November 02, 2005 11:00 AM CST

Assembly Bill 1329

By Masonry

On Sept. 6, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 1329, authorizing cities in Yolo and Solano counties to hire a general contractor to be responsible for both the design and construction work in public construction projects. Existing law requires cities and other public entities to deliver public projects using the design-bid-build method, under which the design and construction work is done by two separate entities, with two separate bidding processes.

The legislation was originally introduced by Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis), who cites reduced construction cost and complexity, faster construction times, and lower exposure to litigation as the advantages.

In the past, 13 California cities and counties have pursued and attained legislative authority to utilize the design-build option for construction of public buildings.

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About the Author

Masonry, the official publication of the Mason Contractors Association of America, covers every aspect of the mason contractor profession - equipment and techniques, building codes and standards, business planning, promoting your business, legal issues and more. Read or subscribe to Masonry magazine at www.masonrymagazine.com.