text:
A contractor shall be registered pursuant to this section to be qualified to bid on, be listed in a bid proposal, subject to the requirements of Section 4104 of the Public Contract Code, or engage in the performance of any public work contract that is subject to the requirements of this chapter. For the purposes of this section, “contractor” includes a subcontractor as defined by Section 1722.1.

(a) To qualify for registration under this section, a contractor shall do all of the following:

(1) (A) Register with the Department of Industrial Relations in the manner prescribed by the department and pay an initial nonrefundable application fee to qualify for registration under this section and an annual renewal fee on or before July 1 of each year thereafter. The director may establish and adjust annual registration and renewal fees of up to $800 by publishing the fees on the department’s internet website, and those actions shall not be subject to the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). Any action taken to establish or adjust annual registration and renewal fees in excess of $800 shall be subject to the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) and the director shall thereafter publish those fees to the department’s internet website. The initial registration and renewal fees may be adjusted no more than annually by the director to support the costs specified in Section 1771.3.

(B) A contractor may register or renew according to this subdivision in annual increments up to three years from the date of registration. Contractors who wish to do so will be required to prepay the applicable nonrefundable application or renewal fees to qualify for the number of years for which they wish to preregister.

(2) Provide evidence, disclosures, or releases as are necessary to establish all of the following:

(A) Workers’ compensation coverage that meets the requirements of Division 4 (commencing with Section 3200) and includes sufficient coverage for any worker whom the contractor employs to perform work that is subject to prevailing wage requirements other than a contractor who is separately registered under this section. Coverage may be evidenced by a current and valid certificate of workers’ compensation insurance or certification of self-insurance required under Section 7125 of the Business and Professions Code.

(B) If applicable, the contractor is licensed in accordance with Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 7000) of the Business and Professions Code.

(C) The contractor does not have any delinquent liability to an employee or the state for any assessment of back wages or related damages, interest, fines, or penalties pursuant to any final judgment, order, or determination by a court or any federal, state, or local administrative agency, including a confirmed arbitration award. However, for purposes of this paragraph, the contractor shall not be disqualified for any judgment, order, or determination that is under appeal, provided that the contractor has secured the payment of any amount eventually found due through a bond or other appropriate means.

(D) The contractor is not currently debarred under Section 1777.1 or under any other federal or state law providing for the debarment of contractors from public works.

(E) The contractor has not bid on a public works contract, been listed in a bid proposal, or engaged in the performance of a contract for public works without being lawfully registered in accordance with this section, within the preceding 12 months or since the effective date of the requirements set forth in subdivision (e), whichever is earlier, and also has not been awarded a contract for, or engaged in the performance of, work on projects or developments without being lawfully registered in accordance with Section 1725.6, within the preceding 12 months. If a contractor is found to be in violation of the requirements of this paragraph, the period of disqualification shall be waived if both of the following are true:

(i) The contractor has not previously been found to be in violation of the requirements of this paragraph within the preceding 12 months.

(ii) The contractor pays an additional nonrefundable penalty registration fee of two thousand dollars ($2,000).

(b) Fees received pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the State Public Works Enforcement Fund established by Section 1771.3 and shall be used only for the purposes specified in that section.

(c) A contractor who fails to pay the renewal fee required under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) on or before the expiration of any prior period of registration shall be prohibited from bidding on or engaging in the performance of any contract for public work until once again registered pursuant to this section. If the failure to pay the renewal fee was inadvertent, the contractor may renew its registration retroactively by paying an additional nonrefundable penalty renewal fee equal to the amount of the renewal fee within 90 days of the due date of the renewal fee.

(d) If, after a body awarding a contract accepts the contractor’s bid or awards the contract, the work covered by the bid or contract is determined to be a public work to which Section 1771 applies, either as the result of a determination by the director pursuant to Section 1773.5 or a court decision, the requirements of this section shall not apply, subject to the following requirements:

(1) The body that awarded the contract failed, in the bid specification or in the contract documents, to identify as a public work that portion of the work that the determination or decision subsequently classifies as a public work.

(2) Within 20 days following service of notice on the awarding body of a determination by the Director of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 1773.5 or a decision by a court that the contract was for public work as defined in this chapter, the contractor and any subcontractors are registered under this section or are replaced by a contractor or subcontractors who are registered under this section.

(3) The requirements of this section shall apply prospectively only to any subsequent bid, bid proposal, contract, or work performed after the awarding body is served with notice of the determination or decision referred to in paragraph (2).

(e) The requirements of this section shall apply to any bid proposal submitted on or after March 1, 2015, to any contract for public work, as defined in this chapter, executed on or after April 1, 2015, and to any work performed under a contract for public work on or after January 1, 2018, regardless of when the contract for public work was executed.

(f) This section does not apply to work performed on a public works project of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or less when the project is for construction, alteration, demolition, installation, or repair work or to work performed on a public works project of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) or less when the project is for maintenance work.

(g) A contractor that has paid the registration or renewal fee and is registered under Section 1725.6 shall not pay the registration or renewal fee required under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) to register as a contractor under this section.

(h) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2026.

history: (History: Amended (as added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 39, Sec. 24) by Stats. 2024, Ch. 52, Sec. 22. (AB 171) Effective July 2, 2024. Operative July 1, 2026, by its own provisions.)

article: 1. Scope and Operation


kind: section

code: LAB

text:
A contractor shall be registered pursuant to this section to be qualified to be awarded contracts for, or engage in the performance of, any work on projects or developments subject to the requirements of Section 65852.24, 65912.130, 65912.131, 65913.4, or 65913.16 of the Government Code or any work on projects or developments where a statute or regulation requires registration pursuant to this section. For the purposes of this section, “contractor” includes a subcontractor as defined by Section 1722.1.

(a) To qualify for registration under this section, a contractor shall do all of the following:

(1) (A) Register with the Department of Industrial Relations in the manner prescribed by the department and pay an initial nonrefundable application fee to qualify for registration under this section and an annual renewal fee on or before July 1 of each year thereafter. The director may establish and adjust annual registration and renewal fees of up to $800 by publishing the fees on the department’s internet website, and those actions shall not be subject to the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). Any action taken to establish or adjust annual registration and renewal fees in excess of $800 shall be subject to the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) and the director shall thereafter publish those fees to the department’s internet website. The initial registration and renewal fees may be adjusted no more than annually by the director to support the costs specified in Section 1771.3.

(B) A contractor may register or renew according to this subdivision in annual increments up to three years from the date of registration. Contractors who wish to do so will be required to prepay the applicable nonrefundable registration or renewal fees to qualify for the number of years for which they wish to preregister.

(2) Provide evidence, disclosures, or releases as are necessary to establish all of the following:

(A) Workers’ compensation coverage that meets the requirements of Division 4 (commencing with Section 3200) and includes sufficient coverage for any worker whom the contractor employs to perform work that is subject to prevailing wage and skilled and trained workforce requirements other than a contractor who is separately registered under this section. Coverage may be evidenced by a current and valid certificate of workers’ compensation insurance or certification of self-insurance required under Section 7125 of the Business and Professions Code.

(B) If applicable, the contractor is licensed in accordance with Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 7000) of the Business and Professions Code.

(C) The contractor does not have any delinquent liability to an employee or the state for any assessment of back wages or related damages, interest, fines, or penalties pursuant to any final judgment, order, or determination by a court or any federal, state, or local administrative agency, including a confirmed arbitration award. However, for purposes of this paragraph, the contractor shall not be disqualified for any judgment, order, or determination that is under appeal, provided that the contractor has secured the payment of any amount eventually found due through a bond or other appropriate means.

(D) The contractor is not currently debarred under Section 1777.1 or under any other federal or state law providing for the debarment of contractors from public works.

(E) The contractor has not been awarded contracts for, or engaged in the performance of, work on projects or developments subject to the requirements of Section 65852.24, 65912.130, 65912.131, 65913.4, or 65913.16 of the Government Code or where a statute or regulation requires registration pursuant to this section without being lawfully registered in accordance with this section, within the preceding 12 months, and also has not bid on a public works contract, been listed in a bid proposal, or engaged in the performance of a contract for public works without being lawfully registered in accordance with Section 1725.5, within the preceding 12 months. If a contractor is found to be in violation of the requirements of this paragraph, the period of disqualification shall be waived if both of the following are true:

(i) The contractor has not previously been found to be in violation of the requirements of this paragraph within the preceding 12 months.

(ii) The contractor pays an additional nonrefundable penalty registration fee of two thousand dollars ($2,000).

(b) Fees received pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the State Public Works Enforcement Fund established by Section 1771.3 and shall be used only for the purposes specified in that section.

