CT Gen Stat § 31-53 (2020)
2020 Connecticut General Statutes|Title 31 - Labor|Chapter 557 - Employment Regulation|Section 31-53 - Construction, alteration or repair of public works project by state or political subdivision; wage rates; certified payroll. Penalties. Civil action. Exceptions.

 (a) Each contract for the construction, remodeling, refinishing, refurbishing, rehabilitation, alteration or repair of any public works project by the state or any of its agents, or by any political subdivision of the state or any of its agents, shall contain the following provision: “The wages paid on an hourly basis to any person performing the work of any mechanic, laborer or worker on the work herein contracted to be done and the amount of payment or contribution paid or payable on behalf of each such person to any employee welfare fund, as defined in subsection (i) of this section, shall be at a rate equal to the rate customary or prevailing for the same work in the same trade or occupation in the town in which such public works project is being constructed. Any contractor who is not obligated by agreement to make payment or contribution on behalf of such persons to any such employee welfare fund shall pay to each mechanic, laborer or worker as part of such person's wages the amount of payment or contribution for such person's classification on each pay day.”(b) Any contractor or subcontractor who knowingly or wilfully employs any mechanic, laborer or worker in the construction, remodeling, refinishing, refurbishing, rehabilitation, alteration or repair of any public works project for or on behalf of the state or any of its agents, or any political subdivision of the state or any of its agents, at a rate of wage on an hourly basis that is less than the rate customary or prevailing for the same work in the same trade or occupation in the town in which such public works project is being constructed, remodeled, refinished, refurbished, rehabilitated, altered or repaired, or who fails to pay the amount of payment or contributions paid or payable on behalf of each such person to any employee welfare fund, or in lieu thereof to the person, as provided by subsection (a) of this section, shall be fined not less than two thousand five hundred dollars but not more than five thousand dollars for each offense and (1) for the first violation, shall be disqualified from bidding on contracts with the state or any political subdivision until the contractor or subcontractor has made full restitution of the back wages owed to such persons and for an additional six months thereafter, and (2) for subsequent violations, shall be disqualified from bidding on contracts with the state or any political subdivision until the contractor or subcontractor has made full restitution of the back wages owed to such persons and for not less than an additional two years thereafter. In addition, if it is found by the contracting officer representing the state or political subdivision of the state that any mechanic, laborer or worker employed by the contractor or any subcontractor directly on the site for the work covered by the contract has been or is being paid a rate of wages less than the rate of wages required by the contract to be paid as required by this section, the state or contracting political subdivision of the state may (A) by written or electronic notice to the contractor, terminate such contractor's right to proceed with the work or such part of the work as to which there has been a failure to pay said required wages and to prosecute the work to completion by contract or otherwise, and the contractor and the contractor's sureties shall be liable to the state or the contracting political subdivision for any excess costs occasioned the state or the contracting political subdivision thereby, or (B) withhold payment of money to the contractor or subcontractor. The contracting department of the state or the political subdivision of the state shall, not later than two days after taking such action, notify the Labor Commissioner, in writing or electronically, of the name of the contractor or subcontractor, the project involved, the location of the work, the violations involved, the date the contract was terminated, and steps taken to collect the required wages.(c) The Labor Commissioner may make complaint to the proper prosecuting authorities for the violation of any provision of subsection (b) of this section.(d) For the purpose of predetermining the prevailing rate of wage on an hourly basis and the amount of payment or contributions paid or payable on behalf of each person to any employee welfare fund, as defined in subsection (i) of this section, in each town where such contract is to be performed, the Labor Commissioner shall (1) hold a hearing at any required time to determine the prevailing rate of wages on an hourly basis and the amount of payment or contributions paid or payable on behalf of each person to any employee welfare fund, as defined in subsection (i) of this section, upon any public work within any specified area, and shall establish classifications of skilled, semiskilled and ordinary labor, or (2) adopt and use such appropriate and applicable prevailing wage rate determinations as have been made by the Secretary of Labor of the United States under the provisions of the Davis-Bacon Act, as amended.