BILL REQ. #:  H-0950.1 

Read first time 02/14/2007.   Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs.

     AN ACT Relating to public works projects at institutions of higher education; and amending RCW 28B.10.350.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 28B.10.350 and 2001 c 38 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) When the cost to The Evergreen State College, any regional university, or state university, of any building, construction, renovation, remodeling, or demolition other than maintenance or repairs will equal or exceed the sum of ((thirty-five)) seventy thousand dollars, complete plans and specifications for such work shall be prepared and such work shall be put out for public bids and the contract shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder if in accordance with the bid specifications: PROVIDED, That when the estimated cost of such building, construction, renovation, remodeling, or demolition equals or exceeds the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, such project shall be deemed a public works and "the prevailing rate of wage," under chapter 39.12 RCW shall be applicable thereto: PROVIDED FURTHER, That when such building, construction, renovation, remodeling, or demolition involves one trade or craft area and the estimated cost exceeds ((fifteen)) fifty thousand dollars, complete plans and specifications for such work shall be prepared and such work shall be put out for public bids, and the contract shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder if in accordance with the bid specifications. This subsection shall not apply when a contract is awarded by the small works roster procedure authorized in RCW 39.04.155 or under any other procedure authorized for an institution of higher education.
     (2) The Evergreen State College, any regional university, or state university may require a project to be put to public bid even when it is not required to do so under subsection (1) of this section.
     (3) Where the estimated cost to The Evergreen State College, any regional university, or state university of any building, construction, renovation, remodeling, or demolition is less than twenty-five thousand dollars or the contract is awarded by the small works roster procedure authorized in RCW 39.04.155, the publication requirements of RCW 39.04.020 shall be inapplicable.
     (4) In the event of any emergency when the public interest or property of The Evergreen State College, regional university, or state university would suffer material injury or damage by delay, the president of such college or university may declare the existence of such an emergency and reciting the facts constituting the same may waive the requirements of this section with reference to any contract in order to correct the condition causing the emergency: PROVIDED, That an "emergency," for the purposes of this section, means a condition likely to result in immediate physical injury to persons or to property of such college or university in the absence of prompt remedial action or a condition which immediately impairs the institution's ability to perform its educational obligations.