ABC stands for the elimination of PLAs and apprenticeship requirements on any and all public works projects. To this end, ABC will support the elimination of these provisions together or individually in this or future amendments to Wicks.
ABC has not taken any stance on the Wicks Law as a whole, rather ABC is continuing to oppose discriminating and exclusionary pre-bid requirements such as PLAs and registered apprenticeship programs.
Many aspects and details of the proposed amendments will become more clearly defined upon release of future supporting budget documents (a.k.a Article 7). ABC is willing and flexible enough to change its stance on any and all provisions of Wicks, other than PLAs and apprenticeship requirements, as more details are made public.
ABC is currently reviewing Governor Paterson’s proposed 2009-10 New York State Budget for issues impacting our members. After an initial and brief analysis of the proposed budget, ABC has discovered that the Wicks Law is continuing to be reformed. The governor has proposed the following reforms;
Increasing the threshold for New York City from $3 million to $10 million, no other regional threshold changes.
Any municipal project over the regional thresholds is still subject to Wicks bidding requirements (the PLA provision is still an option for municipalities).
“…projects undertaken by school districts shall not be subject to the requirements of separate specifications (referred to as the Wicks Law)[i].” All school projects – no matter the project costs – are exempt from all aspects of the Wicks Law. [future budget documentation will detail this more specifically]
The entire apprenticeship provision has been DELETED. Any municipal project that will require Wicks bidding procedures will not be subject to apprenticeship mandates.
These are the highlights and major components of the 09-10 proposed state budget with regards to the Wicks Law. This proposed budget still needs legislative approval before any provision of the budget can be enacted, however it is important to note that it is Governor Paterson’s proposal and that fact will assist in convincing members of his party to adopt the budget.
When the new legislature begins session and as the budget process unfolds, ABC will be in Albany fighting to secure passage of this amended Wicks Law. ABC will be in communication with you throughout the process and will inform you of any VoterVoice email or faxes needed over the next few months.
[i] Proposed budget bill S.56/A.156; page 149 of the legislation; §11 paragraph (e).