(c) A contractor who fails to pay the renewal fee required under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) on or before the expiration of any prior period of registration shall be prohibited from engaging in the performance of any work on projects or developments subject to the requirements of Section 65852.24, 65912.130, 65912.131, 65913.4, or 65913.16 of the Government Code or any work on projects or developments where a statute or regulation requires registration pursuant to this section until once again registered pursuant to this section. If the failure to pay the renewal fee was inadvertent, the contractor may renew its registration retroactively by paying an additional nonrefundable penalty renewal fee equal to the amount of the renewal fee within 90 days of the due date of the renewal fee.

(d) A contractor that has paid the registration or renewal fee and registered under Section 1725.5 shall not pay the registration or renewal fee required under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) to register as a contractor under this section.

(e) Pending the issuance of new rules and regulations to implement this section, Sections 16410 to 16418, inclusive, of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations shall apply.

(f) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2026.

history: (History: Amended (as added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 39, Sec. 26) by Stats. 2024, Ch. 52, Sec. 24. (AB 171) Effective July 2, 2024. Operative July 1, 2026, by its own provisions.)

chapter: 1. Public Works

article: 1. Scope and Operation

path: 2. EMPLOYMENT REGULATION AND SUPERVISION > 1. Public Works > 1. Scope and Operation


citation: LAB § 1726

text:
(a) The body awarding the contract for public work shall take cognizance of violations of this chapter committed in the course of the execution of the contract, and shall promptly report any suspected violations to the Labor Commissioner.

(b) If the awarding body determines as a result of its own investigation that there has been a violation of this chapter and withholds contract payments, the procedures in Section 1771.6 shall be followed.

(c) A contractor may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover from an awarding body the difference between the wages actually paid to an employee and the wages that were required to be paid to an employee under this chapter, any penalties required to be paid under this chapter, and costs and attorney’s fees related to this action, if either of the following is true:

(1) The awarding body previously affirmatively represented to the contractor in writing, in the call for bids, or otherwise, that the work to be covered by the bid or contract was not a “public work,” as defined in this chapter.

(2) The awarding body received actual written notice from the Department of Industrial Relations that the work to be covered by the bid or contract is a “public work,” as defined in this chapter, and failed to disclose that information to the contractor before the bid opening or awarding of the contract.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 804, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.)

division: 2. EMPLOYMENT REGULATION AND SUPERVISION

article: 1. Scope and Operation


citation: LAB § 1727

text:
(a) Before making payments to the contractor of money due under a contract for public work, the awarding body shall withhold and retain therefrom all amounts required to satisfy any civil wage and penalty assessment issued by the Labor Commissioner under this chapter. The amounts required to satisfy a civil wage and penalty assessment shall not be disbursed by the awarding body until receipt of a final order that is no longer subject to judicial review.

(b) If the awarding body has not retained sufficient money under the contract to satisfy a civil wage and penalty assessment based on a subcontractor’s violations, the contractor shall, upon the request of the Labor Commissioner, withhold sufficient money due the subcontractor under the contract to satisfy the assessment and transfer the money to the awarding body. These amounts shall not be disbursed by the awarding body until receipt of a final order that is no longer subject to judicial review.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 954, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2001. Operative July 1, 2001, by Sec. 21 of Ch. 954.)

article: 1. Scope and Operation


citation: LAB § 1728

text: In cases of contracts with assessment or improvement districts where full payment is made in the form of a single warrant, or other evidence of full payment, after completion and acceptance of the work, the awarding body shall accept from the contractor in cash a sum equal to, and in lieu of, any amount required to be withheld, retained, or forfeited under the provisions of this section, and said awarding body shall then release the final warrant or payment in full.

history: (History: Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)

article: 1. Scope and Operation


citation: LAB § 1729

text: It shall be lawful for any contractor to withhold from any subcontractor under him sufficient sums to cover any penalties withheld from him by the awarding body on account of the subcontractor’s failure to comply with the terms of this chapter, and if payment has already been made to the subcontractor the contractor may recover from him the amount of the penalty or forfeiture in a suit at law.

article: 1. Scope and Operation


citation: LAB § 1730

text: The Director of Industrial Relations shall post a list of every California code section and the language of those sections that relate to the prevailing rate of per diem wage requirements for workers employed on a public work project on the Internet Web site of the Department of Industrial Relations on or before June 1, 2013, and shall update that list each February 1 thereafter.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 280, Sec. 1. (SB 1370) Effective January 1, 2013.)

article: 1. Scope and Operation


citation: LAB § 1734

text: Any court collecting any fines or penalties under the criminal provisions of this chapter or any of the labor laws pertaining to public works shall as soon as practicable after the receipt thereof deposit same with the county treasurer of the county in which such court is situated. Amounts so deposited shall be paid at least once a month by warrant of the county auditor drawn upon requisition of the judge or clerk of said court, to the State Treasurer for deposit in the General Fund.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1953, Ch. 523.)

article: 1. Scope and Operation


citation: LAB § 1735

text: A contractor shall not discriminate in the employment of persons upon public works on any basis listed in subdivision (a) of Section 12940 of the Government Code, as those bases are defined in Sections 12926 and 12926.1 of the Government Code, except as otherwise provided in Section 12940 of the Government Code. Every contractor for public works who violates this section is subject to all the penalties imposed for a violation of this chapter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 788, Sec. 14. Effective January 1, 2005.)

article: 1. Scope and Operation


citation: LAB § 1736

text: During any investigation conducted under this part, the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement shall keep confidential the name of any employee who reports a violation of this chapter and any other information that may identify the employee.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 302, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2000.)

article: 1. Scope and Operation


citation: LAB § 1740

text: Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or any other law of this State, except limitations imposed by the Constitution, the legislative body of a political subdivision which has received or is to receive a loan or grant of funds from the Federal Government or a federal department or agency for public works of that political subdivision, may provide in its call for bids in connection with such public works that all bid specifications and contracts and other procedures in connection with bids or contracts shall be subject to modification to comply with revisions in federal minimum wage schedules without the necessity of republication or duplication of other formal statutory requirements.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1957, Ch. 1992.)

article: 1. Scope and Operation


citation: LAB § 1741

text:
(a) If the Labor Commissioner or his or her designee determines after an investigation that there has been a violation of this chapter, the Labor Commissioner shall with reasonable promptness issue a civil wage and penalty assessment to the contractor or subcontractor, or both. The assessment shall be in writing, shall describe the nature of the violation and the amount of wages, penalties, and forfeitures due, and shall include the basis for the assessment. The assessment shall be served not later than 18 months after the filing of a valid notice of completion in the office of the county recorder in each county in which the public work or some part thereof was performed, or not later than 18 months after acceptance of the public work, whichever occurs last. Service of the assessment shall be completed pursuant to Section 1013 of the Code of Civil Procedure by first-class and certified mail to the contractor, subcontractor, and awarding body. The assessment shall advise the contractor and subcontractor of the procedure for obtaining review of the assessment. The Labor Commissioner shall, to the extent practicable, ascertain the identity of any bonding company issuing a bond that secures the payment of wages covered by the assessment and any surety on a bond, and shall serve a copy of the assessment by certified mail to the bonding company or surety at the same time service is made to the contractor, subcontractor, and awarding body. However, no bonding company or surety shall be relieved of its responsibilities because it failed to receive notice from the Labor Commissioner.

(b) Interest shall accrue on all due and unpaid wages at the rate described in subdivision (b) of Section 3289 of the Civil Code. The interest shall accrue from the date that the wages were due and payable, as provided in Part 7 (commencing with Section 1720) of Division 2, until the wages are paid.

(c) (1) The Labor Commissioner shall maintain a public list of the names of each contractor and subcontractor who has been found to have committed a willful violation of Section 1775 or to whom a final order, which is no longer subject to judicial review, has been issued.

(2) The list shall include the date of each assessment, the amount of wages and penalties assessed, and the amount collected.

(3) The list shall be updated at least quarterly, and the contractor’s or subcontractor’s name shall remain on that list until the assessment is satisfied, or for a period of three years beginning from the date of the issuance of the assessment, whichever is later.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 792, Sec. 1. (AB 1336) Effective January 1, 2014.)

article: 1. Scope and Operation


text:
(a) The period for service of assessments shall be tolled for the period of time required by the Director of Industrial Relations to determine whether a project is a public work, including a determination on administrative appeal, if applicable, pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 1773.5. The period for service of assessments shall also be tolled for the period of time that a contractor or subcontractor fails to provide in a timely manner certified payroll records pursuant to a request from the Labor Commissioner or a joint labor-management committee under Section 1776, or an approved labor compliance program under Section 1771.5 or 1771.7.

(b) (1) The body awarding the contract for a public work shall furnish, within 10 days after receipt of a written request from the Labor Commissioner, a copy of the valid notice of completion for the public work filed in the office of the county recorder, or a document evidencing the awarding body’s acceptance of the public work on a particular date, whichever occurs later, by first-class mail addressed to the office of the Labor Commissioner that is listed on the written request. If, at the time of receipt of the Labor Commissioner’s written request, a valid notice of completion has not been filed by the awarding body in the office of the county recorder and there is no document evidencing the awarding body’s acceptance of the public work on a particular date, the awarding body shall so notify the office of the Labor Commissioner that is listed on the written request. Thereafter, the awarding body shall furnish copies of the applicable document within 10 days after filing a valid notice of completion with the county recorder’s office, or within 10 days of the awarding body’s acceptance of the public work on a particular date.

