HB 0113

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to construction contracting; amending s.
3255.05, F.S.; making certain restrictions in bonds issued
4for public works projects unenforceable; amending ss.
5489.129 and 489.533, F.S.; increasing an administrative
6fine under certain disciplinary proceeding provisions;
7amending s. 713.015, F.S.; revising a direct contract
8provision requirement; providing that failure to include
9such provision in such contracts limits certain lien
10rights under the contract; providing construction relating
11to validity and enforceability; preserving lien rights of
12certain persons; amending s. 713.02, F.S.; protecting the
13rights of certain persons to enforce certain contract,
14lien, or bond remedies or contractual obligations under
15certain circumstances; precluding certain defenses;
16amending s. 713.04, F.S.; revising certain final payment
17requirements; amending s. 713.08, F.S.; requiring a claim
18of lien to be served on an owner; amending s. 713.13,
19F.S.; revising provisions authorizing use of certain
20payment bonds to transfer certain recorded liens;
21specifying application of certain notice requirements to
22certain claims; revising time limits for serving certain
23required notices; amending s. 713.135, F.S.; revising
24certain notice of commencement and applicability of lien
25requirements for certain authorities issuing building
26permits; providing construction; amending s. 713.24, F.S.;
27preserving certain lien rights when filing a transfer bond
28after commencing certain lien enforcement proceedings;
29amending s. 713.345, F.S.; increasing certain criminal
30penalties for misapplication of construction funds;
31amending s. 713.3471, F.S.; revising a provision requiring
32a lender to provide notice to a property owner when making
33a first loan disbursement on a construction loan secured
34by residential real property; revising a notice form;
35providing an effective date.
36
37Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
38
39     Section 1.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
40255.05, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
41     255.05  Bond of contractor constructing public buildings;
42form; action by materialmen.--
43     (1)(a)  Any person entering into a formal contract with the
44state or any county, city, or political subdivision thereof, or
45other public authority, for the construction of a public
46building, for the prosecution and completion of a public work,
47or for repairs upon a public building or public work shall be
48required, before commencing the work or before recommencing the
49work after a default or abandonment, to execute, deliver to the
50public owner, and record in the public records of the county
51where the improvement is located, a payment and performance bond
52with a surety insurer authorized to do business in this state as
53surety. A public entity may not require a contractor to secure a
54surety bond under this section from a specific agent or bonding
55company. The bond must state on its front page: the name,
56principal business address, and phone number of the contractor,
57the surety, the owner of the property being improved, and, if
58different from the owner, the contracting public entity; the
59contract number assigned by the contracting public entity; and a
60description of the project sufficient to identify it, such as a
61legal description or the street address of the property being
62improved, and a general description of the improvement. Such
63bond shall be conditioned upon the contractor's performance of
64the construction work in the time and manner prescribed in the
65contract and promptly making payments to all persons defined in
66s. 713.01 who furnish labor, services, or materials for the
67prosecution of the work provided for in the contract. Any
68claimant may apply to the governmental entity having charge of
69the work for copies of the contract and bond and shall thereupon
70be furnished with a certified copy of the contract and bond. The
71claimant shall have a right of action against the contractor and
72surety for the amount due him or her, including unpaid finance
73charges due under the claimant's contract. Such action shall not
74involve the public authority in any expense. When such work is
75done for the state and the contract is for $100,000 or less, no
76payment and performance bond shall be required. At the
77discretion of the official or board awarding such contract when
78such work is done for any county, city, political subdivision,
79or public authority, any person entering into such a contract
80which is for $200,000 or less may be exempted from executing the
81payment and performance bond. When such work is done for the
82state, the Secretary of the Department of Management Services
83may delegate to state agencies the authority to exempt any
84person entering into such a contract amounting to more than
85$100,000 but less than $200,000 from executing the payment and
86performance bond. In the event such exemption is granted, the
87officer or officials shall not be personally liable to persons
88suffering loss because of granting such exemption. The
89Department of Management Services shall maintain information on
90the number of requests by state agencies for delegation of
91authority to waive the bond requirements by agency and project
92number and whether any request for delegation was denied and the
93justification for the denial. Any provision in a bond furnished
94for public work contracts as provided by this subsection
95restricting the classes or persons protected by such bond or the
96venue of any proceeding relating to such bond is unenforceable.
