CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL 854
Senate Bill 854, signed into law June 20, 2014, became effectively immediately. It established a new public works contractor registration program which will collect fees to fund compliance monitoring and enforcement, determine prevailing wage and public works coverage, and hear enforcement appeals.
All contractors and subcontractors intending to bid or perform work on public works projects will be required to register, and annually renew, online for the program. The cost to register for the program is currently $400 (effective 7/1/2017) and is non-refundable. This is a DIR fee paid to the State. The District will not register a contractor, nor collect funds.
No bid can be accepted nor any contract or subcontract entered into nor purchase order issued without proof that the contractor or subcontractor is registered. Effective July 1, 2017, Small Project Exemption Contractors who work exclusively on small public works projects are not required to register as a public works contractor or file electronic certified payroll reports for those projects. Contractors are still required to maintain certified payroll records on a continuous basis and provide them to the Labor Commissioner’s Office upon request. Additionally, awarding agencies are not required to submit the notice of contract award through DIR’s PWC-100 system on projects that fall within the small project exemption.
The small project exemption applies for all public works projects that do not exceed:
- $25,000 for new construction, alteration, installation, demolition or repair
- $15,000 for maintenance
Public works refers to construction, alteration, demolition, installation, or repair work (including maintenance) done under contract and paid by public funds. For a more detailed explanation of public works projects, refer to California Labor Code 1720 -1720.6. If the services you are providing the District, or may provide the District in the future, fall under the definition of “public works”, please ensure you are registered with the DIR.
You can access tutorials for registration and submitting certified payroll to the DIR.
If you have questions regarding the internal procedures for Fresno Unified School District, as they relate to this new statute, please contact the Purchasing Department at (559) 457-3588.