Ron Sandack Receives High Marks from Associated Builders & Contractors for General Assembly Votes

The Illinois Chapter of the Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) recently ranked all Illinois legislators based on floor votes cast on important builder/contractor issues from the 98th General Assembly. Based on a review of votes taken on 11 different bills in 2013 and 2014, Representative Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) scored a 90%.

The topics reviewed included issues such as prevailing wage regulation, workers’ compensation and project labor agreements. For ten of the 11 bills, the Associated Builders & Contractors looked for lawmakers to vote “No” on bills they felt would increase regulations for builders or drive up the cost of doing business.

“Representative Sandack has demonstrated an understanding of how lawmakers impact the economic well-being of ABC members and the economic competitiveness of our state,” said Alicia Martin, Illinois President of ABC.

Sandack, a member of the General Assembly since 2010, said there were many bills filed during the last two years that would hurt the building and contractor industries and hinder job growth in Illinois. “Unemployment in our state remains well above the national average, and as legislators we need to promote and pass laws that bring jobs to Illinois and put people back to work,” Sandack said. “Sadly, most of the business-related bills that made it to the floor for discussion during the last two years do the exact opposite. We have to stop overburdening our job creators with red tape and regulations.”

The issues rated, with ABC’s position, were:

Bill Rated

Description of Legislation

ABC Position

HB 922

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act to require record-keeping for public works projects of all workers employed on the project for at least 10 years after the date of the last payment. Senate Amendment 1 reduced to 5 years

OPPOSE

HB 923

Amends the Employee Classification Act requiring construction contractors to report to the Department of Labor (IDOL) all payments made to those entities if the recipient of the payment is not classified as an employee. Violations may result in civil penalties and debarment.

OPPOSE

HB 924

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act to require local governments to use “Responsible Bidder” standards for bidders. Requires contractors working on public works projects to report the hours worked by minorities and females.

OPPOSE

HB 1379

Requires certain acquired water utilities to use project labor agreements (PLAs).

OPPOSE

HB 2649

Amends Employee Classification Act to create deadlines for notifying and responding to complaints. Senate amendment improves the legislation regarding notice to employers of violations and penalties. Continues new liability for certain corporate officers.

OPPOSE

HB 3223

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act to require contractors to include in record keeping the gross and net wage, hourly overtime rate, fringe benefit rates, and the sponsor and administrator of fringe benefit plans. Authorizes IDOL to require electronic filing. Requires IDOL to create and provide a form for the filing of certified payrolls.

OPPOSE

SB 20

Economic Development Package including similar language from SB 1470 concerning the EPA’s determinations of project labor agreements for the Underground Storage Tank Fund.

OPPOSE

SB 1470

Amends the Project Labor Agreements Act to specify that the term “public works project” includes any corrective action performed pursuant to Title XVI of the Environmental Protection Act for which payment from the Underground Storage Tank Fund is requested. Authorizes the EPA to determine whether a PLA is required. If the EPA requires a PLA, then the owner must certify that the corrective action was (1) performed under a PLA that meets the requirements of Section 25 of the PLA Act and (2) implemented in a manner consistent with the PLA Act.

OPPOSE

SB 1859

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that any sports, arts, or entertainment facilities that receive revenue from certain taxes shall be considered to be public works within the meaning of the Prevailing Wage Act, and the county authorities responsible for the construction, renovation, modification, or alteration of the sports, arts, or entertainment facilities shall enter into project labor agreements with labor organizations

OPPOSE

SB 3023

Prevents the elimination of lien rights through the use of subordination clauses.

SUPPORT

SB 3287

Expands Third Party liability to a safety organization unless it is wholly owned by the employer or the employer’s insurer or broker.

OPPOSE