Committee approves amended prevailing-wage and workforce rules for public projects; threshold raised to $400,000

The Transportation and Commerce Committee on Jan. 30 adopted a committee substitute to Board Bill 155 and approved two negotiated amendments that substantially revise how the City of St. Louis will set and enforce prevailing-wage and workforce-utilization requirements on public projects.

Key actions taken in committee included adoption of the committee substitute and two amendments. The sponsor reported that the most contentious issue — the dollar threshold at which the rules apply — was revised in amendment number 1 from the committee-substitute baseline to $400,000; the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) will also set the minimum apprentice percentage consistent with the most recently adopted city disparity study. Amendment number 2 clarified health-insurance language so contractors must provide coverage meeting Affordable Care Act minimum-value standards for on-site employees unless those employees voluntarily opt out or otherwise maintain equivalent coverage (for example through a spouse).

The committee substitute (as presented and then amended) specifies: definitions for "public project," "contractor," and "commercially useful function"; documentation and certification requirements for…