Public works: apprenticeship: bid preference.

The State Contract Act governs state contracts for public works projects and, among other things, generally requires the award of a contract to the lowest responsible bidder, with specified alternative procurement procedures authorized in certain cases. This bill would require a state agency that enters into a public works contract with an estimated value of not less than $250,000 to decrease the bid amount of a bidder by 5%, for purposes of comparing the bid with competing bids, if the bidder is party to an apprenticeship agreement with an approved apprenticeship program. The bill would require the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, taking the apprenticeship preference into consideration, to be awarded the contract unless the solicitation provides for additional award criteria. The bill would require a contractor seeking such a decrease, at the time of submission of a bid for a public works contract, to furnish written proof of approval to train apprentices by an approved apprenticeship program for each apprenticeable trade the contractor intends to employ on the public works project, signed under penalty of perjury. By expanding the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require a contractor to which the contract is awarded as a result of the decrease to employ registered apprentices in accordance with specified law and standards. The bill would define terms for these purposes. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.