97     Section 2.  Subsection (1) of section 489.129, Florida
98Statutes, is amended to read:
99     489.129  Disciplinary proceedings.--
100     (1)  The board may take any of the following actions
101against any certificateholder or registrant: place on probation
102or reprimand the licensee, revoke, suspend, or deny the issuance
103or renewal of the certificate, registration, or certificate of
104authority, require financial restitution to a consumer for
105financial harm directly related to a violation of a provision of
106this part, impose an administrative fine not to exceed $10,000
107$5,000 per violation, require continuing education, or assess
108costs associated with investigation and prosecution, if the
109contractor, financially responsible officer, or business
110organization for which the contractor is a primary qualifying
111agent, a financially responsible officer, or a secondary
112qualifying agent responsible under s. 489.1195 is found guilty
113of any of the following acts:
114     (a)  Obtaining a certificate, registration, or certificate
115of authority by fraud or misrepresentation.
116     (b)  Being convicted or found guilty of, or entering a plea
117of nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a crime in
118any jurisdiction which directly relates to the practice of
119contracting 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
122engaging in the prohibited uncertified and unregistered practice
123of contracting, if the certificateholder or registrant knows or
124has reasonable grounds to know that the person or entity was
125uncertified and unregistered.
126     (e)  Knowingly combining or conspiring with an uncertified
127or unregistered person by allowing his or her certificate,
128registration, or certificate of authority to be used by the
129uncertified or unregistered person with intent to evade the
130provisions of this part. When a certificateholder or registrant
131allows his or her certificate or registration to be used by one
132or more business organizations without having any active
133participation in the operations, management, or control of such
134business organizations, such act constitutes prima facie
135evidence of an intent to evade the provisions of this part.
136     (f)  Acting in the capacity of a contractor under any
137certificate or registration issued hereunder except in the name
138of the certificateholder or registrant as set forth on the
139issued certificate or registration, or in accordance with the
140personnel of the certificateholder or registrant as set forth in
141the application for the certificate or registration, or as later
142changed as provided in this part.
143     (g)  Committing mismanagement or misconduct in the practice
144of contracting that causes financial harm to a customer.
145Financial mismanagement or misconduct occurs when:
146     1.  Valid liens have been recorded against the property of
147a contractor's customer for supplies or services ordered by the
148contractor for the customer's job; the contractor has received
149funds from the customer to pay for the supplies or services; and
150the contractor has not had the liens removed from the property,
151by payment or by bond, within 75 days after the date of such
152liens;
153     2.  The contractor has abandoned a customer's job and the
154percentage of completion is less than the percentage of the
155total contract price paid to the contractor as of the time of
156abandonment, unless the contractor is entitled to retain such
157funds under the terms of the contract or refunds the excess
158funds within 30 days after the date the job is abandoned; or
159     3.  The contractor's job has been completed, and it is
160shown that the customer has had to pay more for the contracted
161job than the original contract price, as adjusted for subsequent
162change orders, unless such increase in cost was the result of
163circumstances beyond the control of the contractor, was the
164result of circumstances caused by the customer, or was otherwise
165permitted by the terms of the contract between the contractor
166and the customer.
167     (h)  Being disciplined by any municipality or county for an
168act or violation of this part.
169     (i)  Failing in any material respect to comply with the
170provisions of this part or violating a rule or lawful order of
171the board.
172     (j)  Abandoning a construction project in which the
173contractor is engaged or under contract as a contractor. A
174project may be presumed abandoned after 90 days if the
175contractor terminates the project without just cause or without
176proper notification to the owner, including the reason for
177termination, or fails to perform work without just cause for 90
178consecutive days.
