05/16/2003 02:37 PM Senate FIN

                                                                                                                                
     CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 155(FIN)                                                                                             
     "An Act  relating to the submission  of payroll information  by                                                            
     contractors  and  subcontractors  performing work  on a  public                                                            
     construction contract;  requiring a notice of work by employers                                                            
     on   public   construction   contracts;   providing   for   the                                                            
     withholding   of   final  payment   for   public  construction                                                             
     contracts; and providing for an effective date."                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This  was the first  hearing  for this  bill in  the Senate  Finance                                                            
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Taylor moved to  report the bill from Committee and objected                                                            
to the motion for purpose of discussion.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
GREG  O'CLARY,  Commissioner,  Department  of  Labor  and  Workforce                                                            
Development  informed that this is  revenue-generating legislation,                                                             
as it would require a prevailing  wage rate-filing fee to be paid to                                                            
the State by the  construction industry when they  are involved in a                                                            
public  construction   project.  He   explained  that  the   revenue                                                            
generated  from this  fee would  replace Department  demands on  the                                                            
general  fund, which, he  asserted, would  enhance the Department's                                                             
efforts  to  support  the  Administration's  goal  of  reducing  the                                                            
State's budget to lessen  the need for Constitutional Budget Reserve                                                            
(CBR)  fund draws.  He referred  the Committee  to the accompanying                                                             
Department  fiscal note  that reflects  a positive  $2.5 million  in                                                            
revenue.  He noted  the Department's  request to  add an  accounting                                                            
clerk position  to handle these filings,  and he furthered  that the                                                            
legislation would permit  the industry to file wage information on a                                                            
bi-weekly basis rather  than the weekly basis as currently required.                                                            
Additionally,  he noted, an  online payroll  filing system  would be                                                            
implemented  to lessen filing requirement  demands on the  industry.                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Green  stated that originally there was opposition  to this                                                            
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. O'Clary  clarified that the current  version of the bill  has no                                                            
opposition.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Taylor removed his objection to the motion.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
There being no  further objection, CS HB 155(FIN)  was REPORTED from                                                            
Committee with previous  fiscal note #2 from the Department of Labor                                                            
and Workforce Development.