(e) The Labor Commissioner shall determine the prevailing rate of wages on an hourly basis and the amount of payment or contributions paid or payable on behalf of such person to any employee welfare fund, as defined in subsection (i) of this section, in each locality where any such public work is to be constructed, and the agent empowered to let such contract shall contact the Labor Commissioner, at least ten but not more than twenty days prior to the date such contracts will be advertised for bid, to ascertain the proper rate of wages and amount of employee welfare fund payments or contributions and shall include such rate of wage on an hourly basis and the amount of payment or contributions paid or payable on behalf of each person to any employee welfare fund, as defined in subsection (i) of this section, or in lieu thereof the amount to be paid directly to each person for such payment or contributions as provided in subsection (a) of this section for all classifications of labor in the proposal for the contract. The rate of wage on an hourly basis and the amount of payment or contributions to any employee welfare fund, as defined in subsection (i) of this section, or cash in lieu thereof, as provided in subsection (a) of this section, shall, at all times, be considered as the minimum rate for the classification for which it was established. Prior to the award of any contract, purchase order, bid package or other designation subject to the provisions of this section, such agent shall certify to the Labor Commissioner, either in writing or electronically, the total dollar amount of work to be done in connection with such public works project, regardless of whether such project consists of one or more contracts. Upon the award of any contract subject to the provisions of this section, the contractor to whom such contract is awarded shall certify, under oath, to the Labor Commissioner the pay scale to be used by such contractor and any of the contractor's subcontractors for work to be performed under such contract.(f) Each employer subject to the provisions of this section, section 31-53c or 31-54 shall (1) keep, maintain and preserve such records relating to the wages and hours worked by each person performing the work of any mechanic, laborer and worker and a schedule of the occupation or work classification at which each person performing the work of any mechanic, laborer or worker on the project is employed during each work day and week in such manner and form as the Labor Commissioner establishes to assure the proper payments due to such persons or employee welfare funds under this section, section 31-53c or 31-54, regardless of any contractual relationship alleged to exist between the contractor and such person, provided such employer shall have the option of keeping, maintaining and preserving such records in an electronic format, and (2) submit monthly to the contracting agency or the Department of Economic and Community Development pursuant to section 31-53c by mail, electronic mail or other method accepted by such agency or the Department of Economic and Community Development, a certified payroll that shall consist of a complete copy of such records accompanied by a statement signed by the employer that indicates (A) such records are correct; (B) the rate of wages paid to each person performing the work of any mechanic, laborer or worker and the amount of payment or contributions paid or payable on behalf of each such person to any employee welfare fund, as defined in subsection (i) of this section, are not less than the prevailing rate of wages and the amount of payment or contributions paid or payable on behalf of each such person to any employee welfare fund, as determined by the Labor Commissioner pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, and not less than those required by the contract to be paid; (C) the employer has complied with the provisions of this section, section 31-53c and 31-54; (D) each such person is covered by a workers' compensation insurance policy for the duration of such person's employment, which shall be demonstrated by submitting to the contracting agency the name of the workers' compensation insurance carrier covering each such person, the effective and expiration dates of each policy and each policy number; (E) the employer does not receive kickbacks, as defined in 41 USC 52, from any employee or employee welfare fund; and (F) pursuant to the provisions of section 53a-157a, the employer is aware that filing a certified payroll which the employer knows to be false is a class D felony for which the employer may be fined up to five thousand dollars, imprisoned for up to five years, or both. This subsection shall not be construed to prohibit a general contractor from relying on the certification of a lower tier subcontractor, provided the general contractor shall not be exempted from the provisions of section 53a-157a if the general contractor knowingly relies upon a subcontractor's false certification. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1-210, the certified payroll shall be considered a public record and every person shall have the right to inspect and copy such records in accordance with the provisions of section 1-212. The provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of section 31-59 and sections 31-66 and 31-69 that are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section, section 31-53c or 31-54 apply to this section. Failing to file a certified payroll pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection is a class D felony for which the employer may be fined up to five thousand dollars, imprisoned for up to five years, or both.(g) Any contractor who is required by the Labor Department to make any payment as a result of a subcontractor's failure to pay wages or benefits, or any subcontractor who is required by the Labor Department to make any payment as a result of a lower tier subcontractor's failure to pay wages or benefits, may bring a civil action in the Superior Court to recover no more than the damages sustained by reason of making such payment, together with costs and a reasonable attorney's fee.