WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

A 2763

Concerns prevailing wage payments in residential construction projects.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Lou Greenwald

Requires publicly subsidized residential construction projects (up to 4 stories) in NJ to pay Davis-Bacon federal prevailing wages if not already covered by state wage law.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Labor Committee
#housing #wages
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 2763

Summary of Assembly Bill A-2763 (New Jersey)

Overview

A-2763 seeks to ensure that certain residential construction projects receiving financial assistance from a public body pay workers prevailing wages consistent with federal standards, even when the state wage statute does not require such wages. The bill would apply only to projects that receive public financial assistance and are not already subject to the state prevailing wage requirements.

Key Provisions

  • Definitions:
    • Commissioner: Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development or authorized representatives.
    • Financial assistance: Any form of public funding or incentives (tax exemptions, abatements, loans, grants, rebates, etc.) approved or administered by a public body before, during, or after project completion.
    • Public body: The State of New Jersey, its political subdivisions, and any related authority, instrumentality, or agency.
    • Residential construction project: Construction, alteration, or repair of townhouses, single-family houses, or apartments not exceeding four stories, including site work, parking, utilities, streets, and sidewalks, unless an area practice says otherwise.
  • Core requirement:
    • If a residential construction project receives financial assistance from a public body, and the entity is not already required by state statute to pay the state prevailing wage rate, then the entity must pay workers the prevailing wage determined by the U.S. Department of Labor under the Davis-Bacon Act (as if the project involved federal funds).
  • Relationship to existing law: The bill supplements New Jersey’s prevailing wage statute (P.L.1963, c.150, C.34:11-56.25 et seq.) by adding a federal-prevailing-wage requirement in specific subsidized residential projects.

Scope and Affected Parties

  • Affects residential construction projects (up to four stories) that receive any form of financial assistance from a public body.
  • Applies only when there is no State statutory requirement to pay the state-determined prevailing wage.
  • Impacts contractors, developers, subcontractors, and labor on eligible projects, potentially altering wage costs and bidding.

Timeline and Procedural Status

  • Introduced: January 9, 2024.
  • Status: Referred to the Assembly Labor Committee.
  • Effective date: Immediate upon enactment (as stated in the bill).

Potential Impact

  • Labor Costs: Could raise wages on publicly subsidized residential projects not already covered by state prevailing wage statutes, aligning them with federal Davis-Bacon wages.
  • Compliance: Requires contractors to verify whether public financial assistance triggers the Davis-Bacon wage standard and adjust payroll practices accordingly.
  • Policy Implications: Reinforces wage standards for publicly supported housing, potentially improving wage parity on subsidized projects but increasing project costs where federal rates differ from state rates.
  • Administrative: Involves coordination between public bodies, contractors, and labor officials to determine applicability and enforce Davis-Bacon wages.

Note: This is a summary of the introduced version of A-2763 as of its January 9, 2024 introduction and referral to the Assembly Labor Committee. Legislative status or text may change with further committee action or amendments.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.