§ 31-53d — Renewable energy and hydrogen projects. Community benefits agreement. Workforce development program. Contractor sworn certification. Wages. Penalties. Exceptions.

(a) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) “Covered project” means a renewable energy project with a total nameplate capacity of two megawatts or more that is situated on land in the state, or, on and after January 1, 2025, a hydrogen project. “Covered project” does not include (A) any renewable energy project (i) selected in a competitive solicitation conducted by (I) the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, or (II) an electric distribution company, as defined in section 16-1 , and (ii) approved by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority prior to January 1, 2022, (B) any renewable energy project under contract with another entity and approved by the relevant regulatory authority, as applicable, prior to January 1, 2022, or (C) any renewable energy project that commenced construction before July 1, 2021; (2) “Renewable energy project” means a Class I renewable energy source, as defined in section 16-1 . “Renewable energy project” does not include any offshore wind facility procured pursuant to section 16a-3h , 16a-3m or 16a-3n ; (3) “Hydrogen project” means any project that produces, processes, transports, stores or uses hydrogen; (4) “Community benefits agreement” means an agreement between (A) the developer of a covered project, and (B) community-based organizations or a coalition of such organizations, that details the project's contributions to the community in which it is or will be sited and the aspects of the project that will mitigate adverse conditions of such community and create opportunities for local businesses, communities and workers; (5) “Labor organization” means any organization, other than a company union, that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining or of dealing with employers concerning grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection, including, but not limited to, (A) bona fide labor organizations that are certified or recognized as the organization of jurisdiction representing the workers involved, (B) bona fide building and construction trades councils or district councils, and (C) state and local labor federations comprised of local unions certified or recognized as the representative of the workers; and (6) “Workforce development program” means a program pursuant to which newly hired employees and existing employees are given the opportunity to develop skills that will enable such employees to qualify for higher paying jobs on a covered project. A workforce development program includes: (A) Apprenticeship training through an apprenticeship program registered with the Labor Department or a federally recognized state apprenticeship agency that complies with the requirements under 29 CFR 29 and 29 CFR 30, as each may be amended from time to time, and (B) preapprenticeship training that will enable students to qualify for registered apprenticeship training. (b) The developer of a covered project shall (1) take all reasonable actions to ensure that a community benefits agreement is entered into with appropriate community organizations representing residents of the community in which the project is or will be located if the nameplate capacity of the project is five megawatts or more, and (2) take appropriate actions to ensure a workforce development program is established. (c) The developer of a covered project shall take all necessary actions to ensure that each contractor and subcontractor involved in the construction of the project completes a sworn certification that the contractor or subcontractor: (1) Has the necessary resources to perform the portion of the covered project to which the contractor or subcontractor are assigned, including the necessary technical, financial and personnel resources; (2) has all required contractor, specialty contractor or trade licenses, certifications or certificates required of any business entity or individual by applicable state or local law; (3) participates in apprenticeship training through an apprenticeship program registered with the Labor Department or a federally recognized state apprenticeship agency that complies with the requirements under 29 CFR 29 and 29 CFR 30, as each may be amended from time to time; (4) during the previous three years (A) has not been debarred by any government agency; (B) has not defaulted on any project; (C) has not had any license, certification or other credential relating to the business revoked or suspended; and (D) has not been found in violation of any law applicable to the contractor's or subcontractor's business that resulted in the payment of a fine, back pay damages or any other type of penalty in the amount of ten thousand dollars or more; (5) will pay personnel employed on the project not less than the applicable wage and fringe benefit rates for the classification in which such personnel is employed and required for the project; and (6) has not misclassified and will not misclassify labor employees as independent contractors. (d) The developer of a covered project shall submit to the Labor Commissioner the sworn certification of compliance specified in subsection (c) of this section not later than thirty days prior to commencement of construction of the project. Such sworn certification shall be considered a public document that shall be made available without redaction on the Labor Department's Internet web site not later than seven days after being submitted to the Labor Commissioner. If a sworn certification contains false, misleading or materially inaccurate information, the contractor or subcontractor that executed such sworn certification shall, after notice and opportunity to be heard, be subject to debarment pursuant to section 31-53a . (e) The failure of the developer of a covered project to take reasonable steps to ensure that the sworn certification submitted to the Labor Commissioner pursuant to subsection (d) of this section are accurate and truthful shall constitute a violation of this section and shall be subject to penalties and sanctions for conduct constituting noncompliance. The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, establishing the penalties and sanctions applicable to a violation of this subsection. (f) (1) Each contractor and subcontractor on a covered project shall (A) pay each construction employee on the project wages and benefits that are not less than the prevailing wage and fringe benefit rates prescribed in section 31-53 for the corresponding classification in which the employee is employed, and (B) be subject to all reporting and compliance requirements of section 31-53 . Contractors and subcontractors that violate this subsection shall be subject to penalties and sanctions in accordance with section 31-53 . (2) Each operations, maintenance and security employee employed in a building or facility that is constructed in a covered project shall be paid wages and benefits that are not less than the prevailing wage and fringe benefit rates prescribed in section 31-53 or, if applicable, the standard wage specified in section 31-57f for the corresponding classification in which the employee is employed. (g) Prevailing wage requirements under subsection (f) of this section shall not apply to a construction project that is covered by a project labor agreement. For the purposes of this subsection, “project labor agreement” means an agreement that: (1) Binds all contractors and subcontractors on the covered project to the project labor agreement through the inclusion of specifications in all relevant solicitation provisions and contract documents; (2) allows all contractors and subcontractors to compete for contracts and subcontracts on the project without regard to whether they are otherwise parties to collective bargaining agreements; (3) establishes uniform terms and conditions of employment for all construction labor employed on the projects; (4) guarantees against strikes, lockouts and similar job disruptions; (5) sets forth mutually binding procedures for resolving labor disputes arising during the project labor agreement; and (6) includes any other provisions as negotiated by the parties to promote successful delivery of the covered project.

Legislative History

(P.A. 21-43, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 82; P.A. 23-156, S. 2.) History: P.A. 21-43 effective July 1, 2021; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to redefine what “covered project” does not include, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 23-156 amended Subsec. (a) by redefining “covered project”, adding new Subdiv. (3) defining “hydrogen project”, redesignating existing Subdivs. (3) to (5) as Subdivs. (4) to (6), and making technical changes, effective July 1, 2023.