HISTORIC COURTHOUSE PROJECT; REQUIREMENTS

(a) Before incurring any expenses payable from funds received from the commission under the historic courthouse preservation program, a county or municipality must have a master preservation plan for its historic courthouse project. The commission by rule shall prescribe the minimum standards for a master preservation plan. (b) A county or municipality that receives money under the historic courthouse preservation program must use recognized preservation standards for work on a historic courthouse project. The commission by rule shall establish standards regarding the quality of the work performed on a historic courthouse project. (c) A county or municipality that receives money under the historic courthouse preservation program for a historic courthouse project may use the money only for eligible preservation and restoration expenses that the commission by rule shall prescribe. Eligible expenses may include costs for: (1) structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and weather protection and emergency public safety issues not covered by insurance; (2) code and environmental compliance, including complying with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and its subsequent amendments, Chapter 469, and other state laws relating to accessibility standards, hazardous materials mitigation rules, and other similar concerns; (3) replication of a missing architectural feature; (4) removal of an inappropriate addition or modification; and (5) restoration of a courtroom or other significant public space in a functional and historically appropriate manner. (d) A county's or municipality's expenditure of money received under this chapter for a historic courthouse project is subject to audit by the state auditor in accordance with Chapter 321. (e) The commission by rule shall provide for oversight procedures on a project. These rules shall provide for reasonable inspections by the commission as well as periodic reports by a county or municipality on a project's progress.