§ 122A-5.13. Adult Care Home, Group Home, and Nursing Home Fire Protection Fund authorized; authority. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 122A‑5.13.  Adult CareHome, Group Home, and Nursing Home Fire Protection Fund authorized; authority.

(a)        The North CarolinaHousing Finance Agency shall establish an Adult Care Home, Group Home, andNursing Home Fire Protection Fund (hereinafter "Fire ProtectionFund") to assist owners of adult care homes, group homes fordevelopmentally disabled adults, and nursing homes with the purchase andinstallation of fire protection systems and emergency generators in existingand new adult care homes, group homes for developmentally disabled adults, andnursing homes. The Fire Protection Fund shall be a revolving fund.

(b)        The Agency, inconsultation with the Department of Health and Human Services, shall adoptrules for the management and use of the Fire Protection Fund. These rules at aminimum shall provide for the following:

(1)        Financial incentivesfor owners of facilities who utilize Fire Protection Fund monies to installsprinkler systems instead of smoke detection equipment.

(2)        Maximum loan amountsof one dollar and seventy‑five cents ($1.75) per square foot for advancedsmoke detectors and digital communication equipment, three dollars and seventy‑fivecents ($3.75) per square foot for residential sprinkler systems, and sixdollars ($6.00) per square foot for institutional sprinkler systems.

(3)        Interest rates fromthree percent (3%) to six percent (6%) for a period not to exceed 20 years forsprinkler systems and 10 years for smoke detection systems.

(4)        Documentaryverification that owners of facilities obtain fire protection systems andemergency generators at a reasonable cost.

(5)        Acceleration of aloan when statutory fire protection requirements are not met by the facilityfor which the loan was made.

(6)        Loan approvalpriority criteria that considers the frailty level of residents at a facility.

(7)        Loan origination andservicing fees.

(c)        Proceeds from theFire Protection Fund, not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) annually,may be used to provide staff support to the North Carolina Housing FinanceAgency for loan processing under this section and to the Department of Healthand Human Services for review and approval of fire protection plans andinspection of fire protection systems. (1996, 2nd Ex. Sess., c. 18,s. 24.26B(a); 1997‑443, s. 11A.118(a); 1999‑237, s. 11.17; 2000‑67,s. 11.10.)