Public works.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on how the fees will be adjusted or who decides on new fee amounts.

Public Works Law Changes

This law changes how contractors register for public work projects, increases penalties for wage violations, and requires half of all penalty money to go into a fund that helps enforce these rules.

What This Bill Does

• Removes the limit on fees contractors must pay to register for public works contracts.
• Increases penalties for not paying workers the prevailing wage or keeping accurate records.
• Requires 50% of all penalty money collected from violations to go into a fund that helps enforce these rules.

Who It Names or Affects

• Contractors who work on public projects
• Workers employed by contractors on public works

Terms To Know

Prevailing wage

The standard rate of pay for workers in a specific job and area.

Public works

Construction, repair, or other work done with public money.

Limits and Unknowns

• It is not clear how much the fees will increase.
• The bill does not specify who gets to decide on new fee amounts.

Official Summary Text

SB 909, as introduced, Smallwood-Cuevas.
Public works.
Existing law requires that, except as specified, not less than the general prevailing rate of per diem wages be paid to workers employed on public works and imposes misdemeanor penalties for a willful violation of this requirement. Existing law defines “public works” for the purposes of regulating public contracts as, among other things, construction, alteration, demolition, installation, or repair work done under contract and paid for, in whole or in part, out of public funds. Existing law generally requires a contractor or subcontractor to be registered with the Department of Industrial Relations to be qualified to bid on, be listed in a bid proposal, or engage in the performance of any public work contract. Existing law requires a contractor or subcontractor to meet specific conditions to qualify for this registration, including that a contractor or subcontractor pay an initial
application fee and an annual renewal fee set by the Director of Industrial Relations. Existing law authorizes the department to establish and adjust annual registration and renewal fees up to $800 by publishing the fees on the department’s internet website.
This bill would exempt the establishment and adjustment of those fees from the Administrative Procedure Act and would remove the $800 fee limit. The bill would instead require the director to annually adjust registration and renewal fees, as specified, and would no longer require the director to publish the fees on the department’s internet website.
Existing law requires the Labor Commissioner to issue civil wage and penalty assessments to a contractor or subcontractor, or both, if, after an investigation, the commissioner determines there has been a violation of the laws regulating public works contractors, including the payment of prevailing wages. Existing law sets a
penalty schedule for subcontractors and contractors for, among other things, failing to pay the prevailing wage rate or failing to keep accurate payroll records, as specified.
Existing law establishes the State Public Works Enforcement Fund and directs all registration fees and other moneys, such as fines, to be deposited into the fund, to be available upon appropriation, for, among other purposes, the reasonable costs of administering registration with the Department of Industrial Relations.
This bill would increase those penalties, as specified, and require 50% of all penalties received, as specified, to be deposited into the State Public Works Enforcement Fund.
The bill would make related findings and declarations.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF