TAPE/#

Speaker

Comments

TAPE 102, A

003

Chair Brown

Calls the meeting to order at 8:39 a.m.  Opens the public hearing on HB 2996 and HB 2997.

HB 2996 and HB 2997 – PUBLIC HEARING

010

Janet Adkins

Committee Administrator.  Explains HB 2996 and HB 2997.

025

Rep. Bruce Hanna

House District 7.  Submits HB 2996-2 amendments and an informational packet in support of HB 2996 (EXHIBIT A and B).  Reads from written testimony (EXHIBIT B, Page 1 – 3).  Submits HB 2997-1 amendments and written testimony in support of HB 2997 (EXHIBIT C and D).

115

Richard Meyers

City Manager, Cottage Grove.  Speaks in support of HB 2996 and the -2 amendments.  Elaborates how $25,000 is an inadequate upper limit for projects that do not fall under the prevailing wage law.  Talks about the types of projects that would fall under the prevailing wage law.  Outlines how HB 2996 will help the city of Cottage Grove.  Mentions the financial burden that prevailing wage laws adds to a project. 

165

Meyers

Explains that local companies are not bidding on projects due to the amount of paperwork that has to be done.  Wants the prevailing wage law to be in line with the thresholds in ORS 279.C.305. 

188

Rep. Esquivel

Asks what the project would have been with the prevailing wage.

193

Meyers

States that it would have increased the project by a couple of thousand of dollars.

200

Rep. Holvey

Asks about the paperwork involved in doing the prevailing wage law and if there are other reasons why small contractors would not be able to do prevailing wage projects.

213

Meyers

Says that small contractors have difficulty with the certified payroll report and the bond requirements.  States that the small contractors do not have the resources to do the paperwork.

225

Rep. Holvey

Shares the concern that small contractors are able to stay in business because they can obtain small contracts.  Believes that HB 2296 could take small contracts away from these local contractors.  Asks if they have information about the amount of money that HB 2996 would save the city.

246

Meyers

Believes that the 48% of the jobs that would no longer fall under the prevailing wage law are not currently being done by smaller firms. 

263

Chair Brown

Asks about the dollar amounts that were previously stated and if it is all public works’ dollars.

267

Rep. Hanna

Says it is all public works’ dollars that qualify under the Bureau of Labor and Industry (BOLI).  Says that 4.4% at $125,000 would be eliminated from the bid process.

274

Bob Avery

Talks about the spreadsheet from BOLI (EXHIBIT B, Page 7).  Talks about the dollar amount of contracts.

292

Rep. Hanna

Reads from written testimony in support of HB 2997 (EXHIBIT D).  Recommends a $250,000 upper limit on the size of the project and outlines the reasons for raising the limit. 

368

Meyers

Speaks in support of HB 2997 and the -1 amendments (EXHIBIT C).  Talks about the city of Cottage Groves’ partnership with some youth to build a skate park.  States that Bureau of Labor and Industry (BOLI) told them that the skate park fell under the prevailing wage law. 

TAPE 103, A

001

Meyers

States that BOLI later determined the project did not fall under the prevailing wage law.  Mentions another story where the city wanted to help a local group to replace playground equipment but could not because of prevailing wage laws.   

031

Rep. Shields

Asks where the money from the Rotary Club went for the project.

035

Meyers

Talks about the contract with a playground company.

049

Bob Shiprack

Executive Secretary, Oregon Building and Construction Trades Council.  Submits informational packet (EXHIBIT E).  Explains the prevailing wage laws. 

054

Chair Brown

Talks about the Davis-Bacon Act and the Little Davis-Bacon Act.

057

Shiprack

Says that the bills before the committee tries to fix a lot of little problems with the Davis-Bacon Act.  Gives a history of Prevailing Wage Law in Oregon.  Talks about the guide put out that shows what the prevailing wage is in various communities.  References the study and says that Oregon has a low cost per mile for transportation projects that fall under prevailing wage laws.

110

Shiprack

States that this shows that high wages leads to greater productivity.  Shares concerns about HB 2996 and 2997.  States that raising the threshold would put us near the second or third highest in the country for public projects that do not fall under prevailing wage laws.  Mentions that many states do not have thresholds for prevailing wage law.  Talks about the paperwork involved.  Notes that in Colorado the state suspended the law and the costs of construction was higher for public works projects after the prevailing wage law was repealed. 

170

Shiprack

Believes that getting rid of prevailing wage laws does not make savings.

