Public authority to detain funds upon receipt of affidavit - escrow account.

Upon receiving the affidavit required by section 1311.26 of the Revised Code, the public authority shall detain from the principal contractor or from the balance of the funds remaining in the contract with the principal contractor, an amount, up to the balance remaining in the contract, that does not in the aggregate exceed the claim or claims.The public authority shall not detain any amount requested by a claimant who is required by section 1311.261 of the Revised Code to serve a notice of furnishing, unless the claimant has provided to the public authority a copy of the notice of furnishing and a sworn statement as to the date the notice of furnishing was served to the principal contractor, or by a claimant who is a laborer, unless the laborer serves an affidavit upon the public authority pursuant to section 1311.26 of the Revised Code.The public authority shall place any detained funds in an escrow account as provided for under section 153.63 of the Revised Code, to be released at the times, in the amounts, and to the persons ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or by agreement of the principal contractor and the subcontractor, material supplier, or laborer who filed the affidavit provided for in section 1311.26 of the Revised Code or upon a failure to commence suit as provided in section 1311.311 of the Revised Code.