Bill Positions

Bill Number: SB 462

Bill Title: Procurement - Prevailing Wage - School Construction

Bill Sponsor(s): Senator Kittleman

Subject: Procurement

Committee: FIN

Bill Summary: This bill would have modified the criteria for the applicability of prevailing wage rates for State funded school construction projects. The prevailing wage threshold would have been raised from 50% of construction costs to 75%, thereby providing that 75% or more of a school construction project must be State funded in order for the prevailing wage law to apply.

History: Similar bills supported by the Chamber were introduced in the 2001 and 2003 session and died in ECM and FIN. In 2004 HB 396 received an unfavorable report in ECM. In 2006 SB 27 in FIN died without a vote. In 2009 SB 462 received an unfavorable report from the Finance Committee.

Chamber Position: Support

Position Summary: To meet the large, unfunded need for school construction, it makes sense to allow the counties to get the best possible labor rates for their school construction projects. More schools could be built by state and local governments if costs were paid at market level wages, instead of the artifically inflated prevailing wage rates.

Position Statement: Click here (pdf)

Chamber Staff: Ronald Wineholt

General Assembly: Click here to view the bill on the Maryland General Assembly's website.