Section 2053 - DefinitionsAs used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings unless the context indicates another or different meaning or intent. [1971, c. 303, §1(NEW).]
1.Authority. "Authority" means the Maine Health and Higher Educational Facilities Authority created and established as a public body corporate and politic of the State of Maine by section 2054 or any board, body, commission, department or officer succeeding to the principal functions thereof or to whom the powers conferred upon the authority by this chapter shall be given by law. [1979, c. 680, §3(AMD).]
2.Bonds and notes. "Bonds" and "notes" mean bonds and notes of the authority issued under this chapter, including refunding bonds, notwithstanding that the same may be secured by mortgage or the full faith and credit of the authority or the full faith and credit of a participating health care facility, a participating institution for higher education or a participating institution providing an educational program, or any other lawfully pledged security of a participating health care facility, a participating institution for higher education or a participating institution providing an educational program. [2007, c. 354, §2(AMD).]
2-A.Community health or social service facility. "Community health or social service facility" means a community-based facility that provides medical or medically related diagnostic or therapeutic services, mental health services, services for persons with intellectual disabilities or autism, substance use disorder services or family counseling and domestic abuse intervention services and is licensed by the State. [2017, c. 407, Pt. A, §74(AMD).]
2-B.Community health center. "Community health center" means an incorporated nonprofit health facility that provides comprehensive primary health care to citizens in a community. [1993, c. 390, §4(NEW).]
2-C.Congregate housing facility.[1995, c. 670, Pt. C, §1(RP); 1995, c. 670, Pt. D, §5(AFF).]
3. Cost. "Cost" as applied to a project or any portion thereof financed under this chapter shall mean the cost of construction, building, acquisition, equipping, alteration, enlargement, reconstruction and remodeling of a project and acquisition of all lands, structures, real or personal property, rights, rights-of-way, franchises, easements and interest acquired, necessary, used for or useful for or in connection with a project and all other undertakings which the authority deems reasonable or necessary for the development of a project, including but not limited to the cost of demolishing or removing any building or structures on land so acquired, the cost of acquiring any lands to which such building or structures may be moved, the cost of all machinery and equipment, financing charges, interest prior to and during construction, and if judged advisable by the authority, for a period after completion of such construction, the cost of financing the project, including interest on bonds and notes issued by the authority to finance the project; provisions for working capital; reserves for principal and interest and for extensions, enlargements, additions and improvements; cost of architectural, engineering, financial, legal or other special services, plans, specifications, studies, surveys, estimates of cost and revenues; administrative and operating expenses; expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of constructing the project; and such other expenses necessary or incident to the construction and acquisition of the project, the financing of such construction, and acquisition and the placing of the project in operation. [1971, c. 303, §1(NEW).]
3-A.Health care facility. "Health care facility" means a nursing home that is, or will be upon completion, licensed under chapter 405; a residential care facility that is, or will be upon completion, licensed under chapter 1663; a continuing care retirement community that is, or will be upon completion, licensed under Title 24-A, chapter 73; an assisted living facility that is, or will be upon completion, licensed under chapter 1664; a hospital; a community mental health facility; a scene response air ambulance licensed under Title 32, chapter 2-B and the rules adopted thereunder; a facility of a hospice program that is, or will be upon completion, licensed under chapter 1681; a nonprofit statewide health information network incorporated in the State for the purpose of exchanging health care information among licensed health care providers in the State; or a community health center. [2007, c. 72, §1(AMD).]
3-B.Eligible entity. "Eligible entity" means a facility or institution eligible to participate in financing or other borrowing services authorized by this chapter and includes a participating community health or social service facility, a participating health care facility, a participating institution for higher education or a participating institution providing an educational program. [2007, c. 354, §3(AMD).]
4.Hospital. "Hospital" means any private, nonprofit or charitable institution or organization which is either:A. Engaged in the operation of, or formed for the purpose of operating, a hospital which is, or will be upon completion, licensed as a hospital under the laws of the State; or [1983, c. 199, §1(NEW).]B. Whose sole members are 2 or more institutions or organizations which are licensed as hospitals or nursing homes under the laws of the State. [1983, c. 199, §1(NEW).] [1983, c. 199, §1(RPR).]
