Bill Text: CA AB3018 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: State contracts: skilled and trained workforce.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2018-09-28 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 882, Statutes of 2018. [AB3018 Detail]
Download: California-2017-AB3018-Amended.html
Bill Title: State contracts: skilled and trained workforce.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2018-09-28 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 882, Statutes of 2018. [AB3018 Detail]
Download: California-2017-AB3018-Amended.html
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Amended
IN
Senate
August 17, 2018 |
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Amended
IN
Senate
June 20, 2018 |
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Amended
IN
Assembly
March 22, 2018 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION
| Assembly Bill | No. 3018 |
| Introduced by Assembly Member Low |
February 16, 2018 |
An act to amend Section 2602 of, and to add Section 2603 to, the Public Contract Code, relating to public contracts.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 3018, as amended, Low.
State contracts: skilled and trained workforce.
Existing law authorizes a public entity to require a bidder, contractor, or other entity to use a skilled and trained workforce to complete a contract or project, and requires that the commitment to use a skilled and trained workforce be made in an enforceable agreement that meets specified requirements. Existing law defines a “skilled and trained workforce” to mean a workforce that meets certain conditions, including specified apprenticeship graduation requirements. Existing law requires a contractor, bidder, or other entity to provide to the public entity or other awarding body, on a monthly basis while the project or contract is being performed, a report demonstrating compliance with skilled and trained workforce requirements.
This bill would require the public agency or other awarding body to forward a copy of the monthly report to the
Labor Commissioner for issuance of a civil wage and penalty assessment and a copy of the plan, if any, to achieve substantial compliance with skilled and trained workforce requirements and the response to that plan, as prescribed, if the monthly report does not demonstrate compliance with skilled and trained workforce requirements. The bill would limit the public agency or awarding body to withholding 150% of the value of the monthly bill billing for a subcontractor that failed to timely submit the required information or did not demonstrate compliance, and would allow the contractor, bidder, or other entity to withhold the same amount from the subcontractor. The bill would require a contractor or subcontractor to
pay a civil penalty to the state of not more than $5,000 per month of work performed in violation of the skilled and trained workforce requirements if the Labor Commissioner or his or her designee determines that the contractor or subcontractor failed to use a skilled and trained workforce. The bill would require a contractor or subcontractor that commits a second or subsequent violation within a 3-year period to pay a civil penalty to the state of not more than $10,000 per month of work performed in violation of the skilled and trained workforce requirements. The bill would require a contractor to obtain a declaration signed under penalty of perjury from the subcontractor that he or she has met the skilled and trained workforce requirements before making the final payment to the subcontractor. The bill would make a contractor or subcontractor who, with the intent to defraud, violates the above-described requirements ineligible to bid on, be awarded, or perform work on a contract for a public works project,
as specified. The bill would require the Labor Commissioner to publish on the commissioner’s Internet Web site a list of contractors who are ineligible under these provisions. By expanding the crime of perjury, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 2602 of the Public Contract Code is amended to read:2602.
(a) When a contractor, bidder, or other entity is required to provide an enforceable commitment that a skilled and trained workforce will be used to complete a contract or project, the commitment shall be made in an enforceable agreement with the public entity or other awarding body that provides both of the following:(1) The contractor, bidder, or other entity, and its contractors and subcontractors at every tier, will comply with this chapter.
(2) The contractor, bidder, or other entity will provide to the public entity or other awarding body, on a monthly basis while the project or contract is being performed, a report
demonstrating compliance with this chapter.
(b) If the contractor, bidder, or other entity fails to provide the monthly report required by this section, or provides a report that is incomplete, the public agency or other awarding body shall withhold further payments until a complete report is provided. If a monthly report is incomplete due to the failure of a subcontractor to timely submit the required information to the contractor, bidder, or other entity, the public agency or awarding body shall only withhold an amount equal to 150 percent of the value of the monthly billing for the relevant subcontractor. If a public agency or other awarding body withholds amounts pursuant to this subdivision, the contractor, bidder, or other entity shall be entitled to withhold the same amount from the subcontractor until the
subcontractor provides the contractor, bidder, or other entity a complete report, and the public agency or awarding body subsequently pays the contractor, bidder, or other entity the withheld payments. If the contractor, bidder, or other entity substitutes a subcontractor pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 4100) for failure to provide a complete report, and the contractor, bidder, or other entity replaces the subcontractor with one that provides an enforceable commitment that a skilled and trained workforce will be used to complete the contract or project, the public agency or awarding body shall immediately resume making payments to the contractor, bidder, or other entity, including all previously withheld payments.
