Wage liens: laborers and car washing and polishing employees.

 (1) Existing law provides that specified persons, including laborers, as defined, who contribute labor, skill, or services to a work of improvement, shall have a mechanic's lien upon the property so improved. This bill would authorize, until January 1, 2018, a car washing and polishing employee to record and enforce a wage lien upon specified real and personal property for wages and other compensation and related penalties and damages owed the employee. The bill would prescribe requirements relating to the recording and enforcement of the wage lien. (2) Existing law provides that a claimant other than a direct contractor may not enforce a lien unless the claimant records a claim of lien after he or she ceases to provide work, and before the earlier of (a) 90 days after completion of the work of improvement or (b)  30 days after the owner records a notice of completion or cessation. This bill would provide that a laborer may not enforce a lien unless he or she records a claim of lien after he or she ceases to furnish labor or services, and before the earlier of (a) one year after completion of the work of improvement or (b) 180 days after the owner records a notice of completion or cessation. (3) Existing law requires the court, in an action to enforce a mechanic's lien, to allow as costs, in addition to any other costs allowed by law, the amount paid to verify and record the claim of lien, as specified. This bill would provide that a laborer shall be entitled to the court costs and attorney's fees incurred as a result of recording and foreclosing on a mechanic's lien, and, upon award, these amounts shall be considered part of the lien and shall relate back to the date of recording of the lien.