A contractor working on a public works project must pay prevailing wages. Which statement about certified payroll records is correct?
Correct Answer
A) Records must be submitted weekly and kept for 3 years
Certified payroll records must be submitted weekly to the awarding body and maintained for at least 3 years after completion of the public works project.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Under California Labor Code Section 1776, contractors and subcontractors on public works projects must submit certified payroll records weekly to the awarding body and must retain those records for at least 3 years after completion of the work. This ensures ongoing compliance monitoring and provides documentation for audits or wage claims.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option B: Records are only required if requested by DIR
Certified payroll records are not only required upon request. They must be proactively submitted on a weekly basis to the awarding body, regardless of whether the DIR or any agency requests them. Waiting to be asked would violate the law.
Option C: Records must be submitted monthly to the awarding body
Monthly submission is incorrect. Certified payroll records must be submitted weekly — not monthly. The weekly submission requirement aligns with typical weekly pay cycles and ensures timely prevailing wage compliance monitoring.
Option D: Records must be submitted weekly and kept for 4 years
The 4-year retention period is incorrect. California Labor Code requires certified payroll records to be kept for 3 years after completion of the public works project, not 4 years.
Memory Technique
Certified payroll = 'Weekly reports, 3 years on file.' Memory trick: 'W-3' — Weekly submission, 3-year retention. Just like a W-3 form in payroll, think 'W for Weekly, 3 for three years.'
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