38-11-204 - Claims against the fund -- Requirement to make a claim -- Qualifications to receive compensation -- Qualifications to receive a certificate of compliance.
38-11-204. Claims against the fund -- Requirement to make a claim --Qualifications to receive compensation -- Qualifications to receive a certificate ofcompliance.
(1) To claim recovery from the fund a person shall:
(a) meet the requirements of Subsection (4) or (6);
(b) pay an application fee determined by the division under Section 63J-1-504; and
(c) file with the division a completed application on a form provided by the divisionaccompanied by supporting documents establishing:
(i) that the person meets the requirements of Subsection (4) or (6);
(ii) that the person was a qualified beneficiary or laborer during the construction on theowner-occupied residence; and
(iii) the basis for the claim.
(2) To recover from the fund, the application required by Subsection (1) shall be filed nolater than one year:
(a) from the date the judgment required by Subsection (4)(d) is entered;
(b) from the date the nonpaying party filed bankruptcy, if the claimant is precluded fromobtaining a judgment or from satisfying the requirements of Subsection (4)(d) because thenonpaying party filed bankruptcy within one year after the entry of judgment; or
(c) from the date the laborer, trying to recover from the fund, completed the laborer'squalified services.
(3) The issuance of a certificate of compliance is governed by Section 38-11-110.
(4) To recover from the fund, regardless of whether the residence is occupied by theowner, a subsequent owner, or the owner or subsequent owner's tenant or lessee, a qualifiedbeneficiary shall establish that:
(a) (i) the owner of the owner-occupied residence or the owner's agent entered into awritten contract with an original contractor licensed or exempt from licensure under Title 58,Chapter 55, Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act:
(A) for the performance of qualified services;
(B) to obtain the performance of qualified services by others; or
(C) for the supervision of the performance by others of qualified services in constructionon that residence;
(ii) the owner of the owner-occupied residence or the owner's agent entered into a written contract with a real estate developer for the purchase of an owner-occupied residence; or
(iii) the owner of the owner-occupied residence or the owner's agent entered into awritten contract with a factory built housing retailer for the purchase of an owner-occupiedresidence;
(b) the owner has paid in full the original contractor, licensed or exempt from licensureunder Title 58, Chapter 55, Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act, real estate developer, orfactory built housing retailer under Subsection (4)(a) with whom the owner has a written contractin accordance with the written contract and any amendments to the contract;
(c) (i) the original contractor, licensed or exempt from licensure under Title 58, Chapter55, Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act, the real estate developer, or the factory builthousing retailer subsequently failed to pay a qualified beneficiary who is entitled to paymentunder an agreement with that original contractor or real estate developer licensed or exempt fromlicensure under Title 58, Chapter 55, Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act, for services
performed or materials supplied by the qualified beneficiary;
(ii) a subcontractor who contracts with the original contractor, licensed or exempt fromlicensure under Title 58, Chapter 55, Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act, the real estatedeveloper, or the factory built housing retailer failed to pay a qualified beneficiary who is entitledto payment under an agreement with that subcontractor or supplier; or
(iii) a subcontractor who contracts with a subcontractor or supplier failed to pay aqualified beneficiary who is entitled to payment under an agreement with that subcontractor orsupplier;
(d) (i) unless precluded from doing so by the nonpaying party's bankruptcy filing withinthe applicable time, the qualified beneficiary filed an action against the nonpaying party torecover money owed to the qualified beneficiary within the earlier of:
(A) 180 days from the date the qualified beneficiary filed a notice of claim under Section38-1-7; or
(B) 270 days from the completion of the original contract pursuant to Subsection38-1-7(1);
(ii) the qualified beneficiary has obtained a judgment against the nonpaying party whofailed to pay the qualified beneficiary under an agreement to provide qualified services forconstruction of that owner-occupied residence;
(iii) (A) the qualified beneficiary has:
(I) obtained from a court of competent jurisdiction the issuance of an order requiring thejudgment debtor, or if a corporation any officer of the corporation, to appear before the court at aspecified time and place to answer concerning the debtor's or corporation's property;
(II) received return of service of the order from a person qualified to serve documentsunder the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 4(b); and
(III) made reasonable efforts to obtain asset information from the supplementalproceedings; and
(B) if assets subject to execution are discovered as a result of the order required underSubsection (4)(d)(iii)(A) or for any other reason, to obtain the issuance of a writ of executionfrom a court of competent jurisdiction; or
(iv) the qualified beneficiary timely filed a proof of claim where permitted in thebankruptcy action, if the nonpaying party has filed bankruptcy;
(e) the qualified beneficiary is not entitled to reimbursement from any other person; and
(f) the qualified beneficiary provided qualified services to a contractor, licensed orexempt from licensure under Title 58, Chapter 55, Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act.
(5) The requirements of Subsections (4)(d)(ii) and (iii) need not be met if the qualifiedbeneficiary is prevented from compliance because the nonpaying party files bankruptcy.
(6) To recover from the fund a laborer shall:
(a) establish that the laborer has not been paid wages due for the work performed at thesite of a construction on an owner-occupied residence; and
(b) provide any supporting documents or information required by rule by the division.
(7) A fee determined by the division under Section 63J-1-504 shall be deducted from anyrecovery from the fund received by a laborer.
(8) The requirements of Subsections (4)(a) and (b) may be satisfied if an owner or agentof the owner establishes to the satisfaction of the director that the owner of the owner-occupiedresidence or the owner's agent entered into a written contract with an original contractor who:
(a) was a business entity that was not licensed under Title 58, Chapter 55, UtahConstruction Trades Licensing Act, but was solely or partly owned by an individual who waslicensed under Title 58, Chapter 55, Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act; or
(b) was a natural person who was not licensed under Title 58, Chapter 55, UtahConstruction Trades Licensing Act, but who was the sole or partial owner and qualifier of abusiness entity that was licensed under Title 58, Chapter 55, Utah Construction Trades LicensingAct.
(9) The director shall have equitable power to determine if the requirements ofSubsections (4)(a) and (b) have been met, but any decision by the director under this chapter shallnot alter or have any effect on any other decision by the division under Title 58, Occupations andProfessions.
Amended by Chapter 31, 2010 General Session