185

Ed Glad

Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters.  Speaks in opposition to HB 2996 and HB 2997.  Talks about the criteria for filing taxes as a 5015C3.  Notes that the research done to create 5015C3 and says that the largest concentration of 5015C3 outside of the District of Columbia is in Oregon.  States that these nonprofits are putting in structures on public grounds which become public assets.  Says that HB 2997 advocates for decreased wages and notes that people in every county voted to keep prevailing wage law. 

277

Shiprack

Speaks about HB 2997 and says that he does not know how the printed bill would work.  Notes that two issues need to be clarified and they mostly deal with the definition of volunteers on prevailing wage law projects. 

310

Jon Oshel

Association of Oregon Counties.  Wants the issue of impacts clarified in HB 2996.  Mentions HB 2997 and the volunteer labor issue that need to be clarified.

360

Christy Monson

League of Oregon Cities.  Speaks in support on HB 2996 and HB 2997, but notes the issues that need clarification in HB 2996 and HB 2997.  Believes that there are cost savings by raising the limits for projects that do not fall under the prevailing wage laws.   

TAPE 102, B

006

Jeff Dean

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).  Speaks in support of HB 2996 and HB 2997.  Says that many of ABC members do not perform work on public contracts, because the workers hit the wage threshold quickly on prevailing wage projects.

016

Steve Schneider

Schneider Equipment and Drilling Company and Oregon Groundwater Association.  Says that they support any increase on the threshold.  Talks about the paperwork process involved in relation to prevailing wage law projects.  States that BOLI has not worked definitions of tasks into the booklet they put out about prevailing wage law.  Mentions that the classification can be switched throughout the day and this creates different pay scales.     

063

Schneider

Talks about the forms and procedures involved with construction projects that fall under the Prevailing Wage Law.  States that contractors do not want to do these projects because the fines are severe.  Notes that fringe benefits requirements are also hard to administer. 

091

Chair Brown

Closes the public hearing on HB 2996 and HB 2997.  Opens the public hearing on HB 2710.

HB 2710 – PUBLIC HEARING

101

Rep. Holvey

Explains HB 2710 and the -1 amendments.  Submits the -1 amendments (EXHIBIT H).  Talks about how some of the prevailing wage laws and classifications are outdated.  Says that HB 2710 will stabilize the wages and will create unification.   

148

Bob Shiprack

Building Trades Council.  Says that HB 2710 is identical to a statute in Washington state.  Talks about the problems with Davis-Bacon surveys.  Notes that in 1992 wages were frozen in four counties in Oregon and says that those counties now have low wages. 

179

Christie Hammond

Administrator, Wage and Hour Division, Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI).  Submits and written testimony on behalf of Dan Gardner in support of HB 2710 (EXHIBIT F).  Says that the federal survey is voluntary.  Talks about Curry County and how some wages are below Oregon’s minimum wage for federal prevailing wage projects. 

230

Hammond

Notes that HB 2710 would require the higher wage, either the state rate or Davis-Bacon Rate

239

Ed Glad

Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters.  Agrees with previous testimony and speaks in support of HB 2710.  Talks about the replacement of bridges and roads that go across several different counties and the difference in prevailing wages. 

270

Rep. Schaufler

Talks about Mr. Glad’s support of positive business policies in Oregon.  Requests software that has the Davis-Bacon Act pay rates. 

317

Shiprack

Shares story with the committee.

332

Hammond

Talks about Excel spreadsheets that do basic rates and says that they could work on the weighted computations for prevailing wage rates. 

345

Rep. Holvey

Asks if BOLI has checked with states with similar statutes.

353

Hammond

Says that Washington state’s statute has been in place since 1988 and notes that Washington State does not have difficulty enforcing the law.

363

Rep. Holvey

Asks if the contracting agency can achieve the process outlined in the -1 amendments.

378

Hammond

States that both wage rates could be provided to the public and says that BOLI will provide the federal and state prevailing wage rates. 

405

John Jackley

Highway Division, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).  Submits and reads written testimony taking a neutral position on HB 2710 (EXHIBIT G).

TAPE 103, B

001

Jackley

Continues reading from written testimony.  Indicates an average project increase of $2,000 to $4,000 if HB 2710 passes.

013

Chair Brown

Asks what would happen if a highway contract with federal dollars was built in an area where the federal prevailing wage was under Oregon’s minimum wage.

016

Jackley

States that the federal prevailing wage would apply.

019

Rep. Holvey

Asks if ODOT foresees savings on contracts because the higher wage will already be paid if the project suddenly switched to a higher prevailing wage.

