Committee amends SB 209 to delay owner’s project manager requirement, adopts amendment unanimously

The House Education Committee on May 20 amended Senate Bill 209 to revise when and for which projects schools must engage an owner’s project manager and to update the project-cost threshold.

Committee members said the amendment removes the statutory requirement that districts hire an owner’s project manager prior to submitting a school-building-aid application and instead aligns the statute with current administrative rules. The amended language retains the requirement that an owner’s project manager be engaged for major construction, reconstruction or renovation work but makes the timing and threshold consistent with sections A and B of the existing school-building-aid law.

The chair said the change responds to concerns that districts sometimes apply for building aid years before projects receive funding, which under the original bill could require them to hold costly project-management contracts for several years. The chair also said the amendment updates the dollar threshold in statute to reflect current construction costs.

Rep. Berkey asked whether a district would still have to hire a project manager long before a project is funded; the chair and other members clarified the amendment leaves current law intact on timing as reflected in administrative rules and removes the ‘‘hire before application’’ requirement that had been in the bill as introduced. Committee members noted administrative rules already allow an owner’s project manager to be retained before design services begin and that rule 321.3 defines responsibilities and timing.

In executive session, Representative Veil moved OTP (ought to pass) and then moved to adopt amendment 2275H. The committee adopted amendment 2275H and recommended SB 209 with the amendment. The clerk recorded a roll-call tally of 18 yes, 0 no; the committee placed the amended bill on the consent calendar.

The committee record shows members thanking the sponsor and noting the amendment addresses concerns raised during the public hearing and previous deliberations. No further changes were adopted at the meeting.

The committee also discussed the owner’s project manager scope: members and witnesses said the role (formerly called the clerk of the works) is intended to oversee contractors, track change orders and protect the district’s interests, and that administrative rules already specify qualifications and responsibilities. Several members cautioned that the 1.0 million-dollar threshold in older statute does not reflect current costs and supported updating it in statute to a higher amount.

The committee closed the executive session after the roll call and moved to other business.