A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO IMPOSE An initial license fee for home care agencies; and to place a one‑year moratorium on the issuance of licenses for new home care agencies.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 16 of Chapter 131E of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 131E‑272.  Initial licensure fees for new facilities.
The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Service Regulation, shall impose an initial licensure fee of five hundred seventy‑five dollars ($575.00) for new home care agencies to provide in‑home aide services."
SECTION 2.  Beginning October 1, 2009, and for a period of one year thereafter, the Department of Health and Human Services shall not issue any licenses for new home care agencies that intend to offer in‑home aide services.  This prohibition shall not restrict the Department from issuing licenses to certified home health agencies that intend to offer in‑home aide services or to agencies that need a new license for an existing home care agency being acquired.  The purpose of this section is to allow the Department of Health and Human Services more time to work with existing home care agencies to assure compliance with newly adopted home care rules.
SECTION 3.  Section 1 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2009.  The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.