§21-9-10. Licensee to furnish bond or other form of assurance.

(a) Each manufacturer, dealer, distributor or contractor which applies for a license under section nine of this article shall, at the time of making application for the license, furnish a surety bond or any other form of assurance of the applicant's financial responsibility permitted by the board by rule or regulation, the surety bond or other form of assurance to be in the amount prescribed by rule or regulation. In the event of forfeiture of any bond or security, the proceeds thereof shall be deposited in the special account continued in subsection (c) of this section.

(b) The board may assess an annual fee on licensees in satisfaction of the surety bond or other form of assurance required by subsection (a). This annual fee shall be in the amounts prescribed from time to time by legislative rules promulgated by the board but in no event less than the following amounts:

(1) For each manufacturer's licensed business location, $2,500;

(2) For each dealer's and/or distributor's licensed business location, $1,000;

(3) For each licensed contractor, $500.

(c) All fees collected from fees assessed pursuant to this section or the proceeds from the forfeiture of any bond or other security provided pursuant to this section or any fines paid to the board shall be deposited in the special account in the state Treasury known as the "State Manufactured Housing Recovery Fund". Expenditures from the fund shall be for the purposes set forth in subsection (d) of this section. The assets of the fund may be invested and reinvested by the board in accordance with applicable law. Interest revenues derived from the fund shall be used solely to maintain the fund. If the balance of the fund on June 30 of any year equals or exceeds $300,000, no assessments shall be collected from any previously licensed manufacturer, dealer, distributor or contractor for the next licensure period. New applicants for licensure shall pay the applicable assessment fee regardless of the balance of the fund. The board is authorized at any time to make special assessments upon all licensed manufacturers, dealers, distributors, and contractors if the board determines that the assessments are necessary to maintain the fiscal integrity of the fund. In no event may a special assessment be issued by the board until or unless the balance of the fund falls below $250,000.

(d) Moneys in the fund shall cover any misappropriation of funds of a purchaser or prospective purchaser of a manufactured home, any deception or false or fraudulent representations or deceitful practices in selling or representing a product, any failure by a licensee, because of bankruptcy, insolvency or other reason, to fulfill warranty obligations and any failure of the licensee, its agents or employees, to comply with federal standards, this article or any rules or regulations promulgated by the board pursuant to this article: Provided, That any payment to purchasers or prospective purchasers by the board from licensee bonds or other forms of financial assurance shall not include punitive or exemplary damages, any compensation for property damage other than to the manufactured home, any recompense for any personal injury or inconvenience, any reimbursement for alternate housing, or any payments for attorney fees, legal expenses or court costs.