(2) If the awarding body fails to timely furnish the Labor Commissioner with the documents identified in paragraph (1), the period for service of assessments under Section 1741 shall be tolled until the Labor Commissioner’s actual receipt of the valid notice of completion for the public work or a document evidencing the awarding body’s acceptance of the public work on a particular date.

(c) The tolling provisions in this section shall also apply to the period of time for commencing an action brought by a joint labor-management committee pursuant to Section 1771.2.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 303, Sec. 377. (AB 731) Effective January 1, 2016.)

article: 1. Scope and Operation


citation: LAB § 1742

text:
(a) An affected contractor or subcontractor may obtain review of a civil wage and penalty assessment under this chapter by transmitting a written request to the office of the Labor Commissioner that appears on the assessment within 60 days after service of the assessment. If no hearing is requested within 60 days after service of the assessment, the assessment shall become final.

(b) Upon receipt of a timely request, a hearing shall be commenced within 90 days before the director, who shall appoint an impartial hearing officer possessing the qualifications of an administrative law judge pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 11502 of the Government Code. The appointed hearing officer shall be an employee of the department, but shall not be an employee of the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. The contractor or subcontractor shall be provided an opportunity to review evidence to be utilized by the Labor Commissioner at the hearing within 20 days of the receipt of the written request for a hearing. Any evidence obtained by the Labor Commissioner subsequent to the 20-day cutoff shall be promptly disclosed to the contractor or subcontractor.

The contractor or subcontractor shall have the burden of proving that the basis for the civil wage and penalty assessment is incorrect. The assessment shall be sufficiently detailed to provide fair notice to the contractor or subcontractor of the issues at the hearing.

Within 45 days of the conclusion of the hearing, the director shall issue a written decision affirming, modifying, or dismissing the assessment. The decision of the director shall consist of a notice of findings, findings, and an order. This decision shall be served on all parties and the awarding body pursuant to Section 1013 of the Code of Civil Procedure by first-class mail at the last known address of the party on file with the Labor Commissioner. Within 15 days of the issuance of the decision, the director may reconsider or modify the decision to correct an error, except that a clerical error may be corrected at any time.

The director shall adopt regulations setting forth procedures for hearings under this subdivision.

(c) An affected contractor or subcontractor may obtain review of the decision of the director by filing a petition for a writ of mandate to the appropriate superior court pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure within 45 days after service of the decision. If no petition for writ of mandate is filed within 45 days after service of the decision, the order shall become final. If it is claimed in a petition for writ of mandate that the findings are not supported by the evidence, abuse of discretion is established if the court determines that the findings are not supported by substantial evidence in the light of the whole record.

(d) A certified copy of a final order may be filed by the Labor Commissioner in the office of the clerk of the superior court in any county in which the affected contractor or subcontractor has property or has or had a place of business. The clerk, immediately upon the filing, shall enter judgment for the state against the person assessed in the amount shown on the certified order.

(e) A judgment entered pursuant to this section shall bear the same rate of interest and shall have the same effect as other judgments and shall be given the same preference allowed by law on other judgments rendered for claims for taxes. The clerk shall not charge for the service performed by him or her pursuant to this section.

(f) An awarding body that has withheld funds in response to a civil wage and penalty assessment under this chapter shall, upon receipt of a certified copy of a final order that is no longer subject to judicial review, promptly transmit the withheld funds, up to the amount of the certified order, to the Labor Commissioner.

(g) This section shall provide the exclusive method for review of a civil wage and penalty assessment by the Labor Commissioner under this chapter or the decision of an awarding body to withhold contract payments pursuant to Section 1771.5.

history: (History: Amended (as amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 828, Sec. 1) by Stats. 2008, Ch. 402, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2009.)

article: 1. Scope and Operation


text:
(a) After 60 days following the service of a civil wage and penalty assessment under Section 1741 or a notice of withholding under subdivision (a) of Section 1771.6, the affected contractor, subcontractor, and surety on a bond or bonds issued to secure the payment of wages covered by the assessment or notice shall be liable for liquidated damages in an amount equal to the wages, or portion thereof, that still remain unpaid. If the assessment or notice subsequently is overturned or modified after administrative or judicial review, liquidated damages shall be payable only on the wages found to be due and unpaid. Any liquidated damages shall be distributed to the employee along with the unpaid wages. Section 203.5 shall not apply to claims for prevailing wages under this chapter.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), there shall be no liability for liquidated damages if the full amount of the assessment or notice, including penalties, has been deposited with the Department of Industrial Relations, within 60 days following service of the assessment or notice, for the department to hold in escrow pending administrative and judicial review. The department shall release the funds in escrow, plus any interest earned, to the persons and entities that are found to be entitled to those funds, within 30 days following either of the specified events occurring:

(1) The conclusion of all administrative and judicial review.

(2) The department receives written notice from the Labor Commissioner or his or her designee of a settlement or other final disposition of an assessment issued pursuant to Section 1741 or from the authorized representative of the awarding body of a settlement or other final disposition of a notice issued pursuant to Section 1771.6.

(c) The Labor Commissioner shall, upon receipt of a request from the affected contractor or subcontractor within 30 days following the service of a civil wage and penalty assessment under Section 1741, afford the contractor or subcontractor the opportunity to meet with the Labor Commissioner or his or her designee to attempt to settle a dispute regarding the assessment without the need for formal proceedings. The awarding body shall, upon receipt of a request from the affected contractor or subcontractor within 30 days following the service of a notice of withholding under subdivision (a) of Section 1771.6, afford the contractor or subcontractor the opportunity to meet with the designee of the awarding body to attempt to settle a dispute regarding the notice without the need for formal proceedings. The settlement meeting may be held in person or by telephone and shall take place before the expiration of the 60-day period for seeking administrative review. No evidence of anything said or any admission made for the purpose of, in the course of, or pursuant to, the settlement meeting is admissible or subject to discovery in any administrative or civil proceeding. No writing prepared for the purpose of, in the course of, or pursuant to, the settlement meeting, other than a final settlement agreement, is admissible or subject to discovery in any administrative or civil proceeding. The assessment or notice shall advise the contractor or subcontractor of the opportunity to request a settlement meeting.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 28, Sec. 16. (SB 96) Effective June 27, 2017.)

article: 1. Scope and Operation


citation: LAB § 1743

text:
(a) The contractor and subcontractor shall be jointly and severally liable for all amounts due pursuant to a final order under this chapter or a judgment thereon. The Labor Commissioner shall first exhaust all reasonable remedies to collect the amount due from the subcontractor before pursuing the claim against the contractor.

(b) From the amount collected, the wage claim shall be satisfied prior to the amount being applied to penalties. If insufficient money is recovered to pay each worker in full, the money shall be prorated among all workers.

(c) Wages for workers who cannot be located shall be placed in the Industrial Relations Unpaid Wage Fund and held in trust for the workers pursuant to Section 96.7. Penalties shall be paid into the General Fund.

(d) Notwithstanding Section 9558 of the Civil Code, the limitations period of any action on a payment bond filed by the Labor Commissioner shall be governed by the limitations period in Section 1741 and the tolling provisions of Section 1741.1. A final order under this chapter or a judgment thereon shall be binding, with respect to the amount found to be due, on a bonding company issuing a bond that secures the payment of wages and a surety on a bond. The limitations period of any action on a payment bond shall be tolled pending a final order that is no longer subject to judicial review.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 242, Sec. 1. (AB 2705) Effective January 1, 2025.)

article: 1. Scope and Operation


citation: LAB § 1750

text:
(a) (1) The second lowest bidder, and any person, firm, association, trust, partnership, labor organization, corporation, or other legal entity which has, prior to the letting of the bids on the public works project in question, entered into a contract with the second lowest bidder, that suffers damage as a proximate result of a competitive bid for a public works project, as defined in subdivision (b), not being accepted due to the successful bidder’s violation, as evidenced by the conviction of the successful bidder therefor, of any provision of Division 4 (commencing with Section 3200) or of the Unemployment Insurance Code, may bring an action for damages in the appropriate state court against the violating person or legal entity.

(2) There shall be a rebuttable presumption that a successful bidder who has been convicted of a violation of any provision of Division 4 (commencing with Section 3200) of this code or of the Unemployment Insurance Code, or of both, was awarded the bid because that successful bidder was able to lower the bid due to this violation or these violations occurring on the contract for public work awarded by the public agency.

(b) For purposes of this article:

(1) “Public works project” means the construction, repair, remodeling, alteration, conversion, modernization, improvement, rehabilitation, replacement, or renovation of a public building or structure.

