18-2-415. Standard prevailing rate of wages for nonconstruction services -- survey. (1) The department shall conduct an annual survey to calculate the standard prevailing rate of wages for nonconstruction services using the process described in this section.

(2) The standard prevailing wage rates adopted under subsection (1) must be set for the districts established under 18-2-411.

(3) (a) The department shall survey those employers that the department determines provide nonconstruction services in Montana in fulfillment of public works contracts.

(b) The department may survey employers that request to be included in the survey related to the nonconstruction services standard prevailing rate of wages or employers whose names and addresses are supplied by a political subdivision of the state as employers who have submitted bona fide bids or responses to requests for proposals for public works contracts for nonconstruction services.

(4) If the department does not survey an employer who is required to be surveyed under subsection (3)(a) or eligible to be surveyed under subsection (3)(b), the resulting survey and the ratesetting process remain valid.

(5) The survey must include:

(a) those wages, including fringe benefits and travel allowances if applicable, that are paid in the applicable district by other employers for work of a similar character performed in that district by each craft, classification, or type of worker needed to complete a contract under this part; and

(b) information pertaining to the number of workers employed in the employer's peak month of employment.

(6) In setting the standard prevailing rate of wages for nonconstruction services from the survey for each craft, classification, or type of work, the department shall use the weighted average wage for each craft, classification, or type of work, except in cases in which the survey shows that at least 50% of the workers are receiving the same wage. If the survey shows that at least 50% of the workers are receiving the same wage, that wage is the standard prevailing rate of wages for that craft, classification, or type of work.

(7) The work performed must be work of a similar character to the work performed in the applicable district unless the survey in the applicable district does not generate sufficient data. If the survey produces insufficient data, the standard prevailing rate of wages may be established by the use of other information or an alternate methodology as provided in subsection (8).

(8) (a) The commissioner shall establish by rule the methodology for determining the standard prevailing rate of wages. The rules must include an alternate methodology to determine the standard prevailing rate of wages whenever insufficient data is generated by the survey of contractors in the applicable district. The rules must identify the amount of data that constitutes insufficient data.

(b) The commissioner shall use an alternate methodology provided by rule to determine the standard prevailing rate of wages whenever insufficient data exists.

(c) The alternative method of determining the prevailing rate of wages must provide for review and the incorporation of data from work of a similar character, which must be based on a survey that is conducted as closely as possible to the original district.

(9) Whenever work of a similar character is not being performed in the district, the standard prevailing rate of wages, including fringe benefits, must be those rates established by collective bargaining agreements in effect in the applicable district for each craft, classification, or type of skilled worker needed to complete the contract.