1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act relating to construction contracting; amending s. |
3 | 255.05, F.S.; making certain restrictions in bonds issued |
4 | for public works projects unenforceable; amending ss. |
5 | 489.129 and 489.533, F.S.; increasing an administrative |
6 | fine under certain disciplinary proceeding provisions; |
7 | amending s. 713.015, F.S.; revising a direct contract |
8 | provision requirement; providing that failure to include |
9 | such provision in such contracts limits certain lien |
10 | rights under the contract; providing construction relating |
11 | to validity and enforceability; preserving lien rights of |
12 | certain persons; amending s. 713.02, F.S.; protecting the |
13 | rights of certain persons to enforce certain contract, |
14 | lien, or bond remedies or contractual obligations under |
15 | certain circumstances; precluding certain defenses; |
16 | amending s. 713.04, F.S.; revising certain final payment |
17 | requirements; amending s. 713.08, F.S.; requiring a claim |
18 | of lien to be served on an owner; amending s. 713.13, |
19 | F.S.; revising provisions authorizing use of certain |
20 | payment bonds to transfer certain recorded liens; |
21 | specifying application of certain notice requirements to |
22 | certain claims; revising time limits for serving certain |
23 | required notices; amending s. 713.135, F.S.; revising |
24 | certain notice of commencement and applicability of lien |
25 | requirements for certain authorities issuing building |
26 | permits; providing construction; amending s. 713.24, F.S.; |
27 | preserving certain lien rights when filing a transfer bond |
28 | after commencing certain lien enforcement proceedings; |
29 | amending s. 713.345, F.S.; increasing certain criminal |
30 | penalties for misapplication of construction funds; |
31 | amending s. 713.3471, F.S.; revising a provision requiring |
32 | a lender to provide notice to a property owner when making |
33 | a first loan disbursement on a construction loan secured |
34 | by residential real property; revising a notice form; |
35 | providing an effective date. |
36 |
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37 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
38 |
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39 | Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section |
40 | 255.05, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
41 | 255.05 Bond of contractor constructing public buildings; |
42 | form; action by materialmen.-- |
43 | (1)(a) Any person entering into a formal contract with the |
44 | state or any county, city, or political subdivision thereof, or |
45 | other public authority, for the construction of a public |
46 | building, for the prosecution and completion of a public work, |
47 | or for repairs upon a public building or public work shall be |
48 | required, before commencing the work or before recommencing the |
49 | work after a default or abandonment, to execute, deliver to the |
50 | public owner, and record in the public records of the county |
51 | where the improvement is located, a payment and performance bond |
52 | with a surety insurer authorized to do business in this state as |
53 | surety. A public entity may not require a contractor to secure a |
54 | surety bond under this section from a specific agent or bonding |
55 | company. The bond must state on its front page: the name, |
56 | principal business address, and phone number of the contractor, |
57 | the surety, the owner of the property being improved, and, if |
58 | different from the owner, the contracting public entity; the |
59 | contract number assigned by the contracting public entity; and a |
60 | description of the project sufficient to identify it, such as a |
61 | legal description or the street address of the property being |
62 | improved, and a general description of the improvement. Such |
63 | bond shall be conditioned upon the contractor's performance of |
64 | the construction work in the time and manner prescribed in the |
65 | contract and promptly making payments to all persons defined in |
66 | s. 713.01 who furnish labor, services, or materials for the |
67 | prosecution of the work provided for in the contract. Any |
68 | claimant may apply to the governmental entity having charge of |
69 | the work for copies of the contract and bond and shall thereupon |
70 | be furnished with a certified copy of the contract and bond. The |
71 | claimant shall have a right of action against the contractor and |
