3. a. Except as provided in subsection b. of this section, no rooming or boarding house shall hereafter be located or operated in any municipality which elects to license such facilities except upon premises licensed for that purpose by the licensing authority of the municipality.

b. Any rooming or boarding house that is in lawful operation on the date of enactment of this act shall be entitled to continue in operation for one year from that date and, if the owner of the premises applies for licensure not later than the 60th day next preceding the expiration of that year, until a final determination is made upon that application.

L.1993,c.290,s.3.