Maryland Chapter 336 - 2023RS
Chapter 336
(House Bill 513)
AN ACT concerning
Investor–Owned Utilities – Prevailing Wage – Enforcement
Article – Public Utilities
Section 5–305
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Public Utilities
5–305.
(a) This section applies to a project by an investor–owned gas company, electric company, or combination gas and electric company involving the construction, reconstruction, installation, demolition, restoration, or alteration of any underground gas or electric infrastructure of the company, and any related traffic control activities.
(b) An investor–owned gas company, electric company, or combination gas and electric company shall require a contractor or subcontractor on a project described in subsection (a) of this section to pay its employees not less than the prevailing wage rate determined SOLELY by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry IN A PROCESS SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THE PROCESS ESTABLISHED under Title 17, Subtitle 2 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.
(C) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, THE COMMISSION
(C) IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 3, SUBTITLE 5 OF THE LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT ARTICLE, THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SHALL ENFORCE THE REQUIREMENT UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION FOR CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS TO PAY EMPLOYEES NOT LESS THAN THE PREVAILING WAGE RATE DETERMINED SOLELY BY THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY UNDER TITLE 17, SUBTITLE 2 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That:
(a) On or before October 1, 2023, contractors and subcontractors subject to § 5–305 of the Public Utilities Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act, shall:
(1) request from the Maryland Department of Labor a copy of a wage determination of the existing prevailing wage rates applicable to work covered by § 5–305 of the Public Utilities Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act; and
(2) ensure that all employees performing covered work are paid in compliance with the existing prevailing wage rates.
(b) (1) On receipt of a request from a contractor or subcontractor in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, the Maryland Department of Labor shall promptly provide guidance to the contractor or subcontractor regarding which of the existing prevailing wage rates and classifications apply to covered work.
(2) If the Maryland Department of Labor determines that no existing prevailing wage rates and classifications apply to the covered work, the Commissioner of Labor and Industry shall, on or before December 1, 2023, determine the initial prevailing wage rates required under this Act by hand survey.
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Commissioner of Labor and Industry shall waive all civil penalties for, and may not take any related action against, a contractor or subcontractor who, on or before the effective date of this Act, is not in compliance with the prevailing wage requirements under § 5–305 of the Public Utilities Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act, if the contractor or subcontractor comes into compliance with the prevailing wage requirements by March 1, 2024.
SECTION 2. 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect October June 1, 2023.
Approved by the Governor, May 3, 2023.
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