SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5484

                AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 5, 1993

Brief Description:  Preserving rights under prior lien laws.

SPONSORS: Senators Quigley, Roach, Vognild, Prince, Loveland, Moyer, McAuliffe and L. Smith

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Moore, Chairman; Prentice, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Cantu, Fraser, McAuliffe, Newhouse, Pelz, Prince, Sutherland, and Vognild.

Staff:  David Cheal (786‑7576)

Hearing Dates: February 9, 1993; February 10, 1993

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

BACKGROUND:

Major revisions of the construction lien law were enacted in 1991 and 1992.  Both the 1991 and 1992 acts became effective June 1, 1992.  Most of the existing construction lien law was repealed by the 1991 act.

Due to the length of some construction projects, rights established under the previous law may still be unforeclosed.

An argument can be made that these rights vanished with the repeal of the old law, a result which certainly was not intended.

SUMMARY:

Rights established under the construction lien law, as it existed prior to June 11, 1992, are expressly preserved.

The savings clause is made retroactive to June 1, 1992.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:  None

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  No one

HOUSE AMENDMENT(S):

This is a technical amendment to conform the language more closely to the holding of a relevant Washington Supreme Court opinion.