Connecticut House Bill HB05092

Connecticut 2013 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/13
• Refer: 1/9/13

Caption

An Act Concerning Prevailing Wage Thresholds And Their Applicability To Institutions Of Art And Culture.

Impact

The proposed changes are anticipated to have significant implications for state and local governments. By increasing the thresholds, the bill could reduce the financial burden on municipalities and allow them to allocate funds more effectively. The exemption for art and culture institutions is positioned as a move to encourage such organizations to pursue development projects which they might have otherwise avoided due to the costs associated with adhering to prevailing wage laws. Supporters argue that this will stimulate economic activity and investment in public and cultural infrastructure.

Summary

House Bill 05092 proposes amendments to the existing prevailing wage laws in the state, particularly targeting the thresholds that dictate when these wages must be paid on public works projects. The bill aims to raise these thresholds to $750,000 for new construction projects and $250,000 for renovation projects, meaning that smaller projects would no longer be subject to the prevailing wage requirements. Additionally, it seeks to exempt all institutions of art and culture from these requirements altogether, thus providing them with greater financial flexibility when undertaking renovation or construction projects.

Contention

The bill is expected to face scrutiny and potential opposition from labor unions and workers' rights advocates. Critics may argue that removing prevailing wage requirements could lead to decreased wages and poor working conditions for laborers on public works and cultural projects. There is a concern that the exemptions for cultural institutions could set a precedent for other sectors to seek similar exemptions, ultimately undermining the intent of prevailing wage laws which aim to ensure fair pay for workers across various industries.