Mattice Investment, Inc. v. Division of Labor Standards Enforcement

*920 Opinion

Mattice Investment, Inc. etc. (appellants) appeal from a judgment denying a petition for alternate writ of mandate. We affirm.

Facts and Procedural History

Appellants are contractors who were awarded construction contracts on certain public work projects on the University of California, Santa Barbara campus (UCSB). Respondent is the State of California, Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, who is responsible for investigating alleged violations of Labor Code laws as they pertain to public work projects.

On August 13, 1984, UCSB requested copies of appellants’ certified payroll records pursuant to Labor Code section 1776, subdivision (b)(3). * 1 Apparently the request for records originated with the carpenters’ union and was made through UCSB (body awarding the contract) pursuant to the code section. Appellants responded that they were entitled to their “costs of preparation” prior to complying with the request. Appellant J.S. Ostrander Construction Company estimated its costs of preparation to be $5,832. The other appellants submitted similar estimated costs of preparation. UCSB reported appellants’ estimated costs of…