Bill Text: CT HB07055 | 2017 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: An Act Concerning Recommendations By The Department Of Transportation Regarding The Notification Of State Construction Contract Opportunities By The University Of Connecticut And The Commissioner Of Transportation, Parking Spaces, Wayside Horns, The Disposition Of Excess State Property, Heavy Duty Trailers, Flashing Lights On Motor Vehicles, Child Restraint Systems, Pesticide Application By Railroad Companies, The "move Over" Law, Road Design Standards, And Road And Bridge Designations.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Passed) 2017-07-11 - Signed by the Governor [HB07055 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2017-HB07055-Introduced.html
General Assembly |
Raised Bill No. 7055 | ||
January Session, 2017 |
LCO No. 3839 | ||
*03839_______TRA* | |||
Referred to Committee on TRANSPORTATION |
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Introduced by: |
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(TRA) |
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AN ACT CONCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REGARDING THE NOTIFICATION OF STATE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES, PARKING SPACES, SEAT BELTS, MOTORCYCLE OPERATORS, WAYSIDE HORNS, THE DISPOSITION OF EXCESS STATE PROPERTY, HEAVY DUTY TRAILERS AND FLASHING LIGHTS ON MOTOR VEHICLES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsection (c) of section 10a-109n of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
(c) (1) Any construction contract to which the university is a party may include a provision that the design professional who designed the project, or an architect or professional engineer or construction manager retained or employed specifically for the purpose of supervision, may supervise the work to be performed through to completion and ensure that the materials furnished and the work performed are in accordance with the drawings, plans, specifications and contracts therefor.
(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, any total cost basis contract or other contract for the construction of a university project which is estimated to cost more than five hundred thousand dollars, shall be publicly let by the university. The university shall give notice to contractors interested in prequalifying to submit a project proposal or bid, by [advertising, at least once, in one or more newspapers having general circulation in the state and by posting the advertisement] posting any such notice on the university web site and on the State Contracting Portal. The notice to prequalify shall contain the requirement that contractors be prequalified pursuant to section 4a-100, a statement of the time and place where the responses shall be received and such additional information as the university deems appropriate. Upon receipt of such responses, the university shall select each contractor who has been prequalified pursuant to section 4a-100 and has shown itself able to post surety bonds required by such contract and has demonstrated that it possesses the financial, managerial and technical ability and the integrity necessary and without conflict of interest for faithful and efficient performance of the work provided for therein. The university shall evaluate whether each such contractor is responsible and qualified based on its experience with projects similar to that for which the bid or proposal is to be submitted and based on objective written criteria included in the application to request prequalification with respect to such contract. The university shall also consider whether a contractor, and any subcontractor on the contractor's previous projects, has been in compliance with the provisions of part III of chapter 557 and chapter 558 during the previous five calendar years.
(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, the board of trustees may approve a total cost basis contract or other contract for the construction of a university project which is estimated to cost more than five hundred thousand dollars that has not been publicly let pursuant to the provisions of said subparagraph (A), provided the board deems the contract to address an emergency.
(3) The university shall thereafter give notice to those so prequalified by the university pursuant to subdivision (2) of this section of the time and place where the public letting shall occur and shall include in such notice such information of the work required as appropriate. Each bid or proposal shall be kept sealed until opened publicly at the time and place as set forth in the notice soliciting such bid or proposal. The university shall not award any construction contract, including, but not limited to, any total cost basis contract, after public letting, except to the responsible qualified contractor, submitting the lowest bid or proposal in compliance with the bid or proposal requirements of the solicitation document. The university may, however, waive any informality in a bid or proposal, and may either reject all bids or proposals and again advertise for bids or proposals or interview at least three responsible qualified contractors and negotiate and enter into with any one of such contractors that construction contract which is both fair and reasonable to the university.
(4) The notice to each contractor prequalified to submit a proposal or bid and the construction contract, including each total cost basis contract, awarded by the university shall contain such other terms and conditions, and such provisions for penalties as the university may deem appropriate.
(5) No payments shall be made by the university on account of any contract for the project awarded by or for the university until the bills or estimates presented for such payment shall have been duly certified to be correct by the university. No payments shall be made from any other fund on account of any contract for any project awarded by or for the university until the bills or estimates presented for such payment shall have been duly certified to be correct by the university.
(6) Provision shall be made in each contract to the effect that payment is limited to the amount provided therein and that no liability of the university or state shall and may be incurred beyond such amount.
(7) The university shall require, for the protection of the state and the university, such deposits, bonds and security in connection with the submission of bids or proposals, the award of construction contracts and the performance of work as the university shall determine to be appropriate and in the public interest of the state.
(8) Any contract awarded by the university shall be a contract with the state acting through the university.
