HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 941        FILED ON: 1/15/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1666

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Lenny Mirra

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act providing for increased transparency in the prevailing wage.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 941        FILED ON: 1/15/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1666

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1749 OF 2015-2016.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act providing for increased transparency in the prevailing wage.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. There is hereby established a Prevailing Wage Commission, the purpose of which shall be to determine the effectiveness, practicality and usefulness in establishing fair wage rates of Massachusetts Prevailing Wage Law, so-called, as contained in Chapters 149, 5, 71, and 121B of the general laws. In making such determinations the commission shall consider, at a minimum, whether the provisions of the current law result in wage rates which accurately reflect the actual market wage rates in the specific categories and geographic areas to which they apply, and whether other methodologies, including but not limited to those employed by the federal government, may yield rates which more accurately reflect prevailing market rates.  Said commission shall consist of the Commissioner of Labor and Industries, whom shall serve as its chair, two members appointed by the Speaker of the House, one of which shall represent the minority party, two members appointed by the Senate President, one of whom shall represent the minority party, and seven members appointed by the governor, three of whom shall represent organized labor, three of whom shall represent employers of union and non-union employees in the commonwealth, and one member from a list of three names submitted by the Massachusetts Municipal Association.

SECTION 2. The Department of Labor Standards within the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development is hereby authorized and directed to provide information on its website that details the current prevailing wage rates, the methodology by which the rates are determines, and any actions that have been taken within the last twelve months to modify one or more rates.

SECTION 3. The Department of Labor Standards within the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development shall conduct at least one public hearing per year on issues relating to the prevailing wage law, notice of which shall be promulgated as extensively as possible, and specifically provided to the municipalities and other political subdivisions of the commonwealth, and to the extent possible, organizations representing employers engaged in public projects and organizations representing organized labor in the commonwealth.