031

Jackley

States that any fiscal impact HB 2710 has would be offset by the savings ODOT would make because they would not have to renegotiate contracts.

035

Chair Brown

Asks if using the state prevailing wage jeopardizes federal dollars.

037

Jackley

Says that the State Highway Fund would have to make up the difference if the state rate was higher than the federal rate.

042

John Oshel

Association of Oregon Counties.  States that the concerns are at the administrative level and that contractors may not be able to enact the bill.   

063

Christie Monson

League of Oregon Cities.  Wants to participate in the workgroup on HB 2996, HB 2997, and HB 2710.

076

John Killin

Independent Electrical Contractors of Oregon.  States that they are in favor of HB 2996 and HB 2997.  States that HB 2710 creates confusion about what prevailing wage rates apply.

098

Jeff Dean

Director of Government Affairs, Associated Builders and Contractors.  Speaks in opposition to HB 2710.  Shares concerns about how federal grants would work for construction projects under HB 2710.

103

Steve Schneider

Schneider Equipment and Drilling.  Speaks in opposition to HB 2710.  Talks about the lack of compatibility between federal and state prevailing wage laws. 

119

Rep. Holvey

Asks if it will create more administrative work and says that the -1 amendment puts the burden on the contracting agency to identify the correct wage and classification system for contractors.

129

Schneider

Says that overtime still plays into the problem.  States that the weighted average adds to the problem.

137

Rep. Holvey

Asks if prevailing wage workers are often subject to state and federal prevailing wage laws on the same project.

143

Killin

Says that it does not happen often but it does happen. 

151

Greg Miller

Associated General Contractors.  Says that the calculation of the wages needs to be done by BOLI.  States that the -1 amendments would not clarify which federal and state prevailing wage applies. 

170

Rep. Holvey

Comments that the -1 amendment does address the concern, and if it does not, wants to make sure it does.

177

Chair Brown

Closes the public hearing on HB 2710 and opens the public hearing on HB 3382 and HB 3383.

HB 3382 and HB 3383 – PUBLIC HEARING

183

Janet Adkins

Committee Administrator.  Explains HB 3382 and HB 3383.

202

Bob Shiprack

Oregon Building and Construction Trade Council.  Speaks in support of HB 3382 and HB 3383.  Explains what a public works contract is.  Talks about the list of projects that are advertised to the public and when rates begin to apply.  Mentions that with alternative bidding processes the rates begin to apply at a different time. 

250

Shiprack

Talks about the bidding process for a prison and the prevailing wages that apply.  Mentions the problem that arose with a school district’s construction project in 2004.  Wants the legislature to tell them what rates apply and when they begin to apply. 

302

Rep. Esquivel

Asks who establishes the rate and asks how the rates actually work.

307

Shiprack

States that the request for proposals evaluate the projects to see if the agency can afford the building and says that wages are moot at the beginning of the project proposal process.

320

Rep. Esquivel

Asks, if once the request for proposal (RFP) process is done and the contract bid on, the wages are established.

322

Shiprack

Says that the scenario is correct.  States that the bid process is the trigger.

331

Jerod Broadfoot

Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractions National Association and the Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors National Association.  Speaks in support of HB 3383.  Says that the issue happens when there is a public works project and materials is prefabricated for the project .  Notes that, under this scenario, people do not have to pay the prevailing wage to the prefabrication employees.  Requests to form a workgroup with interested groups. 

384

Rep. Schaufler

Speaks in support of HB 3383.

407

Jon Oshel

Association of Oregon Counties.  Takes a neutral position on HB 3382.  Talks about the need for clarity in HB 3383. 

TAPE 104, A

014

Greg Miller

Associated General Contractors.  Says that there is no need for HB 3382 and speaks against it.  Speaks in opposition to HB 3383 and says that they have a lot of questions. 

029

Jon Killin

Independent Electrical Contractors of Oregon.  Takes a neutral stance on HB 3383.

035

Jeff Dean

Director of Government Affairs, Associated Builders and Contractors. Speaks in opposition to HB 3383

042

Steve Schneider

Speaks in opposition to HB 3383.  Mentions the problem with the enforcement of prevailing wage with manufacturers.

057

Rep. Schaufler

Believes that the bill will be narrowed down and that it is not the intent of HB 3383 to apply to all those companies.

064

Julie Brandis

Associated Oregon Industry (AOI).  Speaks in opposition to HB 3383.  Notes that AOI always speaks in opposition to the expansion of prevailing wage laws. 

082

Chair Brown

Closes the public hearing on HB 3382 and HB 3383.  Adjourns the meeting at 10:37 a.m.