(2) “Second lowest bidder” means the second lowest qualified bidder deemed responsive by the public agency awarding the contract for public work.

(3) The “second lowest bidder” and the “successful bidder” may include any person, firm, association, corporation, or other legal entity.

(c) In an action brought pursuant to this section, the court may award costs and reasonable attorney’s fees, in an amount to be determined in the court’s discretion, to the prevailing party.

(d) For purposes of an action brought pursuant to this section, employee status shall be determined pursuant to Division 4 (commencing with Section 3200) with respect to alleged violations of that division, pursuant to the Unemployment Insurance Code with respect to alleged violations of that code, and pursuant to Section 2750.5 with respect to alleged violations of either Division 4 (commencing with Section 3200) or of the Unemployment Insurance Code.

(e) The right of action established pursuant to this article shall not be construed to diminish rights of action established pursuant to Section 19102 of, and Article 1.8 (commencing with Section 20104.70) of Chapter 1 of Part 3 of Division 2 of, the Public Contract Code.

(f) A second lowest bidder who has been convicted of a violation of any provision of Division 4 (commencing with Section 3200) of the Labor Code or of the Unemployment Insurance Code, or both, within one year prior to filing the bid for public work, and who has failed to take affirmative steps to correct that violation or those violations, is prohibited from taking any action authorized by this section.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 906, Sec. 1.)

article: 1.5. Right of Action

path: 2. EMPLOYMENT REGULATION AND SUPERVISION > 1. Public Works > 1.5. Right of Action


citation: LAB § 1770

text: The Director of the Department of Industrial Relations shall determine the general prevailing rate of per diem wages in accordance with the standards set forth in Section 1773, and the director’s determination in the matter shall be final except as provided in Section 1773.4. Nothing in this article, however, shall prohibit the payment of more than the general prevailing rate of wages to any worker employed on public work. This chapter does not permit any overtime work in violation of Article 3.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 28, Sec. 17. (SB 96) Effective June 27, 2017.)

article: 2. Wages

path: 2. EMPLOYMENT REGULATION AND SUPERVISION > 1. Public Works > 2. Wages


citation: LAB § 1771

text:
Except for public works projects of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or less, not less than the general prevailing rate of per diem wages for work of a similar character in the locality in which the public work is performed, and not less than the general prevailing rate of per diem wages for holiday and overtime work fixed as provided in this chapter, shall be paid to all workers employed on public works.

This section is applicable only to work performed under contract, and is not applicable to work carried out by a public agency with its own forces. This section is applicable to contracts let for maintenance work.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1981, Ch. 449, Sec. 1.)

article: 2. Wages


text:
(a) A contractor or subcontractor shall not be qualified to bid on, be listed in a bid proposal, subject to the requirements of Section 4104 of the Public Contract Code, or engage in the performance of any contract for public work, as defined in this chapter, unless currently registered and qualified to perform public work pursuant to Section 1725.5. It is not a violation of this section for an unregistered contractor to submit a bid that is authorized by Section 7029.1 of the Business and Professions Code or by Section 10164 or 20103.5 of the Public Contract Code, provided the contractor is registered to perform public work pursuant to Section 1725.5 at the time the contract is awarded.

(b) Notice of the requirement described in subdivision (a) shall be included in all bid invitations and public works contracts, and a bid shall not be accepted nor any contract or subcontract entered into without proof of the contractor or subcontractor’s current registration to perform public work pursuant to Section 1725.5.

(c) An inadvertent error in listing a subcontractor who is not registered pursuant to Section 1725.5 in a bid proposal shall not be grounds for filing a bid protest or grounds for considering the bid nonresponsive, provided that any of the following apply:

(1) The subcontractor is registered prior to the bid opening.

(2) Within 24 hours after the bid opening, the subcontractor is registered and has paid the penalty registration fee specified in subparagraph (E) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 1725.5.

(3) The subcontractor is replaced by another registered subcontractor pursuant to Section 4107 of the Public Contract Code.

(d) Failure by a subcontractor to be registered to perform public work as required by subdivision (a) shall be grounds under Section 4107 of the Public Contract Code for the contractor, with the consent of the awarding authority, to substitute a subcontractor who is registered to perform public work pursuant to Section 1725.5 in place of the unregistered subcontractor.

(e) The department shall maintain on its internet website a list of contractors who are currently registered to perform public work pursuant to Section 1725.5.

(f) A contract entered into with any contractor or subcontractor in violation of subdivision (a) shall be subject to cancellation, provided that a contract for public work shall not be unlawful, void, or voidable solely due to the failure of the awarding body, contractor, or any subcontractor to comply with the requirements of Section 1725.5 or this section.

(g) If the Labor Commissioner or their designee determines that a contractor or subcontractor engaged in the performance of any public work contract without having been registered in accordance with this section, the contractor or subcontractor shall forfeit, as a civil penalty to the state, one hundred dollars ($100) for each day of work performed in violation of the registration requirement, not to exceed an aggregate penalty of eight thousand dollars ($8,000) in addition to any penalty registration fee assessed pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (E) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 1725.5.

(h) (1) In addition to, or in lieu of, any other penalty or sanction authorized pursuant to this chapter, a higher tiered public works contractor or subcontractor who is found to have entered into a subcontract with an unregistered lower tier subcontractor to perform any public work in violation of the requirements of Section 1725.5 or this section shall be subject to forfeiture, as a civil penalty to the state, of one hundred dollars ($100) for each day the unregistered lower tier subcontractor performs work in violation of the registration requirement, not to exceed an aggregate penalty of ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

(2) The Labor Commissioner shall use the same standards specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 1775 when determining the severity of the violation and what penalty to assess, and may waive the penalty for a first time violation that was unintentional and did not hinder the Labor Commissioner’s ability to monitor and enforce compliance with the requirements of this chapter.

(3) A higher tiered public works contractor or subcontractor shall not be liable for penalties assessed pursuant to paragraph (1) if the lower tier subcontractor’s performance is in violation of the requirements of Section 1725.5 due to the revocation of a previously approved registration.

(4) A subcontractor shall not be liable for any penalties assessed against a higher tiered public works contractor or subcontractor pursuant to paragraph (1). A higher tiered public works contractor or subcontractor may not require a lower tiered subcontractor to indemnify or otherwise be liable for any penalties pursuant to paragraph (1).

(i) The Labor Commissioner or their designee shall issue a civil wage and penalty assessment, in accordance with the provisions of Section 1741, upon determination of penalties pursuant to subdivision (g) and paragraph (1) of subdivision (h). Review of a civil wage and penalty assessment issued under this subdivision may be requested in accordance with the provisions of Section 1742. The regulations of the Director of Industrial Relations, which govern proceedings for review of civil wage and penalty assessments and the withholding of contract payments under Article 1 (commencing with Section 1720) and Article 2 (commencing with Section 1770), shall apply.

(j) (1) Where a contractor or subcontractor engages in the performance of any public work contract without having been registered in violation of the requirements of Section 1725.5 or this section, the Labor Commissioner shall issue and serve a stop order prohibiting the use of the unregistered contractor or the unregistered subcontractor on all public works until the unregistered contractor or unregistered subcontractor is registered. The stop order shall not apply to work by registered contractors or subcontractors on the public work.

(2) A stop order may be personally served upon the contractor or subcontractor by either of the following methods:

(A) Manual delivery of the order to the contractor or subcontractor personally.

(B) Leaving signed copies of the order with the person who is apparently in charge at the site of the public work and by thereafter mailing copies of the order by first-class mail, postage prepaid to the contractor or subcontractor at one of the following:

(i) The address of the contractor or subcontractor on file with either the Secretary of State or the Contractors State License Board.

(ii) If the contractor or subcontractor has no address on file with the Secretary of State or the Contractors State License Board, the address of the site of the public work.

(3) The stop order shall be effective immediately upon service and shall be subject to appeal by the party contracting with the unregistered contractor or subcontractor, by the unregistered contractor or subcontractor, or both. The appeal, hearing, and any further review of the hearing decision shall be governed by the procedures, time limits, and other requirements specified in subdivision (a) of Section 238.1.

(4) Any employee of an unregistered contractor or subcontractor who is affected by a work stoppage ordered by the commissioner pursuant to this subdivision shall be paid at their regular hourly prevailing wage rate by that employer for any hours the employee would have worked but for the work stoppage, not to exceed 10 days.

(k) Failure of a contractor or subcontractor, owner, director, officer, or managing agent of the contractor or subcontractor to observe a stop order issued and served upon them pursuant to subdivision (j) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in county jail not exceeding 60 days or by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.

(l) This section shall apply to any bid proposal submitted on or after March 1, 2015, and any contract for public work entered into on or after April 1, 2015. This section shall also apply to the performance of any public work, as defined in this chapter, on or after January 1, 2018, regardless of when the contract for public work was entered.

