(a) Time for payment.--If payments under a construction contract are subject to retainage, any amounts which have been retained during the performance of the contract and which are due to be released to the contractor upon final completion shall be paid within 30 days after final acceptance of the work.

(a.1) Posting of security in lieu of retainage.--Upon reaching substantial completion of its own scope of work, a contractor or subcontractor may facilitate the release of retainage on its contract before final completion of the project by posting a maintenance bond with approved surety for 120% of the amount of retainage being held.

(b) Agreement between contractor and subcontractor.--If an owner is not withholding retainage, a contractor may withhold retainage from a subcontractor in accordance with their agreement. The retainage shall be paid within 30 days after final acceptance of the work.

(c) Payment of retainage to subcontractors.--A contractor shall pay to the contractor's subcontractors, and each subcontractor shall in turn pay to the subcontractor's subcontractors, within 14 days after receipt of the retainage, the full amount due each subcontractor.

(d) Withholding acceptance or failure to pay retainage.--Withholding of retainage for longer than 30 days after final acceptance of the work shall be subject to the obligations imposed upon the owner, contractor or subcontractor in section 6(b) or 11(b).¹ If an owner, contractor or subcontractor unreasonably withholds acceptance of work or fails to pay retainage as required by this section, the owner, contractor or subcontractor shall be subject to the payment of interest at the rate established in section 5(d)² on the balance due and owing on the date acceptance was unreasonably withheld or the date the retainage was due and owing, whichever is applicable. The owner, contractor or subcontractor shall also be subject to the provisions of section 12.³