4-A.Nursing home.[1991, c. 584, §2(RP).]
4-B.Institution for higher education. "Institution for higher education" means:A. Any private, nonprofit, governmental or charitable institution or organization engaged in the operation of, or formed for the purpose of operating, an educational institution within this State, including the Maine Community College System and the University of Maine System, that, by virtue of law or charter, is an educational institution empowered to provide a program of education beyond the high school level; andB. The Maine School of Science and Mathematics, as established in Title 20-A, chapter 312. 4-C.Participating community mental health facility.[1993, c. 390, §6(RP).]
4-D.Participating community health or social service facility. "Participating community health or social service facility" means a community health or social service facility that is exempt from taxation under section 501 of the United States Internal Revenue Code and that, pursuant to this chapter, undertakes the financing and construction or acquisition of a project or undertakes the refunding or refinancing of existing indebtedness as provided in and committed by this chapter. [1995, c. 179, §2(NEW).]
4-E.Institution providing an educational program. "Institution providing an educational program" means a nonprofit or charitable institution, public or private, that is exempt from federal taxation pursuant to the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, Section 501 and that provides a program of education for the purpose of enhancing the knowledge or abilities of its members or the general public. [2007, c. 354, §4(NEW).]
5.Participating health care facility. "Participating health care facility" means a health care or licensed assisted living facility that, pursuant to this chapter, undertakes the financing and construction or acquisition of a project or undertakes the refunding or refinancing of existing indebtedness as provided in and permitted by this chapter. [1995, c. 670, Pt. C, §3(AMD); 1995, c. 670, Pt. D, §5(AFF).]
5-A. Participating institution for higher education. "Participating institution for higher education" means an institution for higher education which, pursuant to this chapter, shall undertake the financing and construction or acquisition of a project or shall undertake the refunding or refinancing of obligations or of a mortgage or of advances as provided in and permitted by this chapter. [1979, c. 680, §5(NEW).]
5-B.Participating institution providing an educational program. "Participating institution providing an educational program" means an institution providing an educational program that, pursuant to this chapter, undertakes the financing and construction or acquisition of a project or undertakes the refunding or refinancing of obligations or of a mortgage or of advances as provided in and permitted by this chapter. [2007, c. 354, §5(NEW).]
6.Project. "Project" means: A. In the case of a participating health care facility or a participating community health or social service facility, the acquisition, construction, improvement, reconstruction or equipping of, or construction of an addition or additions to, a structure designed for use as a health care facility, community health or social service facility, congregate housing facility, laboratory, laundry, nurses or interns residence or other multiunit housing facility for staff, employees, patients or relatives of patients admitted for treatment in the health care facility, community health or social service facility, doctors office building, administration building, research facility, maintenance, storage or utility facility or other structures or facilities related to any of the foregoing or required or useful for the operation of the project, or the refinancing of existing indebtedness in connection with any of the foregoing, including parking and other facilities or structures essential or convenient for the orderly conduct of the health care facility or community health or social service facility. "Project" also includes all real and personal property, lands, improvements, driveways, roads, approaches, pedestrian access roads, rights-of-way, utilities, easements and other interests in land, parking lots, machinery and equipment, and all other appurtenances and facilities either on, above or under the ground that are used or usable in connection with the structures mentioned in this paragraph, and includes landscaping, site preparation, furniture, machinery and equipment and other similar items necessary or convenient for the operation of a particular facility or structure in the manner for which its use is intended, but does not include such items as food, fuel, supplies or other items that are customarily considered as a current operating charge. In the case of a hospital, as defined in subsection 4, paragraph B, a community health center or a community health or social service facility, "project" does not include any facilities, structures or appurtenances, the use of which is not directly related to the provision of patient