72 | surety for the amount due him or her, including unpaid finance |
73 | charges due under the claimant's contract. Such action shall not |
74 | involve the public authority in any expense. When such work is |
75 | done for the state and the contract is for $100,000 or less, no |
76 | payment and performance bond shall be required. At the |
77 | discretion of the official or board awarding such contract when |
78 | such work is done for any county, city, political subdivision, |
79 | or public authority, any person entering into such a contract |
80 | which is for $200,000 or less may be exempted from executing the |
81 | payment and performance bond. When such work is done for the |
82 | state, the Secretary of the Department of Management Services |
83 | may delegate to state agencies the authority to exempt any |
84 | person entering into such a contract amounting to more than |
85 | $100,000 but less than $200,000 from executing the payment and |
86 | performance bond. In the event such exemption is granted, the |
87 | officer or officials shall not be personally liable to persons |
88 | suffering loss because of granting such exemption. The |
89 | Department of Management Services shall maintain information on |
90 | the number of requests by state agencies for delegation of |
91 | authority to waive the bond requirements by agency and project |
92 | number and whether any request for delegation was denied and the |
93 | justification for the denial. Any provision in a bond furnished |
94 | for public work contracts as provided by this subsection |
95 | restricting the classes or persons protected by such bond or the |
96 | venue of any proceeding relating to such bond is unenforceable. |
97 | Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 489.129, Florida |
98 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
99 | 489.129 Disciplinary proceedings.-- |
100 | (1) The board may take any of the following actions |
101 | against any certificateholder or registrant: place on probation |
102 | or reprimand the licensee, revoke, suspend, or deny the issuance |
103 | or renewal of the certificate, registration, or certificate of |
104 | authority, require financial restitution to a consumer for |
105 | financial harm directly related to a violation of a provision of |
106 | this part, impose an administrative fine not to exceed $10,000 |
107 | $5,000 per violation, require continuing education, or assess |
108 | costs associated with investigation and prosecution, if the |
109 | contractor, financially responsible officer, or business |
110 | organization for which the contractor is a primary qualifying |
111 | agent, a financially responsible officer, or a secondary |
112 | qualifying agent responsible under s. 489.1195 is found guilty |
113 | of any of the following acts: |
114 | (a) Obtaining a certificate, registration, or certificate |
115 | of authority by fraud or misrepresentation. |
116 | (b) Being convicted or found guilty of, or entering a plea |
117 | of nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a crime in |
118 | any jurisdiction which directly relates to the practice of |
119 | contracting or the ability to practice contracting. |
120 | (c) Violating any provision of chapter 455. |
121 | (d) Performing any act which assists a person or entity in |
122 | engaging in the prohibited uncertified and unregistered practice |
123 | of contracting, if the certificateholder or registrant knows or |
124 | has reasonable grounds to know that the person or entity was |
125 | uncertified and unregistered. |
126 | (e) Knowingly combining or conspiring with an uncertified |
127 | or unregistered person by allowing his or her certificate, |
128 | registration, or certificate of authority to be used by the |
129 | uncertified or unregistered person with intent to evade the |
130 | provisions of this part. When a certificateholder or registrant |
131 | allows his or her certificate or registration to be used by one |
132 | or more business organizations without having any active |
133 | participation in the operations, management, or control of such |
134 | business organizations, such act constitutes prima facie |
135 | evidence of an intent to evade the provisions of this part. |
136 | (f) Acting in the capacity of a contractor under any |
137 | certificate or registration issued hereunder except in the name |
138 | of the certificateholder or registrant as set forth on the |
139 | issued certificate or registration, or in accordance with the |
