VCE Board Opposes Proposition 45

VCE Board Opposes Proposition 45

At its September 16 meeting, the Valley Contractors Exchange Board of Directors voted to oppose Proposition 45, primarily because of the skilled and trained workforce requirements tied to the measure's CEQA streamlining provisions.

Prop. 45 would create a streamlined review process for certain "essential projects," including transportation, water, educational facilities, public safety, public health, broadband, and clean energy projects. For non-housing essential projects that use this process, the measure requires compliance with the labor requirements contained in Public Resources Code § 21183.5.

For projects undertaken by a public agency, § 21183.5 requires an enforceable commitment that the contractor, and its contractors and subcontractors at every tier, use a skilled and trained workforce for work performed in apprenticeable construction occupations. A qualifying project labor agreement can also be used to meet those requirements.

VCE supports efforts to streamline CEQA and expedite needed construction projects. However, the Board does not believe access to environmental review streamlining should be conditioned on separate workforce requirements that do not relate to the environmental review itself.

The Board is concerned that tying CEQA streamlining to skilled and trained workforce requirements may limit opportunities for otherwise qualified contractors and subcontractors, particularly smaller and nonunion firms serving rural Northern California.

For these reasons, the VCE Board of Directors voted to oppose Proposition 45.