care by its members; [2007, c. 354, §6(AMD).]B. In the case of a participating institution for higher education, the acquisition, construction, improvement, reconstruction or equipping of, or construction of an addition or additions to, any structure designed for use as a dormitory or other housing facility, dining facility, student union, academic building, administrative facility, library, classroom building, research facility, faculty facility, office facility, athletic facility, health care facility, laboratory, maintenance, storage or utility facility or other building or structure essential, necessary or useful for instruction in a program of education provided by an institution for higher education, including a parking facility, or any multipurpose structure designed to combine 2 or more of the functions performed by the types of structures enumerated in this paragraph. "Project" includes all real and personal property, lands, improvements, driveways, roads, approaches, pedestrian access roads, rights-of-way, utilities, easements and other interests in land, machinery and equipment, and all appurtenances and facilities either on, above or under the ground that are used or usable in connection with any of the structures mentioned in this paragraph, and also includes landscaping, site preparation, furniture, machinery, equipment and other similar items necessary or convenient for the operation of a particular facility or structure in the manner for which its use is intended, but does not include such items as books, fuel, supplies or other items that are customarily considered as a current operating charge; and [2007, c. 354, §6(AMD).]C. In the case of a participating institution providing an educational program, the acquisition, construction, improvement, reconstruction or equipping of, or construction of an addition or additions to, any structure designed for use as a dormitory or other housing facility, dining facility, student union, academic building, administrative facility, library, classroom building, research facility, faculty facility, office facility, athletic facility, health care facility, laboratory, maintenance, storage or utility facility, exhibition facility or space, performing arts facility, museum, theater, studio or other building or structure essential, necessary or useful to the participating institution providing an educational program, including a parking facility or any multipurpose structure designed to combine 2 or more of the functions performed by the types of structures enumerated in this paragraph. "Project" includes all real and personal property, lands, improvements, driveways, roads, approaches, pedestrian access roads, rights-of-way, utilities, easements and other interests in land, machinery and equipment, and all appurtenances and facilities either on, above or under the ground that are used or usable in connection with any of the structures mentioned in this paragraph, and also includes landscaping, site preparation, furniture, machinery, equipment and other similar items necessary or convenient for the operation of a particular facility or structure in the manner for which its use is intended, but does not include such items as books, fuel, supplies or other items that are customarily considered as a current operating charge. [2007, c. 354, §6(NEW).] [2007, c. 354, §6(AMD).]
7.Refinancing of existing indebtedness. "Refinancing of existing indebtedness" means liquidation, with the proceeds of bonds or notes issued by the authority, of an indebtedness of a health care facility, an institution for higher education or a participating institution providing an educational program incurred to finance or aid in financing a lawful purpose of that health care facility, institution for higher education or participating institution providing an educational program not financed pursuant to this chapter that would constitute a project had it been undertaken and financed by the authority, or consolidation of such indebtedness with indebtedness of the authority incurred for a project related to the purpose for which the indebtedness of the health care facility, institution for higher education or participating institution providing an educational program was incurred. [2007, c. 354, §7(AMD).]
Amended by 2024, c. 607,§ 16, eff. 8/9/2024.Amended by 2018, c. 407,§ A-74, eff. 8/1/2018.Amended by 2015, c. 363,§ 6, eff. 10/15/2015.Amended by 2012, c. 542,§ A-30, eff. 3/20/2012.1971, c. 303, § 1 (NEW) . 1973, c. 713, §§2-5 (AMD) . 1979, c. 680, §§3-7 (AMD) . 1983, c. 199, §§1,2 (AMD) . RR 1991, c. 2, § 78 (COR) . 1991, c. 584, §§1-3 (AMD) . 1993, c. 390, §§2-9 (AMD) . 1993, c. 661, § 1 (AMD) . 1993, c. 706, §A5 (AMD) . 1995, c. 179, §§1-3 (AMD) . 1995, c. 362, §§1,2 (AMD) . 1995, c. 452, § 1 (AMD) . 1995, c. 670, §§C1-3 (AMD) . 1995, c. 670, §D5 (AFF) . 1997, c. 385, § 1 (AMD) . 2001, c. 590, § 4 (AMD) . 2001, c. 596, §B25 (AFF) . 2001, c. 596, §B7 (AMD) . 2003, c. 20, §§OO2,DDD1 (AMD) . 2003, c. 20, §OO4 (AFF) . 2005, c. 407, § 1 (AMD) . 2007, c. 72, § 1 (AMD) . 2007, c. 354, §§2-7 (AMD) .