HJ0035 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0035 LRB101 11175 MST 56414 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is the mission of a Responsible Bidder Ordinance to serve as a "protection plan" for local governments by establishing clear objective criteria that contractors must meet to be eligible to bid on public works construction projects; and

WHEREAS, Implementing Responsible Bidder Ordinances reinforces the public's confidence in the use of taxpayer dollars by hiring only reputable contractors with a proven record of completing jobs on time and on budget; and

WHEREAS, Responsible Bidder Ordinances protect the interests of residents who depend on public bodies to assure safe, quality construction and prevent the need for additional reconstruction; and

WHEREAS, Construction is one of the fastest-growing industries in the State, and Responsible Bidder Ordinances are designed to ensure that a city, town, county, or school system only hires responsible contractors who will perform the highest quality work; and

WHEREAS, A Responsible Bidder Ordinance requires contractors to show participation in a United States Department of Labor approved apprenticeship program, which requires continuous education and results in the most trained craftsmen working on taxpayer-funded projects; and

WHEREAS, Contractors are incentivized to train their workers through registered apprenticeship programs to prevent the decline in the productivity and qualifications of the construction workforce; and

WHEREAS, Communities that adopt Responsible Bidder Ordinances see an improvement in local construction standards as well as an improvement in infrastructure safety; and

WHEREAS, Responsible Bidder Ordinances drive economic development by ensuring our transportation systems are able to move goods and people through the State and provide safe, modern, and efficient infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, It is the civic duty of the State to adopt Responsible Bidder Ordinances to provide the greatest taxpayer value on construction projects by working to prevent cost overrun and abuse of taxpayer dollars; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we support local governments and municipalities that adopt Responsible Bidder Ordinances to ensure that we are utilizing the most skilled workforce in the State to rebuild our infrastructure.