After active stakeholder engagement that included AWC staff, we are happy to report a small win for cities in an update to legislation affecting municipal public works requirements.
As originally introduced, HB 1050 requires contractors hired for municipal public works projects estimated to
cost $1,000,000 or more to have at least 15% of the labor hours performed by apprentices. The bill also requires subcontractors for public works projects with a subcontract of $200,000 or more to have at least 15% of the labor hours performed by apprentices.
View our coverage of the bill here.
HB 1050 has since been amended to include the following changes:
- Adjusts the initial subcontract price from $200,000 to $350,000 or more to require subcontractors to include specifications that no less than 15% of the labor hours be performed by apprentices.
- Exempts public housing authorities from the apprenticeship utilization requirements.
- Changes the responsibility of providing information and technical assistance on apprenticeship utilization reporting from the Dept. of Enterprise Services (DES) to the Department of Labor and Industries.
- Clarifies that DES will continue to be responsible for providing sample contract language and contract administration advice pertaining to apprenticeship requirements.
- Adds language that no contractor or subcontractor is accountable for or vicariously liable for the failure of any other contractor or subcontractor to comply with the apprenticeship utilization requirements.
- Adds the ability for municipalities to adjust the requirements for a specific project based on other criteria the municipality deems appropriate. The other criteria are subject to review from the municipality’s legislative authority.
Thank you to those cities that provided feedback on this legislation and to the bill sponsor for working with AWC on some of our concerns.
HB 1050 is scheduled to be heard in the House Rules committee for review.