(m) Penalties received pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the State Public Works Enforcement Fund established by Section 1771.3 and shall be used only for the purposes specified in that section.

(n) This section shall not apply to work performed on a public works project of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or less when the project is for construction, alteration, demolition, installation, or repair work or to work performed on a public works project of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) or less when the project is for maintenance work.

(o) Awarding authorities shall annually submit to the Department of Industrial Relations’ electronic project registration database a list of contractors that are ineligible to bid on or be awarded a public works contract, or to perform work as a subcontractor on a public works project, pursuant to local debarment or suspension processes. The electronic database list shall contain the name of the contractor, the Contractors State License Board license number of the contractor, the specific jurisdiction where the debarment or suspension applies, and the effective period of debarment or suspension of the contractor. The electronic database list shall be updated at least annually. The department shall make the lists provided by awarding authorities available to the public through its project registration database, but shall have no responsibility for verifying or ensuring the accuracy of the information provided by awarding authorities, and shall have no liability in any respect with regard to such lists.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 465, Sec. 1. (AB 1121) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 2. Wages


text:
(a) A joint labor-management committee established pursuant to the federal Labor Management Cooperation Act of 1978 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 175a) may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction against an employer that fails to pay the prevailing wage to its employees, as required by this article, or that fails to provide payroll records as required by Section 1776. This action shall be commenced not later than 18 months after the filing of a valid notice of completion in the office of the county recorder in each county in which the public work or some part thereof was performed, or not later than 18 months after acceptance of the public work, whichever occurs last.

(b) (1) In an action brought pursuant to this section, the court shall award restitution to an employee for unpaid wages, plus interest, under Section 3289 of the Civil Code from the date that the wages became due and payable, and liquidated damages equal to the amount of unpaid wages owed, and may impose civil penalties, only against an employer that failed to pay the prevailing wage to its employees, in accordance with Section 1775, injunctive relief, or any other appropriate form of equitable relief. The court shall follow the same standards and have the same discretion in setting the amount of penalties as are provided by subdivision (a) of Section 1775. The court shall award a prevailing joint labor-management committee its reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred in maintaining the action, including expert witness fees.

(2) An action pursuant to this section shall not be based on the employer’s misclassification of the craft of a worker in its certified payroll records.

(3) Liquidated damages shall be awarded only if the complaint alleges with specificity the wages due and unpaid to the individual workers, including how that amount was calculated, and the defendant fails to pay the wages, deposit that amount with the court to be held in escrow, or provide proof to the court of an adequate surety bond to cover the wages, within 60 days of service of the complaint. Liquidated damages shall be awarded only on the wages found to be due and unpaid. Additionally, if the defendant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the court that the defendant had substantial grounds for contesting that a portion of the allegedly unpaid wages were owed, the court may exercise its discretion to waive the payment of the liquidated damages with respect to that portion of the unpaid wages.

(4) This subdivision does not limit any other available remedies for a violation of this chapter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 682, Sec. 1. (AB 3231) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 2. Wages


text:
(a) The State Public Works Enforcement Fund is hereby created as a special fund in the State Treasury to be available upon appropriation of the Legislature. All registration fees collected pursuant to Sections 1725.5 and 1725.6 and any other moneys as are designated by statute or order shall be deposited in the fund for the purposes specified in subdivision (b).

(b) Moneys in the State Public Works Enforcement Fund shall be used only for the following purposes:

(1) The reasonable costs of administering the registration of contractors and subcontractors to perform public work pursuant to Section 1725.5 and the reasonable costs of administering the registration of contractors and subcontractors to perform work on projects or developments subject to prevailing wage or skilled and trained workforce requirements pursuant to Section 1725.6.

(2) The costs and obligations associated with the administration and enforcement of the requirements of this chapter by the Department of Industrial Relations.

(3) The monitoring and enforcement of any requirement of this code by the Labor Commissioner on a public works project or in connection with the performance of public work as defined pursuant to this chapter, or in connection with the performance of work on projects or developments subject to prevailing wage or skilled and trained workforce requirements.

(c) The annual contractor registration renewal fee specified in subdivision (a) of Section 1725.5 and subdivision (a) of Section 1725.6, and any adjusted application or renewal fee, shall be set in amounts that are sufficient to support appropriations approved by the Legislature for the State Public Works Enforcement Fund, the statewide general administrative costs assessed to the State Public Works Enforcement Fund, and a prudent reserve amount of no less than 10 percent and no more than 20 percent of authorized expenditure levels. Any year-end fund balance in excess of the prudent reserve shall be applied as a credit when determining any fee adjustments for the subsequent fiscal year.

(d) To provide adequate cashflow for the purposes specified in subdivision (b), the Director of Finance, with the concurrence of the Secretary of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, may approve a short-term loan each fiscal year from the Labor Enforcement and Compliance Fund to the State Public Works Enforcement Fund.

(1) The maximum amount of the annual loan allowable may be up to, but shall not exceed 50 percent of the appropriation authority of the State Public Works Enforcement Fund in the same year in which the loan was made.

(2) For the purposes of this section, a “short-term loan” is a transfer that is made subject to both of the following conditions:

(A) Any amount loaned is to be repaid in full during the same fiscal year in which the loan was made, except that repayment may be delayed until a date not more than 30 days after the date of enactment of the annual Budget Act for the subsequent fiscal year.

(B) Loans shall be repaid whenever the funds are needed to meet cash expenditure needs in the loaning fund or account.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 39, Sec. 28. (AB 130) Effective July 10, 2023.)

article: 2. Wages


text:
(a) All of the following are applicable to all public works projects that are otherwise subject to the requirements of this chapter:

(1) The call for bids and contract documents shall specify that the project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the Department of Industrial Relations.

(2) The awarding body shall post or require the prime contractor to post job site notices, as prescribed by regulation.

(3) (A) Each contractor and subcontractor shall furnish the records specified in Section 1776 directly to the Labor Commissioner, in the following manner:

(i) At least monthly or more frequently if specified in the contract with the awarding body. For purposes of this clause, “monthly” means that a submission of records shall be made at least once every 30 days while work is being performed on the project and within 30 days after the final day of work performed on the project.

(ii) In an electronic format, in the manner prescribed by the Labor Commissioner, on the department’s internet website.

(B) A contractor or subcontractor who fails to furnish records pursuant to subparagraph (A), relating to its employees, shall be subject to a penalty by the Labor Commissioner of one hundred dollars ($100) per each day in which the party was in violation of subparagraph (A), not to exceed a total penalty of five thousand dollars ($5,000) per project. Penalties received pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited in the State Public Works Enforcement Fund established by Section 1771.3 and shall be used only for the purposes specified in that section.

(C) The Labor Commissioner shall not levy a penalty pursuant to subparagraph (B) until a contractor or subcontractor fails to furnish the records pursuant to subparagraph (A) 14 days after the requirement set forth in clause (i) of subparagraph (A).

(D) Penalties pursuant to subparagraph (B) may only accrue to the actual contractor or subcontractor who failed to furnish the records pursuant to subparagraph (A).

(4) If the contractor or subcontractor is not registered pursuant to Section 1725.5 and is performing work on a project for which registration is not required because of subdivision (f) of Section 1725.5, the unregistered contractor or subcontractor is not required to furnish the records specified in Section 1776 directly to the Labor Commissioner but shall retain the records specified in Section 1776 for at least three years after completion of the work.

(5) The department shall undertake those activities it deems necessary to monitor and enforce compliance with prevailing wage requirements.

(b) The Labor Commissioner may exempt a public works project from compliance with all or part of the requirements of subdivision (a) if either of the following occurs:

(1) The awarding body has enforced an approved labor compliance program, as defined in Section 1771.5, on all public works projects under its authority, except those deemed exempt pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 1771.5, continuously since December 31, 2011.

(2) The awarding body has entered into a collective bargaining agreement that binds all contractors performing work on the project and that includes a mechanism for resolving disputes about the payment of wages.

(c) The requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall only apply to contracts for public works projects awarded on or after January 1, 2015.

(d) The requirements of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) shall apply to all contracts for public work, whether new or ongoing, on or after January 1, 2016.

(e) (1) No later than July 1, 2024, the department shall develop and implement an online database of electronic certified payroll records submitted pursuant to this section.

(2) The online database created pursuant to paragraph (1) shall only be accessible to multiemployer Taft-Hartley trust funds (29 U.S.C. Sec. 186(c)) and joint labor-management committees established pursuant to the federal Labor Management Cooperation Act of 1978 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 175a).

