An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Licensure Compliance Methods for Camping Areas, Recreational Camps, Youth Camps and Eating Establishments

Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §2494, last ¶,  as amended by PL 2007, c. 539, Pt. F, §1, is further amended to read:

All such fees are for the license, 2 one licensure inspections inspection and one follow-up inspection. When additional inspections are required to determine an applicant's eligibility for licensure, the department is authorized through its rules to charge an additional fee not to exceed $100 to cover the costs of each additional inspection or visit. Failure to pay such charges within 30 days of the billing date constitutes grounds for revocation of the license, unless an extension for a period not to exceed 60 days is granted in writing by the commissioner.

Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §2497,  as amended by PL 1991, c. 528, Pt. J, §4 and affected by Pt. RRR and amended by c. 591, Pt. J, §4, is further amended to read:

§ 2497. Right of entry, inspection and determination of compliance

The department and any duly designated officer or employee of the department have the right, without an administrative inspection warrant, to enter upon and into the premises of any establishment licensed pursuant to this chapter at any reasonable time in order to determine the state of compliance with this chapter and any rules in force pursuant to this chapter. The department shall make an inspection of the premises of any establishment licensed under this chapter at least once in each year. Such right of entry and inspection extends to any premises which that the department has reason to believe is being operated or maintained without a license but no such entry and inspection of any premises may be made without the permission of the owner or person in charge unless a search warrant is obtained authorizing entry and inspection. The department and any duly designated officer or employee of the department do not have the right to enter, for inspection under this chapter, upon and into the premises of any establishment that is licensed under chapter 551, subchapter I 1.

Determination of compliance with this chapter and any rules adopted pursuant to this chapter must be made at least once in each year by inspection or other method as determined by the department.

summary

This bill changes the number of inspections covered by the license fee for an application for or the renewal of a license to operate an eating establishment, eating and lodging place, lodging place, recreational camp, youth camp or camping area from 2 to one. After the initial inspection and one follow-up inspection, there is a charge for each additional inspection to determine an applicant's eligibility for licensure. In addition, the bill permits the Department of Health and Human Services to determine licensure compliance by inspection or other method as determined by the department.