60/23. Liens against public funds§ 23. Liens against public funds.

(a) For the purpose of this Section "contractor" includes any sub-contractor; "State" includes any department, board or commission thereof, or other person financing and constructing any public improvements for the benefit of the State or any department, board or commission thereof; and "director" includes any chairman or president of any State department, board or commission, or the president or chief executive officer or such other person financing and constructing a public improvement for the benefit of the State.

(b) Any person who shall furnish material, apparatus, fixtures, machinery or labor to any contractor having a contract for public improvement for any county, township, school district, city, municipality or municipal corporation in this State, shall have a lien for the value thereof on the money, bonds, or warrants due or to become due the contractor having a contract with such county, township, school district, municipality or municipal corporation in this State under such contract. Provided, such person shall, before payment or delivery thereof is made to such contractor, notify the clerk or secretary, as the case may be, of the county, township, school district, city, municipality or municipal corporation of his claim by a written notice and furnish a copy of said notice at once to said contractor. The person claiming such lien may cause notification and written notice thereof to be given either by sending the written notice (by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, with delivery limited to addressee only) to, or by delivering the written notice to the clerk or secretary, as the case may be, of the county, township, school district, city, municipality, or municipal corporation; and the copy of the written notice which the person claiming the lien is to furnish to the contractor may be sent to, or delivered to such contractor in like manner. And, provided further, that such lien shall attach only to that portion of such money, bonds, or warrants against which no voucher or other evidence of indebtedness has been issued and delivered to the contractor by or on behalf of the county, township, school district, city, municipality or municipal corporation as the case may be at the time of such notice. Provided further, that where such person has not so notified the clerk or secretary, as the case may be, of the county, township, school district, city, municipality or municipal corporation of his claim for a lien, upon written demand of the contractor with service by certified mail (return receipt requested) and with a copy filed with the clerk or secretary, as the ease may be, that person shall, within 30 days, notify the clerk or secretary, as She case may be, of the county, township, school district, city, municipality or municipal corporation of his claim for a lien by either sending or delivering written notice in like manner as above provided for causing notification and written notice of a claim for lien to be given to such clerk or secretary, as the case may be, or the lien shall be forfeited. No official shall withhold from the contractor money, bonds, warrants, or funds on the basis of a lien forfeited as provided herein. The person so claiming a lien shall, within 90 days after giving such notice, commence proceedings by complaint for an accounting, making the contractor having a contract with the county, township, school district, city, municipality or municipal corporation and the contractor to whom such material, apparatus, fixtures, machinery or labor was furnished, parties defendant, and shall within the same period notify the clerk or secretary, as the case may be, of the county, township, school district, city, municipality or municipal corporation of the commencement of such suit by delivering to him or them a copy of the complaint filed. Failure to commence proceedings within 90 days after giving notice of lien pursuant to this subsection shall terminate the lien and no subsequent notice of lien may be given for the same claim nor may that claim be asserted in any proceedings pursuant to this Act. It shall be the duty of any such clerk or secretary, as the case may be, upon receipt of the first notice herein provided for to cause to be withheld a sufficient amount to pay such claim for the period limited for the filing of suit, unless otherwise notified by the person claiming the lien. Upon the expiration of this period the money, bonds or warrants so withheld shall be released for payment to the contractor unless the person claiming the lien shall have instituted proceedings and delivered to the clerk or secretary, as the case may be, of the county, township, school district, city, municipality or municipal corporation a copy of the complaint as herein provided, in which case, the amount claimed shall be withheld until the final adjudication of the suit is had. Provided, that the clerk or secretary, as the case may be, to whom a copy of the complaint is delivered as herein provided may pay over to the clerk of the court in which such suit is pending a sum sufficient to pay the amount claimed to abide the result of such suit and be distributed by the clerk according to the judgment rendered or other court order. Any payment so made to such claimant or to the clerk of the court shall be a credit on the contract price to be paid to such contractor.

(c) Any person who shall furnish material, apparatus, fixtures, machinery or labor to any contractor having a contract for public improvement for the State, may have a lien for the value thereof on the money, bonds or warrants due or about to become due the contractor having a contract with the State under the contract, by giving to the Director or other official, whose duty it is to let such contract, written notice of his claim for lien containing a sworn statement of the claim showing with particularity the several items and the amount claimed to be due on each. The claimant shall furnish a copy of said notice at once to the contractor. The person claiming such lien may cause such written notice with sworn statement of claim to be given either by sending such notice (by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, with delivery limited to addressee only) to, or by delivering such notice to the Director or other official of the State whose duty it is to let such contract; and the copy of such notice which the person claiming the lien is to furnish to the contractor may be sent to, or delivered to such contractor in like manner. However, the lien shall attach to only that portion of the money, bonds or warrants against which no voucher has been issued and delivered by the State. Provided, that where such person has not so notified the Director or other official of the State, whose duty it is to let such contract, of his claim for a lien, upon written demand of the contractor, with service by certified mail (return receipt requested) and with a copy filed with such Director or other official of the State, that person shall, within 30 days, notify the Director or other official of the State, whose duty it is to let such contract, of his claim for a lien by either sending or delivering written notice in like manner as above provided for giving written notice with sworn statement of claim to such Director or official, or the lien shall be forfeited. No public official shall withhold from the contractor money, bonds, warrants or funds on the basis of a lien forfeited as provided herein. The person so claiming a lien shall, within 90 days after giving such notice, commence proceedings by complaint for an accounting, making the contractor having a contract with the State and the contractor to whom such material, apparatus, fixtures, machinery, or labor was furnished, parties defendant, and shall, within the same period notify the Director of the commencement of such suit by delivering to him a copy of the complaint filed; provided, if money appropriated by the General Assembly is to be used in connection with the construction of such public improvement, that suit shall be commenced and a copy of the complaint delivered to the Director not less than 15 days before the date when the appropriation from which such money is to be paid, will lapse. Failure to commence proceedings within 90 days after giving notice of lien pursuant w this subsection shall terminate the lien and no subsequent notice of lien may be given for the same claim nor may that claim be asserted in any proceedings pursuant, ant to this Act. It shall be the duty of the Director, upon receipt of the written notice with sworn statement as herein provided, to withhold payment of a sum sufficient to pay the amount of such claim, for the period limited for the filing of suit, unless otherwise notified by the person claiming the lien. Upon the expiration of this period the money, bonds, or warrants so withheld shall be released for payment to the contractor unless the person claiming the lien shall have instituted proceedings and delivered to the Director a copy of the complaint as herein provided, in which case, the amount claimed shall be withheld until the final adjudication of the suit is had. Provided, the director: rector or other official may pay over to the clerk of the court in which such suit is pending, a sum sufficient to pay the amount claimed to abide the result of such suit and be distributed by the clerk according to the judgment rendered or other court order. Any payment so made to such claimant or to the clerk of the court shall be a credit on the contract price to be paid to such contractor.

(d) Any officer of the State, county, township, school district, city, municipality or municipal corporation violating the duty hereby imposed upon him shall be liable on his official bond to the claimant giving notice as provided in this Section for the damages resulting from such violation, which may be recovered in a civil action in the circuit court. There shall be no preference between the persons giving such notice, but all shall be paid pro rata in proportion to the amount due under their respective contracts.