By Mr. DeLeo of Winthrop, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3181) of Robert A. DeLeo relative to interest on retainage paid to contractors and subcontractors by awarding authorities. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Robert A. DeLeo

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act relative to interest on retainage.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

   SECTION 1.   Section 39G of Chapter 30 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition and as amended by Chapter 236 of the Acts of 1998 is hereby further amended by inserting after paragraph six, the following new paragraph:-
At the time of the first payment to the contractor, the awarding authority shall establish an escrow account in a financial institution licensed to do business in the Commonwealth. The account shall be set up to maximize the return, which is to accumulate. The awarding authority shall then pay into such account each portion of each requisition that represents retainage deducted from the amount due the contractor for periodic payment. The payment of such retainage into the escrow account shall be made simultaneously with the payments to the contractor for periodic requisitions. The proceeds of the escrow account including accumulated interest shall be payable to the contractor in accordance with the provisions of this section.