(a) When a contractor, bidder, or other entity is required to provide an enforceable commitment that a skilled and trained workforce will be used to complete a contract or project, the commitment shall be made in an enforceable agreement with the public entity or other awarding body that provides both of the following:

(1) The contractor, bidder, or other entity, and its contractors and subcontractors at every tier, will comply with this chapter.

(2) The contractor, bidder, or other entity will provide to the public entity or other awarding body, on a monthly basis while the project or contract is being performed, a report demonstrating compliance with this chapter.

(b) If the contractor, bidder, or other entity fails to provide the monthly report required by this section, or provides a report that is incomplete, the public agency or other awarding body shall withhold further payments until a complete report is provided. If a monthly report is incomplete due to the failure of a subcontractor to timely submit the required information to the contractor, bidder, or other entity, the public agency or awarding body shall only withhold an amount equal to 150 percent of the value of the monthly billing for the relevant subcontractor. If a public agency or other awarding body withholds amounts pursuant to this subdivision, the contractor, bidder, or other entity shall be entitled to withhold the same amount from the subcontractor until the subcontractor provides the contractor, bidder, or other entity a complete report, and the public agency or awarding body subsequently pays the contractor, bidder, or other entity the withheld payments. If the contractor, bidder, or other entity substitutes a subcontractor pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 4100) for failure to provide a complete report, and the contractor, bidder, or other entity replaces the subcontractor with one that provides an enforceable commitment that a skilled and trained workforce will be used to complete the contract or project, the public agency or awarding body shall immediately resume making payments to the contractor, bidder, or other entity, including all previously withheld payments.

(c) If a monthly report does not demonstrate compliance with this chapter, the public agency or other awarding body shall do all of the following:

(1) Withhold further payments until the contractor, bidder, or other entity provides a plan to achieve substantial compliance with this chapter, with respect to the relevant apprenticeable occupation, prior to completion of the contract or project. All of the following shall apply to the withholding of payments under this paragraph:

(A) The public agency or awarding body shall withhold an amount equal to 150 percent of the value of the monthly billing for the entity that failed to comply with this chapter, or 150 percent of the value of the monthly billing for the subcontractor that failed to comply with this chapter. If a public agency or other awarding body withholds amounts pursuant to this paragraph, the contractor, bidder, or other entity shall be entitled to withhold the same amount from the subcontractor that did not demonstrate compliance with this chapter.

(B) If the contractor, bidder, or other entity substitutes a subcontractor pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 4100) for failure to demonstrate compliance, and the contractor, bidder, or other entity replaces the subcontractor with one that provides an enforceable commitment that a skilled and trained workforce will be used to complete the contract or project, the public agency or awarding body shall immediately resume making payments to the contractor, bidder, or other entity, including all previously withheld payments.

(C) If a contractor, bidder, or other entity submits to the public agency or awarding body a plan to achieve substantial compliance with this chapter, the public agency or awarding body shall immediately resume making payments to the contractor, bidder, or other entity, including all previously withheld payments unless, within a reasonable time, the public agency or awarding body rejects the plan as insufficient and explains the reasons for the rejection.

(2) Forward a copy of the monthly report to the Labor Commissioner for issuance of a civil wage and penalty assessment in accordance with Section 2603.

(3) Forward to the Labor Commissioner a copy of the plan, if any, submitted by the contractor, bidder, or other entity to achieve substantial compliance with this chapter and the response to that plan, if any, by the public agency or awarding body.

(d) A monthly report provided to the public agency or other awarding body shall be a public record under the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code) and shall be open to public inspection.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 615, Sec. 353. (AB 474) Effective January 1, 2022. Operative January 1, 2023, pursuant to Sec. 463 of Stats. 2021, Ch. 615.)