State Finance and Procurement - Prevailing Wage Rate - Calculation

HB 997 modifies how Maryland's Commissioner of Labor and Industry calculates prevailing wage rates for state construction projects. It prohibits the use of wage data from investor-owned electric and gas companies when determining these rates, and requires the Commissioner to vacate any prevailing wage rate calculated using such prohibited data. The bill mandates a recalculation using allowable data sources for affected projects. This directly impacts state contractors and workers on public works projects requiring prevailing wage compliance, ensuring rates reflect broader local wage patterns rather than utility sector data. The changes apply to state procurement projects covered under Maryland's prevailing wage laws.