Sec. 12. (a) Upon entering into a contract for sale, construction, or substantial remodeling of a residence, a construction professional must provide notice to each home owner of the construction professional's right to offer to cure construction defects before a home owner may commence litigation against the construction professional. The notice must be conspicuous and may be included as part of the underlying contract signed by the home owner.

(b) The notice required by this section must be in substantially the following form:

"IC 32-27-3 CONTAINS IMPORTANT REQUIREMENTS YOU MUST FOLLOW BEFORE YOU MAY FILE A LAWSUIT FOR DEFECTIVE CONSTRUCTION AGAINST THE CONTRACTOR OR BUILDER OF YOUR HOME. SIXTY (60) DAYS BEFORE YOU FILE YOUR LAWSUIT, YOU MUST DELIVER TO THE CONTRACTOR OR BUILDER A WRITTEN NOTICE OF ANY CONSTRUCTION CONDITIONS YOU ALLEGE ARE DEFECTIVE AND PROVIDE YOUR CONTRACTOR OR BUILDER THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AN OFFER TO REPAIR OR PAY FOR THE DEFECTS. YOU ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO ACCEPT ANY OFFER MADE BY THE BUILDER OR CONTRACTOR. HOWEVER, IF YOU UNREASONABLY REJECT A REASONABLE WRITTEN OFFER AND COMMENCE AN ACTION AGAINST THE BUILDER OR CONTRACTOR, A COURT MAY AWARD ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS TO THE BUILDER OR CONTRACTOR. THERE ARE STRICT DEADLINES AND PROCEDURES UNDER STATE LAW, AND FAILURE TO FOLLOW THEM MAY AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO FILE A LAWSUIT.".

(c) This chapter does not preclude or bar any action if notice is not given to the home owner as required by this section.

As added by P.L.134-2003, SEC.1.