(9) The university shall not enter into a construction manager at-risk project delivery contract that does not provide for a maximum guaranteed price for the cost of construction which shall be determined not later than the time of the receipt and approval by the university of the trade contractor bids. Each construction manager at-risk shall invite bids and give notice of opportunities to bid on project elements, by [advertising, at least once, in one or more newspapers having general circulation in the state and by posting the advertisement] posting any such invitation or notice on the [Internet] State Contracting Portal. Each bid shall be kept sealed until opened publicly at the time and place as set forth in the notice soliciting such bid. The construction manager at-risk shall, after consultation with and approval by the university, award any related contracts for project elements to the responsible qualified contractor, who shall be prequalified pursuant to section 4a-100, submitting the lowest bid in compliance with the bid requirements, provided (A) the construction manager at-risk shall not be eligible to submit a bid for any such project element, and (B) construction shall not begin prior to the determination of the maximum guaranteed price, except for the project elements of site preparation and demolition that have been previously put out to bid and awarded.
(10) If the university designates a project as suitable for a design-build contract, the university may enter into a single contract with a design-builder recommended by a selection panel and selected by the university. The university shall give notice of such project and specifications for such project by posting such notice on the [Internet] State Contracting Portal. The university shall establish a selection panel for each project to score the qualifications and past performance of each design-builder who submits a competitive proposal to the university for such project. The selection panel shall score the qualifications and past performance of each design-builder using a predetermined scoring method developed by the university and provided to each design-builder in advance of such design-builder's development of the competitive proposal. The selection panel's scoring method may be unique to each project, but shall consist of combining the score of each design-builder's qualifications and past performance and evaluating the technical merit of the competitive proposal and each design-builder's projected project cost. The design-build contract shall (A) include, but not be limited to, such project elements as permitting, engineering, design, construction and, if applicable, site acquisition, and (B) be based on the competitive proposal submitted by the design-builder that is selected by the university. No design-build contract for which the total cost is estimated to be more than five hundred thousand dollars may be awarded to a design-builder who is not prequalified for the project in accordance with section 4a-100. Such design-build contracts shall state the responsibilities of the design-builder to deliver a completed and acceptable project on a date certain and the maximum costs of the project and, if applicable, as a separate item, the cost of any site acquisition. The university shall determine all other requirements and conditions for such competitive proposals, selection of a design-builder and other awards and shall have sole responsibility for all other aspects of such design-build contracts.
Sec. 2. Subsections (b) and (c) of section 13a-95b of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
(b) If the commissioner designates a project to use a construction-manager-at-risk contract with a guaranteed maximum price, the commissioner may have the project designed by department personnel or enter into a contract with an architect or engineer for the project design, and may also enter into a contract with a construction-manager-at-risk contractor who will provide input during the design process and may be responsible for the construction of the project. The commissioner may permit the contractor to self-perform a portion of the construction work if the commissioner determines that the construction manager general contractor can perform the work more cost-effectively than a subcontractor. All work not performed by the construction manager general contractor shall be performed by trade subcontractors selected by a process approved by the commissioner. The construction-manager-at-risk contract shall have an established guaranteed maximum price. In the event that a guaranteed maximum price cannot be agreed upon, the commissioner may elect to call for bids on the project as provided for pursuant to section 13a-95. The commissioner may select the architect, engineer or contractor from among the contractors selected and recommended by a selection panel. Any such contract for such project shall be based upon competitive proposals received by the commissioner, who shall give notice of the project, by advertising [at least once, in a newspaper having a substantial circulation in the area in which the project is located, and may give notice] on the Department of Administrative Services State Contracting Portal, or use other advertising methods likely to reach qualified construction manager general contractors. Award of any such contract shall be based upon the general conditions and staff costs plus qualitative criteria. The commissioner shall establish all criteria, requirements and conditions of such proposals and award and shall have sole responsibility for all other aspects of the project. Any contract shall clearly state the responsibilities of the contractor to deliver a completed and acceptable project on a date certain, the maximum cost of the project, and, if applicable, as a separate item, the cost of property acquisition.
(c) If the commissioner designates a project to use a design-build contract, the commissioner may enter into a single contract with the design-builder, who the commissioner may select from among the design-builders selected and recommended by a selection panel. The contract shall (1) include, but not be limited to, such project elements as site acquisition, permitting, engineering design and construction, and (2) be based on competitive proposals received by the commissioner, who shall give notice of the project and specifications for the project, by advertising [, at least once, in a newspaper having a substantial circulation in the area in which the project is located, and, at the commissioner's discretion,] on the Department of Administrative Services State Contracting Portal, and may use other advertising methods likely to reach qualified design-build contractors. Award of the design-build contract shall be based on a predetermined metric provided to proposers in advance of technical proposal development. This metric may be unique to each project, but shall consist of a combined score of qualifications and past performance of the proposer, technical merit of the proposal and cost. The commissioner shall establish a selection panel for each project to score the qualifications and past performance and technical portion of the proposal using the predefined scoring metric. The sealed cost portion of the proposal shall be opened in a public ceremony only after the qualifications and past performance and technical portions of the proposals have been scored. The commissioner shall determine all criteria, requirements and conditions for such proposals and award and shall have sole responsibility for all other aspects of the contract. Such contract shall state clearly the responsibilities of the design-builder to deliver a completed and acceptable project on a date certain, the maximum cost of the project, and, if applicable, as a separate item, the cost of property acquisition.