(c) If a monthly report does not demonstrate compliance with this chapter, the public agency or
other awarding body shall do
all of the following:
(1) Withhold further payments until the contractor, bidder, or other entity provides a plan to achieve substantial compliance with this chapter, with respect to the relevant apprenticeable occupation, prior to completion of the contract or project. All of the following shall apply to the withholding of payments under this paragraph:
(A) The public agency or awarding body shall withhold an amount equal to 150 percent of the value of the monthly billing for the entity or subcontractor that failed to comply with this chapter.
chapter, or 150 percent of the value of the monthly billing for the subcontractor that failed to comply with this chapter. If a public agency or other awarding body withholds amounts pursuant to this paragraph, the contractor, bidder, or other entity shall be entitled to withhold the same amount from the subcontractor that did not demonstrate compliance with this chapter.
(B) If the contractor, bidder, or other entity substitutes a subcontractor pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 4100) for failure to demonstrate compliance, and the contractor, bidder, or other entity replaces the subcontractor with one that provides an enforceable commitment that a skilled and trained workforce will be used to complete the contract or project, the public agency or awarding body shall immediately resume making payments
to the contractor, bidder, or other entity, including all previously withheld payments.
(C) If a contractor, bidder, or other entity submits to the public agency or awarding body a plan to achieve substantial compliance with this chapter, the public agency or awarding body shall immediately resume making payments to the contractor, bidder, or other entity, including all previously withheld payments unless, within a reasonable time, the public agency or awarding body rejects the plan as insufficient and explains the reasons for the rejection.
(2) Forward a copy of the monthly report to the Labor Commissioner for issuance of a civil wage and penalty assessment in accordance with Section 2603.
(3) Forward to the Labor
Commissioner a copy of the plan, if any, submitted by the contractor, bidder, or other entity to achieve substantial compliance with this chapter and the response to that plan, if any, by the public agency or awarding body.
(d) A monthly report provided to the public agency or other awarding body shall be a public record under the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code) and shall be open to public inspection.
SEC. 2.
Section 2603 is added to the Public Contract Code, to read:2603.
(a) If the Labor Commissioner or his or her designee determines after an investigation that a contractor or subcontractor failed to use a skilled and trained workforce in accordance with this chapter, the contractor or subcontractor responsible for the violation shall forfeit, as a civil penalty to the state, not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) per month of work performed in violation of this chapter. A contractor or subcontractor that commits a second or subsequent violation within a three-year period shall forfeit as a civil penalty to the state the sum of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per month of work performed in violation of this chapter.(b) For the purposes of this section:
(1) “Any interest” shall have the same meaning as in subdivision (h) of Section 1777.1 of the Labor Code.
(2) “Contractor or subcontractor” shall have the same meaning as in subdivision (g) of Section 1777.1 of the Labor Code.
(3) “Entity” shall have the same meaning as in subdivision (i) of Section 1777.1 of the Labor Code.
(c) The amount of any monetary penalty may be reduced or waived by the Labor Commissioner if the amount of the penalty would be disproportionate to the severity of the violation. The Labor Commissioner shall consider, in setting the amount of a monetary penalty, all of the following
circumstances:
(1) Whether the violation was intentional.
(2) Whether the contractor or subcontractor has committed other violations of this chapter or of the Labor Code.
(3) Whether, upon notice of the violation, the contractor or subcontractor took steps to voluntarily remedy the violation.
(4) The extent or severity of the violation.
(5) Whether a contractor or subcontractor submitted and followed a plan to achieve substantial compliance with this chapter.
(d) The Labor Commissioner or his or her designee shall issue a civil wage and penalty
assessment, in accordance with the provisions of Section 1741 of the Labor Code, upon determination of penalties assessed under subdivision (a). Review of a civil wage and penalty assessment issued under this subdivision may be requested in accordance with the provisions of Section 1742 of the Labor Code. The regulations of the Director of Industrial Relations, which govern proceedings for review of civil wage and penalty assessments and the withholding of contract payments under Article 1 (commencing with Section 1720) and Article 2 (commencing with Section 1770) of Chapter 1 of Part 7 of Division 2 of the Labor Code, shall apply.