140 | personnel of the certificateholder or registrant as set forth in |
141 | the application for the certificate or registration, or as later |
142 | changed as provided in this part. |
143 | (g) Committing mismanagement or misconduct in the practice |
144 | of contracting that causes financial harm to a customer. |
145 | Financial mismanagement or misconduct occurs when: |
146 | 1. Valid liens have been recorded against the property of |
147 | a contractor's customer for supplies or services ordered by the |
148 | contractor for the customer's job; the contractor has received |
149 | funds from the customer to pay for the supplies or services; and |
150 | the contractor has not had the liens removed from the property, |
151 | by payment or by bond, within 75 days after the date of such |
152 | liens; |
153 | 2. The contractor has abandoned a customer's job and the |
154 | percentage of completion is less than the percentage of the |
155 | total contract price paid to the contractor as of the time of |
156 | abandonment, unless the contractor is entitled to retain such |
157 | funds under the terms of the contract or refunds the excess |
158 | funds within 30 days after the date the job is abandoned; or |
159 | 3. The contractor's job has been completed, and it is |
160 | shown that the customer has had to pay more for the contracted |
161 | job than the original contract price, as adjusted for subsequent |
162 | change orders, unless such increase in cost was the result of |
163 | circumstances beyond the control of the contractor, was the |
164 | result of circumstances caused by the customer, or was otherwise |
165 | permitted by the terms of the contract between the contractor |
166 | and the customer. |
167 | (h) Being disciplined by any municipality or county for an |
168 | act or violation of this part. |
169 | (i) Failing in any material respect to comply with the |
170 | provisions of this part or violating a rule or lawful order of |
171 | the board. |
172 | (j) Abandoning a construction project in which the |
173 | contractor is engaged or under contract as a contractor. A |
174 | project may be presumed abandoned after 90 days if the |
175 | contractor terminates the project without just cause or without |
176 | proper notification to the owner, including the reason for |
177 | termination, or fails to perform work without just cause for 90 |
178 | consecutive days. |
179 | (k) Signing a statement with respect to a project or |
180 | contract falsely indicating that the work is bonded; falsely |
181 | indicating that payment has been made for all subcontracted |
182 | work, labor, and materials which results in a financial loss to |
183 | the owner, purchaser, or contractor; or falsely indicating that |
184 | workers' compensation and public liability insurance are |
185 | provided. |
186 | (l) Committing fraud or deceit in the practice of |
187 | contracting. |
188 | (m) Committing incompetency or misconduct in the practice |
189 | of contracting. |
190 | (n) Committing gross negligence, repeated negligence, or |
191 | negligence resulting in a significant danger to life or |
192 | property. |
193 | (o) Proceeding on any job without obtaining applicable |
194 | local building department permits and inspections. |
195 | (p) Intimidating, threatening, coercing, or otherwise |
196 | discouraging the service of a notice to owner under part I of |
197 | chapter 713 or a notice to contractor under chapter 255 or part |
198 | I of chapter 713. |
199 | (q) Failing to satisfy within a reasonable time, the terms |
200 | of a civil judgment obtained against the licensee, or the |
201 | business organization qualified by the licensee, relating to the |
202 | practice of the licensee's profession. |
203 |
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204 | For the purposes of this subsection, construction is considered |
205 | to be commenced when the contract is executed and the contractor |
206 | has accepted funds from the customer or lender. A contractor |
207 | does not commit a violation of this subsection when the |
208 | contractor relies on a building code interpretation rendered by |
209 | a building official or person authorized by s. 553.80 to enforce |
210 | the building code, absent a finding of fraud or deceit in the |
211 | practice of contracting, or gross negligence, repeated |
212 | negligence, or negligence resulting in a significant danger to |
213 | life or property on the part of the building official, in a |