179     (k)  Signing a statement with respect to a project or
180contract falsely indicating that the work is bonded; falsely
181indicating that payment has been made for all subcontracted
182work, labor, and materials which results in a financial loss to
183the owner, purchaser, or contractor; or falsely indicating that
184workers' compensation and public liability insurance are
185provided.
186     (l)  Committing fraud or deceit in the practice of
187contracting.
188     (m)  Committing incompetency or misconduct in the practice
189of contracting.
190     (n)  Committing gross negligence, repeated negligence, or
191negligence resulting in a significant danger to life or
192property.
193     (o)  Proceeding on any job without obtaining applicable
194local building department permits and inspections.
195     (p)  Intimidating, threatening, coercing, or otherwise
196discouraging the service of a notice to owner under part I of
197chapter 713 or a notice to contractor under chapter 255 or part
198I of chapter 713.
199     (q)  Failing to satisfy within a reasonable time, the terms
200of a civil judgment obtained against the licensee, or the
201business organization qualified by the licensee, relating to the
202practice of the licensee's profession.
203
204For the purposes of this subsection, construction is considered
205to be commenced when the contract is executed and the contractor
206has accepted funds from the customer or lender. A contractor
207does not commit a violation of this subsection when the
208contractor relies on a building code interpretation rendered by
209a building official or person authorized by s. 553.80 to enforce
210the building code, absent a finding of fraud or deceit in the
211practice of contracting, or gross negligence, repeated
212negligence, or negligence resulting in a significant danger to
213life or property on the part of the building official, in a
214proceeding under chapter 120.
215     Section 3.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
216489.533, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
217     489.533  Disciplinary proceedings.--
218     (2)  When the board finds any applicant, contractor, or
219business organization for which the contractor is a primary
220qualifying agent or secondary qualifying agent responsible under
221s. 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
223penalties:
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
227to read:
228     713.015  Mandatory provisions for direct contracts.--Any
229direct contract between an owner and a contractor, related to
230improvements to real property consisting of single or multiple
231family dwellings up to and including four units, must contain
232the following provision printed in capital letters no less than
233the same size as the 18-point, capitalized, boldfaced type used
234in the body of the contract:
235
236ACCORDING TO FLORIDA'S CONSTRUCTION LIEN LAW (SECTIONS 713.001-
237713.37, FLORIDA STATUTES), THOSE WHO WORK ON YOUR PROPERTY OR
238PROVIDE MATERIALS AND ARE NOT PAID IN FULL HAVE A RIGHT TO
239ENFORCE THEIR CLAIM FOR PAYMENT AGAINST YOUR PROPERTY. THIS
240CLAIM IS KNOWN AS A CONSTRUCTION LIEN. IF YOUR CONTRACTOR OR A
241SUBCONTRACTOR FAILS TO PAY SUBCONTRACTORS, SUB-SUBCONTRACTORS,
242OR MATERIAL SUPPLIERS OR NEGLECTS TO MAKE OTHER LEGALLY REQUIRED
243PAYMENTS, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OWED MONEY MAY LOOK TO YOUR
244PROPERTY FOR PAYMENT, EVEN IF YOU HAVE PAID YOUR CONTRACTOR IN
245FULL. IF YOU FAIL TO PAY YOUR CONTRACTOR, YOUR CONTRACTOR MAY
246ALSO HAVE A LIEN ON YOUR PROPERTY. THIS MEANS IF A LIEN IS FILED
247YOUR PROPERTY COULD BE SOLD AGAINST YOUR WILL TO PAY FOR LABOR,
248MATERIALS, OR OTHER SERVICES THAT YOUR CONTRACTOR OR A
249SUBCONTRACTOR MAY HAVE FAILED TO PAY. FLORIDA'S CONSTRUCTION
250LIEN LAW IS COMPLEX AND IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT WHENEVER A
251SPECIFIC PROBLEM ARISES, YOU CONSULT AN ATTORNEY.
252
253Nothing in this section shall be construed to adversely affect
254the lien and bond rights of lienors who are not in privity with
255the owner. This section does not apply when the owner is also a
256licensed contractor or a construction professional who is in the
257business of developing property.
