<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".15" citation="COMAR 05.04.06.15" title_num="05" subtitle_num="04" chapter_num="06" heading="Loan and Grant Disbursements.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Monitoring.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The local administrator shall monitor loan and grant disbursements during lead hazard reduction work to assist the borrower and to ensure that loan funds are properly used.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The local administrator shall make at least two inspections of the project, an initial inspection and an inspection before any disbursement of funds.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Based on Program guidelines, the local administrator shall determine the frequency and level of inspections during lead hazard reduction work, taking into consideration:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The capability of the borrower;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The demonstrated experience and reliability of the contractor;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The amount of the grant or loan;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The availability of local technical assistance; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Other factors considered relevant by the Department.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Payments Generally.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Loan and grant funds shall be disbursed in full at the closing to an account held on behalf of the borrower by either the political subdivision that is the local administrator for the loan or the subcontractor. The loan or grant funds shall be held in an account established under §C of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The local administrator or the subcontractor shall disburse loan and grant proceeds in accordance with the following requirements:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Loan funds may not be disbursed if payments of interest or escrows required by the loan documents are in arrears;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Draws shall be paid by a joint payee check issued to the borrower and contractor unless an alternative payment method is approved by the Program Director;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Advance payments are not permitted; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Payments shall be made only for work completed.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Payments may be made for material delivered to the site but not yet installed in the project.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Loan Accounts.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Loan funds shall be held in a non-interest-bearing account established by the local administrator or the subcontractor and approved by the Department. The account may be:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>An account with a depository institution that is separate from the other operating accounts of the local administrator or subcontractor;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>An account with a depository institution that is not separate from the other operating accounts of the local administrator or subcontractor using a separate reconciled general ledger account for all Program funds;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>An escrow account or attorney's trust account held and managed by an escrow agent if the escrow agent meets the following minimum criteria to the satisfaction of the Department:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Any employee of the escrow agent with access to the account shall be covered by a fidelity bond, or insured with employee dishonesty liability insurance, in an amount not less than $100,000;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The escrow agent shall provide the local administrator or the subcontractor, if any, and the Department with the statements required under §C(2) of this regulation; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Any other requirements established by the Department; or</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Another type of account approved by the Department.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Department may require the local administrator or the subcontractor to provide periodic statements to the Department of all loan funds in an account. If the statements do not correspond with the Department's records of loan funds in the account, the local administrator or subcontractor shall work with the Department to reconcile the differences.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Department may revoke, at any time, its approval of any loan account established under this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Progress Payments.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Progress payments shall be made in accordance with a schedule setting forth payments and corresponding percentages of completed work. The schedule shall be approved by the local administrator before any payments are made, and may be revised by the local administrator from time to time. The schedule may provide for a holdback of a portion of the loan amount.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If a borrower's request for payment is refused, the local administrator shall notify the borrower and give the reasons for the refusal. The determination of the local administrator as to percentage of work completed shall be final.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Final Payment. Final payment shall be made as follows:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The borrower shall submit to the local administrator a certificate of completion, executed by the borrower and contractor, certifying that all work has been completed in accordance with the contract documents;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The borrower shall submit to the local administrator documentation that the work area meets the lead dust clearance test standard set by MDE or another agency acceptable to the Department;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The borrower shall submit to the local administrator documentation that the entire dwelling unit meets MDE requirements and that all work required to achieve mechanical and structural soundness has been completed;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Final payment shall be processed upon satisfactory final inspection and receipt of the certificate of completion;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>If, in the opinion of the local administrator, the contractor has satisfied the contract and the borrower refuses to request or release the final payment, the local administrator may employ the following procedure:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The local administrator may require the borrower to explain in writing within 10 days why the local administrator should not make direct payment to the contractor;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>If the borrower responds within the 10-day period and requests a meeting, the local administrator shall hold a meeting at which the borrower shall present the borrower's objections to requesting or releasing the final payment;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The local administrator, in the local administrator's discretion, may then either approve or disapprove direct payment to the contractor or the borrower, if applicable.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Retainage for Claims. If the borrower or the local administrator receives written notice that subcontractors, materialmen, or suppliers have not been paid for work done or material supplied to and for the project, the local administrator shall retain amounts sufficient to satisfy the claims, to the extent that loan funds have not been disbursed, until satisfactory evidence of satisfaction and release by the subcontractors, materialmen, or suppliers is presented. The contractor shall promptly pay or bond any liens established.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Retainage in General.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The local administrator may retain 10 percent of the loan amount until final payment.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The retainage shall be released at final payment upon confirmation that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>All lead hazard reduction work is complete and acceptable to the local administrator; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The lead dust clearance test standard has been met.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Payment for Additional Work. Payment for any additional cost to complete work not included in the approved contract proposal is the obligation of the borrower. A borrower may apply to the local administrator for a loan increase to cover some or all of the increased costs. Any loan increase shall be subject to approval or disapproval in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The Department has no obligation to pay for increased costs.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="I.">
    <text>Quality Control.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Subject to the rights of tenants, if any, the Department or the local administrator may collect random samples of dust levels in a building before and after completion of the lead hazard reduction activity.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Wipe samples may be analyzed by MDE, or its designee, and the local administrator and the Department may maintain records of the results of the sampling.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Department may provide MDE with a list of all buildings which undertake lead hazard reduction through the Program.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="J.">
    <text>Closeout Procedures.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>After final payment or payout is made, the local administrator or the subcontractor shall reconcile all receipts and disbursements.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A copy of the closeout statement shall be forwarded to the Program and the servicer.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>