HB 1427CS

CHAMBER ACTION




1The Committee on State Administration recommends the following:
2
3     Committee Substitute
4     Remove the entire bill and insert:
5
A bill to be entitled
6An act relating to construction contracting; amending s.
7255.05, F.S.; making certain restrictions in bonds issued
8for public works projects unenforceable; deleting obsolete
9language; amending ss. 489.129 and 489.533, F.S.;
10increasing an administrative fine under certain
11disciplinary proceeding provisions; amending s. 713.015,
12F.S.; revising a direct contract provision requirement;
13providing that failure to include such provision in such
14contracts limits certain lien rights under the contract;
15providing construction relating to validity and
16enforceability; preserving lien rights of certain persons;
17amending s. 713.02, F.S.; protecting the rights of certain
18persons to enforce certain contract, lien, or bond
19remedies or contractual obligations under certain
20circumstances; precluding certain defenses; amending s.
21713.04, F.S.; revising certain final payment requirements;
22amending s. 713.08, F.S.; requiring a claim of lien to be
23served on an owner; amending s. 713.13, F.S.; clarifying
24use of a payment bond as a transfer bond; amending s.
25713.135, F.S., revising certain notice of commencement and
26applicability of lien requirements for certain authorities
27issuing building permits; amending s. 713.24, F.S.;
28preserving certain lien rights when filing a transfer bond
29after commencing certain lien enforcement proceedings;
30amending s. 713.345, F.S.; increasing certain criminal
31penalties for misapplication of construction funds;
32amending s. 713.3471, F.S.; revising a provision requiring
33a lender to provide notice to a property owner when making
34a first loan disbursement on a construction loan secured
35by residential real property; revising a notice form;
36providing an effective date.
37
38Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
39
40     Section 1.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and subsection
41(5) of section 255.05, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
42     255.05  Bond of contractor constructing public buildings;
43form; action by materialmen.--
44     (1)(a)  Any person entering into a formal contract with the
45state or any county, city, or political subdivision thereof, or
46other public authority, for the construction of a public
47building, for the prosecution and completion of a public work,
48or for repairs upon a public building or public work shall be
49required, before commencing the work or before recommencing the
50work after a default or abandonment, to execute, deliver to the
51public owner, and record in the public records of the county
52where the improvement is located, a payment and performance bond
53with a surety insurer authorized to do business in this state as
54surety. A public entity may not require a contractor to secure a
55surety bond under this section from a specific agent or bonding
56company. The bond must state on its front page: the name,
57principal business address, and phone number of the contractor,
58the surety, the owner of the property being improved, and, if
59different from the owner, the contracting public entity; the
60contract number assigned by the contracting public entity; and a
61description of the project sufficient to identify it, such as a
62legal description or the street address of the property being
63improved, and a general description of the improvement. Such
64bond shall be conditioned upon the contractor's performance of
65the construction work in the time and manner prescribed in the
66contract and promptly making payments to all persons defined in
67s. 713.01 who furnish labor, services, or materials for the
68prosecution of the work provided for in the contract. Any
69claimant may apply to the governmental entity having charge of
70the work for copies of the contract and bond and shall thereupon
71be furnished with a certified copy of the contract and bond. The
72claimant shall have a right of action against the contractor and
73surety for the amount due him or her, including unpaid finance
74charges due under the claimant's contract. Such action shall not
75involve the public authority in any expense. When such work is
76done for the state and the contract is for $100,000 or less, no
77payment and performance bond shall be required. At the
78discretion of the official or board awarding such contract when
79such work is done for any county, city, political subdivision,
80or public authority, any person entering into such a contract
81which is for $200,000 or less may be exempted from executing the
82payment and performance bond. When such work is done for the
83state, the Secretary of the Department of Management Services
84may delegate to state agencies the authority to exempt any
85person entering into such a contract amounting to more than
86$100,000 but less than $200,000 from executing the payment and
87performance bond. In the event such exemption is granted, the
88officer or officials shall not be personally liable to persons
89suffering loss because of granting such exemption. The
90Department of Management Services shall maintain information on
91the number of requests by state agencies for delegation of
92authority to waive the bond requirements by agency and project
93number and whether any request for delegation was denied and the
94justification for the denial. Any provision in a bond furnished
95for public work contracts as provided by this subsection
96restricting the classes or persons protected by such bond or the
97venue of any proceeding relating to such bond is unenforceable.