258     Section 5.  Subsection (7) of section 713.02, Florida
259Statutes, is amended to read:
260     713.02  Types of lienors and exemptions.--
261     (7)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, no
262lien shall exist in favor of any contractor, subcontractor, or
263sub-subcontractor who is unlicensed as provided in s. 489.128 or
264s. 489.532. Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, if
265a contract is rendered unenforceable by an unlicensed
266contractor, subcontractor, or sub-subcontractor pursuant to s.
267489.128 or s. 489.532, such unenforceability shall not affect
268the rights of any other persons to enforce contract, lien, or
269bond remedies and shall not affect the obligations of a surety
270that has provided a bond on behalf of the unlicensed contractor,
271subcontractor, or sub-subcontractor. It shall not be a defense
272to any claim on a bond or indemnity agreement that the principal
273or indemnitor is unlicensed as provided in s. 489.128 or s.
274489.532.
275     Section 6.  Subsection (3) of section 713.04, Florida
276Statutes, is amended, and subsection (4) is added to said
277section, to read:
278     713.04  Subdivision improvements.--
279     (3)  The owner shall not pay any money on account of a
280direct contract before actual furnishing of labor and services
281or materials for subdivision improvements. Any such The payment
282not complying with such requirement shall not qualify as a
283proper payment under this chapter section.
284     (4)  The owner shall make final payment on account of a
285direct contract only after the contractor complies with s.
286713.06(3)(d). Any such payment not complying with such
287requirement shall not qualify as a proper payment under this
288chapter.
289     Section 7.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of section
290713.08, 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.
294Failure to serve any claim of lien in the manner provided in s.
295713.18 before recording or within 15 days after recording shall
296render the claim of lien voidable to the extent that the failure
297or delay is shown to have been prejudicial to any person
298entitled to rely on the service.
299     Section 8.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section
300713.13, 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
304time of recordation of the notice of commencement. The failure
305to attach a copy of the bond to the notice of commencement when
306the notice is recorded negates the exemption provided in s.
307713.02(6). However, if such a proper payment bond under s.
308713.23 exists but was is not attached at the time of recordation
309of the notice of commencement, the bond may be used to transfer
310any recorded lien of a lienor except that of the contractor by
311the recordation of a notice of bond pursuant to s. 713.23(2).
312The notice requirements of s. 713.23 apply to any claim against
313the bond; however, the time limits for serving any required
314notices shall run from the later of the time specified in s.
315713.23 or the date the notice of bond is served on the lienor
316recorded, the bond may be used as a transfer bond pursuant to s.
317713.24.
318     Section 9.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and subsection
319(4) of section 713.135, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
320paragraph (e) is added to subsection (1) of said section, to
321read:
322     713.135  Notice of commencement and applicability of
323lien.--
324     (1)  When any person applies for a building permit, the
325authority issuing such permit shall:
326     (b)  Provide the applicant and the owner of the real
327property upon which improvements are to be constructed with a
328printed statement stating that the right, title, and interest of
329the person who has contracted for the improvement may be subject
330to attachment under the Construction Lien Law. The Department of
331Business and Professional Regulation shall furnish, for
332distribution, the statement described in this paragraph, and the
333statement must be a summary of the Construction Lien Law and
334must include an explanation of the provisions of the
335Construction Lien Law relating to the recording, and the posting
336of copies, of notices of commencement and a statement
337encouraging the owner to record a notice of commencement and
338post a copy of the notice of commencement in accordance with s.
339713.13. The statement must also contain an explanation of the
340owner's rights if a lienor fails to furnish the owner with a
341notice as provided in s. 713.06(2) and an explanation of the
342owner's rights as provided in s. 713.22. The authority that
343issues the building permit must obtain from the Department of
344Business and Professional Regulation the statement required by
345this paragraph and must mail, deliver by electronic mail or
346other electronic format or facsimile, or personally deliver that
347statement to the owner or, in the case in which the owner is
348required to personally appear to obtain the permit, provide that
349statement to any owner making improvements to real property
350consisting of a single or multiple family dwelling up to and
351including four units. However, the failure by the authorities to
352provide the summary does not subject the issuing authority to
353liability.
