General Assembly Raised Bill No. 356 seeks to strengthen the regulation of wages and employee welfare contributions for public works projects in Connecticut. It requires that all public works contracts, including off-site custom fabrication, ensure that worker wages meet or exceed the prevailing rates in the respective town. The bill introduces penalties for contractors or subcontractors who violate wage laws, including fines of up to $5,000 per offense and potential debarment for repeated violations. It also outlines the responsibilities of the Labor Commissioner in determining prevailing wage rates, maintaining a list of violators, and allowing for contract termination and payment withholding in cases of wage violations. The bill repeals and replaces the existing Section 31-53 of the general statutes, with an effective date of October 1, 2026.

Additionally, the bill mandates that employers maintain daily logs of workers on-site and submit monthly certified payroll records electronically to the Labor Commissioner starting December 1, 2027. These records must include total contributions to fringe benefits and are subject to penalties for non-compliance, including class D felonies for failing to file or submitting false records. The Labor Commissioner is also tasked with developing an online system for the electronic submission of these records, which will include a publicly accessible database while protecting personally identifiable information. Overall, the bill aims to enhance transparency and accountability in wage payments for public works projects, improving oversight of labor practices.