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AB-2451 Public works: prevailing wages.(2023-2024)

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Date Published: 03/11/2024 09:00 PM
AB2451:v98#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  March 11, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2451


Introduced by Assembly Member Cervantes

February 13, 2024


An act to amend Section 53 1773 of the Labor Code, relating to employment. public works.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2451, as amended, Cervantes. Department of Industrial Relations. Public works: prevailing wages.
Existing law requires, except for public works projects of $1,000 or less, that workers employed on public works be paid not less than the general prevailing rate of per diem wages for work of a similar character in the locality that the public work is performed, and not less than the general prevailing rate of per diem wages for holiday and overtime work fixed, as prescribed. Existing law requires the Director of Industrial Relations to determine the applicable wage rates established by collective bargaining agreements and the rates that may have been predetermined for federal public works, within the locality and in the nearest labor market area.
This bill would require the director to use the higher rate when rates arise from collective bargaining agreements that have overlapping crafts or classifications.

Existing law establishes in the Labor and Workforce Development Agency the Department of Industrial Relations for specified purposes and provides for its administration by the Director of Industrial Relations. Existing law defines the designation “head of the department” to mean the Director of Industrial Relations, unless the Labor Code expressly provides that another entity has jurisdiction over a specified matter.

This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to that definition.

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 1773 of the Labor Code is amended to read:

1773.
 (a) The body awarding any a contract for public work, or otherwise undertaking any a public work, shall obtain the general prevailing rate of per diem wages and the general prevailing rate for holiday and overtime work in the locality in which the public work is to be performed for each craft, classification, or type of worker needed to execute the contract from the Director of Industrial Relations. The holidays upon which those rates shall be paid need not be specified by the awarding body, body but shall be all holidays recognized in the applicable collective bargaining agreement. If the prevailing rate is not based on a collectively bargained rate, the holidays upon which the prevailing rate shall be paid shall be as provided in Section 6700 of the Government Code.

In

(b) In determining the rates, the Director of Industrial Relations shall ascertain and consider the applicable wage rates established by collective bargaining agreements and the rates that may have been predetermined for federal public works, works within the locality and in the nearest labor market area. Where rates arise from collective bargaining agreements that have overlapping crafts or classifications, the higher rate shall prevail. Where the rates do not constitute the rates actually prevailing in the locality, the director shall obtain and consider further data from the labor organizations and employers or employer associations concerned, including the recognized collective bargaining representatives for the particular craft, classification, or type of work involved. The rate fixed for each craft, classification, or type of work shall be not less than the prevailing rate paid in the craft, classification, or type of work.

If

(c) If the director determines that the rate of prevailing wage for any a craft, classification, or type of worker is the rate established by a collective bargaining agreement, the director may adopt that rate by reference as provided for in the collective bargaining agreement and that determination shall be effective for the life of the agreement or until the director determines that another rate should be adopted.

SECTION 1.Section 53 of the Labor Code is amended to read:
53.

Whenever in Section 1001 or in Part 1 (commencing with Section 11000) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code “head of the department” or similar designation occurs, the designation shall mean, for the purposes of this code, the director, except that with respect to matters that by the express provisions of this code are committed to or retained under the jurisdiction of the Division of Workers’ Compensation, the State Compensation Insurance Fund, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board, or the Industrial Welfare Commission, the designation shall mean the Division of Workers’ Compensation, the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation, the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, the State Compensation Insurance Fund, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board, or the Industrial Welfare Commission, as the case may be.