Sec. 53.083. PAYMENT TO CLAIMANT ON DEMAND

(a) The claimant may make written demand for payment of the claim to an owner authorized to withhold funds under this subchapter. The demand must give notice to the owner that all or part of the claim has accrued under Section 53.053 or is past due according to the agreement between the parties.

(b) The claimant must send a copy of the demand to the original contractor. The original contractor may give the owner written notice that the contractor intends to dispute the claim. The original contractor must give the notice not later than the 30th day after the day he receives the copy of the demand. If the original contractor does not give the owner timely notice, he is considered to have assented to the demand and the owner shall pay the claim.

(c) The claimant's demand may accompany the original notice of nonpayment or of a past-due claim and may be stamped or written in legible form on the face of the notice.

(d) Unless the lien has been secured, the demand may not be made after expiration of the time within which the claimant may secure the lien for the claim.

Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3544, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.