98     (5)  In addition to the provisions of chapter 47, any
99action authorized under this section may be brought in the
100county in which the public building or public work is being
101constructed or repaired. This subsection shall not apply to an
102action instituted prior to May 17, 1977.
103     Section 2.  Subsection (1) of section 489.129, Florida
104Statutes, is amended to read:
105     489.129  Disciplinary proceedings.--
106     (1)  The board may take any of the following actions
107against any certificateholder or registrant: place on probation
108or reprimand the licensee, revoke, suspend, or deny the issuance
109or renewal of the certificate, registration, or certificate of
110authority, require financial restitution to a consumer for
111financial harm directly related to a violation of a provision of
112this part, impose an administrative fine not to exceed $10,000
113$5,000 per violation, require continuing education, or assess
114costs associated with investigation and prosecution, if the
115contractor, financially responsible officer, or business
116organization for which the contractor is a primary qualifying
117agent, a financially responsible officer, or a secondary
118qualifying agent responsible under s. 489.1195 is found guilty
119of any of the following acts:
120     (a)  Obtaining a certificate, registration, or certificate
121of authority by fraud or misrepresentation.
122     (b)  Being convicted or found guilty of, or entering a plea
123of nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a crime in
124any jurisdiction which directly relates to the practice of
125contracting or the ability to practice contracting.
126     (c)  Violating any provision of chapter 455.
127     (d)  Performing any act which assists a person or entity in
128engaging in the prohibited uncertified and unregistered practice
129of contracting, if the certificateholder or registrant knows or
130has reasonable grounds to know that the person or entity was
131uncertified and unregistered.
132     (e)  Knowingly combining or conspiring with an uncertified
133or unregistered person by allowing his or her certificate,
134registration, or certificate of authority to be used by the
135uncertified or unregistered person with intent to evade the
136provisions of this part. When a certificateholder or registrant
137allows his or her certificate or registration to be used by one
138or more business organizations without having any active
139participation in the operations, management, or control of such
140business organizations, such act constitutes prima facie
141evidence of an intent to evade the provisions of this part.
142     (f)  Acting in the capacity of a contractor under any
143certificate or registration issued hereunder except in the name
144of the certificateholder or registrant as set forth on the
145issued certificate or registration, or in accordance with the
146personnel of the certificateholder or registrant as set forth in
147the application for the certificate or registration, or as later
148changed as provided in this part.
149     (g)  Committing mismanagement or misconduct in the practice
150of contracting that causes financial harm to a customer.
151Financial mismanagement or misconduct occurs when:
152     1.  Valid liens have been recorded against the property of
153a contractor's customer for supplies or services ordered by the
154contractor for the customer's job; the contractor has received
155funds from the customer to pay for the supplies or services; and
156the contractor has not had the liens removed from the property,
157by payment or by bond, within 75 days after the date of such
158liens;
159     2.  The contractor has abandoned a customer's job and the
160percentage of completion is less than the percentage of the
161total contract price paid to the contractor as of the time of
162abandonment, unless the contractor is entitled to retain such
163funds under the terms of the contract or refunds the excess
164funds within 30 days after the date the job is abandoned; or
165     3.  The contractor's job has been completed, and it is
166shown that the customer has had to pay more for the contracted
167job than the original contract price, as adjusted for subsequent
168change orders, unless such increase in cost was the result of
169circumstances beyond the control of the contractor, was the
170result of circumstances caused by the customer, or was otherwise
171permitted by the terms of the contract between the contractor
172and the customer.
173     (h)  Being disciplined by any municipality or county for an
174act or violation of this part.
175     (i)  Failing in any material respect to comply with the
176provisions of this part or violating a rule or lawful order of
177the board.
178     (j)  Abandoning a construction project in which the
179contractor is engaged or under contract as a contractor. A
180project may be presumed abandoned after 90 days if the
181contractor terminates the project without just cause or without
182proper notification to the owner, including the reason for
183termination, or fails to perform work without just cause for 90
184consecutive days.
