Section 38-22-129 - Principal contractor may provide bond prior to commencement of work(1) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, the provisions of section 38-22-101(1) shall not apply if, at the commencement of any work upon any construction project for the improvement of real property as described in section 38-22-101(1), a performance bond and a labor and materials payment bond, each in an amount equal to one hundred fifty percent of the contract price, are executed by the principal contractor and one or more corporate sureties authorized and qualified to do business in this state, for the protection of all contractors, subcontractors, materialmen, and laborers supplying labor, laborers, or material in the prosecution of the work on such construction project for the use of each contractor, subcontractor, materialman, or laborer.(2) All subcontractors, materialmen, mechanics, and others who would otherwise be entitled to a lien under the provisions of section 38-22-101(1) shall have a right of action directly against the principal contractor and his surety for the full amount due. Such action shall be brought within six months after completion of the last work on such project.(3) In order to be effective, a notice of such bond shall be filed with the county clerk and recorder of the county wherein such project is situate prior to the commencement of any work on the project and shall be indexed according to both the street address and the legal description of the property to be improved. The principal contractor shall post a notice on the property that notice of such bond has been filed with the county clerk and recorder and shall make available copies of the bond to every contractor, subcontractor, materialman, mechanic, or laborer upon request.(4) If any claimant files for record a lien statement or other notice, pursuant to section 38-22-109, such lien shall be deemed released upon the filing for record of a notice executed by both the principal and all sureties acknowledging the existence of the bond furnished for such project and that said lien claimant is entitled to claim the benefits of said bond. Such acknowledgment shall be executed by the principal and sureties upon demand of the owners or any person filing a lien statement. Said notice may be delivered personally to the surety or its agent and the principal or his agent or may be mailed by certified or registered mail. If the principal and all sureties on any such bonds fail or refuse to execute and record such acknowledgment within thirty days after written demand is made upon them, all lien claimants shall be entitled to enforce their lien claims in the same manner as if no bond had been filed as provided in subsection (1) of this section.(5) In the event that any corporate surety on any bond filed pursuant to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section becomes subject to an order for relief under the federal bankruptcy code of 1978, title 11 of the United States Code, is the subject of any state or federal corporate reorganization proceedings, makes any assignment for the benefit of creditors, or otherwise is unable to meet its financial obligations as they become due, the provisions of this section shall not apply, and any lien claimant shall be entitled to enforce such lien claim in the same manner as if no bond had been filed as provided in subsection (1) of this section.L. 75: Entire section added, p. 1424, § 5, effective October 1. L. 80: (5) amended, p. 786, § 14, effective June 5. L. 2000: (1) amended, p. 211, § 14, effective August 2.