Senate passes bill letting Clean Air program victims of dishonest contractors suspend loan repayments

In brief

• The Senate approved without amendments a bill letting private beneficiaries of the Clean Air programme suspend repayment of unsettled prefinancing after losses caused by dishonest contractors.
• Suspension requires criminal proceedings over an offence against the beneficiary and a request to the regional fund; a final guilty verdict releases the beneficiary from returning the advance.
• The bill now awaits the president's signature.

Senate backs relief for homeowners hit by contractor fraud

The Senate approved without amendments, and unanimously, a bill drafted by the Ministry of Climate and Environment. It is aimed at private individuals who suffered losses while taking part in the Clean Air (Czyste Powietrze) priority programme. (Senat poparł ustawę o wsparciu osób poszkodowanych przez nierzetelnych wykonawców w programie Czyste Powietrze – Ministerstwo Klimatu i Środowiska) The text now goes to the president for signature. (Senat bez poprawek do specustawy pomocowej dla poszkodowanych właścicieli domów w „Czystym Powietrzu” – wnp.pl)

How the suspension would work

Under the bill, repayment of unsettled prefinancing, meaning advance payments or refunds owed to funds, can be suspended for beneficiaries harmed by dishonest contractors or third parties. Suspension requires two steps: criminal proceedings must be opened over an offence committed against the beneficiary in connection with the funding agreement, and the beneficiary must file a request with the regional environmental protection and water management fund.

If a final court ruling finds the contractor or third party guilty, the beneficiary is released from returning the unsettled advance, to the extent that the wrongdoer is liable for it. Regional funds may also write off amounts and pursue claims against those responsible. (Senat bez poprawek do specustawy pomocowej dla poszkodowanych właścicieli domów w „Czystym Powietrzu” (aktualizacja) – portalsamorzadowy.pl)

Who is affected

The law covers homeowners who prefinanced their projects and then discovered the contractor had not delivered or had acted improperly. (Wpadli w pułapkę prefinansowania. Ustawa pomoże oszukanym, ale pomija jedną grupę – farmer.pl) Commentators note that the bill addresses victims of fraud but leaves out one group of beneficiaries. The details of that excluded group are not clear from the reporting available.

Key figures

• Senate vote: approved without amendments, unanimously
• Next step: presidential signature