HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2047

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that contracts for public works often include a duty to defend clause, unfairly requiring the contractor to defend governmental entities before the contractor's negligence or fault is determined.

     Designing and constructing public works projects are unique among services procured by the government.  Public agencies have a strong involvement in budgeting and scoping services and working in collaboration with the contractor.  Public works often involve large risks due to site circumstances, public environmental concerns, and high public usage.  Highways and public buildings have necessarily long service life relative to other services procured, thereby increasing contractor risk beyond that of other government contracts.  Thus, the legislature finds that design and construction service contractors should not be burdened with the duty to defend a governmental body before the contractor's negligence or fault is determined.  Upon determination of negligence or fault, the contractor may still be required to indemnify and hold harmless the governmental body from claims arising out of or resulting from the negligent, reckless, or wrongful acts, errors, or omissions of the contractor.

     The legislature further finds that, while some state and county agencies recognize the negative implications and have removed the duty to defend clause, inconsistency among agencies and departments still exists.  The legislature further finds that the clause is detrimental in the long term by negatively affecting competition for contracts and innovation.

     The purpose of this Act is to standardize differing contract conditions regarding the duty to defend clause by prohibiting defense clauses in contracts that are entered into by persons licensed under chapters 444 and 464, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     SECTION 2.  Section 103D-713, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§103D-713[]]  Defense of a governmental body.  (a)  [No] Beginning July 1, 2014, no contract [of less than $1,000,000] that is entered into [on or after July 1, 2007,] by any governmental body[, and is exclusively for services that may only lawfully be provided by] with a person licensed under [chapter] chapter 444 or 464, [may] shall require the contractor to defend the governmental body, or its officers, employees, or agents, from any liability, damage, loss, or claim, action, or proceeding arising out of the [contractor's performance under the] contract[.] with the governmental body.

     (b)  Subsection (a) notwithstanding, the contract may require the contractor providing the services to indemnify and hold harmless the governmental body and its officers, employees, and agents from and against any liability, damage, loss, cost, and expense, including reasonable attorneys' fees, and all claims, suits, and demands therefor arising out of or resulting from the negligent, reckless, intentional, or wrongful acts, errors, or omissions of the contractor, the contractor's employees, officers, agents, or subcontractors in the performance of the contract or the contractor's professional services, and the provisions may remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the expiration or early termination of the contract.

     (c)  No person licensed under chapter 444 or 464 that has agreed in any contract to defend a governmental body, including those contracts entered into before or after July 1, 2007, shall be required to defend the governmental body in a lawsuit filed more than ten years beyond the substantial completion of the project, except that this subsection shall not apply to any lawsuit that has been filed prior to July 1, 2007.

     (d)  As used in this section, "person" means any person, partnership, corporation, or other entity conducting business in the State.

     (e)  As used in this section, "governmental body" means the State and all agencies thereof, any public body corporate within the State and all agencies thereof, and any non-incorporated public body within the State of whatever nature and all agencies thereof.  "Governmental body" includes but is not limited to cities, counties, school districts, authorities, universities and community colleges, and their officers, employees and agents, including but not limited to other business entities retained by or contracting with the public entity to manage or administer the contract for the public entity."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2112.


 


 

Report Title:

Procurement Contracts; Liability; Duty to Defend

 

Description:

Prohibits governmental procurement contracts for the services of contractors, engineers, architects, surveyors, or landscape architects, from requiring the contracting entity to defend the governmental body against liability, except for claims arising out of or resulting from the negligent, reckless, or wrongful acts, errors, or omissions of the contracting entity.  Effective July 1, 2112.

 

 

 

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