214 | proceeding under chapter 120. |
215 | Section 3. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section |
216 | 489.533, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
217 | 489.533 Disciplinary proceedings.-- |
218 | (2) When the board finds any applicant, contractor, or |
219 | business organization for which the contractor is a primary |
220 | qualifying agent or secondary qualifying agent responsible under |
221 | s. 489.522 guilty of any of the grounds set forth in subsection |
222 | (1), it may enter an order imposing one or more of the following |
223 | penalties: |
224 | (c) Imposition of an administrative fine not to exceed |
225 | $10,000 $5,000 for each count or separate offense. |
226 | Section 4. Section 713.015, Florida Statutes, is amended |
227 | to read: |
228 | 713.015 Mandatory provisions for direct contracts.--Any |
229 | direct contract between an owner and a contractor, related to |
230 | improvements to real property consisting of single or multiple |
231 | family dwellings up to and including four units, must contain |
232 | the following provision printed in capital letters no less than |
233 | the same size as the 18-point, capitalized, boldfaced type used |
234 | in the body of the contract: |
235 |
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236 | ACCORDING TO FLORIDA'S CONSTRUCTION LIEN LAW (SECTIONS 713.001- |
237 | 713.37, FLORIDA STATUTES), THOSE WHO WORK ON YOUR PROPERTY OR |
238 | PROVIDE MATERIALS AND ARE NOT PAID IN FULL HAVE A RIGHT TO |
239 | ENFORCE THEIR CLAIM FOR PAYMENT AGAINST YOUR PROPERTY. THIS |
240 | CLAIM IS KNOWN AS A CONSTRUCTION LIEN. IF YOUR CONTRACTOR OR A |
241 | SUBCONTRACTOR FAILS TO PAY SUBCONTRACTORS, SUB-SUBCONTRACTORS, |
242 | OR MATERIAL SUPPLIERS OR NEGLECTS TO MAKE OTHER LEGALLY REQUIRED |
243 | PAYMENTS, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OWED MONEY MAY LOOK TO YOUR |
244 | PROPERTY FOR PAYMENT, EVEN IF YOU HAVE PAID YOUR CONTRACTOR IN |
245 | FULL. IF YOU FAIL TO PAY YOUR CONTRACTOR, YOUR CONTRACTOR MAY |
246 | ALSO HAVE A LIEN ON YOUR PROPERTY. THIS MEANS IF A LIEN IS FILED |
247 | YOUR PROPERTY COULD BE SOLD AGAINST YOUR WILL TO PAY FOR LABOR, |
248 | MATERIALS, OR OTHER SERVICES THAT YOUR CONTRACTOR OR A |
249 | SUBCONTRACTOR MAY HAVE FAILED TO PAY. FLORIDA'S CONSTRUCTION |
250 | LIEN LAW IS COMPLEX AND IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT WHENEVER A |
251 | SPECIFIC PROBLEM ARISES, YOU CONSULT AN ATTORNEY. |
252 |
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253 | Nothing in this section shall be construed to adversely affect |
254 | the lien and bond rights of lienors who are not in privity with |
255 | the owner. This section does not apply when the owner is also a |
256 | licensed contractor or a construction professional who is in the |
257 | business of developing property. |
258 | Section 5. Subsection (7) of section 713.02, Florida |
259 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
260 | 713.02 Types of lienors and exemptions.-- |
261 | (7) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, no |
262 | lien shall exist in favor of any contractor, subcontractor, or |
263 | sub-subcontractor who is unlicensed as provided in s. 489.128 or |
264 | s. 489.532. Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, if |
265 | a contract is rendered unenforceable by an unlicensed |
266 | contractor, subcontractor, or sub-subcontractor pursuant to s. |
267 | 489.128 or s. 489.532, such unenforceability shall not affect |
268 | the rights of any other persons to enforce contract, lien, or |
269 | bond remedies and shall not affect the obligations of a surety |
270 | that has provided a bond on behalf of the unlicensed contractor, |
271 | subcontractor, or sub-subcontractor. It shall not be a defense |
272 | to any claim on a bond or indemnity agreement that the principal |
273 | or indemnitor is unlicensed as provided in s. 489.128 or s. |
274 | 489.532. |
275 | Section 6. Subsection (3) of section 713.04, Florida |
276 | Statutes, is amended, and subsection (4) is added to said |
277 | section, to read: |
278 | 713.04 Subdivision improvements.-- |
279 | (3) The owner shall not pay any money on account of a |
280 | direct contract before actual furnishing of labor and services |
281 | or materials for subdivision improvements. Any such The payment |
282 | not complying with such requirement shall not qualify as a |
283 | proper payment under this chapter section. |
284 | (4) The owner shall make final payment on account of a |