(h) (1) The provisions of this section shall not apply where (A) the combined total cost or total bond authorization for all work to be performed by all contractors and subcontractors in connection with new construction of any public works project is less than one million dollars, or (B) the combined total cost of all work to be performed by all contractors and subcontractors in connection with any remodeling, refinishing, refurbishing, rehabilitation, alteration or repair of any public works project is less than one hundred thousand dollars.(2) On and after October 31, 2017, and prior to July 1, 2019, the provisions of this subdivision shall not apply where the work to be performed by any contractor or subcontractor in connection with new construction, remodeling, refinishing, refurbishing, rehabilitation, alteration or repair of any public works project funded in whole or in part by any private bequest that is greater than nine million dollars but less than twelve million dollars for a municipality in New Haven County with a population of not less than twelve thousand and not more than thirteen thousand, as determined by the most recent population estimate by the Department of Public Health.(3) On and after July 1, 2019, and prior to January 1, 2020, the provisions of this subdivision shall not apply where the work to be performed by any contractor or subcontractor in connection with new construction, remodeling, refinishing, refurbishing, rehabilitation, alteration or repair of any public works project funded in whole or in part by any private bequest that is greater than nine million dollars but less than twenty-two million dollars for a municipality in New Haven County with a population of not less than twelve thousand and not more than thirteen thousand, as determined by the most recent population estimate by the Department of Public Health.(i) As used in this section and sections 31-53c and 31-54, “employee welfare fund” means any trust fund established by one or more employers and one or more labor organizations or one or more other third parties not affiliated with the employers to provide from moneys in the fund, whether through the purchase of insurance or annuity contracts or otherwise, benefits under an employee welfare plan; provided such term shall not include any such fund where the trustee, or all of the trustees, are subject to supervision by the Banking Commissioner of this state or any other state or the Comptroller of the Currency of the United States or the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and “benefits under an employee welfare plan” means one or more benefits or services under any plan established or maintained for persons performing the work of any mechanics, laborers or workers or their families or dependents, or for both, including, but not limited to, medical, surgical or hospital care benefits; benefits in the event of sickness, accident, disability or death; benefits in the event of unemployment, or retirement benefits.(1949 Rev., S. 7372; March, 1950, S. 3018d, 3019d; 1961, P.A. 486, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 240, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 494, S. 1; P.A. 73-566, S. 1; P.A. 75-90, S. 1, 2; P.A. 77-442; 77-614, S. 161, 610; P.A. 79-325; P.A. 80-482, S. 200, 348; P.A. 83-537, S. 2; P.A. 85-355, S. 1-3; P.A. 87-9, S. 2, 3; P.A. 91-74, S. 1; 91-407, S. 40, 42; P.A. 93-392, S. 1; 93-435, S. 65, 95; P.A. 97-263, S. 14; P.A. 03-84, S. 17; P.A. 05-50, S. 1; P.A. 06-196, S. 161; P.A. 09-25, S. 1; P.A. 10-47, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 10-1, S. 68; P.A. 12-80, S. 191; P.A. 13-277, S. 55; P.A. 14-44, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2, S. 567; P.A. 19-199, S. 2.)History: 1961 act added provisions re political subdivision and employee welfare funds and added Subsecs. (f) and (g) re records and schedules which must be kept and re inapplicability of provisions where total cost of work is less than $5,000; 1963 act substituted “alteration” for “remodeling” and “public works project” for references to public buildings; 1967 act added Subsec. (h) defining “employee welfare fund” and “benefits under an employee welfare plan” and substituted references to Subsec. (h) for references to Sec. 31-78; P.A. 73-566 amended Subsec. (b) to add provisions re termination of contract when discovery is made that employees are being paid less than the amount required under contract; P.A. 75-90 added references to remodeling, refurnishing, refurbishing and rehabilitation of projects in Subsecs. (a), (b) and (g); P.A. 77-442 added Subsec. (d)(2) requiring commissioner to adopt and use appropriate and applicable prevailing wage rate determinations made by U.S. Secretary of Labor; P.A. 77-614 replaced bank commissioner with banking commissioner within the department of business regulation and made banking department the division of banking within that department, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-325 replaced former provisions of Subsec. (g) which had rendered section inapplicable where total cost of project is less than $50,000 with provision rendering provisions inapplicable to new construction projects where total cost is less than $50,000 and to remodeling, refinishing etc. projects where total cost is less than $10,000; P.A. 80-482 restored banking division as independent department with commissioner as its head following abolition of business regulation department; P.A. 83-537 amended Subsec. (e) to require the local agent to contact the labor commissioner, to ascertain proper wage rates and payment levels, at least ten but not more than 20 days prior to putting the contract out to bid; P.A. 85-355 amended Subsec. (e) to require the agent to