Section 48-2A-12 - Purchase closing; penalty.
48-2A-12. Purchase closing; penalty.
A. The original contractor, upon accomplishing completion of construction and upon acceptance of final payment from the owner, his successor in interest or his agent, shall sign an affidavit that all invoices of charges and costs received by the original contractor and related to the residential site have been paid. In lieu of such an affidavit, at the time of accomplishing completion of construction and upon acceptance of final payment from the owner, his successor in interest or his agent, the original contractor shall sign an affidavit stating:
(1) the names and addresses of persons to whom he has paid in full those invoices of charges and costs arising from furnishing labor or materials incorporated in the residential site;
(2) the names and addresses of those subcontractors and materialmen who have presented to the contractor invoices of charges and costs of labor or materials incorporated or to be incorporated in the residential site which have not been paid, accompanied by a waiver of lien for the invoices properly signed by each subcontractor or materialman; and
(3) the names and addresses of those subcontractors and materialmen who have presented the contractor invoices of charges and costs of labor or materials incorporated or to be incorporated in the site improvement and which have not been paid and which have not been accompanied by a waiver of lien.
B. The approximate amount of money represented by the total unpaid invoices of charges and costs, and not accompanied by a signed waiver of lien, as provided in this section, may be withheld at the discretion of the owner, his successor in interest or his agent. This money shall be placed in an escrow account pending disbursement of the money upon the signed approval of the contractor.
C. Any contractor who knowingly and intentionally signs an affidavit stating that all charges and costs arising from the furnishing of labor or materials for incorporation in the residential site have been paid when in fact all charges and costs have not been paid, or knowingly and intentionally fails to provide the names of persons who have presented invoices for costs and charges for labor or materials but who have not been paid for their labor or materials furnished as provided in this section, is guilty of a fourth degree felony and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978.