LD1150 - Prevailing Wage on School Construction

(2013)

An Act To Require Prevailing Wages To Be Paid on All Public Works Projects Receiving State Funding

Sponsored by Sponsored by: Rep. Jennifer DeChant (D-Bath)

What is the bill?

The rationale behind prevailing wage laws is that state and federal governments, as major purchasers of construction services, should not depress wages. Maine’s prevailing wage law applies to public construction projects like roads, sewers, bridges, etc., that are funded by taxpayer dollars. There is currently a loophole in Maine law that allows public school construction to escape prevailing wage requirements. LD 1150 would have required that Maine workers are paid a prevailing wage on all public works construction projects where the contract includes state funding, including public school construction. This would ensure the highest quality school construction and that public dollars support good wages and working standards. LD 1150 passed the House and Senate. Governor LePage indicated that he would veto the bill. This version of the bill ultimately never reached his desk.

What happened?

Defeated (Passed by Legislature, this version of the bill did not reach Governor’s desk)

Votes