Under federal and state law, workers on publicly-funded projects must receive "prevailing wage" -- the wage paid to workers engaged in work of a similar character in the same labor market.

SF 135 provided that where the nature of the work was heavy or highway construction, the prevailing wage should not include health insurance fringe benefit costs. Rather, under the bill, a contractor bidding on state heavy or highway construction would have to provide coverage under a family health insurance policy.

The minimum benefits of the policy would have to meet the coverage and requirements afforded with the standard health benefit plan in Wyoming’s Small Employer Health Insurance Availability Act.

Proponents of SF 135 argued that since the lack of family health insurance ultimately places a financial burden on the state, the state would save money by requiring contractors who receive public funds to provide health insurance for their employees.

Opponents of SF 135 argued that it would mean higher bids and therefore higher costs to the state, and that it would make smaller contractors uncompetitive.

SF 135 was referred to the Senate Highways & Transportation Committee, where it was approved on a 5-0 vote. It then died on general file in the Senate (was not brought up for consideration).