certify the total cost of work to be done on the public works project, and to require the contractor to certify the pay scale to be used on the project after having been awarded the contract and amended Subsec. (g) to make the prevailing wage requirements inapplicable to projects costing less than $200,000 if new construction, or to projects costing less than $50,000 if remodeling; (Revisor's note: Pursuant to P.A. 87-9 “banking commissioner” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “commissioner of banking”); P.A. 91-74 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), amended Subsec. (b) to increase fines from $100 to not less than $2,500 but not more than $5,000 and amended Subsec. (g) by changing the cost thresholds from $200,000 to $400,000 and from $50,000 to $100,000; P.A. 91-407 changed effective date of P.A. 91-74 from October 1, 1991, to July 1, 1991; P.A. 93-392 deleted reference to Sec. 51-53 in Subsec. (a) and added (f)(2) requiring employers subject to the state prevailing wage laws to file weekly certified payrolls with the contracting public agency and designating such certified payrolls as public records; P.A. 93-435 made technical change in Subsec. (a) to reinstate language in existence prior to amendment made by P.A. 93-392, effective June 28, 1993; P.A. 97-263 added Subsec. (b)(1) and (2) disqualifying bidders from bidding on contracts with the state until certain requirements are met and adding provision permitting the withholding of payment of money to the contractor or subcontractor, amended Subsec. (d) to change “employee” to “person”, amended Subsec. (f) to require monthly submission of certified payroll and to make failure to file a certified payroll a class D felony, and amended Subsec. (h) by redefining “employee welfare fund” to include one or more other third parties not affiliated with the employers; P.A. 03-84 changed “Commissioner of Banking” to “Banking Commissioner” in Subsec. (h), effective June 3, 2003; P.A. 05-50 substituted “person” for “employee” and made technical changes throughout, amended Subsec. (a) to require payment of prevailing wage to persons performing the work of any mechanic, laborer or worker and to require contractor not obligated to contribute to employee welfare fund to pay to each mechanic, laborer or worker the amount of contribution for such person's classification, amended Subsec. (b) to impose penalties on any contractor or subcontractor who fails to pay prevailing wage or make required contributions to employee welfare fund, amended Subsec. (f) to require employer to keep, maintain and preserve records and schedule of occupation or work classification for each person performing the work of any mechanic, laborer and worker, adding “regardless of any contractual relationship alleged to exist between the contractor and such person” and amended Subsec. (h) to redefine “benefits under an employee welfare plan”; P.A. 06-196 made a technical change in Subsec. (c), effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 09-25 amended Subsec. (f)(2) to require employer to submit certified payroll to contracting agency by mail, first class postage prepaid; P.A. 10-47 added new Subsec. (g) re civil action for contractor or subcontractor required by Labor Department to make payment on behalf of subcontractor or lower-tiered subcontractor to recover damages, costs and fees, redesignated existing Subsecs. (g) and (h) as Subsecs. (h) and (i) and made technical changes in Subsecs. (a), (b), (d) and (e); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 10-1 made a technical change in Subsec. (f); P.A. 12-80 amended Subsec. (i) to delete reference to Sec. 31-89a; P.A. 13-277 amended Subsec. (f) to allow employer to submit certified payroll to contracting agency by mail or other method accepted by such agency and to require that signed statement accompanying certified payroll is an original, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 14-44 amended Subsecs. (b) and (e) to add references to electronic notice, amended Subsec. (e) to add “purchase order, bid package or other designation” and delete “in writing” re agent to certify dollar amount of work to be done in connection with public works project, amended Subsec. (f) to add provisions re employer's option to keep records in electronic format and re submission of certified payroll by electronic mail, and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2015; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2 amended Subsec. (f) by adding references to Sec. 31-53c and to Department of Economic and Community Development, amended Subsec. (h) by designating existing provisions re cost of public works project of less than $100,000 as Subdiv. (1) and amending same by replacing “total cost of all work” with “combined total cost or total bond authorization for all work”, replacing $400,000 with $1,000,000, adding Subdiv. (2) re public works project funded by private bequest that is greater than $9,000,000 but less than $12,000,000 for municipality in New Haven County with population not less than 12,000 and not more than 13,000, amended Subsec. (i) to add reference to Sec. 31-53c, and made technical and conforming changes, effective October 31, 2017; P.A. 19-199 amended Subsec. (h) by replacing “From the effective date of this section until” with “On or after October 31, 2017 and prior to” in Subdiv. (2), adding Subdiv. (3) re on and after July 1, 2019 and prior to January 1, 2020 provisions of subdivision not to apply where work funded is greater than $9,000,000 but less than $22,000,000 for municipality in New Haven County with population of less than 12,000 and not more than 13,000, and amended Subsec. (i) by making technical changes, effective July 1, 2019.