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AB 963

Public works: prevailing wages: access to records.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Cottie Petrie-Norris

AB 963 mandates public works owners to provide wage-related records, ensuring fair pay for workers and enhancing transparency and accountability in project oversight.

Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
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Bill Summary · AB 963

Summary of AB 963: Public Works: Prevailing Wages: Access to Records

Bill Overview

Bill Number: AB 963
Introduced: February 20, 2025
Status: Consideration of Governor's veto pending
Author: Petrie-Norris
Subject: Public Works, Access to Records, Prevailing Wages

AB 963 aims to enhance transparency and accountability in public works projects by establishing requirements for owners and developers regarding the accessibility of records related to prevailing wages.

Purpose and Intent

The primary intent of AB 963 is to ensure that workers on public works projects are paid the prevailing wage and to facilitate oversight by allowing relevant parties access to important records. This legislation seeks to strengthen compliance with existing wage laws and improve the enforcement mechanisms available to regulatory bodies.

Key Provisions

  1. Record Accessibility: Owners or developers undertaking public works projects must make specific records available upon request to:

    • The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE)
    • Multiemployer Taft-Hartley trust funds
    • Joint labor-management committees

  2. Required Records: The records that must be made available include:

    • Requests for bids
    • Lists of bids received and total bid amounts
    • Final executed construction contracts
    • Names and license numbers of contractors and subcontractors
    • Certified payroll records (if in possession)
    • Monthly reports if a skilled and trained workforce is required

  3. Compliance Timelines:

    • Owners or developers have 30 calendar days to comply with a records request.
    • If a complaint is filed due to non-compliance, the DLSE will issue a new request, and failure to comply within 10 calendar days will result in penalties.

  4. Penalties for Non-Compliance:

    • A penalty of $100 per day for each worker for failure to provide payroll records.
    • A penalty of $500 per day for failure to provide other required records.
    • All penalties collected will be deposited into the State Public Works Enforcement Fund.

  5. Time Limit for Requests: Requests for records must be made within 3 years of the completion of the work.

  6. Rule Adoption: The Director of Industrial Relations is tasked with adopting rules governing the release of these records, ensuring compliance with existing privacy laws.

Impact

  • Affected Parties: This bill primarily impacts owners and developers of public works projects, contractors, subcontractors, labor organizations, and regulatory bodies.
  • Transparency and Accountability: By mandating access to records, AB 963 aims to enhance transparency in public works projects and ensure that workers receive fair wages.
  • Enforcement Mechanism: The penalties established under this bill provide a stronger enforcement mechanism to ensure compliance with prevailing wage laws.

Procedural Aspects

  • The bill has passed various legislative hurdles and is currently pending consideration of the Governor's veto as of October 13, 2025.
  • It has undergone several amendments and discussions in both the Assembly and Senate, reflecting a collaborative effort to refine its provisions.

In summary, AB 963 represents a significant step towards improving the enforcement of prevailing wage laws in California's public works sector, aiming to protect workers' rights and enhance accountability among contractors and developers.

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

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