Connecticut House Bill HB05073

Connecticut 2015 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/7/15
• Refer: 1/7/15

Caption

An Act Concerning Changes To The Prevailing Wage.

Impact

The bill's passage would directly influence the financial dynamics of municipal construction projects by reducing the number of contracts that are bound by prevailing wage laws. Proponents argue that this could lead to cost savings for municipalities struggling with tight budgets, potentially allowing for more construction projects to move forward. However, detractors express concern that lowering the prevailing wage threshold may result in diminished protections for workers and could lead to lower wages in the construction industry, ultimately affecting job quality and standards.

Summary

House Bill 5073 proposes significant changes to prevailing wage laws in the state, specifically aimed at municipal construction projects. The primary objective of the bill is to increase the threshold amount under which prevailing wage laws apply. It suggests raising the minimum threshold for both new construction and remodeling projects to one million dollars. This change means that fewer construction projects will be subject to prevailing wage requirements, which generally mandate that workers be paid a minimum hourly wage as determined by state or federal law. Additionally, the bill stipulates that this threshold will be indexed to the inflation rate, providing an automatic adjustment mechanism for future projects.

Contention

There is likely to be contention surrounding the proposed changes, particularly from labor advocates and worker protection groups. Opponents of HB 5073 might argue that raising the threshold and limiting prevailing wage applicability undermines the wages of laborers and decreases the quality of work performed on public projects. Critics may also point out that indexing to inflation might not be sufficient to keep pace with actual wage growth needs in the construction sector. The debate may focus on the balance between reducing costs for municipalities and maintaining fair labor practices and standards for workers in the construction industry.