HBA-JEK H.B. 1611 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1611 By: Kolkhorst Urban Affairs 4/10/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, only a municipality of more than 10,000 is entitled to collect a penalty from a contractor or subcontractor who fails to pay wage rates equal to or greater than the prevailing wage rates. Municipalities with a population of less than 10,000 are as likely as larger municipalities to suffer from the failure of a contractor or subcontractor to meet prevailing wage rates. House Bill 1611 repeals the provision that only a municipality of more than 10,000 is entitled to collect a penalty under the provisions that require a contractor or subcontractor to pay wage rates equal to or greater than the prevailing wage rates. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1611 amends the Government Code to repeal the provision that only a municipality of more than 10,000 is entitled to collect a penalty under the provisions that require a contractor or subcontractor to pay wage rates equal to or greater than the prevailing wage rates. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.