(3) Electronic certified payroll records included in the online database created pursuant to paragraph (1) shall only contain nonredacted information pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 1776 that may be provided to multiemployer Taft-Hartley trust funds (29 U.S.C. Sec. 186(c)) and joint labor-management committees established pursuant to the federal Labor Management Cooperation Act of 1978 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 175a) under applicable law.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 131, Sec. 139. (AB 1754) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 2. Wages


text:
(a) Notwithstanding Section 1771, an awarding body may choose not to require the payment of the general prevailing rate of per diem wages or the general prevailing rate of per diem wages for holiday and overtime work for any public works project of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or less when the project is for construction work, or for any public works project of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) or less when the project is for alteration, demolition, repair, or maintenance work, if the awarding body has elected to initiate and has been approved by the Director of Industrial Relations to enforce a labor compliance program pursuant to subdivision (b) for every public works project under the authority of the awarding body.

(b) For purposes of this section, a labor compliance program shall include, but not be limited to, the following requirements:

(1) All bid invitations and public works contracts shall contain appropriate language concerning the requirements of this chapter.

(2) A prejob conference shall be conducted with the contractor and subcontractors to discuss federal and state labor law requirements applicable to the contract.

(3) Project contractors and subcontractors shall maintain and furnish, at a designated time, a certified copy of each weekly payroll containing a statement of compliance signed under penalty of perjury.

(4) The awarding body shall review, and, if appropriate, audit payroll records to verify compliance with this chapter.

(5) The awarding body shall withhold contract payments when payroll records are delinquent or inadequate.

(6) The awarding body shall withhold contract payments equal to the amount of underpayment and applicable penalties when, after investigation, it is established that underpayment has occurred.

(7) The awarding body shall comply with any other prevailing wage monitoring and enforcement activities that are required to be conducted by labor compliance programs by the Department of Industrial Relations.

(c) For purposes of this chapter, “labor compliance program” means a labor compliance program that is approved, as specified in state regulations, by the Director of Industrial Relations.

(d) For purposes of this chapter, the Director of Industrial Relations may revoke the approval of a labor compliance program in the manner specified in state regulations.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 28, Sec. 67. (SB 854) Effective June 20, 2014.)

article: 2. Wages


text:
(a) Any awarding body that enforces this chapter in accordance with Section 1726 or 1771.5 shall provide notice of the withholding of contract payments to the contractor and subcontractor, if applicable. The notice shall be in writing and shall describe the nature of the violation and the amount of wages, penalties, and forfeitures withheld. Service of the notice shall be completed pursuant to Section 1013 of the Code of Civil Procedure by first-class and certified mail to the contractor and subcontractor, if applicable. The notice shall advise the contractor and subcontractor, if applicable, of the procedure for obtaining review of the withholding of contract payments.

The awarding body shall also serve a copy of the notice by certified mail to any bonding company issuing a bond that secures the payment of wages covered by the notice and to any surety on a bond, if their identities are known to the awarding body.

(b) The withholding of contract payments in accordance with Section 1726 or 1771.5 shall be reviewable under Section 1742 in the same manner as if the notice of the withholding was a civil penalty order of the Labor Commissioner under this chapter. If review is requested, the Labor Commissioner may intervene to represent the awarding body.

(c) Pending a final order, or the expiration of the time period for seeking review of the notice of the withholding, the awarding body shall not disburse any contract payments withheld.

(d) From the amount recovered, the wage claim shall be satisfied prior to the amount being applied to penalties. If insufficient money is recovered to pay each worker in full, the money shall be prorated among all workers.

(e) Wages for workers who cannot be located shall be placed in the Industrial Relations Unpaid Wage Fund and held in trust for the workers pursuant to Section 96.7. Penalties shall be paid into the General Fund of the awarding body that has enforced this chapter pursuant to Section 1771.5.

history: (History: Repealed and added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 954, Sec. 16. Effective January 1, 2001. Operative July 1, 2001, by Sec. 21 of Ch. 954.)

article: 2. Wages


text:
(a) (1) For contracts specified in subdivision (f), an awarding body that chooses to use funds derived from either the Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2002 or the Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2004 for a public works project, shall initiate and enforce, or contract with a third party to initiate and enforce, a labor compliance program, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 1771.5, with respect to that public works project.

(2) If an awarding body described in paragraph (1) chooses to contract with a third party to initiate and enforce a labor compliance program for a project described in paragraph (1), that third party shall not review the payroll records of its own employees or the employees of its subcontractors, and the awarding body or an independent third party shall review these payroll records for purposes of the labor compliance program.

(b) This section applies to public works that commence on or after April 1, 2003. For purposes of this subdivision, work performed during the design and preconstruction phases of construction, including, but not limited to, inspection and land surveying work, does not constitute the commencement of a public work.

(c) (1) For purposes of this section, if any campus of the California State University chooses to use the funds described in subdivision (a), then the “awarding body” is the Chancellor of the California State University. For purposes of this subdivision, if the chancellor is required by subdivision (a) to initiate and enforce, or to contract with a third party to initiate and enforce, a labor compliance program, then in addition to the requirements described in subdivision (b) of Section 1771.5, the Chancellor of the California State University shall review the payroll records on at least a monthly basis to ensure the awarding body’s compliance with the labor compliance program.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, if an awarding body described in subdivision (a) is the University of California or any campus of that university, and that awarding body is required by subdivision (a) to initiate and enforce, or to contract with a third party to initiate and enforce, a labor compliance program, then in addition to the requirements described in subdivision (b) of Section 1771.5, the payroll records shall be reviewed on at least a monthly basis to ensure the awarding body’s compliance with the labor compliance program.

(d) (1) An awarding body described in subdivision (a) shall make a written finding that the awarding body has initiated and enforced, or has contracted with a third party to initiate and enforce, the labor compliance program described in subdivision (a).

(2) (A) If an awarding body described in subdivision (a) is a school district, the governing body of that district shall transmit to the State Allocation Board, in the manner determined by that board, a copy of the finding described in paragraph (1).

(B) The State Allocation Board shall not release the funds described in subdivision (a) to an awarding body that is a school district until the State Allocation Board has received the written finding described in paragraph (1).

(C) If the State Allocation Board conducts a postaward audit procedure with respect to an award of the funds described in subdivision (a) to an awarding body that is a school district, the State Allocation Board shall verify, in the manner determined by that board, that the school district has complied with the requirements of this subdivision.

(3) If an awarding body described in subdivision (a) is a community college district, the Chancellor of the California State University, or the office of the President of the University of California or any campus of the University of California, that awarding body shall transmit, in the manner determined by the Director of Industrial Relations, a copy of the finding described in paragraph (1) to the director of that department, or the director of any successor agency that is responsible for the oversight of employee wage and employee work hours laws.

(e) Because the reasonable costs directly related to monitoring and enforcing compliance with the prevailing wage requirements are necessary oversight activities, integral to the cost of construction of the public works projects, notwithstanding Section 17070.63 of the Education Code, the grant amounts as described in Chapter 12.5 (commencing with Section 17070.10) of Part 10 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code for the costs of a new construction or modernization project shall include the state’s share of the reasonable and directly related costs of the labor compliance program used to monitor and enforce compliance with prevailing wage requirements.

(f) This section shall only apply to contracts awarded prior to January 1, 2012.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 28, Sec. 68. (SB 854) Effective June 20, 2014.)

article: 2. Wages


text:
(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) A “private labor compliance entity” is defined as a third-party company that is hired by an awarding body to perform labor compliance and enforcement activities on public works projects on its behalf.

(2) A “conflict of interest” is a situation in which a private labor compliance entity performs labor compliance work under contract for both an awarding body, and a contractor who is bidding a public works project for the same awarding body.

(b) (1) A private labor compliance entity shall be prohibited from providing labor compliance and enforcement activities on behalf of an awarding body if it has a conflict of interest.

(2) Prior to an awarding body entering a contract for a public works project, a private labor compliance entity shall disclose a potential conflict of interest to the awarding body. If no conflict exists, a private labor compliance entity shall submit to the awarding body a signed declaration under penalty of perjury verifying that it has no conflicts of interest.

(c) A private labor compliance entity, prior to withholding funds from a public works contractor for an alleged violation, including, but not limited to, worker classification, scope of work, travel and subsistence apprenticeship standards, shall do the following:

(1) Confer with the negotiating parties of the applicable agreements to review relevant public works law.

(2) Not withhold an amount that exceeds the alleged underpayments and penalty assessments.

(d) A private labor compliance entity seeking to withhold funds from a public works contractor or subcontractor on behalf of an awarding body pursuant to Sections 1726 and 1771.6 shall, within 20 days of a written request for review by the contractor or subcontractor, provide a venue for a public works contractor or subcontractor to review and respond to evidence of alleged violations.

(e) A violation of this section shall make a contract between a private labor compliance entity and an awarding body null and void, and the private labor compliance entity would be subject to a penalty by the awarding body of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000), including reasonable attorney’s fees, subject matter expert costs, and expenses.

(f) In the event of a violation of this section, an aggrieved party, including a joint labor-management committee established pursuant to the federal Labor Management Cooperation Act of 1978 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 175(a)), shall have the right to initiate a private right of action. The private right of action may only be filed against a private labor compliance entity as defined in subdivision (a), an awarding body, or an awarding body’s agent. The court shall award reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred in maintaining the action, including expert witness fees to a prevailing plaintiff.