185     (k)  Signing a statement with respect to a project or
186contract falsely indicating that the work is bonded; falsely
187indicating that payment has been made for all subcontracted
188work, labor, and materials which results in a financial loss to
189the owner, purchaser, or contractor; or falsely indicating that
190workers' compensation and public liability insurance are
191provided.
192     (l)  Committing fraud or deceit in the practice of
193contracting.
194     (m)  Committing incompetency or misconduct in the practice
195of contracting.
196     (n)  Committing gross negligence, repeated negligence, or
197negligence resulting in a significant danger to life or
198property.
199     (o)  Proceeding on any job without obtaining applicable
200local building department permits and inspections.
201     (p)  Intimidating, threatening, coercing, or otherwise
202discouraging the service of a notice to owner under part I of
203chapter 713 or a notice to contractor under chapter 255 or part
204I of chapter 713.
205     (q)  Failing to satisfy within a reasonable time, the terms
206of a civil judgment obtained against the licensee, or the
207business organization qualified by the licensee, relating to the
208practice of the licensee's profession.
209
210For the purposes of this subsection, construction is considered
211to be commenced when the contract is executed and the contractor
212has accepted funds from the customer or lender. A contractor
213does not commit a violation of this subsection when the
214contractor relies on a building code interpretation rendered by
215a building official or person authorized by s. 553.80 to enforce
216the building code, absent a finding of fraud or deceit in the
217practice of contracting, or gross negligence, repeated
218negligence, or negligence resulting in a significant danger to
219life or property on the part of the building official, in a
220proceeding under chapter 120.
221     Section 3.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
222489.533, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
223     489.533  Disciplinary proceedings.--
224     (2)  When the board finds any applicant, contractor, or
225business organization for which the contractor is a primary
226qualifying agent or secondary qualifying agent responsible under
227s. 489.522 guilty of any of the grounds set forth in subsection
228(1), it may enter an order imposing one or more of the following
229penalties:
230     (c)  Imposition of an administrative fine not to exceed
231$10,000 $5,000 for each count or separate offense.
232     Section 4.  Section 713.015, Florida Statutes, is amended
233to read:
234     713.015  Mandatory provisions for direct contracts.--
235     (1)  Any direct contract between an owner and a contractor,
236related to improvements to real property consisting of single or
237multiple family dwellings up to and including four units, must
238contain the following provision printed in capital letters no
239less than the same size 18-point, capitalized, boldfaced type
240used in the body of the contract:
241
242ACCORDING TO FLORIDA'S CONSTRUCTION LIEN LAW (SECTIONS 713.001-
243713.37, FLORIDA STATUTES), THOSE WHO WORK ON YOUR PROPERTY OR
244PROVIDE MATERIALS AND ARE NOT PAID IN FULL HAVE A RIGHT TO
245ENFORCE THEIR CLAIM FOR PAYMENT AGAINST YOUR PROPERTY. THIS
246CLAIM IS KNOWN AS A CONSTRUCTION LIEN. IF YOUR CONTRACTOR OR A
247SUBCONTRACTOR FAILS TO PAY SUBCONTRACTORS, SUB-SUBCONTRACTORS,
248OR MATERIAL SUPPLIERS OR NEGLECTS TO MAKE OTHER LEGALLY REQUIRED
249PAYMENTS, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OWED MONEY MAY LOOK TO YOUR
250PROPERTY FOR PAYMENT, EVEN IF YOU HAVE PAID YOUR CONTRACTOR IN
251FULL. IF YOU FAIL TO PAY YOUR CONTRACTOR, YOUR CONTRACTOR MAY
252ALSO HAVE A LIEN ON YOUR PROPERTY. THIS MEANS IF A LIEN IS FILED
253YOUR PROPERTY COULD BE SOLD AGAINST YOUR WILL TO PAY FOR LABOR,
254MATERIALS, OR OTHER SERVICES THAT YOUR CONTRACTOR OR A
255SUBCONTRACTOR MAY HAVE FAILED TO PAY. FLORIDA'S CONSTRUCTION
256LIEN LAW IS COMPLEX AND IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT WHENEVER A
257SPECIFIC PROBLEM ARISES, YOU CONSULT AN ATTORNEY.
