Today’s afternoon floor session was a lengthy one as the House debated and voted on SB 361, which would eliminate the prevailing hourly wage requirement for construction of public improvements.
Under SB 361, Workforce West Virginia, in coordination with the West Virginia University Bureau of Business and Economic Research and the Center for Business and Economic Research at Marshall University would investigate and determine the prevailing hourly rate of wages in the state. Currently, that duty is in the hands of the West Virginia Division of Labor.
Workforce West Virginia, WVU, and Marshall would be given up until June 1, 2015 to determine the methodology for calculating the prevailing wage rate which Workforce West Virginia would present to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance who would review the methodology further. Then on or before July 1, 2015 the prevailing hourly rate for the remainder of the year would need approved.
The bill also stipulates that on or before September 30, 2018, and in every third year after, Workforce will review the methodology for determining the prevailing wage.
This bill would apply to those public improvements in excess of $500,000 in cost.
A number of lawmakers arose to speak on the bill, both for and against it. After hours of debate the bill passed by a vote of 56-39.
Senate Bill 361 now goes back to the Senate for further consideration.
The House recessed until 6 p.m. before continuing to consider further bills.
