Sec. 1. 25 MRSA §2592, as amended by PL 1997, c. 728, §16, is further amended by adding at the end a new paragraph to read:

The main entrance to a nursing home or other residential facility must have an automatic or power-assisted door, as defined in the standards of construction.__For purposes of this paragraph, "standards of construction" has the same meaning as in Title 5, section 4594-D, subsection 1, paragraph C.__This paragraph applies to any nursing home or other residential facility constructed on or after January 1, 2002 or when the estimated total costs for remodeling, enlarging or renovating an existing nursing home or other residential facility exceed $100,000 and the remodeling, enlarging or renovation is begun on or after January 1, 2002.

SUMMARY

This bill applies to new construction and major remodeling, enlarging and renovating on or after January 1, 2002 of nursing homes or other residential facilities. The entrance to these nursing homes and other residential facilities must have automatic doors or power-assisted doors.