258     (2)  The failure of a contractor to include this provision
259in the direct contract shall not invalidate or render the direct
260contract unenforceable. Nothing in this section shall be
261construed to adversely affect the lien and bond rights of
262lienors who are not in privity with the owner.
263     Section 5.  Subsection (7) of section 713.02, Florida
264Statutes, is amended to read:
265     713.02  Types of lienors and exemptions.--
266     (7)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, no
267lien shall exist in favor of any contractor, subcontractor, or
268sub-subcontractor who is unlicensed as provided in s. 489.128 or
269s. 489.532. Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, if
270a contract is rendered unenforceable by an unlicensed
271contractor, subcontractor, or sub-subcontractor pursuant to s.
272489.128 or s. 489.532, such unenforceability shall not affect
273the rights of any other persons to enforce contract, lien, or
274bond remedies and shall not affect the obligations of a surety
275that has provided a bond on behalf of the unlicensed contractor,
276subcontractor, or sub-subcontractor. It shall not be a defense
277to any claim on a bond or indemnity agreement that the principal
278or indemnitor is unlicensed as provided in s. 489.128 or s.
279489.532.
280     Section 6.  Subsection (3) of section 713.04, Florida
281Statutes, is amended, and subsection (4) is added to said
282section, to read:
283     713.04  Subdivision improvements.--
284     (3)  The owner shall not pay any money on account of a
285direct contract before actual furnishing of labor and services
286or materials for subdivision improvements. Any such The payment
287not complying with such requirement shall not qualify as a
288proper payment under this chapter section.
289     (4)  The owner shall make final payment on account of a
290direct contract only after the contractor complies with s.
291713.06(3)(d). Any such payment not complying with such
292requirement shall not qualify as a proper payment under this
293chapter.
294     Section 7.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of section
295713.08, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
296     713.08  Claim of lien.--
297     (4)
298     (c)  The claim of lien shall be served on the owner.
299Failure to serve any claim of lien in the manner provided in s.
300713.18 before recording or within 15 days after recording shall
301render the claim of lien voidable to the extent that the failure
302or delay is shown to have been prejudicial to any person
303entitled to rely on the service.
304     Section 8.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section
305713.13, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
306     713.13  Notice of commencement.--
307     (1)
308     (e)  A copy of any bond must be attached at the time of
309recordation of the notice of commencement. The failure to attach
310a copy of the bond to the notice of commencement when the notice
311is recorded negates the exemption provided in s. 713.02(6).
312However, if such a bond exists but is not recorded, the bond may
313be used as a transfer bond pursuant to s. 713.24. The bond shall
314be deemed a transfer bond under s. 713.24 for all purposes at
315the time of recordation of the notice of bond and the clerk's
316mailing as provided in s. 713.23(2). At the time of recordation
317of the notice of bond, any notice requirements not contained in
318s. 713.24 shall be deemed deleted from the bond.
319     Section 9.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and subsection
320(4) of section 713.135, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
321paragraph (e) is added to subsection (1) of said section, to
322read:
323     713.135  Notice of commencement and applicability of
324lien.--
325     (1)  When any person applies for a building permit, the
326authority issuing such permit shall:
327     (b)  Provide the applicant and the owner of the real
328property upon which improvements are to be constructed with a
329printed statement stating that the right, title, and interest of
330the person who has contracted for the improvement may be subject
331to attachment under the Construction Lien Law. The Department of
332Business and Professional Regulation shall furnish, for
333distribution, the statement described in this paragraph, and the
334statement must be a summary of the Construction Lien Law and
335must include an explanation of the provisions of the
336Construction Lien Law relating to the recording, and the posting
337of copies, of notices of commencement and a statement
338encouraging the owner to record a notice of commencement and
339post a copy of the notice of commencement in accordance with s.
