Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Labor & Workplace Standards Committee

HB 2844

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Adding training on public works and prevailing wage requirements to responsible bidder criteria.

Sponsors: Representatives Ormsby, Sells, Frame, Gregerson, Moscoso, Bergquist, Jinkins, Cody, Peterson, Robinson, Farrell, Riccelli, Sawyer, Pollet, Reykdal, Kilduff, Stanford, Walkinshaw, McBride and Santos.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Requires training in public works and prevailing wage to be a responsible bidder on public works.

Hearing Date: 1/28/16

Staff: Joan Elgee (786-7106).

Background:

Bidders for public works must meet responsibility criteria in order to be qualified for the contract. To be a responsible bidder, the bidder must:

Contractors must verify responsibility criteria for each first tier subcontractor and lower tier subcontractors must verify the criteria for each of their subcontractors.

In general terms, public work is all work, construction, alteration, repair or improvement that is executed at the cost of the state or any other local public agency.

Prevailing wages must be paid on all public works. The prevailing wage is the hourly wage, usual benefits, and overtime paid in the largest city in each county to the majority of workers, laborers, or mechanics in the same trade or occupation.

Contractor training classes offered by the Department of Labor and Industries (Department) include training on prevailing wages.

Summary of Bill:

To qualify as a responsible bidder, contractors and subcontractors must attend training from the Department or a training program approved by the Department relating to the requirements associated with public works and prevailing wage.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.