SENATE BILL No. 406

April 19, 2001, Introduced by Senator SCHUETTE and referred to the Committee on

Judiciary.

A bill to amend 1980 PA 497, entitled

"Construction lien act,"

by amending section 110 (MCL 570.1110), as amended by 1982 PA

17.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1 Sec. 110. (1) A contractor shall provide a sworn statement

2 to the owner or lessee in each of the following circumstances:

3 (a) When payment is due to the contractor from the owner or

4 lessee or when the contractor requests payment from the owner or

5 lessee.

6 (b) When a demand for the sworn statement has been made by

7 or on behalf of the owner or lessee.

8 (2) A subcontractor shall provide a sworn statement to the

9 owner or lessee when a demand for the sworn statement has been

10 made by or on behalf of the owner or lessee.

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1 (3) A subcontractor shall provide a sworn statement to the

2 contractor when payment is due to the subcontractor from the con-

3 tractor or when the subcontractor requests payment from the

4 contractor.

5 (4) The sworn statement shall list each subcontractor and

6 supplier with whom the person issuing the sworn statement has

7 contracted relative to the improvement to the real property. The

8 sworn statement shall contain a list of laborers with whom the

9 person issuing the sworn statement has contracted relative to the

10 improvement to the real property and for whom payment for wages

11 or fringe benefits and withholdings are due but unpaid and the

12 itemized amount of such wages or fringe benefits and

13 withholdings. The sworn statement shall be in substantially the

14 following form:

15

16 SWORN STATEMENT

17 State of Michigan)

18 ) ss.

19 County of .......)

20 ............ (DEPONENT), being duly sworn, deposes and

21 says STATES THE FOLLOWING:

22 That ......... is the (contractor) (subcontractor) for an

23 improvement to the following described real property situated

24 in ............ County, Michigan, described as follows:

25 .................................................................

26 (insert legal description of property)

27 That the THE following is a statement of each

28 subcontractor and supplier, and laborer , for which laborer

29 the WHOM payment of wages or fringe benefits and withholdings is

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1 due but unpaid, with whom the (contractor) (subcontractor) has

2 (contracted) (subcontracted) for performance under the contract

3 with the owner or lessee thereof OF THE PROPERTY, and that

4 the amounts due to the persons as of the date hereof OF THIS

5 STATEMENT are correctly and fully set forth opposite their names:

6 , as follows:

7 Amount of

8 laborer

9 Name of fringe

10 subcon- Balance Amount of benefits

11 tractor, Type of to laborer and with-

12 supplier, improve- Total Amount Amount completewages due holdings

13 or ment contract already currently (op- but due but

14 laborer furnished price paid owing tional) unpaid unpaid

15 ...........................................................................

16 Totals

17 (Some columns are not applicable to all persons listed)

18 That the THE contractor has not procured material from, or

19 subcontracted with, any person other than those set forth above

20 and owes no money for the improvement other than the sums set

21 forth. above.

22 Deponent further says that he or she makes the foregoing I

23 MAKE THIS statement as the (contractor) (subcontractor) or as

24 ......... of the (contractor) (subcontractor) for the purpose of

25 representing TO REPRESENT to the owner or lessee of the

26 above-described premises PROPERTY and his or her agents that

27 the above-described property is free from claims of construc-

28 tion liens, or the possibility of construction liens, except as

29 specifically set forth above IN THIS STATEMENT and except for

30 claims of construction liens by laborers which THAT may be

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1 provided pursuant to UNDER section 109 of the construction lien

2 act, Act No. 497 of the Public Acts of 1980, as amended, being

3 section 570.1109 of the Michigan Compiled Laws 1980 PA 497, MCL

4 570.1109.

5 WARNING TO OWNER OR LESSEE: AN OWNER OR LESSEE OF THE

6 ABOVE-DESCRIBED PROPERTY MAY NOT RELY ON THIS SWORN STATEMENT

7 TO AVOID THE CLAIM OF A SUBCONTRACTOR, SUPPLIER, OR LABORER WHO

8 HAS PROVIDED A NOTICE OF FURNISHING OR A LABORER WHO MAY PROVIDE

9 A NOTICE OF FURNISHING PURSUANT TO UNDER SECTION 109 OF THE

10 CONSTRUCTION LIEN ACT, 1980 PA 497, MCL 570.1109, TO THE DESIGNEE

11 OR TO THE OWNER OR LESSEE IF THE DESIGNEE IS NOT NAMED OR HAS

12 DIED.

13 .............................

