2. A hospital applying for permission to establish a hospital respite care program is not required to apply for a certificate of need pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1971, c.136 (C. 26:2H-7) and is required to demonstrate only that it has the vacancy rate required by this act and adequate staff to serve the number of senior citizens it proposes to accept.

L.1986,c.11,s.2; amended 1998, c.43, s.13.