As required by law, earlier this week the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) issued a report on county projects developed with a design-build delivery method after November 1, 2009 and before August 1, 2013.  The report became required when the Legislature extended the sunset on county use of design-build from January 1, 2011, to July 1, 2014. 

The LAO opined that the information it reviewed did not provide any evidence that would discourage the Legislature from granting design-build authority to local agencies on an ongoing basis.  The LAO recommended, however, that the Legislature consider some changes, such as creating uniform design-build statute for agencies with design-build authority (such as counties, cities, and school districts), eliminating cost limitations, and requiring project cost to be a larger factor in awarding the design-build contract.  The LAO report can be accessed here.

RCRC has consistently supported ongoing authority for counties to utilize design-build. However, in the face of labor opposition, only efforts to extend the sunset on county authority have been successful to date.  The last bill to extend the sunset, which was enacted in 2013, extended county design-build authority until July 2016.  

For additional information, please contact RCRC Legislative Advocate Kathy Mannion at 916.447.4806 or kmannion@rcrcnet.org.