SENATE BILL REPORT
ESB 5882
BYSenators Moore and Patterson
Authorizing contractors to deposit cash or securities to meet insurance requirements.
Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Warnke, Chairman; Smitherman, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Sellar, Tanner, Vognild, West, Wojahn.
Senate Hearing Date(s):March 2, 1987
Senate Staff:Dave Cheal (786-7576)
April 20, 1987
AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 20, 1987
BACKGROUND:
The Contractors Registration Act, Chapter 18.27 RCW, requires every contractor to furnish at the time of registration public liability and property damage insurance of at least $25,000 for property damage, $50,000 for personal injury or death involving one person and $100,000 for injury or death involving more than one person.
SUMMARY:
A choice is given to contractors to meet the liability insurance requirement by either obtaining insurance or providing the Department with an assigned account of the same amount as the insurance levels.
Fiscal Note: requested
Senate Committee - Testified: R.O. Pyle, contractor
HOUSE AMENDMENT:
The amendment requires the contractor to enter into an assigned account agreement with the Department which is acceptable to the Department, and indicates the assigned account is held to satisfy judgment against the contractor. The Department is excused from any liability beyond the limits of the assigned account.
The account may be cancelled three years after either (1) license revocation, (2) the contractor furnishes proof of insurance, and in either case, no lawsuit has been filed.
Contractors are required to notify all clients if the contractor chooses the assigned account option, and that recovery from the account can only be obtained following a court judgment in favor of the claimant.