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senator Hochstatter.

Staff:  Jill Reinmuth (786-7452)

Background:  Under the Washington State Public Works Act, Chapter 39.12 RCW, the contract specifications for public works must state the prevailing wage rates to be paid to laborers, workers, or mechanics employed by the contractor, the subcontractor, or other person doing or contracting to do the whole or any part of the work.

Summary of Bill:  The contract documents for public works must also state the prevailing wage rates.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Contractors sometimes claim that they are not required to pay prevailing wage rates because contract documents do not include such rates.  Such confusion regarding prevailing wage rates would be diminished.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Dan Sexton, Washington State Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters; Robert Dilger, Allan Darr, Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council.