(1) Except as provided under subsection (2), a home for the aged seeking a license or a renewal of a license under this article shall have, at a minimum, an emergency generator system that during an interruption of the normal electrical supply is capable of both of the following:

  (a) Providing not less than 4 hours of service.

  (b) Generating enough power to provide lighting at all entrances and exits and to operate equipment to maintain fire detection, alarm, and extinguishing systems, telephone switchboards, heating plant controls, and other critical mechanical equipment essential to the safety and welfare of the residents, personnel, and visitors.

  (2) A home for the aged that is licensed under this article on the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section is not required to comply with subsection (1) until that home for the aged undergoes any major building modification. As used in this section, “major building modification” means an alteration of walls that creates a new architectural configuration or revision to the mechanical or electrical systems that significantly revises the design of the system or systems. Major building modification does not include normal building maintenance, repair, or replacement with equivalent components or a change in room function.

  (3) A home for the aged that is exempt from compliance under subsection (2) shall notify the local medical control authority and the local law enforcement agency that it does not have an emergency generator on site. Until a home for the aged undergoes any major building modification as provided under subsection (2), a home for the aged that is exempt from compliance under subsection (2) shall file with the department a copy of the home for the aged’s written policies and procedures and existing plans or agreements for emergency situations, including in the event of an interruption of the normal electrical supply.

  (4) A home for the aged that fails to comply with this section is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $2,000.00 for each violation. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense and shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than $500.00 for each day during which the failure continues.