Rhode Island General Laws Title 34. Property § 34-27.2-2. Legislative findings

The general assembly finds and declares that the uniqueness of the construction industry requires a special system to ensure that payment is received by those businesses, contractors and owners who expend materials and/or labor prior to the completion of a construction project, but then must wait to be made financially compensated for the materials and/or labor. The general assembly also recognizes that once the materials and labor are placed into the building, or other construction project, it is impossible to reclaim the goods or services so that the only means of compensation is to receive monetary payment. In addition, the general assembly finds that the comprehensive bankruptcy reform act of 2005 expanded § 523(a) of the Uniform Code of chapter 13, and created a new section known as UC Bankruptcy Code 1328 that gives building material suppliers recourse when a contractor, “commits fraud or defalcation while acting in a fiduciary capacity.” Under the new UC Bankruptcy Code 1328, if any person commits fraud or defalcation while acting in a fiduciary capacity, embezzlement, or larceny the debt is nondischargeable under chapter 7 (liquidation), chapter 11 (adjustment of debt) or chapter 13 (reorganization).