SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6435
BYSenators Lee and Owen
Changing provisions relating to disclosure by contractors.
Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor
Senate Hearing Date(s):January 22, 1988; February 3, 1988
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6435 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Lee, Chairman; Anderson, Vice Chairman; Cantu, Conner, Deccio, McMullen, Saling, Smitherman, Warnke, West, Williams.
Senate Staff:Dave Cheal (786-7576)
February 4, 1988
AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & LABOR, FEBRUARY 3, 1988
BACKGROUND:
Any contractor building improvements on real property totaling $1,000 or more is required to supply the customer with a disclosure statement designed to alert the customer to the hazards of construction lien claims. The penalty for failing to provide the disclosure is that the contractor may not bring or maintain any action in any court of the state for collection of amounts due under the contract. An inadvertent omission of the disclosure to a sophisticated customer could result in the customer refusing to pay without any other justification. Thus the penalty probably goes too far, and creates a trap for the unwary that was not intended.
SUMMARY:
The penalty is amended to provide that a contractor who fails to provide the required disclosure may not make a claim based on the lien laws, but is not precluded from bringing an ordinary collection action.
EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:
The $1,000 threshold is raised to $5,000. Limiting the disclosure reference to residential construction is clarified. An incorrect reference to Chapter 39.08 RCW is corrected to refer to Chapter 39.04 RCW, dealing with public works.
Appropriation: none
Revenue: none
Fiscal Note: none requested
Senate Committee - Testified: Duke Schaub, AGC (for); Bohlke, WMACNA (for); Glenn H. Belisle, eastern Washington (for)