Posted: | January 22, 2019 12:48 PM |
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From: | Representative Francis X. Ryan |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | SUBJECT: Prevailing Wage – County Referendum (Former HB 172) |
In the near future I plan to reintroduce Rep. Marsico’s legislation from last session (HB 172) which would empower county electorates to decide for themselves whether school construction projects should be subject to the state Prevailing Wage Act. The bill would first amend the law's definition of "public body", effectively exempting school districts from the requirements of the Prevailing Wage Act. County election officials would then be charged with placing a referendum question on the ballot in the 2020 general election, asking county voters the following: Do you favor any and all public works projects undertaken in (insert county name) County by any school district and any authority, agency or instrumentality established by one or more school districts be constructed in accordance with the prevailing minimum wage rates for workmen employed on those projects as set forth in Pennsylvania's Prevailing Wage Act? If the referendum question were approved by a majority of the county electorate, school district projects would be subject to the Prevailing Wage Act in that county. In essence, this legislation creates an "opt in" process that allows the voters of every county to decide whether they want their schools built in accordance with the Prevailing Wage Act. The legislation permits a re-vote once every ten years, although no sooner than the November 2030 general election. Because school construction and renovation projects are so costly, school districts are hit particularly hard by the State Prevailing Wage mandate. I believe that this referendum process offers a fair means of determining whether taxpayers want their schools to be subject to the Prevailing Wage Act. Please join me in cosponsoring this important piece of legislation |
Introduced as HB319