SB0203 Summary

• Amends the Prevailing Wage Act to shift responsibility for determining prevailing wage rates from individual public bodies to the Illinois Department of Labor, which must publish rates on its website by July 15 annually for each county.

• Requires contractors and subcontractors to maintain certified payroll records including employee demographics (gender, race, ethnicity, veteran status) and submit them to a Department of Labor electronic database by April 1, 2020.

• Mandates the Department of Labor submit annual reports to the General Assembly by February 1 detailing employment on public works projects by county and 5-digit zip code of workers' residences.

• Directs the Department of Labor to study female and minority participation on public works projects and create recommendations by December 31, 2020 to increase their employment by county.

• Clarifies that prevailing wage compliance is a statewide concern that public bodies cannot opt out of, and establishes the Department of Labor as the primary authority for prevailing wage determinations and hearing procedures.