Sts. & Hy. Code, § 136.6

(a) The department may enter into contracts not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the leasing and renting of operated heavy highway equipment for state highway maintenance purposes, which contracts are not subject to the State Contract Act pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 136.5, and the department is not required to comply with the procedures described in subdivision (a) of that section relative to those contracts. Contracts exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the leasing and renting of operated heavy highway equipment for state highway maintenance purposes shall be subject to the procedures described in subdivision (a) of Section 136.5.

(b) For purposes of this section, “operated heavy highway equipment” shall mean bulldozers, grinders, loaders, pavers, oilers, rollers, excavators, truck tractors and trailers, fork lifts, personnel lifts, sweepers, and water tankers that include within the leasing or rental costs the cost of the qualified operator of the equipment.

(c) This section shall not apply to contracts for the leasing or renting of operated heavy highway equipment for emergency work, which are governed by subdivision (b) of Section 136.5. This section shall not apply to the leasing or renting of operated heavy highway equipment to be utilized for new highway construction.