House bill would repeal Pa. Separations Act

A state construction law that has been in place for more than 100 years could be on the chopping block.
The House State Government Committee this week passed a bill that would repeal the law, known as the Pennsylvania Separations Act.
Under the law, in effect since 1913, state and local governments, as well as school districts, are required to solicit separate bids for every project and award four prime contracts in the areas of general construction, electrical, plumbing and heating and air conditioning.
The bill moving in the House would end the multiple-prime system.
Supporters of the current law, including union leaders, have long argued that it gives smaller subcontractors a chance to bid directly on public projects, rather than be excluded due to a lack of business relationships with large contractors who would get the work under a single-prime system. But opponents have said multiple-prime projects are fraught with problems such as change orders, schedule overruns and legal claims because there is a lack of collaboration between the lead contractors.
The bill, House Bill 163, cleared the Republican-led committee on a 15-10 vote. It will need to pass the full House before it can go to the Senate for consideration.

CREDIT: Jason Scott