HB199--CONTRACTSWITHPUBLICENTITIES(Falkner)
COMMITTEEOFORIGIN:StandingCommitteeonLocalGovernment
Thebilladdsthedefinitionofa"publicofficial"asitrelates
topublicworkscontractsandmodifiesthedefinitionof"public
entity".
Currentlawrequirespublicentities,whencontractingforcertain
publicworks,torequirethecontractortofurnishabond.This
billclarifiesthattherequirementonlyappliestopropertyexempt
fromattachmentandexecution.
Currently,courthouses,jails,clerks'offices,andotherbuildings
andthelotsonwhichtheystandownedbyacountyormunicipality,
aswellasallburialgrounds,areexemptfromattachmentand
execution. Thisbillexpandstheexemptiontootherlandsownedby
theState;anypublicbodycorporateandpolitic;anycounty,city,
town,municipality;anyroad,water,sewer,fire,library,
hospital,orschooldistrict;andanyotherpoliticalsubdivision
ofthisState.
ThebillallowstheStateoranyentityspecifiedabovetoconsent
tohavecertainprojectsandthelandsthereon,thatare,orare
intendedtobe,leasedprimarilytoaprivateentityfor
nongovernmental usetobecomesubjecttotheattachmentof
mechanics'liensfiledunderChapter429,RSMo,iftheconsentis
inwriting,containsalegaldescriptionofthepropertysubjectto
theattachment,andisacknowledgedbyanauthorizedofficialina
formthatcanbeandisrecordedintheofficeoftherecorderof
deedsforthecountywherethepropertyislocated. Ifsuch
consenthasbeenexecuted,nobondisrequiredforthecontracted
work,fromeitherthecontractororthepublicentity'slessee.
Currently,aschoolboardmemberisnotrequiredtoindependently
confirmthatabondcompanyexistsandissolventifacontractor
representsthatitis,buttheschoolboardmemberisnotexempt
fromliabilityifheorshehasactualknowledgeoftheinsolvency
ordoesnotingoodfaithcomplywiththelawinrequiringthe
contractortohaveasufficientlawfulbond.Thebillexpandsboth
thelackofdutytoverifythestatusofthebondcompanyandthe
lackofexemptionfromliabilityforactualknowledgeregardinga
bondcompanyfromaschoolboardmembertoallpublicofficials.
ThisbillissimilartoHB1724(2024).