HB2987 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 07216 PJG 47323 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB2987

Introduced 2/23/2011, by Rep. Patrick J. Verschoore

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
30 ILCS 500/30-45

Creates the Project Labor Agreements Act. Requires a State department, agency, authority, board, or instrumentality under the control of the Governor to include a project labor agreement on a public works project when that department, agency, authority, board, or instrumentality determines that the agreement advances the State's interest. Requires the State department, agency, authority, board, or instrumentality to negotiate the project labor agreement in good faith with labor organizations in the construction industry. Sets out the terms to be included in the project labor agreement. Requires a finding setting forth the justification for using a project labor agreement. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Illinois Procurement Code is subject to applicable provisions of the Project Labor Agreements Act. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning finance.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Project Labor Agreements Act.

Section 5. Findings.

(a) The State of Illinois has a compelling interest in awarding public works contracts so as to ensure the highest standards of quality and efficiency at the lowest responsible cost.

(b) A project labor agreement, which is a form of pre-hire collective bargaining agreement covering all terms and conditions of employment on a specific project, can ensure the highest standards of quality and efficiency at the lowest responsible cost on appropriate public works projects.

(c) The State of Illinois has a compelling interest that a highly skilled workforce be employed on public works projects to ensure lower costs over the lifetime of the completed project for building, repairs, and maintenance.

(d) Project labor agreements provide the State of Illinois with a guarantee that public works projects will be completed with highly skilled workers.

(e) Project labor agreements provide for peaceful, orderly, and mutually binding procedures for resolving labor issues without labor disruption, preventing significant lost-time on construction projects.

(f) Project labor agreements allow public agencies to predict more accurately the actual cost of the public works project.

(e) The use of project labor agreements can be of particular benefit to complex construction projects.

Section 10. Public works projects. On a project-by-project basis, a State department, agency, authority, board, or instrumentality that is under the control of the Governor shall include a project labor agreement on a public works project when that department, agency, authority, board, or instrumentality has determined that the agreement advances the State's interests of cost, efficiency, quality, safety, timeliness, skilled labor force, labor stability, or the State's policy to advance minority-owned and women-owned businesses and minority and female employment.

Section 15. Public works projects funded with federal funds. When it has been determined that a project labor agreement is appropriate, and in furtherance of the President's Executive Order 13502, the State department, agency, authority, board, or instrumentality responsible for awarding the project may include a project labor agreement on a public works project funded in whole or in part with federal funds.

Section 20. Negotiation of agreement. When it has been determined that a project labor agreement is appropriate for a particular public works project, the State department, agency, authority, board, or instrumentality responsible for awarding the project shall in good faith negotiate a project labor agreement with labor organizations engaged in the construction industry. If the State department, agency, authority, board, or instrumentality and the labor organizations engaged in the construction industry ("the parties") cannot agree to the terms of the project labor agreement, the Governor shall appoint a designee to assist the parties in reaching an agreement.

Section 25. Contents of agreement. Pursuant to this Act, any project labor agreement shall:

(a) Set forth effective, immediate, and mutually binding procedures for resolving jurisdictional labor disputes and grievances arising before the completion of work.

(b) Contain guarantees against strikes, lockouts, or similar actions.

(c) Ensure a reliable source of skilled and experienced labor.

(d) Further public policy objectives as to improved employment opportunities for minorities and women in the construction industry to the extent permitted by State and federal law.

(e) Permit the selection of the lowest qualified responsible bidder, without regard to union or non-union status at other construction sites.

(f) Bind all contractors and subcontractors on the public works project through the inclusion of appropriate bid specifications in all relevant bid documents.

(g) Include such other terms as the parties deem appropriate.

Section 30. Publicly disclosed finding. Any decision to use a project labor agreement in connection with a public works project by a State department, agency, authority, board, or instrumentality shall be supported by a written, publicly disclosed finding by the department, agency, authority, board, or instrumentality, setting forth the justification for use of the project labor agreement.

Section 35. Compliance. All State departments, agencies, authorities, boards, and instrumentalities shall ensure that all public works projects are implemented in a manner consistent with the terms of this Act and are in full compliance with all statutes, regulations, and Executive Orders.

Section 40. Severability. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to contravene any state or federal law or to jeopardize the State's entitlement to federal funding. If any provision of this Act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, this invalidity does not affect any other provision or application of this Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. To achieve this purpose, the provisions of this Act are declared to be severable.

Section 45. The Illinois Procurement Code is amended by changing Section 30-45 as follows:

(30 ILCS 500/30-45)

Sec. 30-45. Other Acts. This Article is subject to applicable provisions of the following Acts:

(1) the Prevailing Wage Act;

(2) the Public Construction Bond Act;

(3) the Public Works Employment Discrimination Act;

(4) the Public Works Preference Act (repealed on June 16, 2010 by Public Act 96-929);

(5) the Employment of Illinois Workers on Public Works Act;

(6) the Public Contract Fraud Act;and

(7) the Illinois Construction Evaluation Act; and

(8) the Project Labor Agreements Act.

(Source: P.A. 90-572, eff. date - See Sec. 99-5; revised 10-19-10.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.