Small Clean Energy Contractor Prevailing Wage Act Assistance

Small Clean Energy Contractor Prevailing Wage Act Assistance. The General Assembly finds that small clean energy businesses, especially those in or serving underserved or historically disinvested communities, need assistance and resources to help them comply with the Prevailing Wage Act. Therefore, the Department of Labor shall develop and administer a statewide program to assist small clean energy contractors in administering and complying with the Prevailing Wage Act requirements. This Program shall provide training and ongoing technical assistance pertaining to compliance with the Prevailing Wage Act, including certified payroll reporting requirements. Ongoing assistance shall include, but is not limited to, answering contractor questions, recommending tools and process improvements, establishing an account with and utilizing the Certified Transcript of Payroll Portal, building administrative expertise within individual businesses, and any other assistance businesses identify as needed based on verbal or other input. All Program training, technical assistance, materials, services, and systems shall be structured to accommodate and address real-world circumstances encountered by small clean energy contractors; shall be developed, refined, and adjusted as necessary in consultation with such contractors; and shall be administered to serve businesses that operate in languages other than English and do so at a level of service equivalent to that offered to businesses that operate in English. The Department may enter into agreements with entities with experience in supporting small businesses in underserved or historically disinvested communities to implement portions or all of the program, ensuring such capacity is developed in northern, central, and southern Illinois regions. The Department shall communicate and market program services to small clean energy contractors statewide, and may do so in coordination with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. (Source: P.A. 102-662, eff. 9-15-21.)