354     (e)  Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to
355require a notice of commencement to be recorded as a condition
356to the issuance of a building permit.
357     (4)  The several boards of county commissioners, municipal
358councils, or other similar bodies may by ordinance or resolution
359establish reasonable fees for furnishing copies of the forms and
360the printed statement provided in paragraphs paragraph (1)(b)
361and (d) in an amount not to exceed $5 to be paid by the
362applicant for each permit in addition to all other costs of the
363permit; however, no forms or statement need be furnished,
364mailed, or otherwise provided to, nor may such additional fee be
365obtained from, applicants for permits in those cases in which
366the owner of a legal or equitable interest (including that of
367ownership of stock of a corporate landowner) of the real
368property to be improved is engaged in the business of
369construction of buildings for sale to others and intends to make
370the improvements authorized by the permit on the property and
371upon completion will offer the improved real property for sale.
372     Section 10.  Subsection (4) of section 713.24, Florida
373Statutes, is amended to read:
374     713.24  Transfer of liens to security.--
375     (4)  If a proceeding to enforce a transferred lien is not
376commenced within the time specified in s. 713.22 or if it
377appears that the transferred lien has been satisfied of record,
378the clerk shall return said security upon request of the person
379depositing or filing the same, or the insurer. If a proceeding
380to enforce a lien is commenced in a court of competent
381jurisdiction within the time specified in s. 713.22 and,
382subsequent to such proceeding, the lien is transferred pursuant
383to this section or s. 713.13(1)(e), an action commenced in the
384same county or circuit court to recover against the security
385shall be deemed to have been brought as of the date of filing
386the action to enforce the lien, and the court shall have
387jurisdiction over the action.
388     Section 11.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
389713.345, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
390     713.345  Moneys received for real property improvements;
391penalty for misapplication.--
392     (1)
393     (b)  Any person who knowingly and intentionally fails to
394comply with paragraph (a) is guilty of misapplication of
395construction funds, punishable as follows:
396     1.  If the amount of payments misapplied has an aggregate
397value of $100,000 or more, the violator is guilty of a felony of
398the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
399775.083, or s. 775.084.
400     2.  If the amount of payments misapplied has an aggregate
401value of $20,000 or more but less than $100,000, the violator is
402guilty of a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided
403in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
404     3.  If the amount of payments misapplied has an aggregate
405value of less than $20,000, the violator is guilty of a felony
406of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
407775.083, or s. 775.084.
408     Section 12.  Subsection (1) of section 713.3471, Florida
409Statutes, is amended to read:
410     713.3471  Lender responsibilities with construction
411loans.--
412     (1)  Prior to a lender making the first any loan
413disbursement on any construction loan secured by residential
414real property directly to the owner, which, for purposes of this
415subsection, means only a natural person, or jointly to the owner
416and any other party, the lender shall give the following written
417notice to the owner borrowers in bold type larger than any other
418type on the page:
419
420
WARNING!
421
422THIS IS THE ONLY LOAN DISBURSEMENT NOTICE THAT YOU WILL
423RECEIVE. YOUR LENDER IS MAKING A LOAN DISBURSEMENT
424DIRECTLY TO YOU AS THE OWNER BORROWER, OR JOINTLY TO YOU
425AND ANOTHER PARTY. TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM HAVING TO PAY
426TWICE FOR THE SAME LABOR, SERVICES, OR MATERIALS USED IN
427MAKING THE IMPROVEMENTS TO YOUR PROPERTY, BE SURE THAT YOU
428REQUIRE YOUR CONTRACTOR TO GIVE YOU LIEN RELEASES FROM
429EACH LIENOR WHO HAS SENT YOU A NOTICE TO OWNER EACH TIME
430YOU MAKE A PAYMENT TO YOUR CONTRACTOR.
431     Section 13.  This act shall take effect October 1, 2005.


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