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Texas Statutes (Last Updated: January 4, 2014) |
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GOVERNMENT CODE |
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Title 10. GENERAL GOVERNMENT |
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Subtitle F. STATE AND LOCAL CONTRACTS AND FUND MANAGEMENT |
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Chapter 2253. PUBLIC WORK PERFORMANCE AND PAYMENT BONDS |
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Subchapter B. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS; LIABILITY |
Sec. 2253.021. PERFORMANCE AND PAYMENT BONDS REQUIRED
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(a) A governmental entity that makes a public work contract with a prime contractor shall require the contractor, before beginning the work, to execute to the governmental entity:
(1) a performance bond if the contract is in excess of $100,000; and
(2) a payment bond if:
(A) the contract is in excess of $25,000, and the governmental entity is not a municipality or a joint board created under Subchapter D, Chapter 22, Transportation Code; or
(B) the contract is in excess of $50,000, and the governmental entity is a municipality or a joint board created under Subchapter D, Chapter 22, Transportation Code.
(b) The performance bond is:
(1) solely for the protection of the state or governmental entity awarding the public work contract;
(2) in the amount of the contract; and
(3) conditioned on the faithful performance of the work in accordance with the plans, specifications, and contract documents.
(c) The payment bond is:
(1) solely for the protection and use of payment bond beneficiaries who have a direct contractual relationship with the prime contractor or a subcontractor to supply public work labor or material; and
(2) in the amount of the contract.
(d) A bond required by this section must be executed by a corporate surety in accordance with Section 1, Chapter 87, Acts of the 56th Legislature, Regular Session, 1959 (Article 7.19-1, Vernon's Texas Insurance Code).
(e) A bond executed for a public work contract with the state or a department, board, or agency of the state must be payable to the state and its form must be approved by the attorney general. A bond executed for a public work contract with another governmental entity must be payable to and its form must be approved by the awarding governmental entity.
(f) A bond required under this section must clearly and prominently display on the bond or on an attachment to the bond:
(1) the name, mailing address, physical address, and telephone number, including the area code, of the surety company to which any notice of claim should be sent; or
(2) the toll-free telephone number maintained by the Texas Department of Insurance under Subchapter B, Chapter 521, Insurance Code, and a statement that the address of the surety company to which any notice of claim should be sent may be obtained from the Texas Department of Insurance by calling the toll-free telephone number.
(g) A governmental entity may not require a contractor for any public building or other construction contract to obtain a surety bond from any specific insurance or surety company, agent, or broker.
(h) A reverse auction procedure may not be used to obtain services related to a public work contract for which a bond is required under this section. In this subsection, "reverse auction procedure" has the meaning assigned by Section 2155.062 or a procedure similar to that described by Section 2155.062.