Mechanics liens: design professionals.

The California Constitution provides that mechanics, persons furnishing materials, artisans, and laborers of every class have a lien upon the property upon which they have bestowed labor or furnished material for the value of the labor done and material furnished. The California Constitution also requires the Legislature to provide, by law, for the speedy and efficient enforcement of those liens. A design professional, on recordation of a claim of lien, has a lien on the site, notwithstanding the absence of commencement of a planned work of improvement, for the amount of the design professional's fee for services provided under the contract or the reasonable value of those services, whichever is less. A design professional also has a right to record a mechanics lien for providing work authorized for a work improvement, subject to specified conditions. This bill would authorize a design professional to convert a recorded design professional lien to a mechanics lien if certain requirements are met. The bill would make these provisions operative on July 1, 2012.