Legislative findings.

The Legislature finds that there are approximately 75 boarding and rooming homes with over 800 beds in Jefferson County which serve persons who are not related by blood or marriage to the owner or operator thereof. It also finds that these boarding and rooming homes are currently inspected in accordance with the Jefferson County Board of Health regulations governing minimum standards for boarding and rooming homes adopted on February 9, 2000. These regulations do not provide for civil penalties with regard to violations of the minimum standards. There is public interest in providing reasonable civil penalties so as to prevent illegal operations, the existence of conditions harmful to residents' health and safety, and habitual noncompliance with minimum standards.

(Act 2006-591, p. 1618, §1.)