CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDS
 
The 2003 session of the California Legislature has ended. The following bills should be of interest to extenders of commercial credit:
 
AB 286            AUTHOR:                  Dutra (D)
TITLE:                                    Mechanics' Liens
INTRODUCED:          02/05/2003
SUMMARY: 
Enacts the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act of 2003, which provides that if a home improvement contract is executed in an amount not exceeding $15,000, regardless of later increases in the contract price, the homeowner may setoff the amount of good-faith payments to the original contractor against the aggregate amount of enforceable mechanics' liens and stop notice claims, in an amount not exceeding $15,000.
STATUS:  
04/07/2003 Passed ASSEMBLY.
05/08/2003 To SENATE Committee on JUDICIARY. (Pending)
 
 
AB 447            AUTHOR:                   Vargas (D)
TITLE:                                    Lien Claims: Release: Attorneys' Fees
INTRODUCED:         02/14/2003
SUMMARY: 
Relates to existing law which provides that where no action has been brought to enforce a claim of lien, the owner of the property or the owner of interest therein may petition the court for a decree to release the property from a mechanic's lien. Increases the amount of attorneys' fees that may be recovered by the prevailing party to $2000.
STATUS:  
04/07/2003 Passed ASSEMBLY.
07/21/2003 Passed SENATE.
08/21/2003 ASSEMBLY concurred in SENATE amendments.
09/03/2003 Signed by GOVERNOR.
09/04/2003 Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter No. 279
 

 
 
SB 134            AUTHOR:                   Figueroa (D)
TITLE:                                    Private Works of Improvement: Liens
INTRODUCED:          02/05/2003
SUMMARY: 
Requires the owner of a private work of improvement to notify, by registered or certified mail, or by first class mail, evidenced by certificate of mailing, the original contractor, and any claimant who has provided a preliminary 20-day notice prior to the recording of a mechanic's lien or stop notice, that a notice of completion or notice of cessation has been recorded within 10 days of recordation of that notice of completion or notice of cessation.
STATUS:  
05/22/2003 Passed SENATE.
06/26/2003 Passed ASSEMBLY.
06/30/2003 SENATE concurred in ASSEMBLY amendments.
07/14/2003 Signed by GOVERNOR.
07/14/2003 Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter No. 54
 
 
SB 186            AUTHOR:                  Murray (D)
TITLE:                       Privacy: Unsolicited Commercial E-mail Advertising
INTRODUCED:          02/12/2003
SUMMARY: 
Prohibits a person or entity located in the State from initiating or advertising in unsolicited commercial e-mail advertisements. Prohibits a person or entity, not located in the State, from the above-mentioned unsolicited commercial e-mail advertisements sent to a State e-mail address. Authorizes actions by specified entities to recover damages and reasonable attorney's fees and costs.
STATUS:  
06/02/2003 Passed SENATE.
09/08/2003 Passed ASSEMBLY.
09/11/2003 SENATE concurred in ASSEMBLY amendments.
09/23/2003 Signed by GOVERNOR.
09/24/2003 Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter No. 487