A. A residential care facility that has one to 3 beds must comply with the one-family and 2-family dwelling chapter of the Life Safety Code.

A-1.__A residential care facility with 4 to 6 beds whose residents have prompt evacuation capability, as defined in the Life Safety Code, must comply with the one-family and 2- family dwellings chapter of the Life Safety Code if that residential care facility was licensed under that chapter prior to October 1, 2002.

B. A Except as provided in paragraph A-1, a residential care facility with 4 to 16 beds must comply with the sections of the Life Safety Code that apply to small facilities and with the chapter relating to new residential board and care occupancy chapter if that facility is a new facility that was constructed on or after July 25, 2002 or with the existing residential board and care occupancy chapter if that facility is an existing facility was licensed before July 25, 2002.

C. A residential care facility with more than 16 beds must comply with the sections of the Life Safety Code that apply to large facilities and with the chapter relating to new residential board and care occupancy chapter if that facility is a new facility constructed on or after July 25, 2002 or with the chapter relating to existing residential board and care occupancy chapter if that facility is an existing facility was licensed before July 25, 2002.

D.__Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule a residential care facility with 4 or fewer beds is not required to obtain certification from a design specialist to satisfy the requirements of this section or Title 5, section 4594-F.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.