Bill > SB179

This bill amends the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act to establish a more structured approach to penalizing contractors who intentionally fail to pay prevailing wages. Specifically, the bill introduces a tiered system of debarment (prohibition from receiving public contracts) based on the amount of unpaid wages: a three-year debarment for underpayment less than $1 million, a five-year debarment for underpayment between $1 million and $10 million, and a ten-year debarment for underpayment exceeding $10 million. The bill also makes a mandatory requirement for the secretary to request the Attorney General to pursue financial penalties against such contractors, whereas previously this was optional. The changes aim to strengthen enforcement of prevailing wage laws by creating more significant consequences for intentional wage violations, with the severity of the penalty directly proportional to the amount of wages withheld. The bill will take effect 60 days after its enactment, giving public bodies and contractors time to understand and prepare for the new debarment structure.