(g) In addition, the provisions of this section may be enforced by a public prosecutor as defined in Section 180.

(h) This section does not apply to the following awarding bodies operating labor compliance programs approved and monitored by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 1771.5:

(1) The Department of Transportation.

(2) The City of Los Angeles.

(3) The Los Angeles Unified School District.

(4) The County of Sacramento.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 991, Sec. 1. (SB 1303) Effective January 1, 2025.)

article: 2. Wages


text:
(a) A contractor or subcontractor shall not be qualified to be awarded contracts for, or engage in the performance of, any work on projects or developments subject to the requirements of Section 65852.24, 65912.130, 65912.131, 65913.4, or 65913.16 of the Government Code or any work on projects or developments where a statute or regulation requires registration pursuant to Section 1725.6, unless currently registered and qualified to perform work pursuant to Section 1725.6.

(b) Notice of the requirement described in subdivision (a) shall be included in all bid invitations and contracts for any work on projects or developments subject to the requirements of Section 65852.24, 65912.130, 65912.131, 65913.4, or 65913.16 of the Government Code or for any work on projects or developments where a statute or regulation requires registration pursuant to Section 1725.6, and a bid shall not be accepted nor any contract or subcontract entered into without proof of the contractor or subcontractor’s current registration to perform work pursuant to Section 1725.6.

(c) The department shall maintain on its internet website a list of contractors who are currently registered to perform work pursuant to Section 1725.6.

(d) A contract entered into with any contractor or subcontractor in violation of subdivision (a) shall be subject to cancellation, provided that a contract for work on projects or developments subject to the requirements of Section 65852.24, 65912.130, 65912.131, 65913.4, or 65913.16 of the Government Code or a contract for work on projects or developments where a statute or regulation requires registration pursuant to Section 1725.6 shall not be unlawful, void, or voidable solely due to the failure of the developer, development proponent, contractor, or any subcontractor to comply with the requirements of Section 1725.6 or this section.

(e) If the Labor Commissioner or their designee determines that a contractor or subcontractor engaged in the performance of any a contract for work on projects or developments subject to the requirements of Section 65852.24, 65912.130, 65912.131, 65913.4, or 65913.16 of the Government Code or any work on projects or developments where a statute or regulation requires registration pursuant to Section 1725.6 without having been registered in accordance with Section 1725.6, the contractor or subcontractor shall forfeit, as a civil penalty to the state, one hundred dollars ($100) for each day of work performed in violation of the registration requirement, not to exceed an aggregate penalty of eight thousand dollars ($8,000) in addition to any penalty registration fee assessed pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (E) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 1725.6.

(f) (1) In addition to, or in lieu of, any other penalty or sanction authorized pursuant to this chapter, a higher tiered contractor or subcontractor who is found to have entered into a subcontract with an unregistered lower tier subcontractor to perform any work in violation of the requirements of Section 1725.6 or this section shall be subject to forfeiture, as a civil penalty to the state, of one hundred dollars ($100) for each day the unregistered lower tier subcontractor performs work in violation of the registration requirement, not to exceed an aggregate penalty of ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

(2) The Labor Commissioner shall use the same standards specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 1775 when determining the severity of the violation and what penalty to assess, and may waive the penalty for a first time violation that was unintentional and did not hinder the Labor Commissioner’s ability to monitor and enforce compliance with the requirements of this chapter and of the requirements of Section 65852.24, 65912.130, 65912.131, 65913.4, or 65913.16 of the Government Code and the statutes that require registration pursuant to Section 1725.6 and include prevailing wage or skilled and trained workforce requirements.

(3) A higher tiered contractor or subcontractor shall not be liable for penalties assessed pursuant to paragraph (1) if the lower tier subcontractor’s performance is in violation of the requirements of Section 1725.6 due to the revocation of a previously approved registration.

(4) A subcontractor shall not be liable for any penalties assessed against a higher tiered contractor or subcontractor pursuant to paragraph (1). A higher tiered contractor or subcontractor may not require a lower tiered subcontractor to indemnify or otherwise be liable for any penalties pursuant to paragraph (1).

(g) The Labor Commissioner or their designee shall issue a civil wage and penalty assessment, in accordance with the provisions of Section 1741, upon determination of penalties pursuant to subdivision (e) and paragraph (1) of subdivision (f). Review of a civil wage and penalty assessment issued under this subdivision may be requested in accordance with the provisions of Section 1742. The regulations of the Director of Industrial Relations, which govern proceedings for review of civil wage and penalty assessments and the withholding of contract payments under Article 1 (commencing with Section 1720) and Article 2 (commencing with Section 1770), shall apply.

(h) (1) Where a contractor or subcontractor engages in the performance of any contract for work on projects or developments subject to the requirements of Section 65852.24, 65912.130, 65912.131, 65913.4, or 65913.16 of the Government Code or any contract for work on projects or developments where a statute or regulation requires registration pursuant to Section 1725.6 without having been registered in violation of the requirements of Section 1725.6 or this section, the Labor Commissioner shall issue and serve a stop order prohibiting the use of the unregistered contractor or the unregistered subcontractor on the project or development until the unregistered contractor or unregistered subcontractor is registered. The stop order shall not apply to work by registered contractors or subcontractors on the project or development.

(2) A stop order may be personally served upon the contractor or subcontractor by either of the following methods:

(A) Manual delivery of the order to the contractor or subcontractor personally.

(B) Leaving signed copies of the order with the person who is apparently in charge at the site of the project or development and by thereafter mailing copies of the order by first class mail, postage prepaid to the contractor or subcontractor at one of the following:

(i) The address of the contractor or subcontractor on file with either the Secretary of State or the Contractors State License Board.

(ii) If the contractor or subcontractor has no address on file with the Secretary of State or the Contractors State License Board, the address of the site of the project or development.

(3) The stop order shall be effective immediately upon service and shall be subject to appeal by the party contracting with the unregistered contractor or subcontractor, by the unregistered contractor or subcontractor, or both. The appeal, hearing, and any further review of the hearing decision shall be governed by the procedures, time limits, and other requirements specified in subdivision (a) of Section 238.1.

(4) Any employee of an unregistered contractor or subcontractor who is affected by a work stoppage ordered by the commissioner pursuant to this subdivision shall be paid at their regular hourly prevailing wage rate by that employer for any hours the employee would have worked but for the work stoppage, not to exceed 10 days.

(i) Failure of a contractor or subcontractor, owner, director, officer, or managing agent of the contractor or subcontractor to observe a stop order issued and served upon them pursuant to this subdivision is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in county jail not exceeding 60 days, by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.

(j) Penalties received pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the State Public Works Enforcement Fund established by Section 1771.3 and shall be used only for the purposes specified in that section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 52, Sec. 25. (AB 171) Effective July 2, 2024.)

article: 2. Wages


citation: LAB § 1772

text: Workers employed by contractors or subcontractors in the execution of any contract for public work are deemed to be employed upon public work.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 1342, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 1993.)

article: 2. Wages


citation: LAB § 1773

text:
The body awarding any contract for public work, or otherwise undertaking any public work, shall obtain the general prevailing rate of per diem wages and the general prevailing rate for holiday and overtime work in the locality in which the public work is to be performed for each craft, classification, or type of worker needed to execute the contract from the Director of Industrial Relations. The holidays upon which those rates shall be paid need not be specified by the awarding body, but shall be all holidays recognized in the applicable collective bargaining agreement. If the prevailing rate is not based on a collectively bargained rate, the holidays upon which the prevailing rate shall be paid shall be as provided in Section 6700 of the Government Code.

In determining the rates, the Director of Industrial Relations shall ascertain and consider the applicable wage rates established by collective bargaining agreements and the rates that may have been predetermined for federal public works, within the locality and in the nearest labor market area. Where the rates do not constitute the rates actually prevailing in the locality, the director shall obtain and consider further data from the labor organizations and employers or employer associations concerned, including the recognized collective bargaining representatives for the particular craft, classification, or type of work involved. The rate fixed for each craft, classification, or type of work shall be not less than the prevailing rate paid in the craft, classification, or type of work.

If the director determines that the rate of prevailing wage for any craft, classification, or type of worker is the rate established by a collective bargaining agreement, the director may adopt that rate by reference as provided for in the collective bargaining agreement and that determination shall be effective for the life of the agreement or until the director determines that another rate should be adopted.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 30, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2000.)

article: 2. Wages


text:
(a) Per diem wages, as the term is used in this chapter or in any other statute applicable to public works, includes employer payments for the following:

(1) Health and welfare.

(2) Pension.

(3) Vacation.

(4) Travel.

(5) Subsistence.

(6) Apprenticeship or other training programs authorized by Section 3093, to the extent that the cost of training is reasonably related to the amount of the contributions.

