(a) Except as otherwise provided by statute, before giving a stop payment notice or asserting a claim against a payment bond, a claimant shall give preliminary notice to the following persons:
(1) The public entity.
(2) The direct contractor to which the claimant provides work.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a):
(1) A laborer is not required to give preliminary notice.
(2) A claimant that has a direct contractual relationship with a direct contractor is not required to give preliminary notice.
(c) Compliance with this section is a necessary prerequisite to the validity of a stop payment notice under this title.
(d) Compliance with this section or with Section 9562 is a necessary prerequisite to the validity of a claim against a payment bond under this title.
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 697, Sec. 20. (SB 189) Effective January 1, 2011. Operative July 1, 2012, by Sec. 105 of Ch. 697 and by Section 8052.)