(e) The determination of the Labor Commissioner as to the amount of the penalty imposed under subdivision (a) shall be reviewable by the Director of Industrial Relations only for an abuse of discretion.
(f) If a subcontractor is found to have violated this chapter, the prime contractor of the project is not liable for any penalties under subdivision (a) unless the prime contractor had knowledge of the subcontractor’s failure to comply with this chapter or unless the prime contractor fails to comply with any of the following requirements:
(1) The contract executed between the contractor and the subcontractor for the performance of work on the project shall include a copy of this chapter.
(2) The contractor shall periodically monitor the subcontractor’s use of a skilled and trained workforce.
(3) Upon becoming aware of a failure of the subcontractor to use
a skilled and trained workforce, the contractor shall take corrective action, including, but not limited to, retaining 150 percent of the amount due to the subcontractor for work performed on the project until the failure is corrected.
(4) Prior to making the final payment to the subcontractor for work performed on the project, the contractor shall obtain a declaration signed under penalty of perjury from the subcontractor that the subcontractor has met the requirements of this chapter.
(g) The Labor Commissioner shall notify the prime contractor within 15 days of the receipt by the Labor Commissioner of a complaint that a subcontractor violated this chapter.
(h) Whenever a contractor or subcontractor is found by the Labor
Commissioner to be in violation of this chapter with intent to defraud, the contractor or subcontractor or a firm, corporation, partnership, or association in which the contractor or subcontractor has any interest is ineligible for a period of not less than one year or more than three years to do either of the following:
(1) Bid on or be awarded a contract for a public works project.
(2) Perform work as a subcontractor on a public works project.
(i) Whenever a contractor or subcontractor is found by the Labor Commissioner to have committed two or more separate willful violations of this chapter within a three-year period, the contractor or subcontractor or a firm, corporation, partnership, or association in which the contractor
or subcontractor has any interest is ineligible for a period of up to three years to do either of the following:
(1) Bid on or be awarded a contract for a public works project.
(2) Perform work as a subcontractor on a public works project.
(j) The debarment procedures adopted by the Labor Commissioner pursuant to Section 1777.1 of the Labor Code shall apply to any finding made under subdivisions (h) or (i) of this section.
(k) The Labor Commissioner shall publish on the commissioner’s Internet Web site a list of contractors who are ineligible to bid on or be awarded a public works contract, or to perform work as a subcontractor on a public works project pursuant to
this section. The list shall contain the name of the contractor, the Contractors’ State License Board license number of the contractor, and the effective period of debarment of the contractor. Contractors shall be added to the list upon issuance of a debarment order and the commissioner shall also notify the Contractors’ State License Board when the list is updated. At least annually, the commissioner shall notify awarding bodies of the availability of the list of debarred contractors.
(l) (1) If a public entity or awarding body that is required to obtain an enforceable commitment that a skilled and trained workforce will be used to complete a contract or project receives a monthly report which does not demonstrate compliance with the skilled and trained workforce requirements of subdivision (c) of Section 10506.6,
Section 10506.8, Section 10506.9, or subdivision (c) of Section 20928.2 of this code, Article 9 (commencing with Section 388) of Chapter 2.3 of Part 1 of Division 1 of the Public Utilities Code, or subparagraph (B) of paragraph (8) of subdivision (a) of Section 65913.4 or subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 66201 of the Government Code, the public entity or awarding body shall forward a copy of the monthly report to the Labor Commissioner for issuance of a civil wage and penalty assessment in accordance with this section.
(2) The penalty and debarment procedures of this section shall apply to violations of subdivision (c) of Section 10506.6, Section 10506.8, Section 10506.9, or subdivision (c) of Section 20928.2 of this code, Article 9 (commencing with Section 388) of Chapter 2.3 of Part 1 of Division 1 of the
Public Utilities Code, or subparagraph (B) of paragraph (8) of subdivision (a) of Section 65913.4 or subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 66201 of the Government Code.