(7) Worker protection and assistance programs or committees established under the federal Labor Management Cooperation Act of 1978 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 175a), to the extent that the activities of the programs or committees are directed to the monitoring and enforcement of laws related to public works.

(8) Industry advancement and collective bargaining agreements administrative fees, provided that these payments are made pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement to which the employer is obligated.

(9) Other purposes similar to those specified in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive; or other purposes similar to those specified in paragraphs (6) to (8), inclusive, if the payments are made pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement to which the employer is obligated.

(b) Employer payments include all of the following:

(1) The rate of contribution irrevocably made by the employer to a trustee or third person pursuant to a plan, fund, or program.

(2) The rate of actual costs to the employer reasonably anticipated in providing benefits to workers pursuant to an enforceable commitment to carry out a financially responsible plan or program communicated in writing to the workers affected.

(3) Payments to the California Apprenticeship Council pursuant to Section 1777.5.

(c) Employer payments are a credit against the obligation to pay the general prevailing rate of per diem wages. However, credit shall not be granted for benefits required to be provided by other state or federal law, for payments made to monitor and enforce laws related to public works if those payments are not made to a program or committee established under the federal Labor Management Cooperation Act of 1978 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 175a), or for payments for industry advancement and collective bargaining agreement administrative fees if those payments are not made pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement to which the employer is obligated. Credits for employer payments also shall not reduce the obligation to pay the hourly straight time or overtime wages found to be prevailing. However, an increased employer payment contribution that results in a lower hourly straight time or overtime wage shall not be considered a violation of the applicable prevailing wage determination if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The increased employer payment is made pursuant to criteria set forth in a collective bargaining agreement.

(2) The basic hourly rate and increased employer payment are no less than the general prevailing rate of per diem wages and the general prevailing rate for holiday and overtime work in the director’s general prevailing wage determination.

(3) The employer payment contribution is irrevocable unless made in error.

(d) An employer may take credit for an employer payment specified in subdivision (b), even if contributions are not made, or costs are not paid, during the same pay period for which credit is taken, if the employer regularly makes the contributions, or regularly pays the costs, for the plan, fund, or program on no less than a quarterly basis.

(e) (1) The credit for employer payments shall be computed on an annualized basis when the employer seeks credit for employer payments that are higher for public works projects than for private construction performed by the same employer, unless one or more of the following circumstances exist:

(A) The employer has an enforceable obligation to make the higher rate of payments on future private construction performed by the employer.

(B) The higher rate of payments is required by a project labor agreement.

(C) The payments are made to the California Apprenticeship Council pursuant to Section 1777.5.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall apply to all employer payments not made directly to the worker, regardless of whether any contributions are made or benefits are provided with respect to private construction, with the exception of contributions to defined contribution pension plans that provide for both immediate participation and essentially immediate vesting. An employer may take full credit for the hourly amounts contributed to those defined contribution pension plans for public works projects even if the employer contributes at a lower rate or does not make contributions to private construction. For purposes of this section, “essentially immediate vesting” means the benefit vests within the first 500 hours worked.

(3) The employer shall have the burden of demonstrating that the credit for employer payments was properly calculated pursuant to this subdivision. The employer shall, upon the request of the Labor Commissioner, produce records of employee hours and employer payments on private construction sufficient for the Labor Commissioner to verify that the credit for employer payments was properly calculated on an annualized basis pursuant to this subdivision. The Labor Commissioner may deny the employer credit for the employer payments if those records are not produced.

(f) Any exemptions to the annualization requirements of subdivision (e) issued by the director prior to January 1, 2026, are revoked.

(g) (1) For the purpose of determining those per diem wages for contracts, the representative of any craft, classification, or type of worker needed to execute contracts shall file with the Department of Industrial Relations fully executed copies of the collective bargaining agreements for the particular craft, classification, or type of work involved. The collective bargaining agreements shall be filed after their execution and thereafter may be taken into consideration pursuant to Section 1773 whenever they are filed 30 days prior to the call for bids. If the collective bargaining agreement has not been formalized, a typescript of the final draft may be filed temporarily, accompanied by a statement under penalty of perjury as to its effective date.

(2) When a copy of the collective bargaining agreement has previously been filed, fully executed copies of all modifications and extensions of the agreement that affect per diem wages or holidays shall be filed.

(3) The failure to comply with filing requirements of this subdivision shall not be grounds for setting aside a prevailing wage determination if the information taken into consideration is correct.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 626, Sec. 2. (AB 889) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 2. Wages


text:
The body awarding any contract for public work, or otherwise undertaking any public work, shall specify in the call for bids for the contract, and in the bid specifications and in the contract itself, what the general rate of per diem wages is for each craft, classification, or type of worker needed to execute the contract.

In lieu of specifying the rate of wages in the call for bids, and in the bid specifications and in the contract itself, the awarding body may, in the call for bids, bid specifications, and contract, include a statement that copies of the prevailing rate of per diem wages are on file at its principal office, which shall be made available to any interested party on request. The awarding body shall also cause a copy of the determination of the director of the prevailing rate of per diem wages to be posted at each job site.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 1342, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 1993.)

article: 2. Wages


text:
(a) (1) An awarding body shall provide notice to the Department of Industrial Relations of any public works contract subject to the requirements of this chapter, within 30 days of the award, but in no event later than the first day in which a contractor has workers employed upon the public work.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) and subject to the discretion of the Labor Commissioner, an awarding body shall provide notice to the Department of Industrial Relations of any public works contract awarded pursuant to Section 10122, 20113, 20654, or 22050 of the Public Contract Code that is subject to the requirements of this chapter within 30 days after the award of the contract, but in no event later than the last day in which a contractor has workers employed upon the public work.

(3) The notice shall be transmitted electronically in a format specified by the department and shall include the name and registration number issued by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 1725.5 of the contractor, the name and registration number issued by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 1725.5 of any subcontractor listed on the successful bid, the bid and contract award dates, the contract amount, the estimated start and completion dates, jobsite location, and any additional information the department specifies that aids in the administration and enforcement of this chapter.

(b) In lieu of responding to any specific request for contract award information, the department may make the information provided by awarding bodies pursuant to this section available for public review on its Internet Web site.

(c) (1) An awarding body that fails to provide the notice required by subdivision (a) or that enters into a contract with or permits an unregistered contractor or subcontractor to engage in the performance of any public work in violation of the requirements of Section 1771.1, shall, in addition to any other sanction or penalty authorized by law, be subject to a civil penalty of one hundred dollars ($100) for each day in violation of either requirement, not to exceed an aggregate penalty of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each project.

(2) The Labor Commissioner shall use the same standards specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 1775 when determining the severity of the violation and what penalty to assess, and may waive the penalty for a first time violation that was unintentional and did not hinder the Labor Commissioner’s ability to monitor and enforce compliance with the requirements of this chapter.

(d) An awarding body shall withhold final payment due to the contractor until at least 30 days after all of the required information in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) has been submitted, including, but not limited to, providing a complete list of all subcontractors. If an awarding body makes a final payment to a contractor after that time and an unregistered contractor or subcontractor is found to have worked on the project, the awarding body shall be subject to a civil penalty assessed by the Labor Commissioner of one hundred dollars ($100) for each full calendar day of noncompliance, for a period of up to 100 days, for each unregistered contractor or subcontractor.

(e) The Labor Commissioner may issue a citation for civil penalties to the awarding body pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (d). The citation shall be served pursuant to Section 1013 of the Code of Civil Procedure by first-class and certified mail.

(f) The procedure for the processing and appeal of a citation or civil penalty issued by the Labor Commissioner pursuant to this section shall be the same as that prescribed in Section 1023. For these purposes, “person” as used in Section 1023 shall include an awarding body.

(g) Whenever the Labor Commissioner determines that an awarding body has willfully violated the requirements of this section or chapter with respect to two or more public works contracts or projects in any 12-month period, the awarding body shall be ineligible to receive state funding or financial assistance for any construction project undertaken by or on behalf of the awarding body for one year, as defined by subdivision (d) of Section 1782. The debarment procedures adopted by the Labor Commissioner pursuant to Section 1777.1 shall apply to any determination made under this subdivision.

(h) A contractor or subcontractor shall not be liable for any penalties assessed against an awarding body pursuant to this section. An awarding body may not require a contractor or subcontractor to indemnify or otherwise be liable for any penalties assessed against an awarding body pursuant to this section.

(i) Penalties received pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the State Public Works Enforcement Fund established by Section 1771.3 and shall be used only for the purposes specified in that section.

(j) This section shall apply only if the public works contract is for a project of greater than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) when the project is for construction, alteration, demolition, installation, or repair work or if the public works contract is for a project of greater than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) when the project is for maintenance work.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 455, Sec. 3. (SB 877) Effective September 17, 2018.)

article: 2. Wages