285 | direct contract only after the contractor complies with s. |
286 | 713.06(3)(d). Any such payment not complying with such |
287 | requirement shall not qualify as a proper payment under this |
288 | chapter. |
289 | Section 7. Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of section |
290 | 713.08, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
291 | 713.08 Claim of lien.-- |
292 | (4) |
293 | (c) The claim of lien shall be served on the owner. |
294 | Failure to serve any claim of lien in the manner provided in s. |
295 | 713.18 before recording or within 15 days after recording shall |
296 | render the claim of lien voidable to the extent that the failure |
297 | or delay is shown to have been prejudicial to any person |
298 | entitled to rely on the service. |
299 | Section 8. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section |
300 | 713.13, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
301 | 713.13 Notice of commencement.-- |
302 | (1) |
303 | (e) A copy of any payment bond must be attached at the |
304 | time of recordation of the notice of commencement. The failure |
305 | to attach a copy of the bond to the notice of commencement when |
306 | the notice is recorded negates the exemption provided in s. |
307 | 713.02(6). However, if such a proper payment bond under s. |
308 | 713.23 exists but was is not attached at the time of recordation |
309 | of the notice of commencement, the bond may be used to transfer |
310 | any recorded lien of a lienor except that of the contractor by |
311 | the recordation of a notice of bond pursuant to s. 713.23(2). |
312 | The notice requirements of s. 713.23 apply to any claim against |
313 | the bond; however, the time limits for serving any required |
314 | notices shall run from the later of the time specified in s. |
315 | 713.23 or the date the notice of bond is served on the lienor |
316 | recorded, the bond may be used as a transfer bond pursuant to s. |
317 | 713.24. |
318 | Section 9. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and subsection |
319 | (4) of section 713.135, Florida Statutes, are amended, and |
320 | paragraph (e) is added to subsection (1) of said section, to |
321 | read: |
322 | 713.135 Notice of commencement and applicability of |
323 | lien.-- |
324 | (1) When any person applies for a building permit, the |
325 | authority issuing such permit shall: |
326 | (b) Provide the applicant and the owner of the real |
327 | property upon which improvements are to be constructed with a |
328 | printed statement stating that the right, title, and interest of |
329 | the person who has contracted for the improvement may be subject |
330 | to attachment under the Construction Lien Law. The Department of |
331 | Business and Professional Regulation shall furnish, for |
332 | distribution, the statement described in this paragraph, and the |
333 | statement must be a summary of the Construction Lien Law and |
334 | must include an explanation of the provisions of the |
335 | Construction Lien Law relating to the recording, and the posting |
336 | of copies, of notices of commencement and a statement |
337 | encouraging the owner to record a notice of commencement and |
338 | post a copy of the notice of commencement in accordance with s. |
339 | 713.13. The statement must also contain an explanation of the |
340 | owner's rights if a lienor fails to furnish the owner with a |
341 | notice as provided in s. 713.06(2) and an explanation of the |
342 | owner's rights as provided in s. 713.22. The authority that |
343 | issues the building permit must obtain from the Department of |
344 | Business and Professional Regulation the statement required by |
345 | this paragraph and must mail, deliver by electronic mail or |
346 | other electronic format or facsimile, or personally deliver that |
347 | statement to the owner or, in the case in which the owner is |
348 | required to personally appear to obtain the permit, provide that |
349 | statement to any owner making improvements to real property |
350 | consisting of a single or multiple family dwelling up to and |
351 | including four units. However, the failure by the authorities to |
352 | provide the summary does not subject the issuing authority to |
353 | liability. |
354 | (e) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to |
355 | require a notice of commencement to be recorded as a condition |
356 | to the issuance of a building permit. |
357 | (4) The several boards of county commissioners, municipal |