Sec. 3. Section 13b-20g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
Whenever there is a need to engage a consultant, the Commissioner of Transportation shall notify all firms that are prequalified in accordance with section 13b-20e in the category of services being sought by the department. If the prequalified list contains fewer than five consulting firms or does not include the area of expertise required by the department, the commissioner shall publish a notice in appropriate professional magazines, professional newsletters or on-line professional web sites, indicating the general scope of the assignment and requesting responses in accordance with subsection (b) of section 13b-20e, and [at least once in one or more newspapers having a circulation in each county of the state] on the Department of Administrative Services State Contracting Portal. Responses shall be received at the Department of Transportation not later than fourteen days after the last date on which the notice is published, unless additional time is specifically authorized by the commissioner, or not later than any specific date set forth in such notice. For certain specialized projects the notice may also solicit a full work proposal in addition to the technical qualifications of a firm.
Sec. 4. Subsection (h) of section 14-253a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
(h) Parking spaces designated for persons who are blind and persons with disabilities on or after October 1, 1979, and prior to October 1, 2004, shall be as near as possible to a building entrance or walkway and shall be fifteen feet wide including three feet of cross hatch, or parallel to a sidewalk on a public highway. On and after October 1, [2004] 2017, parking spaces for passenger motor vehicles designated for persons who are blind and persons with disabilities shall be as near as possible to a building entrance or walkway and shall be fifteen feet wide including five feet of cross hatch, or parallel to a sidewalk on a public highway. On and after October 1, [2004] 2017, parking spaces for passenger vans designated for persons who are blind and persons with disabilities shall be as near as possible to a building entrance or walkway and shall be sixteen feet wide including eight feet of cross hatch, or parallel to a sidewalk on a public highway. Such spaces shall be designated by above grade signs with white lettering against a blue background and shall bear the words "handicapped parking permit required" and "violators will be fined". Such [sign] signs shall also bear the international symbol of access. [On and after January 1, 2017, whenever] Whenever such a sign is replaced, repaired or erected it shall bear the words "reserved parking permit required" and "violators will be fined", bear the symbol of access and indicate the minimum fine for a violation of subsection (f) of this section. Such indicator may be in the form of a notice affixed to such a sign.
Sec. 5. Subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 14-100a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
(c) (1) The operator of and any [front seat] passenger in any motor vehicle or fire fighting apparatus originally equipped with seat safety belts complying with the provisions of 49 CFR 571.209, as amended from time to time, shall wear such seat safety belt while the vehicle is being operated on any highway, except as follows:
(A) A child six years of age and under shall be restrained as provided in subsection (d) of this section; and
(B) The operator of such vehicle shall secure or cause to be secured in a seat safety belt any passenger seven years of age or older and under sixteen years of age. [; and]
[(C) If the operator of such vehicle is under eighteen years of age, such operator and each passenger in such vehicle shall wear such seat safety belt while the vehicle is being operated on any highway.]
Sec. 6. Section 14-289g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
(a) No person [under eighteen years of age] may (1) operate a motorcycle or a motor-driven cycle, as defined in section 14-1, or (2) be a passenger on a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, unless such operator or passenger is wearing protective headgear of a type which conforms to the minimum specifications established [in] by regulations adopted under subsection (b) of this section.
(b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 and 49 CFR 571.218, as amended from time to time, establishing specifications for protective headgear for use by operators and passengers of motorcycles.
(c) Any person who violates any provision of subsection (a) of this section shall have committed an infraction and shall be fined not less than ninety dollars.
[(b)] (d) As used in this section, the term "motorcycle" shall not include "autocycle".
Sec. 7. Subsection (b) of section 13b-329 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
(b) A wayside horn may be used in lieu of a horn attached to an engine at any highway-rail grade crossing equipped with an active warning system consisting of, at a minimum, flashing lights and gates. Such wayside horn shall [(1)] conform to the federal requirements for wayside horn use [, and (2) sound at a minimum of twenty-nine seconds prior to the train's arrival at the crossing, while the lead locomotive is traveling across the crossing and occasionally thereafter until such engine has crossed such highway] set forth in 49 CFR 222.59, as amended from time to time. Any entity installing a wayside horn shall comply with the federal requirements for written notice set forth in 49 CFR 222. For the purposes of this section, "wayside horn" has the same meaning as provided in 49 CFR 222.9, as amended from time to time.
