| In the employment of laborers in the construction of public |
works, including state highways, by the State or by persons |
contracting for the construction, preference must first be given |
to citizens of the State who are qualified to perform the work to |
which the employment relates and, if they can not be obtained in |
sufficient numbers, then to citizens of the United States. Every |
contract for public works construction must contain a provision |
for employing citizens of this State or the United States. The |
hourly wage and benefit rate paid to laborers employed in the |
construction of public works, including state highways, may not |
be less than the fair minimum rate as determined in accordance |
with section 1308. Persons subject to this chapter must maintain |
payroll records on the work site, must keep records by |
classification and wages of workers and must make the records |
available to state and federal labor department officials and the |
public upon demand to ensure compliance with the requirements of |
this chapter. Any contractor who knowingly and willfully |
violates this section is subject to a fine of not less than $250 |
per employee violation. Each day that any contractor employs a |
laborer at less than the wage and benefit minimum stipulated in |
this section constitutes a separate violation of this section. |