(a) On and after January 1, 2023, payments upon contracts shall be made as the department prescribes upon estimates made and approved by the department, but progress payments shall not be made in excess of 95 percent of the percentage of actual work completed plus a like percentage of the value of material delivered on the ground or stored subject to or under the control of the state, and unused, except as otherwise provided in this section. The department shall withhold not less than 5 percent of the contract price until final completion and acceptance of the project. However, at any time after 95 percent of the work has been completed, the department may reduce the funds withheld to an amount not less than 125 percent of the estimated value of the work yet to be completed, as determined by the department, if the reduction has been approved, in writing, by the surety on the performance bond and by the surety on the payment bond. The Controller shall draw his or her warrants upon estimates so made and approved by the department and the Treasurer shall pay them. The funds may be released by electronic transfer if that procedure is requested by the contractor, in writing, and if the public entity has, in place at the time of the request, the mechanism for the transfer.

(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2023.

(Amended (as amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 670, Sec. 3) by Stats. 2017, Ch. 37, Sec. 3. (AB 92) Effective January 1, 2018. Section operative January 1, 2023, by its own provisions.)