S*0767(Rat #0326, Act #0295 of 2000)  General Bill, By McConnell and Ford
 A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 6, TITLE 29, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO PAYMENTS TO CONTRACTORS, SUBCONTRACTORS, AND SUPPLIERS, BY ADDING
 ARTICLE 3 SO AS TO ENACT THE SUBCONTRACTORS' AND SUPPLIERS' PAYMENT PROTECTION
 ACT, AND TO DESIGNATE CHAPTER 6, TITLE 29, AS SECTIONS 29-6-10 THROUGH 29-6-60
 AS ARTICLE 1.

   04/28/99  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7
   04/28/99  Senate Referred to Committee on Banking and Insurance SJ-7
   03/23/00  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Banking and Insurance SJ-8
   03/28/00  Senate Amended SJ-258
   03/28/00  Senate Read second time SJ-258
   03/28/00  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of amendments
   04/13/00  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-28
   04/18/00  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-10
   04/18/00  House  Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry HJ-10
   05/03/00  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment Labor,
                     Commerce and Industry HJ-10
   05/09/00  House  Amended HJ-35
   05/09/00  House  Read second time HJ-35
   05/11/00  House  Read third time and returned to Senate with
                     amendments HJ-15
   05/16/00  Senate Concurred in House amendment and enrolled SJ-14
   05/23/00         Ratified R 326
   05/26/00         Signed By Governor
   06/12/00         Effective date 05/26/00
   06/12/00         Copies available
   06/12/00         Act No. 295

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 6, TITLE 29, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PAYMENTS TO CONTRACTORS, SUBCONTRACTORS, AND SUPPLIERS BY ADDING ARTICLE 3 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE SUBCONTRACTORS' AND SUPPLIERS' PAYMENT PROTECTION ACT, AND TO AMEND CHAPTER 6, TITLE 29 BY DESIGNATING SECTIONS 29-6-10 THROUGH 29-6-60 AS ARTICLE 1.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Subcontractor and supplier payment; bond required

SECTION 1. Chapter 6, Title 29 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Article 3

Section 29-6-210. This article may be cited as the 'Subcontractors' and Suppliers' Payment Protection Act'.

Section 29-6-230. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, performance by a construction subcontractor in accordance with the provisions of its contract entitles the subcontractor to payment from the party with whom it contracts. The payment by the owner to the contractor or the payment by the contractor to another subcontractor or supplier is not, in either case, a condition precedent for payment to the construction subcontractor. Any agreement to the contrary is not enforceable.

Section 29-6-250. (1) When a governmental body is a party to a contract to improve real property, and the contract is for a sum in excess of fifty thousand dollars, the owner of the property shall require the contractor to provide a labor and material payment bond in the full amount of the contract. The bond must be secured by cash or must be issued by a surety company licensed in the State with an 'A' minimum rating of performance as stated in the most current publication of 'Best Key Rating Guide, Property Liability'.

(2) If the contract is for less than one hundred thousand dollars, the governmental body may permit the use of a 'B+' rated bond if it justifies that use in writing.

(3) For the purposes of any contract covered by the provisions of this section, it is the duty of the entity contracting for the improvement to take reasonable steps to assure that the appropriate payment bond is issued and is in proper form.

(4) For purposes of this section, 'governmental body' means a state government department, commission, council, board, bureau, committee, institution, college, university, technical school, agency, government corporation, or other establishment or official of the executive or judicial branch, and all local political subdivisions. 'Governmental body' excludes the General Assembly or its respective branches or its committees, Legislative Council, the Office of Legislative Printing and Information Technology Resources, or any entity created by act of the General Assembly for the purpose of erecting monuments or memorials or commissioning art that is procured exclusively by private funds.

Section 29-6-270. For any contract for the improvement of real property not covered by the provisions of Section 29-6-250, where a payment bond is required by the contract or otherwise, the bond may only be issued by a surety company licensed in the State with a 'B+' minimum rating as stated in the most current publication of 'Best Key Rating Guide, Property Liability'.

Section 29-6-290. A provision in a contract for the improvement of real property in the State must not operate to derogate the rights of a construction contractor, subcontractor, supplier, or other proper claimant against a payment bond or other form of payment security or protection established by law."

Redesignation as Article 1

SECTION 2. Sections 29-6-10 through 29-6-60 of Chapter 6, Title 29 of the 1976 Code, entitled "Payments to Contractors, Subcontractors, and Suppliers" is designated "Article 1, Payments to Contractors, Subcontractors, and Suppliers".

Severability clause

SECTION 3. If a provision of this article or the application of a provision to a person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. To this end, the provisions of this article are severable.

Time effective

SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 23rd day of May, 2000.

Approved the 26th day of May, 2000.