358 | councils, or other similar bodies may by ordinance or resolution |
359 | establish reasonable fees for furnishing copies of the forms and |
360 | the printed statement provided in paragraphs paragraph (1)(b) |
361 | and (d) in an amount not to exceed $5 to be paid by the |
362 | applicant for each permit in addition to all other costs of the |
363 | permit; however, no forms or statement need be furnished, |
364 | mailed, or otherwise provided to, nor may such additional fee be |
365 | obtained from, applicants for permits in those cases in which |
366 | the owner of a legal or equitable interest (including that of |
367 | ownership of stock of a corporate landowner) of the real |
368 | property to be improved is engaged in the business of |
369 | construction of buildings for sale to others and intends to make |
370 | the improvements authorized by the permit on the property and |
371 | upon completion will offer the improved real property for sale. |
372 | Section 10. Subsection (4) of section 713.24, Florida |
373 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
374 | 713.24 Transfer of liens to security.-- |
375 | (4) If a proceeding to enforce a transferred lien is not |
376 | commenced within the time specified in s. 713.22 or if it |
377 | appears that the transferred lien has been satisfied of record, |
378 | the clerk shall return said security upon request of the person |
379 | depositing or filing the same, or the insurer. If a proceeding |
380 | to enforce a lien is commenced in a court of competent |
381 | jurisdiction within the time specified in s. 713.22 and, |
382 | subsequent to such proceeding, the lien is transferred pursuant |
383 | to this section or s. 713.13(1)(e), an action commenced in the |
384 | same county or circuit court to recover against the security |
385 | shall be deemed to have been brought as of the date of filing |
386 | the action to enforce the lien, and the court shall have |
387 | jurisdiction over the action. |
388 | Section 11. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section |
389 | 713.345, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
390 | 713.345 Moneys received for real property improvements; |
391 | penalty for misapplication.-- |
392 | (1) |
393 | (b) Any person who knowingly and intentionally fails to |
394 | comply with paragraph (a) is guilty of misapplication of |
395 | construction funds, punishable as follows: |
396 | 1. If the amount of payments misapplied has an aggregate |
397 | value of $100,000 or more, the violator is guilty of a felony of |
398 | the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. |
399 | 775.083, or s. 775.084. |
400 | 2. If the amount of payments misapplied has an aggregate |
401 | value of $20,000 or more but less than $100,000, the violator is |
402 | guilty of a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided |
403 | in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. |
404 | 3. If the amount of payments misapplied has an aggregate |
405 | value of less than $20,000, the violator is guilty of a felony |
406 | of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. |
407 | 775.083, or s. 775.084. |
408 | Section 12. Subsection (1) of section 713.3471, Florida |
409 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
410 | 713.3471 Lender responsibilities with construction |
411 | loans.-- |
412 | (1) Prior to a lender making the first any loan |
413 | disbursement on any construction loan secured by residential |
414 | real property directly to the owner, which, for purposes of this |
415 | subsection, means only a natural person, or jointly to the owner |
416 | and any other party, the lender shall give the following written |
417 | notice to the owner borrowers in bold type larger than any other |
418 | type on the page: |
419 |
|
420 | WARNING! |
421 |
|
422 | THIS IS THE ONLY LOAN DISBURSEMENT NOTICE THAT YOU WILL |
423 | RECEIVE. YOUR LENDER IS MAKING A LOAN DISBURSEMENT |
424 | DIRECTLY TO YOU AS THE OWNER BORROWER, OR JOINTLY TO YOU |
425 | AND ANOTHER PARTY. TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM HAVING TO PAY |
426 | TWICE FOR THE SAME LABOR, SERVICES, OR MATERIALS USED IN |
427 | MAKING THE IMPROVEMENTS TO YOUR PROPERTY, BE SURE THAT YOU |
428 | REQUIRE YOUR CONTRACTOR TO GIVE YOU LIEN RELEASES FROM |
429 | EACH LIENOR WHO HAS SENT YOU A NOTICE TO OWNER EACH TIME |
430 | YOU MAKE A PAYMENT TO YOUR CONTRACTOR. |
431 | Section 13. This act shall take effect October 1, 2005. |