California's Prevailing Wage Law continues to evolve. Contractors face new statutes, new decisions by courts and agencies, and new initiatives by organized labor that expand the reach and costs of the Prevailing Wage Law.
In 2012, the California Supreme Court issued its long-awaited decision in State Building Trades Council vs. City of Vista, reaffirming the partial exemption of California "charter cities" from prevailing wage requirements. However, in 2013, organized labor's allies in the California Senate introduced SB 7 to neutralize the effect—and promise—of the City of Vista prevailing wage exemptions for "charter cities". But SB 7 was only the beginning. By the end of the 2013 legislative session, SB 7 and four other new statutes altering and expanding the coverage and liabilities of the State Prevailing Wage Law were enacted, including SB 54, which ominously attempts to extend many prevailing wage requirements into purely private construction projects at California oil refineries.
Understanding the evolving requirements of the California Prevailing Wage Law is critical for anyone engaged in public construction – and now owners and contractors of oil refineries and petrochemical manufacturing facilities as well. Even innocent non-compliance can have ruinous consequences in unpaid prevailing wages, liquidated damages, penalties, and attorneys' fees; stop notices, the withholding of progress payments and retentions; audits by awarding agencies, the Labor Commissioner and "members of the public"; debarment; and harassment by labor unions and Labor-Management Cooperation Committees. Increasingly, prevailing wage violations are now generating private litigation, including collective and class actions, damages, penalties and attorneys' fees.
Our speakers will survey recent legislative and administrative changes, review areas of vulnerability, explore subtle problems the law creates, examine some proposed new legislation and pending litigation that may affect the legal landscape, and provide practical advice regarding strategies for complying with the ever changing "rules of the game," including:
- City of Vista and SB 7
- Coverage confusion
- Evolving apprenticeship rules
- Classification challenges
- SB54 and other amendments
- Record-keeping requirements
- Public and private enforcement
- State renewable energy projects
You will leave this 2-hour session with an advanced understanding of the requirements of the California Prevailing Wage Law, when and how it applies, how to ensure compliance and to avoid problems, and the strategies and tactics to avoid trouble where the precautions fail. We will offer practical advice on the key issues affecting your current and future projects.
Cost: $35
(Includes breakfast and presentation materials)
Breakfast & Registration: 8:00 am – 8:30 am
Program: 8:30 am – 10:30 am
Q&A: 10:30 am – 10:45 am
Location:
Long Beach Petroleum Club
3636 Linden Avenue
Long Beach, CA
Continuing Education: CLE and SPHR/PHR credit will be requested
Questions? Email Rosalie Hasnat or call (310) 772-7265
Speakers
