Construction-defects issue remains contentious

Monday, Feb. 12, 2001 | 11:19 a.m.

Although construction defect issues dominated discussions before the 1999 Legislature, the compromise law reached at the end of that session left many loose ends.

That's why legislators expect five construction defect proposals to come their way before the end of this session.

Assemblyman Bernie Anderson, D-Sparks, on Friday introduced a companion bill to the one Sen. Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas, introduced Thursday in the other house.

Both proposals require an independent contractor to inspect any construction defect repairs. That contractor must provide a performance bond in an amount not less than the market value of the proposed repair.

The proposals also remove language from current new home contracts requiring parties in the dispute to enter arbitration. Arbitration will still be allowed, but not required.

"I'm very hopeful that we can get the subcontractors and the homeowners groups together this time," Anderson said. "It's just a very contentious issue."

Anderson said the independent inspection and performance bond might be the toughest items to pass in both his and Carlton's legislation.

Three other bill draft requests are expected.

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