14 Deponent

15 WARNING TO DEPONENT: A PERSON , WHO WITH INTENT TO

16 DEFRAUD, GIVES A FALSE SWORN STATEMENT WITH INTENT TO DEFRAUD IS

17 SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PENALTIES AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 110 OF THE

18 CONSTRUCTION LIEN ACT, ACT NO. 497 OF THE PUBLIC ACTS OF 1980,

19 AS AMENDED, BEING SECTION 570.1110 OF THE MICHIGAN COMPILED LAWS

20 1980 PA 497, MCL 570.1110.

21 Subscribed and sworn to before me ON this ...... day of

22 .........., 19.... ....................... (DATE)

23 .............................................

24 Notary Public, ........ County, Michigan.

25 My commission expires: .......................... .

26 (5) The contractor or subcontractor shall IS not be

27 required to list in the sworn statement material furnished by the

28 contractor or subcontractor out of his or her own inventory ,

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1 and which has THAT WAS not been purchased specifically for

2 the purpose of performing the contract.

3 (6) After the contractor or subcontractor provides the sworn

4 statement, the owner or lessee may withhold or, upon written

5 demand from the contractor shall withhold, from the amount which

6 is due or to become due to the contractor or to the subcontrac-

7 tor for work already performed , an amount sufficient to pay

8 all sums which are due to subcontractors, or to suppliers, or

9 to laborers, as shown by the sworn statement, or which is due

10 to lien claimants who have provided a notice of furnishing

11 pursuant to UNDER section 109. From the amount withheld, the

12 owner or lessee may directly pay subcontractors, suppliers, or

13 laborers the amount they are due as shown by the sworn

14 statement. If the contract provides for payments by the owner to

15 the general contractor , if any, in the normal course of con-

16 struction, but the owner elects to pay lien claimants directly

17 pursuant to UNDER this section, the first time the owner elects

18 to make payment directly to a lien claimant, he or she shall pro-

19 vide at least 5 business days' notice to the general contractor

20 of the intention to make direct payment. Subsequent direct dis-

21 bursements to lien claimants need not be preceded by the 5-day

22 notice provided in this section unless the owner first returns to

23 the practice of paying all sums to the general contractor. As

24 between the owner or lessee and the contractor or subcontractor,

25 all payments made pursuant to UNDER this subsection shall be

26 ARE considered the same as if paid directly to the contractor or

27 subcontractor. If an amount is withheld pursuant to UNDER this

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1 subsection from the contractor or subcontractor, the owner or

2 lessee, upon request, shall prepare and provide to the contractor

3 or subcontractor an itemized statement of the sums withheld. If

4 an amount is paid directly to a lien claimant pursuant to UNDER

5 this section, the owner or lessee shall, if requested by the con-

6 tractor or subcontractor, provide to the contractor or subcon-

7 tractor an itemized statement of the sums paid.

8 (7) An owner, lessee, designee, mortgagee, or contractor may

9 rely on a sworn statement prepared by a party other than himself

10 or herself to avoid the claim of a subcontractor, supplier, or

11 laborer unless the subcontractor, supplier, or laborer has pro-

12 vided a notice of furnishing as required by UNDER section 109

13 or unless the notice of furnishing is excused pursuant to UNDER

14 section 108 or 108a.

15 (8) If a contractor fails to provide a sworn statement to

16 the owner or lessee prior to the BEFORE recording of the

17 contractor's claim of lien, the contractor's construction lien

18 shall IS not be invalid. However, the contractor shall IS

19 not be entitled to any payment, and a complaint, cross-claim,

20 or counterclaim may not be filed to enforce the construction

21 lien, until the sworn statement has been provided.

22 (9) If a subcontractor fails to provide a sworn statement

23 pursuant to UNDER subsection (2) to the owner or lessee prior

24 to the BEFORE recording of the subcontractor's claim of lien,

25 the subcontractor's construction lien shall not be invalid IS

26 VALID. However, a complaint, cross-claim, or counterclaim may

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1 not be filed to enforce the construction lien until the sworn

2 statement has been provided.

3 (10) A contractor or subcontractor who , with intent to

4 defraud, DESIRES TO DRAW MONEY AND gives or causes to be given

5 to any owner or lessee , when he or she desires to draw money,

6 a sworn statement as required by this section , which THAT is

7 in fact false, WITH INTENT TO DEFRAUD, is guilty of a

8 misdemeanor if CRIME AS FOLLOWS:

9 (A) IF the statement involved is for $100.00 or less and

10 a felony if it is for more than $100.00 THAN $200.00, THE CON-

11 TRACTOR OR SUBCONTRACTOR IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR PUNISHABLE BY

12 IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT MORE THAN 93 DAYS OR A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN

