Oregon Statutes 279C.515 – Conditions concerning payment of claims by public officers, payment to persons furnishing labor or materials and complaints
(1) Every public improvement contract must contain a clause or condition that, if the contractor fails, neglects or refuses to pay promptly a person‘s claim for labor or services that the person provides to the contractor or a subcontractor in connection with the public improvement contract as the claim becomes due, the proper officer that represents the state or a county, school district, municipality or municipal corporation or a subdivision of the state, county, school district, municipality or municipal corporation may pay the amount of the claim to the person that provides the labor or services and charge the amount of the payment against funds due or to become due the contractor by reason of the contract.
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 279C.515
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
- Person: includes individuals, corporations, associations, firms, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint stock companies. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
(2) Every public improvement contract must contain a clause or condition that, if the contractor or a first-tier subcontractor fails, neglects or refuses to pay a person that provides labor or materials in connection with the public improvement contract within 30 days after receiving payment from the contracting agency or a contractor, the contractor or first-tier subcontractor owes the person the amount due plus interest charges that begin at the end of the 10-day period within which payment is due under ORS § 279C.580 (4) and that end upon final payment, unless payment is subject to a good faith dispute as defined in ORS § 279C.580. The rate of interest on the amount due is nine percent per annum. The amount of interest may not be waived.
(3) Every public improvement contract and every contract related to the public improvement contract must contain a clause or condition that, if the contractor or a subcontractor fails, neglects or refuses to pay a person that provides labor or materials in connection with the public improvement contract, the person may file a complaint with the Construction Contractors Board, unless payment is subject to a good faith dispute as defined in ORS § 279C.580.
(4) Paying a claim in the manner authorized in this section does not relieve the contractor or the contractor’s surety from obligation with respect to an unpaid claim. [2003 c.794 § 140; 2005 c.103 § 28; 2012 c.4 § 1]