§ 19-8. Public works contracts.

A.  Any public works contract shall provide for partial payment based upon work completed.  The contract shall provide that up to ten percent (10%) of all such partial payments made shall be withheld as retainage.  At any time the contractor has completed in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the total contract amount, the retainage shall be reduced to not less than five percent (5%) of the amount earned to date if the owner or owner's duly authorized representative has determined that satisfactory progress is being made, and upon approval by the surety.  The amount retained shall be sufficient to ensure payment of:

1.  Any taxes due the State of Oklahoma;

2.  Personal property taxes or any municipal sales taxes due on the contractor's equipment and supplies;

3.  Any workers compensation coverage; and

4.  Any amount due and owing to any subcontractor who furnished any material or equipment to the contractor or performed any labor as a subcontractor, or as an artisan or day laborer in the employ of the contractor.

B.  For purposes of this section a public works contract means a contract between a county of this state and a contractor for the construction, alteration, repair, improvement, moving, wrecking or demolition of any highway, road, railroad, earthwork, building or other structure, project, development or improvement, whether it be in whole or in part.  The provisions of this section shall not apply to railroad companies operating in this state.

Added by Laws 1994, c. 72, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1994.