Sec. 8. Subsection (b) of section 13a-80 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
(b) The Department of Transportation shall obtain a full appraisal on excess property prior to its sale and shall hold a public bid or auction for all properties determined to be legal lots of record. If the department does not receive any bids at the initial public bid or auction, the department may continue to market the property and accept offers for sale or hold another bid or auction. Transfers to other state agencies and municipalities for purposes specified by the department shall be exempt from the appraisal requirement. The department shall offer parcels that are legal lots of record to other state agencies [, and to any municipality in which any such parcel is located, before holding] prior to a public bid or auction and shall offer parcels that are not legal lots of record to [all] abutting landowners in accordance with department regulations. If the sale or transfer of property pursuant to this section results in the existing property of an abutting landowner becoming a nonconforming use, pursuant to local zoning requirements, the commissioner may sell or transfer the property to such abutting landowner without public bid or auction. The department shall obtain a second appraisal if the value of such property is more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars and is to be sold to an abutting landowner or in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this section. Any appraisals shall be obtained prior to the determination of a sale price of the excess property.
Sec. 9. Section 14-24 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
The [commissioner] Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may, if in [his] the commissioner's opinion it is equitable, grant a special registration and furnish a special set of number plates or markers, limited or unlimited as [he] the commissioner deems advisable, for the operation of heavy duty trailers for the transportation of heavy construction equipment, of cranes or other heavy construction equipment upon the streets and highways of this state from the railroad station or the storage yard to the construction job, or from one construction job to another. Each movement of such trailer, when loaded, crane or other heavy construction equipment shall require a limited or unlimited written permit from the Commissioner of Transportation, unless it is operating with an [oversize-overweight account code number, and a confirmation number] annual permit furnished by said commissioner pursuant to section 14-270. The Commissioner of Transportation shall issue for each such vehicle operating with such an [account code number] annual permit a document which identifies the vehicle and states the date of issue and date of expiration. The original document, as furnished by the Commissioner of Transportation, shall be carried in the vehicle. The markers or number plates furnished by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall be displayed in a prominent place on the rear of the vehicle. Such registration may be revoked or suspended at the discretion of the commissioner. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the commissioner from issuing temporary registrations for vehicles of this class. The commissioner may, upon receipt of a certified copy of a permit granted under the provisions of section 13a-117, grant to the person named in the permit a special registration and furnish a special set of number plates or markers, limited or unlimited, as specified in the permit, which permit shall be a part of such registration. [The registered gross weight of any tractor-trailer unit, where the trailer is registered as a heavy duty trailer, shall be the light weight of the tractor plus the gross weight of the heavy duty trailer.]
Sec. 10. Subsection (f) of section 14-96q of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):
(f) The commissioner may issue a permit for a yellow or amber light or lights, including flashing yellow or amber lights, which may be used on motor vehicles or equipment that are (1) specified in subsection (e) of this section, (2) maintenance vehicles as defined in section 14-1, or (3) vehicles transporting or escorting any vehicle or load or combinations thereof, which is or are either oversize or overweight, or both, and being operated or traveling under a permit issued by the Commissioner of Transportation pursuant to section 14-270. A yellow or amber light or lights, including flashing yellow or amber lights, may be used without obtaining a permit from the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles on wreckers registered pursuant to section 14-66, [or] on vehicles of carriers in rural mail delivery service or on vehicles operated by construction inspectors employed by the state of Connecticut, authorized by the Commissioner of Transportation, used during the performance of inspections on behalf of the state. The Commissioner of Transportation shall maintain a list of such authorized construction inspectors, including the name and address of each inspector and the registration number for each vehicle on which the lights are to be used.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
October 1, 2017 |
10a-109n(c) |
Sec. 2 |
October 1, 2017 |
13a-95b(b) and (c) |
Sec. 3 |
October 1, 2017 |
13b-20g |
Sec. 4 |
October 1, 2017 |
14-253a(h) |
Sec. 5 |
October 1, 2017 |
14-100a(c)(1) |
Sec. 6 |
October 1, 2017 |
14-289g |
Sec. 7 |
October 1, 2017 |
13b-329(b) |
Sec. 8 |
October 1, 2017 |
13a-80(b) |
Sec. 9 |
October 1, 2017 |
14-24 |
Sec. 10 |
October 1, 2017 |
14-96q(f) |
Statement of Purpose:
To amend statutes as recommended by the Department of Transportation regarding the regarding the notification of state construction contract opportunities, parking spaces, seat belts, motorcycle operators, wayside horns, the disposition of excess state property, heavy duty trailers and flashing lights on motor vehicles.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]