340713.13. The statement must also contain an explanation of the
341owner's rights if a lienor fails to furnish the owner with a
342notice as provided in s. 713.06(2) and an explanation of the
343owner's rights as provided in s. 713.22. The authority that
344issues the building permit must obtain from the Department of
345Business and Professional Regulation the statement required by
346this paragraph and must mail, deliver by electronic mail or
347other electronic format or facsimile, or personally deliver that
348statement to the owner or, in the case in which the owner is
349required to personally appear to obtain the permit, provide that
350statement to any owner making improvements to real property
351consisting of a single or multiple family dwelling up to and
352including four units. However, the failure by the authorities to
353provide the summary does not subject the issuing authority to
354liability.
355     (e)  Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to
356require a notice of commencement to be recorded as a condition
357to the issuance of a building permit.
358     (4)  The several boards of county commissioners, municipal
359councils, or other similar bodies may by ordinance or resolution
360establish reasonable fees for furnishing copies of the forms and
361the printed statement provided in paragraphs (1)(b) and
362paragraph (1)(d) in an amount not to exceed $5 to be paid by the
363applicant for each permit in addition to all other costs of the
364permit; however, no forms or statement need be furnished,
365mailed, or otherwise provided to, nor may such additional fee be
366obtained from, applicants for permits in those cases in which
367the owner of a legal or equitable interest (including that of
368ownership of stock of a corporate landowner) of the real
369property to be improved is engaged in the business of
370construction of buildings for sale to others and intends to make
371the improvements authorized by the permit on the property and
372upon completion will offer the improved real property for sale.
373     Section 10.  Subsection (4) of section 713.24, Florida
374Statutes, is amended to read:
375     713.24  Transfer of liens to security.--
376     (4)  If a proceeding to enforce a transferred lien is not
377commenced within the time specified in s. 713.22 or if it
378appears that the transferred lien has been satisfied of record,
379the clerk shall return said security upon request of the person
380depositing or filing the same, or the insurer. If a proceeding
381to enforce a lien is commenced in a court of competent
382jurisdiction within the time specified in s. 713.22 and,
383subsequent to the expiration of the proceeding, the lien is
384transferred pursuant to s. 713.24, an action commenced to
385recover against the security shall be deemed to have been
386brought as of the date of filing the action to enforce the lien.
387     Section 11.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
388713.345, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
389     713.345  Moneys received for real property improvements;
390penalty for misapplication.--
391     (1)
392     (b)  Any person who knowingly and intentionally fails to
393comply with paragraph (a) is guilty of misapplication of
394construction funds, punishable as follows:
395     1.  If the amount of payments misapplied has an aggregate
396value of $100,000 or more, the violator is guilty of a felony of
397the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
398775.083, or s. 775.084.
399     2.  If the amount of payments misapplied has an aggregate
400value of $20,000 or more but less than $100,000, the violator is
401guilty of a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided
402in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
403     3.  If the amount of payments misapplied has an aggregate
404value of less than $20,000, the violator is guilty of a felony
405of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
406775.083, or s. 775.084.
407     Section 12.  Subsection (1) of section 713.3471, Florida
408Statutes, is amended to read:
409     713.3471  Lender responsibilities with construction
410loans.--
411     (1)  Prior to a lender making the first any loan
412disbursement on any construction loan secured by residential
413real property directly to the owner which, for purposes of this
414subsection, means only a natural person, or jointly to the owner
415and any other party, the lender shall give the following written
416notice to the owner borrowers in bold type larger than any other
417type on the page:
418
419
WARNING!
420
421     THIS IS THE ONLY LOAN DISBURSEMENT NOTICE THAT YOU WILL
422RECEIVE. YOUR LENDER IS MAKING A LOAN DISBURSEMENT DIRECTLY TO
423YOU AS THE OWNER BORROWER, OR JOINTLY TO YOU AND ANOTHER PARTY.
424TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM HAVING TO PAY TWICE FOR THE SAME LABOR,
425SERVICES, OR MATERIALS USED IN MAKING THE IMPROVEMENTS TO YOUR
426PROPERTY, BE SURE THAT YOU REQUIRE YOUR CONTRACTOR TO GIVE YOU
427LIEN RELEASES FROM EACH LIENOR WHO HAS SENT YOU A NOTICE TO
428OWNER EACH TIME YOU MAKE A PAYMENT TO YOUR CONTRACTOR.
429     Section 13.  This act shall take effect October 1, 2004.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.