13 $500.00 OR 3 TIMES THE STATEMENT AMOUNT, WHICHEVER IS GREATER, OR

14 BOTH IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE.

15 (B) IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING APPLY, THE CONTRACTOR OR SUBCON-

16 TRACTOR IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT FOR

17 NOT MORE THAN 1 YEAR OR A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN $2,000.00 OR 3

18 TIMES THE STATEMENT AMOUNT, WHICHEVER IS GREATER, OR BOTH IMPRIS-

19 ONMENT AND A FINE:

20 (i) THE STATEMENT INVOLVED IS FOR $200.00 OR MORE BUT LESS

21 THAN $1,000.00.

22 (ii) THE CONTRACTOR OR SUBCONTRACTOR VIOLATES SUBDIVISION

23 (A) AND HAS 1 OR MORE PRIOR CONVICTIONS FOR COMMITTING OR

24 ATTEMPTING TO COMMIT AN OFFENSE UNDER THIS ACT.

25 (C) IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING APPLY, THE CONTRACTOR OR SUBCON-

26 TRACTOR IS GUILTY OF A FELONY PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT

27 MORE THAN 5 YEARS OR A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN $10,000.00 OR 3

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1 TIMES THE STATEMENT AMOUNT, WHICHEVER IS GREATER, OR BOTH

2 IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE:

3 (i) THE STATEMENT INVOLVED IS FOR $1,000.00 OR MORE BUT LESS

4 THAN $20,000.00.

5 (ii) THE CONTRACTOR OR SUBCONTRACTOR VIOLATES

6 SUBDIVISION (B)(i) AND HAS 1 OR MORE PRIOR CONVICTIONS FOR VIO-

7 LATING OR ATTEMPTING TO VIOLATE THIS ACT. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS

8 SUBPARAGRAPH, HOWEVER, A PRIOR CONVICTION DOES NOT INCLUDE A CON-

9 VICTION FOR VIOLATING OR ATTEMPTING TO VIOLATE SUBDIVISION (A) OR

10 (B)(ii).

11 (D) IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING APPLY, THE CONTRACTOR OR SUBCON-

12 TRACTOR IS GUILTY OF A FELONY PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT

13 MORE THAN 10 YEARS OR A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN $15,000.00 OR 3

14 TIMES THE STATEMENT AMOUNT, WHICHEVER IS GREATER, OR BOTH IMPRIS-

15 ONMENT AND A FINE:

16 (i) THE STATEMENT INVOLVED IS FOR $20,000.00 OR MORE.

17 (ii) THE CONTRACTOR OR SUBCONTRACTOR VIOLATES

18 SUBDIVISION (C)(i) AND HAS 2 OR MORE PRIOR CONVICTIONS FOR COM-

19 MITTING OR ATTEMPTING TO COMMIT AN OFFENSE UNDER THIS ACT. FOR

20 PURPOSES OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH, HOWEVER, A PRIOR CONVICTION DOES

21 NOT INCLUDE A CONVICTION FOR VIOLATING OR ATTEMPTING TO VIOLATE

22 SUBDIVISION (A) OR (B)(ii).

23 (11) STATEMENTS INVOLVED IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS PURSUANT TO A

24 SCHEME OR COURSE OF CONDUCT WITHIN ANY 12-MONTH PERIOD MAY BE

25 AGGREGATED TO DETERMINE THE TOTAL AMOUNT INVOLVED IN THE

26 STATEMENTS.

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1 (12) IF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY INTENDS TO SEEK AN ENHANCED

2 SENTENCE BASED UPON THE DEFENDANT HAVING 1 OR MORE PRIOR

3 CONVICTIONS, THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY SHALL INCLUDE ON THE COM-

4 PLAINT AND INFORMATION A STATEMENT LISTING THE PRIOR CONVICTION

5 OR CONVICTIONS. THE EXISTENCE OF THE DEFENDANT'S PRIOR CONVIC-

6 TION OR CONVICTIONS SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE COURT, WITHOUT A

7 JURY, AT SENTENCING OR AT A SEPARATE HEARING FOR THAT PURPOSE

8 BEFORE SENTENCING. THE EXISTENCE OF A PRIOR CONVICTION MAY BE

9 ESTABLISHED BY ANY EVIDENCE RELEVANT FOR THAT PURPOSE, INCLUDING,

10 BUT NOT LIMITED TO, 1 OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING:

11 (A) A COPY OF THE JUDGMENT OF CONVICTION.

12 (B) A TRANSCRIPT OF A PRIOR TRIAL, PLEA-TAKING, OR

13 SENTENCING.

14 (C) INFORMATION CONTAINED IN A PRESENTENCE REPORT.

15 (D) THE DEFENDANT'S STATEMENT.

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