Public Hearing Testimony of
Danté Bartolomeo
Commissioner
Department of Labor
Labor and Public Employees Committee
February 27, 2025
Good afternoon Senator Kushner, Representative Sanchez, Senator Sampson, Representative Weir and members of the Labor and Public Employees Committee. Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with written testimony regarding SB 1370: AN ACT REQUIRING WORKERS PERFORMING OFF-SITE CUSTOM FABRICATION FOR A PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT TO BE PAID PREVAILING WAGE RATES. My name is Danté Bartolomeo, and I am the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL).
SB 1370 would require that workers performing off-site fabrication for a public works project be paid prevailing wage rates. As SB 1370 states, this would cover the in-state “fabrication of systems that are fabricated at a site other than the location of a public works project, but are fabricated specifically for such public works project, including, but not limited to, plumbing systems, heating systems, cooling systems, pipefitting systems, ventilation systems or exhaust duct systems.”
While CTDOL appreciates the proponents of SB 1370 collaborating with our agency to make sure the bill language is clear, the volume of complaints and investigations and the impact on our Wage and Workplace Standards Division, which is already resource constrained, is unclear. Therefore, as session progresses and final language is considered, we would appreciate continued dialogue with the committee and SB 1370’s proponents on the potential fiscal impact SB 1370 would have on our agency.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide the Committee with this written testimony. My staff and I are reachable to further discuss SB 1370 by directing any questions you may have to Billy Taylor, Legislative and Administrative Advisor at william.b.taylor@ct.gov or 203-947-4136.
