AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- STATE PURCHASES (Spells out what a public works project includes and the requirements of this section shall apply to all such public works projects.)

H8465

2026 -- H 8465
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LC006346
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- STATE PURCHASES

Introduced By:
Representatives Shanley, Edwards, Bennett, Solomon, O'Brien, and Biah

Date Introduced:
April 17, 2026

Referred To:
House Labor
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 37-2-82 of the General Laws in Chapter 37-2 entitled "State
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Purchases" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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37-2-82. Utilization of North American Contractor Certification companies.
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(a) All public works renovation projects that exceed an aggregate amount of one million
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dollars ($1,000,000), and all new construction projects that exceed an aggregate amount of five
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million dollars ($5,000,000), that include glazing work, shall have glazing work performed by
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North American Contractor Certification (“NACC”) certified companies and initially, on and after
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July 1, 2024, shall have one architectural glass and metal technician (“AGMT”) certified worker
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employed by the company or contractor. On and after January 1, 2025, each crew performing work
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that meets the criteria of this section shall have one AGMT certified worker on site. On and after
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January 1, 2026, for each crew performing work that meets the criteria of this section, twenty-five
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percent (25%) of that crew shall be comprised of AGMT certified individuals on site. On and after
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January 1, 2027, for each crew performing work that meets the criteria of the section, fifty percent
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(50%) of that crew shall be comprised of AGMT certified individuals on site.
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(b) As used herein, the term “glazing work” includes, but is not limited to, replacement and
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installation of windows, curtain walls, interior glass partitions, glass handrails, aluminum
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entrances, skylights, store fronts, and general installation of architectural glass and metal.
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(c)(1) The department of labor and training shall enforce the provisions of this section. If
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the director, or designee, determines that a violation of these provisions has occurred, the director,

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or designee, shall order a hearing at a time and place to be specified, and shall give notice, together
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with a copy of the complaint or the purpose thereof, or a statement of the facts disclosed upon
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investigation, which notice shall be served personally or by mail on any person, business,
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corporation, or entity of any kind affected thereby.
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(2) The person, business, corporation, or entity shall have an opportunity to be heard in
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respect to the matters complained of at the time and place specified in the notice.
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(3) The hearing shall be conducted by the director, or designee. The hearing officer in the
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hearing shall be deemed to have jurisdiction and dispositive authority to hear and adjudicate the
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matter, and shall have the right to issue subpoenas, administer oaths, and examine witnesses. The
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enforcement of a subpoena issued under this section shall be regulated by civil practice law and the
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rules of civil procedure. The hearing shall be expeditiously conducted and upon such hearing the
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hearing officer shall determine the issues raised and shall make a determination and enter an order
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within thirty (30) days of the close of the hearing, and forthwith serve a copy of the order, with a
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notice of the filing, upon the parties to the proceeding, personally or by mail.
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(4) The order shall dismiss the complaint or determine that a violation of the provisions of
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this section occurred. The order shall represent a final action by the department of labor and
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training.
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(d) Any contractor or subcontractor determined to have violated the provisions of this
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section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500)
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and not greater than three thousand dollars ($3,000), and shall be subject to the revocation of any
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relevant professional or occupational license, if the violation is deemed to have been intentional or
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egregious.
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(e) This section is applicable to all public works projects that fit the other criteria as
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provided in this section.
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(f) For purposes of this section, "public works project" includes any project financed,
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undertaken, managed, or contracted for, by the state, its departments, agencies, authorities, public
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corporations, quasi-public corporations, municipalities, school committees, or any other political
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subdivision. The requirements of this section shall apply to all such public works projects, without
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regard to the source of funding or procurement method; provided that, the project meets the
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monetary thresholds in subsection (a) of this section and includes glazing work as defined in
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subsection (b) of this section.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- STATE PURCHASES
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This act would spell out what a public works project includes and the requirements of this
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section shall apply to all such public works projects.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC006346
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